A road trip is an itinerary that you realize in car or with any motorized vehicle with the aim of traveling all over several states/countries : a sort of touring trip in a way.

One road trip itinerary is usually made in advance. The places we wish to stop by are listed and the route drawn on the map. An estimate of the distance and of the trip expenses are planned in order not to be surprised on the road. We also decide whether we'll stay at hotels, hostels or campings, and ensure accordingly the essentials is ready. However, all must fit in the vehicle!

Culturally, road trips are very American. Indeed, the United States is such a vast place, and natural sites so numerous that road trips are perfectly convenient to the discovering of the country. Roads there are in very good condition, very plain, and often straightaway for miles. Therefore, you must be careful not to run out of gas in the middle of the desert. A spare jerrycan isn't a useless precaution, and one or two gallons of water will be totally necessary to your survival on the road!

Many movies take road trips as a topic or a pretext to a story. “Motorcycle diaries” by Walter Salles (2003) recounts the motorcycle road trip organized by two young Argentines in South America. Their trek was inspired by diaries written by Ernesto Guevara (the soon-to-be Che) during his trip.