7 Best-Selling Road Travel Books Millions Love

What happens when a century-old expertise in cartography meets the spirit of adventure? National Geographic Maps, with its long history dating back to 1915, offers an atlas that goes beyond simple directions. You gain detailed, up-to-date maps covering all 50 U.S. states plus Canada and Mexico, combined with curated insights into the top 100 adventure destinations and 24 national parks. The atlas's durable design and practical guides make it a reliable companion for anyone planning road trips through North America’s diverse landscapes. Whether you're a weekend traveler or a seasoned explorer, this atlas equips you with both navigational clarity and inspiration for your next journey.

When Joe Yogerst teamed up with National Geographic, the result was a travel guide that moves beyond typical itineraries to reveal the spirit of road travel across North America. This book maps 100 distinct drives through all 50 U.S. states and 10 Canadian provinces, combining precise route details with insider tips on when and where to explore. You’ll discover everything from scenic wine country loops to historical trails, such as New Mexico’s Trail of the Ancients or Canada’s War of 1812 route, making it a resource for those wanting to curate their own memorable journeys. Whether you crave nature’s wonders or cultural landmarks, the guide offers a wide range of ideas suited to diverse interests and travel styles.

This tailored book explores proven methods for planning successful road travel adventures, focusing specifically on your interests and travel goals. It covers key elements such as trip preparation, route selection, packing essentials, and safety considerations, all personalized to match your background and preferences. By combining popular travel insights with reader-validated knowledge, this book offers a unique learning experience that reveals how to create unforgettable road trip memories. You’ll discover how to balance adventure with practicality, ensuring each journey suits your style and maximizes enjoyment. This tailored guide helps you confidently navigate the complexities of road travel, making every trip a rewarding exploration of new places and experiences.

What makes this book different from others is its focus on vivid, accessible guidance through North America's most picturesque routes, crafted by Reader's Digest with travel enthusiasts in mind. You'll find detailed maps and full-color photos that bring to life drives like Florida's Road to Flamingo and the Oahu Coastal Loop, complete with practical trip tips such as mileage, best travel seasons, and nearby attractions. Each drive is grouped regionally, offering a curated experience whether you're exploring Western mountain roads or Eastern coastal byways. This book suits anyone eager to enrich their road travel with scenic discovery and well-organized planning, though those seeking deep historical or cultural analysis might look elsewhere.

Rand McNally's decades of cartographic experience culminate in this 2025 midsize road atlas designed for ease and practicality on the road. You gain access to large-print maps covering every U.S. state, Canadian province, and an overview of Mexico, along with detailed city insets and driving time charts that help you plan routes with precision. The spiral binding and glove-box-friendly size make it a convenient companion for travelers who prefer tangible, reliable navigation tools beyond digital screens. Whether you're a frequent road tripper or planning your first extended drive, this atlas offers the clarity and detail that support confident travel decisions without overwhelming you with unnecessary data.

National Geographic's extensive experience in documenting the natural world shines through in this 5th edition guide, which highlights 300 scenic drives across the United States. The book offers detailed mile-by-mile directions, rich storytelling about regional histories, and vivid descriptions of landscapes from Maine's rocky coastlines to the red-rock plateaus of the Southwest. You'll gain practical navigation skills along with cultural and environmental insights that enrich your travel experience. Whether you're planning a quick local excursion or a multi-week adventure, this guide serves as a thorough companion for anyone eager to explore America's diverse roadways.

This tailored book explores the art and joy of discovering breathtaking road travel routes through a step-by-step approach designed just for you. It covers how to identify and plan scenic drives that align with your interests, background, and travel goals. The content reveals methods for combining popular, reader-validated routes with your personal preferences to create a unique travel experience. By focusing on your specific tastes and the types of landscapes or attractions you want to see, this book provides a personalized path to memorable drives. It examines route planning, timing, and points of interest, helping you to confidently navigate and enjoy the open road.

Unlike most travel memoirs that romanticize the journey, Che Guevara's firsthand diary offers a raw and insightful look into South America through the eyes of a young medical student. You get a vivid sense of the landscapes and the people, from indigenous communities to miners, along with Guevara's evolving awareness of social injustices that later shaped his revolutionary path. Chapters recount mishaps like falling off the motorbike or joining strikes, grounding the narrative in authentic experience rather than ideology. This book suits anyone intrigued by personal transformation amid expansive road travel across a complex continent.

What happens when a decades-old expertise in cartography meets Scotland's diverse landscapes? Philip's Maps, a trusted name in British mapping, brings you an atlas that goes beyond simple navigation. You get exceptional clarity at a scale of 1.5 miles to the inch, detailed road layouts including every junction and slip-road, as well as town-centre maps fully indexed for ease. The book also serves travelers with a comprehensive guide to Scotland's heritage sites, leisure activities, and hidden gems, making it just as useful for tourists as for local business drivers. Whether you're planning a scenic tour or managing logistics, this atlas offers precise, detailed information tailored to your needs.