10 ways road trips have changed over the years — and they're all for the better

Lia RyersonApr 17, 2020, 00:22 IST

Thanks to GPS, veering off course is hardly ever a worry.Shutterstock/gualtiero boffi

Cars jam-packed with emergency supplies, no seat belts, and paper maps made road trips full of mishaps since they gained popularity in the 1960s.
While Americans still hold on their wanderlust, now, thanks to modern-day technology, road tripping has become more seamless.
Hitting the road is all about the journey, so let's take a look at how far we have come on the iconic cross-country vacation.
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From the miles of asphalt stretching before you to the wind whipping through your hair, road tripping has become an iconic American vacation.

Starting in the 1960s, American families piled into their cars and hit the road, usually guided only by a AAA TripTik map. Motels filled up with other families from all across the country, becoming hubs to exchange information and tips.

Thankfully, with modern-day technology, the dreadful mishaps encountered on the road can now be seamlessly avoided. While the adventure and wanderlust still remains, road tripping has definitely evolved for the better.

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In-car entertainment consisted of playing the same road trip games with your fellow passengers for hours on end.

Camping was often the best and most affordable option while driving across the country.

You made sure to use the restroom whenever it was available — even if you didn't have to go.

Packing a map for navigational purposes was a must.

Cigarette lighters in cars were actually designed to light cigarettes.

If you wanted to listen to a song, you recorded it on a cassette tape or played it on a Walkman.

... And air-conditioning didn't become a standard feature in cars until the 1960s, so road trips could get sweltering, too.

Driving was a dangerous matter, considering seat belts weren't invented until 1959...

Fitting everyone into a family-sized vehicle was like playing a game of Tetris, only with people.

Roadside restaurants weren't as ubiquitous as they are now — so you packed food strategically.

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