50+ THEME Road Trip Inspirations

Struggling to plan a vacation for you or your family?  Maybe the problem is that you're so focused on where you should go, you're neglecting to consider what you really want to do. Try thinking about it this way: if you could spend your precious free time doing anything you want, what would you be doing? Now try designing a vacation around that. Here are some ideas to kickstart your brainstorming. 

1. HISTORY & POLITICS ROAD TRIPS. Is history one of your passions? Design a vacation around learning more about our nation's rich past.
1. National Register of Historic Places road trip. Check out the NRHP database (available online) and learn more about the US's historic treasures, including (but not limited to): 
1. Historic landmarks
2. Historic neighborhoods/districts
3. Notable homesites
4. Monuments & memorials
2. Celebrating US History road trip. Pick an era of US history and learn more about it! Some ideas to get you started:  
1. Founding Fathers/American Revolution road trip. 
1. Revolutionary battlefields, forts, and fortifications
2. Famous buildings & residences: Courthouses, homes of Founding Fathers
3. Notable Revolutionary cities: Williamsburg, Boston, Philadelphia  
2. Civil war road trip
1. Civil War battlefield sites, forts, and fortifications
2. Civil War museums
3. Plantations
4. Lincoln-related destinations
3. Westward expansion road trip
1. Restored Wild West towns, mines, and ghost towns
2. Dude ranches, rodeos, and cowboy experiences
3. Native American destinations and experiences
4. Forts & fortifications 
4. WW1/WW2 road trip
1. Museums
2. Monuments & cemeteries
3. New Deal sites: CCC infrastructure projects, murals & artwork
5. Black history road trip
1. Museums
2. Monuments & memorials
3. Civil Rights/abolitionist sites
4. Homesteads of notable black Americans
5. HBCUs
6. Cold War road trip
1. Missile silos
2. Bunkers/bomb shelters
7. Federally-designed historical sites
1. National historic sites: Military parks, battlefield parks, battlefield sites
2. National monuments & memorials
3. National historical parks/sites
3. Military History road trip
1. Battlefield sites & cemeteries
2. Military museums
3. Air shows
4. Military academies
2. NATURAL WONDERS ROAD TRIPS. Are you a lover of all things natural? I always say that getting out in nature is the best way to reboot one's soul to its initial factory settings. Here are some ideas for indulging your love of beauty, recreation, and restoration.
1. National Parks road trip. One of the greatest privileges of living in the US are our fabulous national parks, but don't overlook other federally-designated natural areas, including:
1. National monuments
2. National preserves
3. National lakeshores/seashores
4. National rivers/wild and scenic riverways
5. National scenic trails/parkways
2. State Parks road trip. State parks can be unappreciated treasures! 
3. Natural Wonders road trip. The US is blessed with a plethora of natural wonders. Craft a road trip designed to explore natural wonders in general, or focus on a specific feature: waterfalls, arches, slot canyons, impact craters, volcanic features, big trees
4. Camping Experience road trip. Spend a weekend tent camping, cabin camping, or glamping. National and state parks often offer cabin/bungalow experiences. 
5. Beautiful Biomes road trip. Experience one of Earth's unique ecosystems!
1. Biomes: Tundra/arctic, taiga/evergreen forests (commonly found on mountaintops), temperate deciduous forests (trees with leaves that drop), grasslands, rainforests (tropical, temperate), deserts, freshwater, marine
2. Ecosystems: Wetlands, cypress swamps, salt marshes, beaches, temperate rainforests, caves, coral reefs, hot springs, bioluminescent bays, etc.
3. CULTURAL ROAD TRIPS. One of the benefits of travel is the opportunity to expand one's appreciation for our nation's rich social, cultural, and intellectual diversity. Which of these appeals to you? Here are some ideas to get you started. 
1. America's Cultural Diversity road trip.  Pick one of the many, many immigrant populations that contribute out our country's diversity and craft a road trip designed to learn more about them. Possible destinations include:  
1. Ethnic neighborhoods/towns
2. Cultural street/arts festivals
3. Ethnic restaurants
4. Embassies/museums
2. Museum Experience road trip. Create a road trip that combines stops at federal, state, university, and local museums. Add whimsy by focusing on museums dedicated to unusual topics: medical sciences, agricultural products, cryptography, entertainment, etc.
3. Institutes of Higher Learning road trip. Many US campuses are strikingly lovely, populated by ornate, historically important buildings or located in gorgeous locations. Check them out!
4. Spiritual Journeys road trip. Explore the US's religious roots. 
1. Historic churches/missions
2. Spiritual sites
5. Fabulous Fairs & Festivals road trip. In a country this big, there are multiple festivals/fairs occurring every week of the year. Some ideas: 
1. State fairs/agricultural fairs
2. Street fairs: Food festivals, cultural festivals
3. Holiday/seasonal festivals
4. Arts festivals/fairs: Music festivals, crafts festivals, theater festivals
5. Novelty festivals: Mummer's parades, Renaissance festivals
6. Underground City Experiences road trips. All big cities have an "underground" life -  music venues, pop-up restaurants, speakeasies, and other experiences - known only to the hippest of locals ... or anyone dedicated enough to search social media for clues. 
4. ARTS ROAD TRIPS. If you're the type that appreciate arts & entertainment, there are plenty of ways that travel can expand your horizons. 
1. Art Experience road trip
1. Art museums/galleries
2. Artist homesteads
3. Public art installations
2. Architecture Exploration road trip
1. Specific architectural styles/genres: Victorian, Spanish Colonial, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern
2. Civil engineering projects: Bridges, skyscrapers, dams
3. Famous neighborhoods/architects
4. Novelty destinations: Castles, vernaculars
3. Entertainment (TV/Movie/Theater) road trip
1. Live performances: TV studios, theaters
2. Festivals: Film festivals, theater festivals
3. Movie/TV filming locations
4. Famous theaters: Historic theaters, nostalgic theaters
4. Music Lovers road trip
1. Specific musical genre road trip: Rock, pop, country, jazz, R&B, blues, classical, opera, Broadway, indie 
1. Museums
2. Music festivals
3. Notable music cities/venues
4. Recording studios
5. Live performances
5. Bookworm road trip
1. Novel destinations: Author homesites, locations featured in famous novels
2. Notable libraries & atheneums
3. Book conferences, fairs & festivals: Book festivals, author/genre-specific events
4. Book themed bars/hotels
5. Notable bookstores
6. Crafting road trip: craft conventions & events
5. SCIENCE ROAD TRIPS. If STEM is your groove, why not craft a vacation that incorporates a little lifelong learning along the way? 
1. Natural History road trips
1. Natural History museums
2. All About Animals road trips
1. Zoos/wild animal parks
2. Wild animal safaris/boat tours
3. Aquariums
4. Farms
5. Live animal encounters: Swim with dolphins/manatees, feed giraffes
6. Animal research facilities and sanctuaries
3. Botanical road trips
1. Botanical gardens
2. Flower shows
2. Space Exploration road trip
1. Launch facilities
2. NASA facilities
3. Planetariums & observatories
4. Dark Sky parks 
3. Understanding our Earth Geology/Paleontology road trip
1. Rockhounding/panning for gold
2. Digging for fossils
3. Notable geologic features: Fault lines, cave systems, volcanic features, impact craters
6. EXPERIENCE ROAD TRIPS. As Gen X is fond of reminding the rest of us, YOLO - you only live once! Travel presents a great opportunity to seek out novel sensations and experiences. 
1. Explore Your Passions road trip. Think about your hobbies - what you do for fun, or would like to do if you had the time! Now, identify opportunities to explore those hobbies on the road. Potential opportunities are as various as personal hobbies, but might include museums, historic venues, conferences/conventions, classes, or experiences. Following are some examples: 
1. Model trains: Model train museums/displays
2. Creative writing/blogging: Writing festivals/workshops, writers retreats
3. Video games: Gaming conventions, gaming competitions, gaming museums/arcades
4. Cooking: Cooking schools/classes, farmers markets
5. Experience/fantasy camps: Rock n' roll camps, cowboy camps
6. Crafting: Craft shows/conferences, workshops, art colonies
7. Genealogy: Genealogy libraries, halls of records, cemeteries
2. Sports Fan road trips
1. Major/minor league teams & facilities: Stadiums/arenas, racetracks
2. University teams & facilities
3. Historic/notable facilities
4. Notable competitions/tournaments
5. Sports museums/Halls of fame
3. Watersports road trips
1. Boating/sailing
2. White water rafting/tubing
3. Ocean/river/lake cruises
4. Swimming/snorkling
4. Sports & Recreation road trips
1. Hiking/climbing/running/biking: Notable events, notable tracks/trails
2. Hunting/fishing
5. Exotic Travels road trip
1. Train journeys: Scenic railroads, cog railroads
2. Steamboat/ferry journeys
3. Novelty automobile/motorcycle journeys
4. Hot air balloon journeys
6. Make Them Laugh road trip
1. Comedy clubs
2. Comic theater performances 
7. Bucket list road trip. Because it's never too soon to start crossing items off your bucket list!
8. National Parties & Parades road trip
1. Famous/notable holiday celebrations
2. Famous parades
3. Mardi Gras
9. Lifelong Learning road trips
1. Tours led by organizations/universities
2. Discovery camps/experiences
3. University sessions/courses
4. Active archeology sites
10. Acts of Service road trips
1. Build houses
2. Participate in ecological restoration projects
3. Volunteer in areas recovering from natural disasters
11. Novelty B&B road trip. Because a vacation doesn't have to be about what you do, but where you stay. Memorable overnight options include: treehouses, lighthouses, houseboats, train cars, RVs, historic lodges, watchtowers, museums, battleships and more
12. Mystery trip. Open a map, close your eyes, tap a spot on the map, and go explore!
7. SHOPPING ROAD TRIPS. For those who's favorite recreation is hunting -hunting for bargains, that is! - why not build a vacation around shopping? 
1. Antiquing road trips
1. Antique malls
2. Antique districts
3. Auction houses
2. Factory Tour road trips
3. Bargain shopping road trips
1. Flea markets & yard sales
2. Outlet malls & potteries
3. Auction houses
4. Abandoned luggage sales
8. SEASONAL ROAD TRIPS. Every season has it's special pleasures; maybe you just need a chance to get away from home in order to celebrate those pleasures without distraction? 
1. Spring road trips
1. Spring sports & recreation: Golf, baseball
2. Summer road trips
1. Summer sports & recreation: Water sports, soccer
2. Fruit picking
3. Outdoor concerts/events
3. Autumn road trips
1. Autumn sports & recreation: Football
2. Leaf peeping road trip
3. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes & hay rides
4. Apple picking
4. Winter road trips
1. Winter sports & recreation: Hockey, basketball, skiing
2. Christmas-themed destinations
9. HEALTH/WELLNESS ROAD TRIPS. For those whose idea of relaxation is pampering, why better choice for vacation than a destination that prioritizes creature comforts? 
1. Resort road trips
1. Family resorts
2. Adult resorts: Casinos 
2. Wellness road trips
1. Spas
2. Retreats
10. FOOD ROAD TRIPS. Is food one of your favorite things? Then maybe it's time to make food a priority when planning your next getaway. 
1. Diners, Dives & Drive-In road trips
1. Food street festivals
2. Diners, dives, and drive-ins
1. Destination Restaurant road trips
1. Historic restaurants
2. Famous chefs
3. Regional flavors
2. Favorite Flavors road trips 
1. Farms/farmers markets
2. Favorite cuisines. What's your favorite flavor - BBQ? chili? chicken fried steak? pizza? Turn your passion into a road trip to discover new variations
3. Boozy road trips
1. Winery/brewery/distillery tours
2. Wine/beer/booze street festivals
3. Wine/beer/bourbon trails
11. NOSTALGIA/KITSCH ROAD TRIPS. Sometimes, wanting to get away from it all really means wanting to get away from it all. Retreat from reality by choosing a road trip that will transport you to a happier time or more glamourous places. 
1. Childhood Memories road trips. Give yourself permission to relive your happy childhood vacation memories!
1. Revisit favorite childhood destinations
2. Relive favorite childhood memories
3. Give yourself permission to play
2. Dark Side road trips. Indulge your inner goth with these macabre vacation inspirations: 
1. Haunted houses/hotels or ghost tours
2. Macabre museums/historical sites: Cemeteries, medical museums
3. Murder mystery events
3. Kitschy road trip. Get your kicks on Route 66 ... or seek out the spirit of Route 66 that permeates every corner of this marvelous, kitschy country of ours!
1. Novelty museums: Museums dedicated to specific products/events; cryptozoological museums
2. Roadside attractions
3. Novelty festivals/fairs