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Nothing feels more exciting and hopeful than hitting the open road, to paraphrase Steppenwolf’s timeless lyrics from their classic song “Born to Be Wild”: “Get your motor running’, head out on the highway, lookin’ for adventure—and whatever comes our way.” Road trip films have a long history and are therefore one of the most popular genres for both spectators and storytellers. However, which films are truly the best road trip films ever made?

Road trip films are a genre that is exclusively American, even if not all of them are set in America. Because of the diversity of American towns and landscapes, characters might quickly find themselves in entirely different universes. There are many opportunities everywhere you look, from the congested streets of New York to the expansive, open deserts of California. Once more, however, road trips aren’t just found in the continental United States; some of the world’s best filmmakers have traveled by car.

These are the top 33 road trip films ever produced, ranging from the vulgar to the deep.

33. Road Trip (2000)

Illicit texts were distributed by snail mail before college students had access to Snapchat. Complete with stamps. In order to collect a sex tape before his long-distance lover plays it, Josh (Breckin Meyer), a college student, sets out with his friends to drive from the University of Ithaca in New York to the University of Austin in Texas (not Massachusetts). Alongside films like American Pie and Wet Hot American Summer, Road Trip remains a seminal teen sex comedy of the new millennium despite its lewd and offensive content.

32. Rock City in Detroit (1999)

The Warner Bros. Pictures image is credited.
Visit Detroit Rock City for a road trip film that will have you dancing all night long and having a good time every day. In 1978, Jamese DeBello, Giuseppe Andrews, Edward Furlong, and Sam Huntington play four disobedient Ohio adolescents who will stop at nothing to watch their rock stars, KISS, perform live in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit Rock City takes it everything in stride, from breaking one of their own out of a Catholic boarding school to competing in male stripping competitions. The God of Thunder is exalted!

31. Paul (2011)

In Greg Mottola’s Paul, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost from Shaun of the Dead get back together for a geeky adventure. Graeme (Pegg) and Clive (Frost) meet a talking space alien (voiced by Seth Rogen) while traveling across the American Southwest after attending the renowned geek haven, the San Diego Comic-Con in southern California. In this road-tripping ode to sci-fi pop culture, which includes a cameo by the queen of sci-fi, Sigourney Weaver, the two British sci-fi fans assist their pal in escaping the grasp of federal officials.

30. Nature’s Forces (1998)

High-strung book writer Ben (Ben Affleck, yep, he plays a guy named Ben) rushes to his wedding in Savannah, Georgia, with free-spirited woman Sarah (Sandra Bullock) after a strange accident cancels his flight from New York City. Despite their intense attraction, Sarah is focused on improving her own life, and Ben remains dedicated to his fiancé. In addition to having a pleasantly surreal ambiance and vibe, Forces of Nature is a wiser meet-cute romantic comedy than it first appears to be. It seems as though it floats on air.

29. Joy Ride (2001)

Road excursions aren’t always enjoyable. They may even prove to be lethal. This 2001 thriller, which was penned by J.J. In John Dahl’s Abrams, three college-aged children (Paul Walker, Steve Zahn, and Leelee Sobieski) pull a practical joke on a truck driver named “Rusty Nail.” Angry and humiliated, Rusty Nail chases the children, intent on turning their road trip into a terrifying battle for their lives. (In an uncredited performance, Ted Levine voices Rusty Nail.) Joy Ride gave rise to two subpar sequels, but the 2001 original is a genuine 2000s cult classic.

28. Dolls That Drive Away (2024)

Drive-Away Dolls, the first scripted narrative film directed by Ethan Coen as a director (without his brother Joel), transports a number of well-known actors from Philadelphia to Tallahassee in a Dodge Aries. Drive-Away Dolls, which is set in 1999, centers on two lesbian best friends (Geraline Viswanathan and Margaret Qualley) who inadvertently board a rental car that has been reserved by criminals to deliver a briefcase filled with enigmatic illegal goods. With high expectations from Coen’s earlier films, critics gave Drive-Away Dolls mixed reviews, but it’s still a fun, filthy time.

27. Rat Race (2001)

To obtain $2 million for yourself, how far would you go? 563 miles, perhaps? In Jerry Zucker’s Rat Race, an all-star ensemble cast is given that task. Breckin Meyer, Amy Smart, Cuba Gooding Jr., Seth Green, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Lovitz, and Rowan Atkinson are among the few who are challenged to be the first to retrieve a duffel bag containing $2 million from a locker at a train station in New Mexico by an eccentric Las Vegas tycoon (played by John Cleese), who finances a physical “rat race” of his casino patrons. The comedy was released in 2001. Rat Race has some genuinely ridiculous humor that makes you want to run for cover.

26. EuroTrip (2004)

With the exception of EuroTrip being a true 2000s classic, Scotty is unaware. In 2004, EuroTrip, which was similar to Road Trip, was produced by the same people. Similar to Road Trip, EuroTrip centers on a group of college students led by the distraught Scotty (played by Scott Melchowicz), who sets out to travel across Europe to visit his attractive German pen friend so that he can personally repent after reprimanding her while acting like a guy. EuroTrip is a red, white, and Brewski-drinking film that takes viewers from London to Amsterdam to Vatican City.

25. Lessons in Driving (2006)

Rupert Grint and Julie Walters collaborate on the endearing and humorous Driving Lessons in between Harry Potter installments. A shy and sensitive adolescent named Ben (Grint) takes a summer job driving around a crotchety, alcoholic soap opera star (Walters), who is resentful of her waning career. The film was released in 2006. Ben is unaware that his new “boss”—who has a lot of meetings, including a road trip to the Edinburgh International Book Festival—is exactly what he needs to help him transition into young adulthood. Sincere and charming, Driving Lessons may not take you down new paths, but it always takes care to emphasize that the companionship of your fellow travelers is what counts.

24. Rain Man (1988)

Is it among the best road trip films ever made? D-d-definitely. Rain Man, directed by Barry Levinson, stars Tom Cruise as Charlie, a haughty exotic sports car dealer who learns he has an adult brother named Raymond, an autistic savant (played by Dustin Hoffman, who won the Oscar for Best Actor). The brothers, despite their difficulties, start to bond during a road journey from Cincinnati to Los Angeles. Rain Man’s poignant tale of the value of family made it a huge hit and continues to be admired today.

23. Grind in Mississippi (2015)

Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s underappreciated comedy-drama Mississippi Grind follows Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn as they roll the dice from Iowa to New Orleans. Mendelsohn plays a destitute gambler who meets a young, attractive man (Reynolds); the two work together to win back some much-needed money by gambling their way to New Orleans, where they will be seated at a high-stakes poker game. Mississippi Grind, one of Reynolds’ finest films, capitalizes on the actor’s comic charm while never getting annoying. And Mendelsohn is a joy.

22. Kumar and Harold Visit White Castle (2004)

The only thing that slacker medical student Kumar (Kal Penn) and straight-laced Harold (John Cho) desire is some hamburgers. However, the lifelong best friends’ nasty case of the late-night cravings for White Castle sliders leads into a journey across New Jersey, where they encounter a variety of troublemakers, including racist rent-a-cops, dubious tow truck drivers, and an extremely unsettling Neil Patrick Harris (as himself). Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, a highly offensive bro comedy that was released in 2004, is a great movie for anyone who like food, camaraderie, and adventure.

21. (2009) Away We Go
    John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph co-star in Away We Go as thirtysomething expectant parents who are still seeking security, permanence, and, most importantly, a true sense of community. The two left Denver to travel to various friends and family in Phoenix, Tuscon, and Montreal, despite their financial difficulties and a six-month pregnancy. They rediscover for themselves what it truly means to create and have a “home” along the journey. Despite receiving mixed reviews from reviewers, Away We Go has held up well over time because of its distinctive independent charm and strong performances by Krasinski and Rudolph.
22. The Vacation of National Lampoon (1983)

The Griswolds’ most memorable trip is still the first one they ever took. The opening film of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series centers on Chevy Chase’s character, Clark Griswold, a family man who simply wants more time with his loved ones. On a trip from Chicago to California, Clark rents an ugly station wagon and takes his wife and children to visit “Walley World.” However, the path to “America’s Favorite Family Fun Park” is paved with treachery, and the Griswolds barely escape infidelity and vandalism. Although National Lampoon’s Vacation launched a new sub-franchise under the main National Lampoon brand, the original film strikes the ideal mix between humor aimed at an adult audience and family-friendly antics.

19. The Machines vs. The Mitchells, 2021

Abbi Jacobson’s character, aspiring filmmaker Katie Mitchell, is off to California for college. A major family outburst is caused by Katie’s malfunctioning laptop the night before she leaves. Rick (Danny McBride), Katie’s technophobic father, wants to fix everyone’s dysfunction by forcing the family to take a road trip from their Michigan home in order to spend more time together and patch things up before Katie starts school. Unfortunately, when the robot apocalypse starts at that same time, the cosmos has other ideas. The Mitchells vs. The Machines, which came from the same studio that produced Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, received comparable praise from critics for its animation, voice acting, and lighthearted tone.

18. Automobiles, Trains, and Aircraft (1987)

Traveling from New York City to Chicago should be very simple. Unfortunately, high-strung ad executive Neal Page (Steve Martin) has numerous challenges due to a sudden blizzard and the Thanksgiving travel rush. As the title suggests, Neal boards every possible means of transportation in an attempt to reach home in time for Thanksgiving, but he is diverted by a yapping traveling companion, shower curtain ring salesman Del (John Candy). Despite making extensive use of Martin and Candy’s mismatched relationship, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles has a lot of heart—enough for everyone.

17. Nearly Well-Known

The semi-autobiographical film Almost Famous, directed by Cameron Crowe, transports viewers to the height of American rock ‘n roll by following William (Patrick Fugit), a teen music journalist who tours with the band Stillwater during the summer for Rolling Stone magazine. In Almost Famous, a road trip film unlike any other, William learns to keep his personal and professional relationships apart, including his attraction to a groupie (Kate Hudson). It blends coming-of-age self-discovery with the idyllic days of ’70s rock music. Almost Famous, which also stars Frances McDormand, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Billy Crudup, and a teenage Zooey Deschanel as William’s older sister, is all about the excitement of having a lot to write home about.

16. Sunshine, Little Miss (2006)

Little Miss Sunshine, a very popular independent film, follows a dysfunctional family on their humorous road trip through the Southwest as they attempt to get in time for a beauty pageant. The family overcomes numerous challenges and failures to become closer than ever during the two days it takes to travel from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Redondo Beach, California. The film’s mustard yellow Volkswagen T2 Microbus, which stars Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin, and Paul Dano, provides viewers with a ride that is far more genuine than the pornographic raunchiness that characterized mid-aughts comedies.

15. The Bandit and Smokey (1977)

Smokey and the Bandit, a high-octane road trip action comedy from the 1970s, marks stuntman Hal Needham’s first time behind the camera. Local legend Bo “Bandit” Darville (Burt Reynolds) is hired to smuggle 400 cases of Coors beer from Texas to Atlanta during a period when the beer could not be lawfully sold east of Texas due to its lack of preservatives, which meant it would spoil en route from its Colorado brewing location. Sheriff Justice, also known as “Smokey” (Jackie Gleason), targets him after he takes the position and a gorgeous hitchhiker named Carrie (Sally Field). Smokey and the Bandit is a great example of a 1970s film.

14. Zombieland (2009)

The star-studded action comedy Zombieland was released by director Ruben Fleischer during the height of the zombie frenzy in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Bloodthirsty traveler Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson) links up with orderly young man Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), whose stringent survival guidelines have so far allowed him to survive, as they traverse across a zombie-infested United States in search of a refuge free from zombies. They encounter sisters Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) and Wichita (Emma Stone) along the way, and the four become close as they avoid more perils. Despite not reinventing the zombie wheel, Zombieland became a cult favorite in time for The Walking Dead because of its humor and fun approach to the zombie genre.

13. Idaho: My Own Private (1991)

Gus Van Sant’s My Own Private Idaho, a landmark film in the New Queer Cinema movement, follows two friends on a quest for self-discovery as they trip from Portland to Idaho and even Rome: Scott (Keanu Reeves) and Mike (River Phoenix), who gives one of his best performances. Although finding Mike’s mother is the main goal of their trip, the larger goal is to paint a picture of young men in decline. Together with its then-taboo subject matter, the film’s dreamy aspect gives it an air of the avant-garde.

12. The 1979 film The Muppet Movie
    If you are at a loss, think about Hare Krishna. The movie within a movie, The Muppet Movie, tells the story of Jim Henson’s Muppet universe’s beginnings. Kermit the Frog is asked to leave his faraway pond in order to become a Hollywood movie star and make millions of people happy. Along the way, Kermit escapes a rapacious restaurant owner who wants to use Kermit as his mascot, and he assembles the quirky Muppets that we all know and love, including Fozzy Bear, Miss Piggy, and Gonzo. With its heartfelt ensemble singing what’s on their minds, The Muppet Movie brings Henson’s imaginative magic to life.
13. Killers by Nature (1994)

Oliver Stone’s gritty 1994 crime masterpiece Natural Born Killers encapsulates his era-defining discourse on careless media sensationalism and cultural degradation. Juliette Lewis and Woody Harrelson portray renegade criminals who wander America executing various horrible atrocities, a la Bonnie and Clyde. However, because of their activities, they become media darlings and end up becoming America’s Most Wanted. Natural Born Killers, a film that reflects America’s unseemly position as the center of the world’s attention, is splattered with Stone’s typical stylish excesses.

10. (2020) Nomadland

Based on Jessica Bruder’s 2017 nonfiction book, Chloe Zhao’s Oscar-winning film Nomadland explores the lives of America’s very own “nomads”—typically elderly people who lead nomadic lives and earn a livelihood through seasonal labor. One such nomad is played by Frances McDormand, who portrays Fern, a widow who now wanders the Southwest of the United States in her own RV. Despite being essentially “plotless,” Nomadland’s artistic richness stems from its candid portrayal of people who have lost faith in the American Dream and are now searching for their own, their own way of living it.

9. Harper & Will (2024)

Movie star Will Ferrell travels throughout the United States with Harper Steele, his friend and creative partner of more than two decades, in this poignant and perhaps life-saving Netflix documentary. Their journey through a politically divided America, which follows Harper’s transition during the COVID-19 pandemic, allows Will to gain a deeper understanding of his own closest friend while observing the dangers that the trans population faces in any social setting. Will & Harper explores the light and gloomy aspects of everyday America, from stock car races to biker clubs, and highlights the importance of having companions along for the journey.

8. Las Vegas: Fear and Loathing (1998)

Hunter S. Thompson’s renowned book Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas, which is based on his visits to the city of sin in March and April of 1971, explores the ruins of the American ideal. Reporter Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp) and his lawyer, Dr. Gonzo (Benicio del Toro), are sent by a magazine to cover a dirt bike race. They travel through Las Vegas while high on almost anything you can think of, reflecting on the colossal failure of the counterculture movement of the 1960s. Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas is a ridiculous homage to America’s confusing excess, expertly helmed by Terry Gilliam.

7. Texas, Paris (1984)

In 1984 neo-noir Western Paris, Texas, German filmmaker Wim Wenders transports viewers to the vast American deserts. Harry Dean Stanton as Travis, an unkempt traveler and amnesiac who is awkwardly reunited with his own son (Hunter Carson) and brother (Dean Stockwell). The brothers set out to find Travis’s own wife, Natassja Kinski, who has gone missing. Wenders investigates if the American family can still provide for damaged individuals in a lonely America with flickering neon signs and huge stretches of countryside.

6. In 2001, Y Tu Mamá También

Set in a politically turbulent Mexico of the late 20th century, the story follows two hormonal youths, Julio (Gael García Bernal) and Tenoch (Diego Luna), as they travel through Mexico with an older, sexy woman named Luisa (Maribel Verdú). Their own girlfriends had left for their own vacation in Italy. Although Y Tu Mamá También garnered attention because of its graphic representations of sex and nudity, it also received praise from critics for its poignant examination of friendship and longing, which served as a complex metaphor for a Mexico that was changing. In addition to filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón’s portrayals of Mexico’s verdant surroundings, Y Tu Mamá También is a film that makes everyone think about desire.

5. Le Fou, Pierrot (1965)

This French New Wave classic, regarded as one of Jean-Luc Godard’s best films ever, centers on an unhappy married man (Jean-Paul Belmondo) who flees Paris and goes on a criminal rampage with his ex-girlfriend Marianne (Anna Karina), a stunning young woman who is being pursued by politically far-right hitmen, all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. Pierrot Le Fou, renowned for Godard’s copious social commentary, moments of breaking the fourth wall, and gaudy pop art imagery, remains as relevant now as it did in 1965.

4. The 1988 film Midnight Run

In the popular action comedy Midnight Run, directed by Martin Brest in 1988, a straightforward job becomes more complex than anyone expects. In order to track down a mob accountant (Charles Grodin) in New York City and transport him to Los Angeles, bounty hunter Jack Walsh (Robert De Niro) is hired. When Jack learns that the accountant, who has a frustrating attitude, is also wanted by the FBI and the mob, things become more challenging. The on-screen connection between De Niro and Grodin makes Midnight Run an incredible experience that is not to be missed.

3. Louise and Thelma (1991)

Its famous last shot will live forever in history. In Ridley Scott’s Thelma & Louise, Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis play the title characters, whose harmless road trip takes a tragic turn when they murder an attempted rapist. Thelma and Louise become closer while on the run and achieve the independence they so much desired from their otherwise dull, hopeless existence. Like its somewhat ambiguous ending, Thelma & Louise stands tall in the feminist film canon, eternally fixed in time.

2. The 1969 film Easy Rider

Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider, which starred and was directed by him, was the pinnacle of the American New Wave. In the film, Hopper and Peter Fonda play two outlaw motorcycle riders who, after a successful smuggling operation, hop on their customized choppers and head east to New Orleans to enjoy Mardi Gras. They wind themselves in the center of the cultural hippie movement along the road. Easy Rider, a seminal film in the American film canon, changed our perception of the open road as the last destination where we are destined to be wild.

1. The 2004 film Sideways

In his explosive comedy-drama Sideways, Alexander Payne examines the agonies of early-onset middle-aged crises. Miles, played by Paul Giamatti, is an aspiring novelist and dissatisfied English teacher who takes his best buddy, mediocre TV actor Jack (Thomas Haden Church), on a weeklong trip to California to visit several wineries. Jack yearns for more hedonistic objectives, but Miles is happy to drink and criticize wine. The two friends’ time together turns into an unexpectedly moving story about the need for direction as they argue over their needs and wants. Despite its lackluster appearance, Sideways is one of the best road trip films ever made.