There's something undeniably magical about a road trip-the sense of boundless freedom, the ever-changing scenery, and the thrill of the unknown. It's not just about reaching a destination; it's about the experiences along the way. The hum of the engine, the wind rushing through open windows, and the endless stretch of asphalt ahead create a rhythm that lulls you into a state of adventure.
The Beginning: Anticipation and Excitement
Every road trip starts with anticipation. The night before departure is filled with last-minute packing, checking maps (or GPS), and that giddy excitement that makes sleep elusive. The car is loaded with snacks, playlists, and a mix of essentials and just-in-case items. As the engine starts the next morning, the journey truly begins-windows down, music up, and the open road calling.
The first miles are electric. The cityscape fades into suburbs, then into open countryside. The world feels full of possibilities. Conversations flow easily-plans, memories, jokes, and comfortable silences. The road is a companion, always moving forward, urging you to see what's around the next bend.
The Middle: Unexpected Discoveries
A road trip is never just about the highway. It's the detours that make it unforgettable. A hand-painted sign for a roadside attraction, a local diner with the best pie you've ever tasted, or a scenic overlook that wasn't on the itinerary-these unplanned moments become the heart of the journey.
Small towns welcome you with their quirks-a vintage gas station, a Main Street frozen in time, or a friendly waitress who calls you "hon." The landscape shifts: rolling hills give way to deserts, forests morph into plains, and mountains rise in the distance. Each mile brings new textures, colors, and stories.
There are challenges, too-wrong turns, sudden rainstorms, or that one rest stop with questionable bathrooms. But even these become part of the lore, the tales you'll laugh about later. A flat tire in the middle of nowhere leads to an encounter with a kind stranger. A missed exit becomes a chance to explore a hidden gem.
The Rhythm of the Road
Hours blend together in the best way. The playlist shifts from upbeat anthems to mellow tunes as the sun dips low. Golden hour bathes everything in warmth, and the world feels slower, softer. Conversations deepen as the miles pass-dreams, fears, and the kind of talks that only happen when you're untethered from daily life.
Night driving has its own magic. The road is quieter, lit only by headlights and the occasional glow of a distant town. The stars seem brighter out here, away from city lights. A 24-hour truck stop becomes a beacon of coffee and greasy comfort food, the neon sign a welcome sight in the darkness.
The Destination-and the Journey Home
Eventually, the destination appears, whether it's a national park, a coastal town, or a loved one's doorstep. There's satisfaction in arriving, but also a quiet longing for the road itself. Because the truth is, the trip isn't just about where you're going-it's about who you become along the way.
And then, there's the return. The road back is different-familiar yet changed. You're wiser, wearier, but full of stories. The car smells like adventure: sunscreen, fast food wrappers, and the faint scent of pine from that hike days ago. Home feels both comforting and strange after so much movement.
Why We Keep Going Back
A road trip is more than travel; it's a reminder of life's spontaneity. It's about control and surrender-planning the route but embracing the detours. It's about connection-to the people beside you, the strangers you meet, and the land unfolding outside your window.
And when it's over, you'll find yourself dreaming of the next one-because the road never really leaves you. It whispers in the everyday, calling you back to where the horizon never ends, and the journey is everything.
In the report below, the county's county seat is used as a starting point for a county. From there, all county seats within 250 straight-line miles from that county seat orgination point are shown. In those instances where a county does not have a county seat, than the largest city within that county is used as a reference point. There are a few cases where a county has two county seats, in that case, one is arbitrarily selected.
Seattle (King County, WA) |
Dallas (Dallas County, TX) |
|
Salem (Marion County, OR) |
|
Eugene (Lane County, OR) |
|
Manhattan (New York County, NY) |
|
Chicago (Cook County, IL) |
|
Atlanta (Fulton County, GA) |
|
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County, CA) |
|
Los Angeles (Los Angeles County, CA) |
|
Crescent City (Del Norte County, CA) |
|
Alturas (Modoc County, CA)
Colusa (Colusa County, CA)
Crescent City (Del Norte County, CA)
Downieville (Sierra County, CA)
Eureka (Humboldt County, CA)
Lakeport (Lake County, CA)
Marysville (Yuba County, CA)
Nevada City (Nevada County, CA)
Oroville (Butte County, CA)
Quincy (Plumas County, CA)
Red Bluff (Tehama County, CA)
Redding (Shasta County, CA)
Santa Rosa (Sonoma County, CA)
Susanville (Lassen County, CA)
Ukiah (Mendocino County, CA)
Weaverville (Trinity County, CA)
Willows (Glenn County, CA)
Woodland (Yolo County, CA)
Yreka (Siskiyou County, CA)
Yuba City (Sutter County, CA)
Albany (Linn County, OR)
Bend (Deschutes County, OR)
Coquille (Coos County, OR)
Corvallis (Benton County, OR)
Dallas (Polk County, OR)
Eugene (Lane County, OR)
Gold Beach (Curry County, OR)
Grants Pass (Josephine County, OR)
Klamath Falls (Klamath County, OR)
Lakeview (Lake County, OR)
McMinnville (Yamhill County, OR)
Medford (Jackson County, OR)
Newport (Lincoln County, OR)
Prineville (Crook County, OR)
Roseburg (Douglas County, OR)
Salem (Marion County, OR)
|
189
211
0
233
67
200
227
240
209
212
150
126
243
207
188
97
188
250
81
226
205
216
98
199
223
167
46
64
128
200
243
80
198
243
110
226
|
529
410
621
406
564
428
396
390
417
432
475
502
388
460
443
526
434
371
580
396
774
711
705
774
797
738
665
639
595
574
814
623
791
722
689
792
|
239
64
243
128
180
43
78
106
95
139
122
148
0
177
56
159
79
54
227
75
428
394
336
424
449
388
289
277
265
287
468
269
432
416
332
448
|
2032
2106
2221
2042
2218
2156
2083
2054
2082
2049
2118
2124
2146
2033
2171
2154
2116
2094
2140
2087
2179
2086
2224
2187
2192
2176
2233
2178
2098
2025
2188
2153
2225
2067
2182
2178
|
1686
1800
1866
1732
1880
1850
1779
1749
1771
1732
1793
1793
1852
1707
1863
1818
1803
1798
1788
1782
1779
1696
1847
1788
1787
1785
1868
1813
1738
1667
1779
1791
1825
1672
1805
1773
|
2395
2513
2572
2445
2588
2563
2493
2462
2484
2444
2505
2503
2566
2418
2575
2528
2516
2512
2494
2496
2471
2392
2546
2480
2477
2480
2571
2516
2443
2373
2468
2495
2516
2367
2504
2463
|
220
340
167
331
231
347
348
348
325
306
272
244
388
281
339
229
317
379
163
348
40
90
81
36
61
0
131
113
144
190
80
119
60
113
59
60
|
268
398
226
386
291
407
406
404
382
361
331
303
448
333
399
289
376
437
222
406
21
104
134
27
14
60
187
173
197
231
21
179
54
115
119
0
|
1435
1473
1622
1416
1605
1520
1450
1423
1453
1428
1498
1510
1503
1419
1536
1541
1487
1454
1543
1453
1627
1531
1646
1634
1645
1615
1644
1590
1510
1440
1647
1565
1671
1517
1607
1632
|
433
582
415
561
480
594
586
581
563
536
514
487
634
504
587
476
560
619
408
587
210
251
319
215
192
249
374
362
374
388
171
366
222
240
308
189
|
Sources: STI: PopStats and STI: Colossus
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