Swerving through the seventies : a family boldly leaves its driveway -- Pioneers of the pavement : the long road to the interstates -- Hey, where's everybody going? : Americans set off to discover America -- Packed in like sardines : join us, won't you? -- Smokeys in the bush : dodging cops (and stops) on the interstates -- Time to pass : diversions, directions and desperation -- Eating up the miles : dining while driving -- Inn and out : motels, hotels and invaders from space -- Heavy metal highways : land yachts, station wagons and "the Thing" -- Through the windshield together : a crash course in highway safety -- Up, up and away : all roads lead to the airport -- Leaving it all behind : the end of the road for road trips?

Explores the history of the family road trip, how its evolution mirrored the evolution of the United States, and why road trips have largely disappeared