In August 2019 I embarked on a fairly lengthy road trip of almost 2500 miles. During the time driving to my destination, I am reminded of the simple brilliance of the United States Interstate Highway System. Many other countries have similar highway systems, but our system is unique because of its rich, varied history in not only commerce but also American culture. 

In several previous trips, I have been able to travel to some interesting areas of Route 66 and other historic scenic drives. Route 66 is a historic highway that made it possible for people to travel from Chicago to Los Angeles on a single road (or system of roads). Without getting into too much detail, the system of roads that became known as Route 66 was a group of already existing roads with a few changes allowing travelers the full through passage of the entire route. What made it so historic and remembered throughout American culture is the fact that it connected some of the largest metropolitan areas with extremely popular and memorable destinations such as Las Vegas, The Grand Canyon, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and many more.

The Unites States Interstate Highway System was built with a similar method. In fact, in many areas even today there are added interstate highways being built. For example, southeast Missouri and northwest Arizona have existing state and/or federal highways that will become future interstate highways. Many major metropolitan areas continue to build additional business loops or beltways for additional convenience. 

While the brilliance in the construction of the interstate system is to be reveled, my amazement of this system lies more in the way that this system has influenced American culture. The system has given people a reliable way to travel and ship goods. Where commerce is concerned, the interstate system is the most commonly used method of transport for goods here in the US.

The interstate system has also had a positive impact on rural and less fortunate areas. In some areas such as the South, the United States Interstate Highway System was able provide federal funding where local funding was not available to build adequate roads to improve commerce. Urban areas, however, have experienced negative impacts due to the interstate system such as loss of property due to eminent domain, etc. 

One untold aspect of the interstate system is how it allows people to travel, collaborate, and share ideas. As traveling in America became easier in the 1950s, it allowed more people to travel outside of their own local areas and expand their horizons. People could more easily visit events like Woodstock, travel to cities like San Francisco to join demonstrations, and spread concepts like rock and roll in the 1960s.

One of the most interesting things that the American Interstate Highway System has brought to our culture is the good old-fashioned family road trip. There aren’t many other ways that you can see so much of the country with such little effort. Traveling by road offers a great way to bring your belongings with you, without the baggage and space restrictions of air travel. Many of us remember going on some type of road trip at least once or twice from our childhood. No matter how much we may have loved or hated those road trips when we were younger, most of us end up cherishing those memories of hurtling down a highway at unsafe speeds to a loosely planned destination, regardless of how we originally thought about it. 

This is the brilliance of our interstate System; it serves as a doorway to our memories, our culture, and even what we strive to share with future generations. It brought the fun of Route 66 to locations all over America, and gave citizens an easier way to travel and vacation. We are lucky to have one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and even more fortunate that we are afforded this method of travel. While I enjoy traveling by plane to faraway destinations, it is the cross-country road trip that has become my favorite way to see America. 

We have some great things to see here such as natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, and the Smoky Mountains, as well as man-made wonders such as the St. Louis Arch, monuments in Washington, D.C., and the Statue of Liberty. There are an untold number of destinations that you can reach via a road trip, but part of the fascination is what happens along the way. Road trips never turn out the way you imagine them, but they are always memorable in every way. This is why I believe the U.S. Interstate Highway System may be the greatest idea that America has invented.