United States Travel: Books That Explore the Beauty of America

Celebrate 250 years of United States travel with books that have the power to take readers across America whether by foot, horse, boat or car. From timeless travelogues like Travels with Charley to cult classics like On the Road and epic journeys like American Rambler, these stories capture the heart of the nation. Journey through famous trails and hidden corners of the United States and get to know the people, places and history that continue to shape the country today.

 

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An ode to nature and the American wilderness that is equal parts personal journey, travelogue and survival story, this is an inspired look at our beautiful world and where we fit in it.

 

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Hop in and let an award-winning historian take you on an American adventure where the past meets the present. Journey through thirteen landmark locations that together reveal the full sweep of U.S. history.

 

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Join great American novelist John Steinbeck and his French poodle, Charley, on a road trip across America. Spanning forty states, this classic travel memoir serves as an insightful snapshot of the people and culture of 1960s America. 

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This is the story of one man’s hilarious, thought-provoking, occasionally catastrophic, and always enlightening trip along the Appalachian Trail. Bill Bryson’s droll humor and gifts of observation are unmatched, and here he is at the top of his game.

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Alternatively hilarious and poignant, this is a travelogue of a national park road trip from a fresh, feminist and very funny voice. Even if you aren't one to get out and see the trees, this book is, in and of itself, an enjoyable ride.

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A cancer survivor walks 330 miles from Washington D.C. to New York City in this remarkable memoir about identity, finding home, and our common ground. A hopeful portrait of America.

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Isaac Fitzgerald invites you to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Appleseed for a mesmerizing journey that weaves memory, history and personal anecdotes.

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Travel back in time with Darley Newman on her road trip following in the footsteps of the American Revolutionaries. Blending travelogue and historical documentation, this book will delight history buffs and explorers alike. 

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If you’ve ever felt stuck and wanted to find yourself on the road, this is the book for you. In an effort to understand himself and his place in the world, Jenkins sets off on a sixteen-month journey across two continents, documenting his adventure and his personal growth along the way. 

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With his signature dry humor, Bryson records his nostalgic quest for the perfect, idyllic small town in the United States. If you’ve ever embarked on a trip with high expectations and were let down by reality, this book is for you.

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City dweller, country dweller, suburbanite (or suburban commuter) — this timeless book will change the way you see the world and your place in it. Doesn’t matter if you’ve never been to the desert, but absolutely matters if you’ve always dreamed of going, a must-read if you want to revisit a place like no other.

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Continuing to inspire explorers to cross the United States on foot, Peter Jenkins’ memories of his multi-thousand-mile adventure are not just stories of his experience but also a moving portrait of America itself.

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Capturing the small-town America rarely seen, this fascinating account follows a man who paddled the nation’s waterways for over twenty years, crossing paths with people from all walks of life before mysteriously disappearing.

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The kind of emotional and physical journey that Cheryl Strayed made popular, Mother, Nature is deeply personal, profoundly moving, immensely intelligent and woven with inspiration for all.

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From bustling New York City life to the heart of the Mississippi Delta, Richard and Mariah immerse themselves in a world where snakes and alligators are as much a part of daily reality as the lingering race issues of the American South. 

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Hitchhike across the USA as only John Waters could in this funny and heartfelt account of his own unexpected journey from his office in Maryland to his San Francisco home.

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Weaving together history, philosophy and personal reflections into an immersive travelogue cataloguing his 1,000-mile solo boat trip from Seattle to Juneau, Jonathan Raban explores the sea’s physical presence and metaphorical significance.

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After the death of his mother leaves him questioning his faith, Tyson Motsenbocker decides to undertake a 600 mile pilgrimage up the California coast to explore an 18th-century Franciscan monk’s idea that tragedy and suffering can become portals for renewal.

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Have you ever wondered which parts of the U.S. are the most wild and uninhabited? Peter Stark embarks on a journey through these remote regions of America, uncovering their little-known histories along the way. 

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From flowing rivers to breathtaking landscapes and unexpected dangers, this journey across America by boat traverses the United States we know today, while also revealing the past that continues to shape it. 

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Embark on a 400-mile horseback journey through the American Southwest with Douglas Preston as he explores Navajo mythology and encounters striking landscapes and fascinating people along the way.

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A masterful and mysterious telling of the disappearance and death of Christopher Johnson McCandless. With a captivating voice and vivid imagery, Krakauer transports readers into the wilderness right alongside Christopher. It's nonfiction that reads like fiction.

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It’s not easy for a book about life to stay relevant for half a century (and counting), but this is one such book. Equal parts father and son, personal narrative and a search for meaning, it’s about life and how to live it, and yes it’s about motorcycle maintenance as well. Just slightly.

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A staple on the memoir scene, Cheryl Strayed’s solo journey along the Pacific Crest Trail is as much a compelling narrative as it is a reflection of healing and perseverance in the face of abject loss. With rippling prose woven with a warm smile, this is a journey worth taking.

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Andrew McCarthy takes himself across America to meet with people from his past in this inspiring exploration of male friendship, connections and self-discovery.

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As a California native, Joan Didion offers quiet, evocative reflections on the historical reality of the state, examining the water and land politics that lie beneath its public image. 

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Did you know that George Washington went on a journey to help unite American citizens? Then, 229 years later, Nathaniel Philbrick decided to retrace the first president's footsteps from Mt. Vernon to the Carolinas, delving into history and reflecting on the nation we have today along the way.

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Famously adapted into a film starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro, Thompson's surreal journey through Las Vegas uses wit and humor to deconstruct the American Dream and the fading spirit of 1960s America.

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When most people think of Alaska, pristine rivers and permafrost-covered land come to mind, but John McPhee goes beyond the state’s rich wildlife, exploring both its urban life and its people with as much enthusiasm as its vast remoteness.

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From Missouri to Oregon, Rinker Buck retraces the famous 2,000-mile Oregon Trail the old-fashioned way, by horse and wagon. Through personal reflections, his daring cross-country adventure brings America’s westward expansion vividly to life.

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Jack Kerouac’s cult classic about two friends road-tripping across the U.S. in search of hope and meaning continues to resonate with generations of American youth since its publication, shaping lives and perceptions along the way.

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The story of William Finnegan and his life as a surfer with so many delicious layers in between. It’s a deeply personal narrative with real-life adventures that will keep you glued to the page as you learn more about this wild character and the friendships he forged.

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Faced with unimaginable grief, Neil Peart mounts his motorcycle and rides thousands of miles across the United States. With reflective, lyrical prose, he shares his healing journey across mountains and coastlines, visiting loved ones and forming new connections along the way.

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At fifty, Steve Grant took up a job as a mail carrier. Soon, he carried a lot more than mail. By sharing stories with strangers and connecting neighbors with loved ones, Steve learns the power of community in this charming memoir.

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Most Americans think they know the main bullet points of history, but large stretches of the nation’s past remain unfamiliar. Tony Horwitz retraces the journeys of early explorers across the American wilderness, from subarctic Canada to Florida’s coasts, uncovering little-known details along the way. 

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The Deepest South of All is Richard Grant's love letter to his adoptive city of Natchez, Mississippi. Seamlessly blending travelogue, history, memoir, and anecdote, spiced by a good strong dose of irony, any eye for incendiary humor and just plain weirdness.

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This quintessential tribute to 1960s counterculture, following Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters through their cross-country travels, artistic experimentation and psychedelic exploration, captures a transformative moment in American history.

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Still unfamiliar to many Americans, the Green Book was a vital guide for Black travelers from 1936 to 1967, listing safe places for them to stay and eat during segregation. Here, Alvin Hall and his friend Janée retrace the route from New York to New Orleans, revealing a history of Black travel and resistance.

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A modern take on Travels with Charley, Lauren Hough sets out on a long-dreamed-of American road trip with her Husky mix Woody by her side. With sharp insight and dark humor, it’s a reflection on the journeys we almost never take.

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If you’ve read her novels, you know that Elin Hilderbrand is an expert on all things Nantucket. Now, the author puts her expertise to use in this charming guide, featuring helpful tips for everything from romantic escapes to family excursions in the quintessential beach town.

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Before there was Bird by Bird, there was A Pilgrim A Tinker‘s Creek. Not exactly a formal guide to writing, this classic – and short – combination of memoir and nature study, is a masterful a 20th Century take on Walden by Henry David Thoreau, recommended by readers and writers.

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The United States is known for its majestic national parks, and the massive monolith known as El Capitan rises above Yosemite National Park. Read Alex Honnold's story of the first-ever free solo ascent of the 3,000-foot rock formation, a feat rock climbers have dreamed of for decades.

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When she lost her job during the pandemic, the forest called. Here, Shilletha Curtis shares her emotional journey along 2,193 miles of the Appalachian Trail, reflecting on trauma, identity, and the transformative power of nature.

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