Taking a road trip is a classic, iconic aspect of American life. Whether with family or friends, long or short, this unique and specific variety of vacation is always sure to be memorable. Here are some reasons why road trips are the greatest way to take a holiday:

1. Lots of conversation with your fellow vacationers

By their nature, road trips aren’t quick; which means that you are going to be spending plenty of time with your trip mates. It’s a great opportunity to have great, deep discussions, and come away with new ideas to think about.

2. Independence- you have the flexibility to visit many places, to change your plans

Spontaneity is an option on road trips, and is almost an integral part of them. You can get places much more easily, plan your route exactly as you want it, and make stops to see something cool or stay somewhere a little longer. Also, because of the freedom and lack of restriction during car travel, you have the opportunity to cross many locations off of your “to-visit” list in one trip- so efficient!

3. Wacky roadside attractions

A giant ball of twine? A car graveyard? The country’s largest outdoor metal sculpture park? Signs for tons of unusual roadside stops appear during road trips, and you get the opportunity to go check them out- and after you get to show your friends pics of you with the “World’s Largest Statue of (insert random creature here).

4. Never ending road trip playlists

Whether you bounce between radio stations as they continuously move in and out of reach between cities, or make a killer playlist of songs on your phone, you get to listen to some good, or at least interesting, tunes along the way.

5. Lots of time to read or sleep, uninterrupted (and in fact, expected)

Being in a car, nice and warm, with boringly unchanging surroundings, with no end in sight; allows lots of time to dedicate to napping, working on a transportable project, or cracking open a new book.

6. Junk food and car snacks

When else is it so easy, almost required, to live off of nothing but delicious, unhealthy snacks and fast food? It’s a great time to take advantage of the fact that you have no way to cook, and a need to keep moving along.

7. Playing road trip games

You need some way to spend the hours on the road, and car games are a good way to pass time, and a fun throwback to younger years. The license plate game is a perennial favorite, along with I Spy, and the always fun “will I get cell phone service in the middle of nowhere?”

8. You see that it truly is the journey, not the destination

Taking a road trip isn’t about getting to your location quickly- it’s about enjoying the process, and the adventures along the way. Even though it is a long haul, and you might go through some difficulties, you always end up with funny stories, and good times to look back on. Getting there is half of the fun.