20 Vintage Photos of American Road Trips in the Pre-GPS Era

Lifestyle Nostalgia Travel April 16, 2025

Last Updated on May 3, 2025 by Colby Droscher

Before Siri barked “Next exit,” the open road was plotted by folding maps, neon motel signs, and a healthy dose of guess-and-check adventure. The 20 photos ahead capture that pre-GPS magic — from pump-boy greetings on Route 66 to kids dozing in tail-fin Chevys while Dad studies an AAA TripTik.

Fancy more throwback travel? Check the kitsch motels in 19 Images of Classic Roadside Motels and Route 66 Signs, roll the rails with 20 Vintage Railroad & Train Photos That Capture the Spirit of the Rails, or take to the water in 13 Rare Ferry Photos From the Past. Buckle up — America’s analogue highways await.

A man stands beside an old car with supplies tied to the back. The back window has “Oregon or Bust” written on it. The photo is black and white and appears to be from an earlier era, possibly the early 1900s.
_john_t

This was back when a compass and a map were our only navigational aids.

2. “We were supposed to be at the Grand Canyon”

Four people, three children and one adult, sit on a stone wall in front of a snow-capped mountain. They wear sweaters and jeans, and the sky is partly cloudy above the rugged landscape.
reddevil8884

This is what happens when your 10-year-old son navigates the map.

3. Before the days of fast food, roadside picnics were the answer

Four people sit at a small table by a classic station wagon, having a roadside picnic near a forested area. Food and supplies are visible on the table and in the open car trunk. The scene suggests a peaceful, outdoor meal.
diosmioman63

This is a photo from a family road trip in the ’50s.

4. Seat belts were optional

Three children sit in the open back of a red station wagon reading and playing, while an adult woman stands outside the car. A house and another parked car are visible in the background on a sunny day.
big_shot_gangster

The back of the station wagon was the place to be in the ’60s.

5. Two sisters are getting ready to head to Louisiana

Two women sit barefoot on the hood of an old car parked by a road. Both are smiling and wearing summer outfits. Trees and a white house are visible in the background on a sunny day.
anthony_vintage

This photo was taken in August 1975.

6. Brunch on the road

Two children sit in the open trunk of a vintage blue station wagon, eating snacks and drinking milk, surrounded by bags and boxes, parked by a forested roadside.
ststeveg

Milk on a road trip is a questionable choice.

7. An early ’90s trip to Colorado

A brown station wagon loaded with luggage on the roof is parked beside a colorful “Welcome to Colorado” sign on a cloudy day. People are visible inside the car, and grassy fields stretch into the distance.
merelala

You couldn’t fit another person in that car if you tried.

8. A late ’80s trip to the Continental Divide

Three people pose in front of a large “Monarch Pass, Elevation 11,312 feet, Continental Divide” sign. A white pickup truck is parked behind them, and trees are visible in the background.

Isn’t it amazing that we used to take a week-long road trip to see something so simple?

9. Who remembers calling for directions?

A man in sunglasses and casual summer clothes uses a public payphone while holding a folded map. He stands next to a white picket fence under a "New England Telephone" sign on a sunny day.
littlefoot1195

He’s got his map in hand, and he’s ready for guidance.

10. It wouldn’t be a ’70s road trip without a flat tire

A person crouches beside a blue vintage car with a Florida license plate, parked on the roadside. Surfboards are strapped to the car roof, and the surrounding landscape is flat and grassy.
userdeleted

Heading from Florida to California in search of some bigger waves.

11. In the ’50s, you put on your best suit for everything

A man in a suit places a suitcase in the trunk of a vintage car while a woman in a cream coat stands nearby on a suburban street lined with houses and bare trees.
javoss88

Even if you were just driving all day, you wore your Sunday best.

12. A family road trip in 1977

A smiling woman stands in front of a red car with two children on top. The children pose playfully next to a red bicycle attached to the car roof. Houses with blue siding and greenery appear in the background.
gdbeav

I wouldn’t be surprised if those kids rode on the roof like that the whole time.

13. Sometimes you just need a break

A woman and a man sit on rocky ground in front of a vast desert landscape with distant mountains, sharing drinks from cups with a bottle between them under a partly cloudy sky.
crisscrosshotsauce

I just hope they stopped for the night after this stop. This photo was taken during a ’60s road trip.

14. An early ’60s trip to Yosemite

A young woman in shorts and a sleeveless top leans against the front of a vintage pickup truck parked on a road, with open doors and trees and mountains in the background. The photo is in black and white.
castman_2020

They’ve got an entire house on wheels right there.

15. Roadtripping on a bike seems tough

A person stands next to a packed touring motorcycle by a rustic wooden cabin in a forested area, smiling at the camera. The motorcycle is loaded with bags and camping gear.
mixwell_foh

This photo was taken on a trip from Pennsylvania to Colorado, and I’m sure he ran into some rough weather along the way.

16. Dad needed a break during this road trip

A man stands by a parked car, eating an ice cream cone. A woman sits inside the car, smiling, and a boy in shorts stands nearby looking down. The car has a roof rack with luggage, and a building is visible in the background.
happy13178

Can you blame him? He’s got 5 kids in that car with him.

17. Taking a roadside break in the ’80s

A yellow van parked on a deserted dirt road under a clear blue sky. Three children stand near the van, one person lies face down on the road, and another walks away in the distance. The van’s doors are open, revealing belongings inside.
la-zy-boy

That kid on the road has had enough.

18. They rented a van after graduation

Three people stand in front of a retro van with a bold geometric design. The middle person holds a sign that says "LOST RIVER" while the others look at it and smile. The background shows a house and some trees.
poohbear1025

I can’t think of a better way to spend your last summer before college.

19. A family trip to the Royal Gorge in Colorado

A family of five poses on a stone ledge overlooking a canyon. The adults wear sunglasses; one holds a video camera. The three children wear summer clothes and sneakers. The background shows rocky cliffs and a winding river below.
redundancy5

The ’80s video camera really sets the tone on this one.

20. An early ’90s road trip to Pennsylvania

A woman wearing headphones reads a SLAM magazine while sitting in the back of a car. Next to her, a boy with headphones holds up his hand and holds a large boombox on his lap. Both are dressed in summer clothes.
aprocessunderstood

The only forms of entertainment were stereos and magazines.

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