Unforgettable Routes for the Budget-ConsciousCollege life is synonymous with cramming, studying, and looking for ways to blow off steam with friends. One of the most exhilarating ways to escape the daily grind is by packing a reliable vehicle with friends, cheap snacks, and an aux cord to embark on an adventure. While conventional road trips focus on national parks and major cities, taking the road less traveled introduces young explorers to some of the most bizarre, historic, and delightfully weird cultural landmarks America has to offer. These quirky routes offer a fantastic blend of nostalgia, cheap entry fees, and unparalleled photo opportunities that are perfect for students on a tight budget.
Cruising the Mother RoadThere is perhaps no route more legendary than U.S. Route 66, but to experience it with a uniquely student spin, the focus should shift to the kitschy Americana that lines the pavement. Starting near Amarillo, Texas, drivers can pull off the highway to visit the world-famous Cadillac Ranch. This interactive public art installation features ten vintage cars buried nose-down in the dirt, serving as a massive, ever-changing canvas for passing travelers who are encouraged to leave their mark with spray paint. Further west in Arizona, the journey gets even more surreal. Travelers can stop by the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, where visitors can sleep in individual, retro concrete tepees. It is an incredible way to stretch limited travel funds while experiencing a true slice of mid-century highway culture.
The Great Plains and Outsider ArtHeading into the heart of the Midwest and the Great Plains uncovers some of the most eccentric and wonderfully imaginative roadside creations. In Alliance, Nebraska, curious students can marvel at Carhenge, a full-scale replica of England’s prehistoric Stonehenge constructed entirely from vintage automobiles spray-painted a uniform, stony gray. A few states away in the tiny town of Lucas, Kansas, a thriving hub of “outsider art” awaits. Here, the Garden of Eden features bizarre, concrete sculptures built in the early 1900s by an eccentric local to espouse his philosophical views. These stops are not only cheap or entirely free, but they also provide a beautifully strange backdrop for group photos and unforgettable travel memories. The Best Quirky Road Trips – Tabitha Bear Studios
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