Movies are a great way to kick back and relax. If you can’t hit the road and experience your own road trip, queue up one of these great movies about being on the road. Some are fun and some are serious but we can guarantee one thing – they’re all entertaining! Grab your popcorn and let’s hit the road.
National Lampoon’s Vacation
Once the “Holiday Road” theme song starts, it feels like you are sitting in the back seat of the family truckster. They say getting there is the best part of the journey. Not sure if that is the case for the Griswold family who is desperately trying to make their way to Wally World from their home in Chicago. Hilarity ensues as this well-planned trip takes one wrong turn after another.
Sideways
This award-winning film has sad Miles and soon-to-be-married Jack heading to wine country to reconnect before Jack’s nuptials but this isn’t the golf and wine-tasting trip that they had originally planned! Pick up a bottle of wine to enjoy while watching their antics.
Easy Rider
Wyatt and Billy are on an epic motorcycle journey to try and make it to New Orleans for Mardi Gras while bumping up against the American establishment along the way. You’ll feel the wind through your hair as you experience this classic road trip movie.
Due Date
Anyone who has experienced trouble with flights or the franticness of impending parenthood will get a laugh out of this one. Mistaken as terrorists and throw off their flights, Peter (Robert Downey Jr). and Ethan (Zach Galifianakis) are forced to drive to California before Peter’s wife has their baby and so Ethan can embark on an acting career.
Duel
This early Steven Spielberg film was inspired by a real-life experience. A middle-aged salesman driving on a business trip passes a slow tanker truck and starts a suspenseful trip where the truck proceeds to harass the salesman in a series of close calls on the road. The driver is never seen making the truck the real main character in this film.
Dumb and Dumber
Lloyd and Harry are two well-meaning, but not that intelligent, friends who set out from Providence, RI and head to Aspen, CO to return a briefcase to its owner. What they don’t realize is that the briefcase contains ransom money so Lloyd and Harry are pursued by a group of criminals. If you like a little slapstick comedy, enjoy this one, especially their Mutts Cutts van.
The Muppet Movie
Kermit the Frog is living in a quiet swamp when Hollywood beckons. Along the way, Kermit meets many new and quirky new friends and must elude a man who wants to use him as a spokesman for his Frog Legs food chain. Kids will love the wacky adventures and adults will love the Muppet humor.
Thelma and Louise
These women, stuck in dead-end relationships, decide to escape together and hit the road together for a short retreat that turns into something very different and dangerous. This movie is more of a feminist statement than a light-hearted road trip movie but good nonetheless. It includes some powerful characters, including their 1966 Thunderbird.
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
John Candy and Steve Martin are a great comedic duo in a movie that combines both humorous comedy and heartwarming moments. These strangers meet while trying desperately to get home to be with their families for the Thanksgiving holiday. They run up against one hilarious obstacle after another. (We can all relate to travel headaches!)
There are many more great road trip movies out there! These are only a few of our favorites. Share your recommendations in the comments!