Heritage travelers aren’t just looking for a single-site visit — they want an experience.
According to a 2023 Travel Trends report, 97% of travelers said they want to experience the local heritage and culture of a town.
In particular, they want to try the local cuisine (70%), see the sites (67%), learn about history (58%), experience the local arts scene (48%), and interact with the locals (38%.)
With the 250th anniversary just one year away, packaging the heritage and culture of your destination in a Great American Road Trip is the perfect way to immerse visitors in the story of your area. As they drive your recommended route, they experience the larger story you have to offer – through the sites, landscapes, and communities, and traditions that make your destination unique.
The Road Trip as a Storytelling Tool
For generations, road trips have been a defining part of American culture. From the early days of Route 66 to today’s scenic byways, the road trip represents exploration, freedom, and discovery. It’s also an ideal way to experience history -- not just as a collection of individual sites, but as a continuous, unfolding story.
By encouraging travelers to embark on history-driven road trips for the 250th, heritage organizations can help visitors see the connections between people, places, and events that shaped the nation.
Road Trippers Seek Authenticity
Today’s travelers aren’t just looking for destinations; they’re looking to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of an area. Itineraries that weave together historic sites, local dining, and off-the-beaten-path discoveries create unforgettable journeys that appeal to today's road trippers.
By positioning historic sites as essential stops along themed road trips, heritage organizations can tap into this trend and reach a wider audience.
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How to Connect Your Site to a Larger Story
Road trips are more than just a way to get from one place to another -- they’re a way to explore history in context. Instead of seeing your site as a standalone destination, consider how it fits into a larger narrative. For example:
The Local Revolutionary Road Trip
Explore the history of the American Revolution by connecting local battlefields, colonial homes, and museums. For example, a trip might start in a town with a preserved Revolutionary War-era tavern and continue to nearby battlefields or historic homes of local leaders.
The Civil Rights Journey
Follow the powerful stories of the Civil Rights Movement by visiting key sites in your region. You could start with a small-town courthouse, visit the home of a local activist, and end at a museum dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement in a neighboring town.
The Industrial Heritage Trail
Discover how your region contributed to America’s industrial boom by visiting smaller, local factories, railroad depots, and preserved workspaces. This could include a steel mill in one town, followed by a visit to a historic railroad station and local artisan workshops in another.
The Culinary Heritage Road
Experience the unique flavors of your region, from historic diners and farm-to-table restaurants to local food festivals and farmers markets. A road trip might take you through small towns where traditional recipes are still made by hand, offering travelers a taste of history with every stop.
The Art & Culture Tour
Many small towns have deep artistic roots that are intertwined with their history. This tour could connect historic theaters, artist colonies, and public murals that tell the story of the region’s cultural evolution. Start at a historic opera house, stop by a local museum showcasing folk art, and visit a working artist’s studio in a neighboring town to see history and creativity come to life.
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The Founding of Our City Tour
Every town has a story of how it came to be. A road trip exploring the founding of your city could include stops at the oldest buildings, historic town squares, pioneer cemeteries, and even a local heritage center that tells the story of the area's first settlers, industries, and key events. A walking tour of the original town center followed by a drive to nearby homesteads, mills, or trading posts would give visitors a deeper understanding of their destination.
The possibilities for road trip themes are endless – find one that makes sense for your location and reach out to your local partners. Creating a compelling multi-stop experience encourages travelers to extend their stay and immerse themselves in the story.
Looking Ahead: The Road to 2026
As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, the Great American Road Trip offers a perfect way to rediscover the nation’s history, landscapes, and communities. By embracing the road trip as a tourism strategy, heritage organizations can bring history to life, helping visitors see not just where America has been, but where it’s going.
Whether tracing the footsteps of revolutionaries, following the path of pioneers, or uncovering the stories of everyday Americans, the road to 2026 is paved with opportunity. Let’s make the most of it.