Road Trip Movies You’ll Want to Watch Every Summer

Summer is the ideal time for movies about road trips and new beginnings. These films beautifully show characters discovering themselves and the world around them, both externally through travel and internally through personal growth. Viewers can live vicariously through these journeys, enjoying the excitement of the open road and the challenges of leaving familiar surroundings. This selection features a variety of memorable trips, from funny adventures to deeply moving stories.

‘Little Miss Sunshine’ (2006)

The Hoover family embarks on a road trip in their beat-up yellow Volkswagen bus to get their daughter Olive to a beauty pageant. As they travel from Albuquerque to California, the family’s problems and hidden connections come to light. Each member battles their own issues while struggling to keep the van running. The movie uses humor and emotion to tell a story about the meaning of success and failure.

‘Thelma & Louise’ (1991)

After a traumatic experience at a roadside bar, two friends, Thelma and Louise, find themselves on the run from the police. Their weekend escape quickly turns into a desperate flight across the American Southwest, where they discover their own strength and resilience. As they race away in their classic 1966 Thunderbird, the car becomes a powerful symbol of their newfound freedom. Directed by Ridley Scott, this groundbreaking film is a thrilling road movie that boldly questions traditional roles for women.

‘Almost Famous’ (2000)

In the early 1970s, a young journalist gets an incredible opportunity: to travel with a rising rock band. While on tour, William Miller experiences some tough realities about life and love as he witnesses the wild world of musicians. The story honestly and fondly remembers a time when rock stars were at their peak, showing what it was like on the tour bus and behind the scenes. This coming-of-age story is actually based on the author, Cameron Crowe’s, own time writing for Rolling Stone magazine.

‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’ (1983)

Clark Griswold is set on taking his family on a road trip to Walley World, but everything that could go wrong, does. From quirky relatives to car trouble, each stop on their journey is a disaster, pushing the Griswold family to their limits. This classic comedy playfully pokes fun at the typical American family vacation, filled with unforgettable physical humor.

‘Y Tu Mamá También’ (2001)

A coming-of-age story follows two teenage boys and a woman as they road trip to a made-up beach in Mexico. Along the way, they grapple with questions of identity, sexuality, and friendship, all while a country is undergoing big changes. Director Alfonso Cuarón uses their journey to show how complicated growing up can be and how quickly time passes. The film is known for its honest portrayal of personal connections and its natural, flowing camera style.

‘Easy Rider’ (1969)

Two motorcycle riders, Wyatt and Billy, journey from Los Angeles to New Orleans hoping to find meaning and liberation. Along the way, they meet a wide range of people who react to their unconventional style with a mix of interest and suspicion. The film vividly portrays the atmosphere of the late 1960s and the beautiful scenery of the American Southwest. It’s considered a groundbreaking movie that helped launch a new wave of filmmaking in Hollywood.

‘Sideways’ (2004)

Before his friend gets married, a writer and an actor—who are complete opposites—take a road trip to California’s Santa Barbara wine country. Miles, a downcast writer and wine lover, tries to introduce his more carefree friend, Jack, to the pleasures of good wine. Their week is filled with funny mishaps, romantic encounters, and a bit of dishonesty as they explore vineyards and restaurants. The film is also known for sparking a surge in popularity for Pinot Noir wine, and it honestly portrays the challenges of getting older.

‘Chef’ (2014)

A famous chef leaves his fancy restaurant to start a food truck with his son and a former coworker. As they drive across the country from Miami to Los Angeles, they strengthen their bond while perfecting the art of making Cuban sandwiches. This journey helps the chef remember why he loves to cook and rebuild his relationship with his family. The heartwarming story was written and directed by Jon Favreau, and it’s a celebration of food and following your creative dreams.

‘Dumb and Dumber’ (1994)

Lloyd and Harry, two well-meaning but not very bright friends, embark on a cross-country road trip to Aspen in their dog-grooming van. They’re on a mission to return a briefcase full of cash to a woman Lloyd instantly fell for. Luckily for them, their cluelessness keeps them safe from the criminals who are chasing them. The movie’s humor comes from slapstick and over-the-top situations.

‘Rain Man’ (1988)

After their father dies, a self-centered car salesman named Charlie learns he has an autistic brother, Raymond. Determined to get his share of the inheritance, Charlie takes Raymond from the institution where he lives and drives him across the country, hoping to use him as leverage. During the journey, Charlie is challenged by Raymond’s rigid habits, but they unexpectedly form a close bond. The film is a critically acclaimed drama that won several Oscars for its sensitive depiction of autism and the complexities of family relationships.

‘The Motorcycle Diaries’ (2004)

The movie tells the story of two medical students, Ernesto Guevara and Alberto Granado, who take a road trip across South America on a motorcycle before completing their studies. During their journey, they experience firsthand the widespread social problems of the continent, which deeply influences their beliefs. The film highlights the people they meet and the beautiful landscapes they encounter, showing how these experiences turn a young man into a revolutionary. It’s a biographical film that emphasizes how travel and simply observing the world can be incredibly powerful and life-changing.

‘Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan’ (2006)

A journalist from Kazakhstan, who is actually a fictional character, travels across America to create a documentary. The show features real people who don’t know they’re being filmed as part of a funny and critical look at American culture. Through these unscripted interactions, the show highlights surprising biases and oddities in American society. Sacha Baron Cohen plays a character to create awkward but honest moments throughout the country.

‘We’re the Millers’ (2013)

A low-level drug dealer concocts a plan to sneak marijuana across the border from Mexico using a fake family as a cover. They pose as tourists traveling in a large RV during the busy Fourth of July holiday. As they attempt to pull off the scheme, they encounter dangerous cartels and even some unexpected wildlife, all while trying to appear like a normal, happy family. This humorous movie playfully examines what truly makes a family through a series of wild and messy situations.

‘Road Trip’ (2000)

Four college friends take a crazy 1,800-mile road trip to stop a scandalous videotape from getting into the wrong hands. They commandeer a university bus and face a series of hilarious challenges on their way to Ithaca. The story is told through narration, detailing the group’s wild adventures. It’s a classic teen comedy about the importance of friendship and the lengths people will go to for love.

‘EuroTrip’ (2004)

A newly graduated high schooler embarks on a European adventure with friends to finally meet a pen pal from Germany. The trip is a whirlwind of new countries and funny cultural mishaps, all while traveling on a tight budget. Along the way, they meet quirky people and find themselves in ridiculous situations in cities like London and Amsterdam. The film playfully pokes fun at common American assumptions about Europe, using a lot of silly and often crude humor.

‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ (2011)

Three college buddies fulfill a long-held promise by taking a wild road trip across Spain for one of their bachelor parties. Along the way, they push their limits with thrilling adventures, experience vibrant local festivals, and finally confront issues from their past. Set against the stunning Spanish landscape, the film is a popular Bollywood story about seizing the day and overcoming personal demons, all while navigating love and friendship.

‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ (1994)

Priscilla follows two drag queens and a transgender woman as they journey across the Australian Outback on a tour bus. They bring their vibrant cabaret show to small, often surprised, towns while facing breakdowns and other challenges along the way. Through their adventures, they form a strong bond, support each other, and proudly embrace who they are. The film is famous for its over-the-top costumes and energetic music.

‘Wild’ (2014)

After experiencing personal loss, a woman named Cheryl Strayed embarks on a challenging journey: hiking over a thousand miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. As she hikes alone through the wilderness, she battles exhaustion and fear while confronting painful memories of grief and addiction. The film shows Reese Witherspoon portraying Cheryl’s incredible strength and determination as she pushes forward to complete the trek.

‘Captain Fantastic’ (2016)

A father who has raised his six children off-grid in the forests of the Pacific Northwest must unexpectedly rejoin society when the family travels to a funeral in New Mexico. Their journey is made in a converted bus they call Steve, and the trip highlights the funny and challenging differences between their isolated, self-sufficient lifestyle and the norms of the modern world. The film, starring Viggo Mortensen, offers a look at the complexities of parenthood and the pressures to fit in.

‘Paris, Texas’ (1984)

A man with amnesia emerges from the desert and reunites with his brother, and together they embark on a road trip to find his wife. As they travel through the American Southwest, fragments of the past begin to surface. Director Wim Wenders beautifully portrays both the expansive scenery and the characters’ deep sense of isolation. The film is a thoughtful and melancholic exploration of love and loss, unfolding amidst the stark beauty of the desert and the glow of city lights.

Tell us which road trip movie inspires your summer travels in the comments.

2025-11-26 00:47