1. Randomly Choosing Which Exit “Feels Right”
Taking a highway exit based on instinct alone used to be the main plot twist of any spontaneous trip. Maybe the sign said “Scenic Route” or “Historic Downtown,” and boom—you’re chasing curiosity instead of ETA. The wrong turn might have added an hour, but it almost always added a story. Those unscripted detours brought surprises like roadside pie shops or unexpected waterfalls.
Nowadays, the GPS makes those decisions for you, often down to the minute. But if you ignore it long enough, you can still make your own forks in the road. Choosing an exit just because it looks interesting keeps the road trip spirit alive. You’ll probably get rerouted anyway, but at least you’ll have done something unpredictable.
2. Arguing Over a Folded Paper Map
Before smartphones, pulling out a clumsy road atlas was the opening ceremony of every road trip. One person would claim to “have a system” while the other squinted at a tangle of color-coded lines. It was a bonding experience and a low-stakes battlefield. Getting lost was half the fun—or at least, a good story later.
Now, even with GPS barking clear directions, some people still unfold a map just to feel like it’s 1997. It adds a tactile, adventurous feel that digital screens just can’t replicate. Plus, in areas with spotty signal (still a thing!), it can actually come in handy. Pretending the GPS isn’t there gives the old-school navigator a chance to shine.
3. Calling a Friend to Get Directions You’ll Immediately Forget
Back in the day, you’d call your friend from a gas station payphone and write down their directions on a receipt. “Turn left after the red barn, then go past two stop signs” was a valid form of navigation. You’d nod, hang up, and promptly forget all but three of those steps. But miraculously, you’d still manage to find your way.
Today, calling someone for directions is more of a nostalgic gesture than a necessity. But it makes the person on the other end feel involved in your trip. And it gives you an excuse to talk to someone instead of listening to the GPS’s monotone voice. Bonus: if you mess up, it’s human error, not a rerouting glitch.
4. Pulling Over at Gas Stations to Ask for Help
Before apps and turn-by-turn guidance, gas stations doubled as mini tourist centers. Someone behind the counter always knew the “better” way or could draw a makeshift map on the back of a receipt. You’d walk out with a can of soda, a vague idea of north, and renewed purpose. It was less efficient but far more interactive.
These days, asking for directions feels almost performative, like ordering a typewriter ribbon online. But it’s a good excuse to talk to locals, who often know shortcuts or hidden gems GPS won’t show. It turns your trip into more than just a drive—it becomes a dialogue. And that’s worth the extra five minutes.
5. Fighting Over the “Best” Road Trip Playlist
Crafting the perfect playlist used to be a sacred pre-trip ritual—burning CDs, taping mixes, or loading up an MP3 player. Everyone had different tastes, and that friction sparked either music discovery or outright mutiny. You’d argue over who gets DJ rights, skip the same three songs endlessly, and shout-sing the few you agreed on. Music wasn’t just background; it was atmosphere.
Now, you can stream anything, anywhere, and let an algorithm decide what to play. But relinquishing control means missing out on those chaotic, personal soundtrack moments. Pretending the aux cord still matters helps keep the car energy alive. Besides, shared taste is built through conflict, not perfect playlists.
6. Judging Roadside Diners by the Number of Trucks Outside
This was the OG version of crowdsourcing. If the parking lot had more than three semis, you knew the biscuits were homemade and the coffee was strong. No Yelp, no Google reviews—just trucker wisdom and your gut instinct. It was risky, sure, but finding a hidden gem made it worth it.
GPS apps now tell you exactly where to eat and what to expect. But letting yourself scout the old-fashioned way makes each meal feel like a mini adventure. It’s part of that analog traveler mindset—trusting signs, smells, and vibes over star ratings. And let’s be honest: some of the best meals come without free Wi-Fi.
7. Playing “License Plate Bingo” Without an App
This game was low-tech fun: spotting license plates from different states and marking them on a notepad or your sibling’s arm. You’d yell out each new one like you’d discovered buried treasure. The thrill came from randomness—who knew when you’d spot Alaska in Missouri? It was a game that made you look at the road instead of just getting through it.
You can now track plates with apps that update you automatically, but that takes all the charm out of it. If you ditch the phone and do it by hand, you’ll actually pay attention to the cars around you. It’s also a weirdly good way to track how far people travel—and how small the country can feel. Bonus points if you make up wild backstories for each driver.
8. Pretending to “Guess” Which Direction to Go at Intersections
Back when road signs were your main guidance, choosing a direction was sometimes just a coin toss. “I think it’s this way” became the most confident lie ever told in a moving vehicle. It wasn’t always right, but it was memorable, especially if it led to nowhere. You learned to trust your gut—or at least got better at apologizing.
With GPS, the guesswork is gone, but so is the chance to feel like you’re figuring something out. If you ignore it on purpose, you can still flex those rarely-used spatial skills. And if you get lost? That’s where the stories come from. Besides, nothing says road trip like turning left for no reason.
This post 8 Road Trip Rituals That Only Work Nowadays If You Pretend the GPS Isn’t There was first published on American Charm.
