I’m proud to have been a contributing writer and occasional Forum Advisor for Road Trip America, over the course of the last ten years. There were links on this page that connected to articles I wrote for their mapping program, and links in some of my posts that pulled up some of my Road Trip Field Reports that I shared on that site. Those links are all gone now. Sadly, on December 1st of last year, 2025, the RoadTrip America website shut down for good, after 30 years of providing a first class service to Road Trippers everywhere (along with a first class soap box to travel writing wannabes like myself).

With a sincerely heavy heart. I bid the site, and the vibrant, talented community that grew up around it, a very fond farewell!

The following is the official announcement of the site’s closing:

RoadTrip America®: Thirty Years Online and On-the-Road

RoadTrip America® was “on the road and online” from February 14, 1996 to December 1, 2025. Originally a web site providing tips about planning road trips, it became a living community—a gathering place for road trippers, trip planners, photographers, and storytellers—who offered their knowledge and inspiration to help others chart their own unforgettable journeys. The advice, images, and insights contributed by thousands of road trippers over the past thirty years made RTA a trusted companion for countless travelers. One of the first travel sites on the Web, RTA was founded by Mark Sedenquist and Megan Edwards.

The RTA Custom Maps application was created to allow road trippers to create their own maps, and hundreds of RTA Library Maps were built by Tom Herbertson, showcasing routes around North America. Early on, the Fuel Cost Calculator allowed users to estimate their expected road trip fuel expense. It worked for miles per gallon or liters per 100 kilometers.

Dozens of Contributing Writers submitted articles about road trip routes, attractions, special events, book reviews, tips, and suggestions for trips around North America. The Trip Advice Forums provided detailed, comprehensive, expert advice from dozens of RTA members over the years. Notable among them are Peter Thody, Daniel Janes, Michael Roth, David Gomm, Tim Dimo, George Carey, Donna Randsell, Judy Carter, Laura Huff, UtahTea, Dennis & Kimberly Goza, Gen, Gerald Thurman, Jaimie Bruzenak, Craig Antil, Lucy, W. Larrison, Kathleen Walls, Harry Kline, Ron Clements, Michael Dickman, Carol White, Mark Helmlinger, Bill & Melissa Paule, Don Casey, John Phillips, Foy Beal, Osie Turner, Jan Ross, Pat Mount, Syv, Ron Miller, Derek Mines, Joey Kincer, Billy Gr, Stan Ruiz, Rick Quinn, Doug Kirby, Ruth Mormon. So many more shared their insights and experiences over the years, and we’re grateful for every one. Just for fun, a few of the former RTA members are posting photos on the RTA Facebook page, sharing some memories from trips over the last three decades. We invite you to add some of your photos from trips too.

Other featured sections included a collection of funny road signs, planning tips for families, info for international visitors, leaf peeping suggestions, a detailed list of every rest stop on US Interstate highways, and articles about RVing. Other resources provided information about Route 66, the Lincoln Highway, the Pacific Coast Highway, and other iconic thoroughfares. In addition, contributors provided detailed and timely information about road closures caused by construction and natural events like landslides, wildfires, and floods. Many RTA members were train aficionados who shared images of just about every kind of train in America.

Other departments featured marvels and murals, recipes of particular interest to roadtrippers, and tips for single travelers. One of the most visited sections of the site was known as “Drive Safe with Uncle Bob,” 70 tips for defensive driving written by Bob Schaller. A key feature of RTA was information about attractions that had been personally visited by RTA Contributing Writers. The site had 2,927 articles about places, events, museums, attractions, and unique shopping, dining, and lodging destinations.

Members of RTA have been featured in several national publications over the years. Together with his human companions, Marvin the Road Dog was a frequent guest on TV segments. (After five hours of posing for People Magazine on a frigid November day in 1996, the resulting photo was one for the ages!)

RTA’s motto remained constant over the last thirty years: A day on the road is better than one at home. Roadtrips are adventures, whether they last two hours or three decades. Every trip is an opportunity to discover new places and make new friends. Even a daily commute can be a road trip. It’s all in how you perceive the journey.

The legacy of RoadTripAmerica.com lives on in some of the books published by Imbrifex Books. In particular, the Scenic Side Trips book series was inspired by the work of RTA contributors over the years.

While RoadTrip America has now rolled off into the sunset, we invite you to wander around its offspring: Imbrifex Books. You’ll find plenty to inspire you to undertake a new adventure—whether by road or by armchair.

It has been quite the ride, and we thank you for sharing the journey with us!

—Megan Edwards & Mark Sedenquist, co-founders
December 1, 2025

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