swap_horiz Blue Highways Alternatives

1

Desert Solitaire

Edward Abbey’s *Desert Solitaire* recounts his experiences as a seasonal park ranger in Arches National Park during 1968...

Nature Desert 20TH Century Americas

9.5 Brilliant

2

Arabian Sands

Arabian Sands documents Wilfred Thesiger’s remarkable journeys through the vast and unforgiving Rub' al Khali (the Empty...

Exploration Desert 20TH Century Middle East

9.4 Excellent

3

The Snow Leopard

Peter Matthiessen’s *The Snow Leopard* chronicles his arduous 1978 expedition into the remote Nepalese Himalayas alongsi...

Asia 20TH Century Spiritual Himalaya

9.4 Excellent

4

In Patagonia

Bruce Chatwin’s *In Patagonia* details a 1977 expedition across this remote region of southern South America. The book c...

Adventure 20TH Century Literary South America

9.3 Excellent

5

The Worst Journey in the World

Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s “The Worst Journey in the World” details his participation in Robert Falcon Scott’s 1912-1913 Te...

20TH Century Expedition Polar Antarctica

9.3 Excellent

6

The Rings of Saturn

W.G. Sebald’s *The Rings of Saturn* chronicles a solitary walk along England's eastern coastline in 1968. The book metic...

Europe Coastal 20TH Century Literary

9.3 Excellent

7

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Robert M. Pirsig’s *Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance* chronicles a cross-country road trip undertaken with his...

Philosophical Motorcycle 20TH Century Americas

9.2 Excellent

8

Down the River

*Down the River* is a 1982 travelogue and nature writing collection by Edward Abbey detailing his river trips in the Ame...

Nature 20TH Century River Americas

8.8 Great

9

The Lawless Roads

"The Lawless Roads" is a 1939 travelogue by British author Graham Greene that explores the anti-Catholic persecution in...

20TH Century Religious Mexico Americas

8.7 Great

10

Travels in Alaska

"Travels in Alaska" is a posthumously published 1915 travel book by naturalist John Muir that records his explorations o...

Nature Wilderness 20TH Century Americas

8.7 Great

11

The Lost Continent

Bill Bryson's 1989 debut travel book chronicling a road trip through small-town America in search of an idealized hometo...

20TH Century Small Town Road Trip Americas

8.6 Great

12

The American Scene

*The American Scene* is a 1907 travelogue by Henry James documenting his return to the United States after living abroad...

Cultural 20TH Century Literary Americas

8.5 Great

13

The Journey Home

*The Journey Home* is a 1991 collection of travel and nature essays by American author Edward Abbey exploring the Americ...

Nature 20TH Century Southwest Americas

8.5 Great

14

Letters from an American Farmer

Published in 1782 by J. Hector St. John de Crèvecœur, this foundational text explores the daily life, agricultural pract...

18TH Century Rural Colonial Americas

8.5 Great

15

PrairyErth

"PrairyErth" is a 1991 travel book by William Least Heat-Moon recognized for its exhaustive, encyclopedic analysis of th...

Nature 20TH Century Americas William Least Heat Moon

8.3 Great

16

The Old Patagonian Express

"The Old Patagonian Express" is a 1979 travel book by Paul Theroux documenting his iconic solo train journey from the Un...

20TH Century Overland Railway Americas

8.3 Great

17

Deep South

"Deep South" is a 2015 travelogue by Paul Theroux that explores the rural poverty, complex history, and distinct regiona...

Cultural 21ST Century Road Trip Americas

7.8 Good

18

A Turn in the South

Published in 1989, this travel book by V.S. Naipaul explores the distinct culture, economic changes, and lingering racia...

Cultural 20TH Century Literary Americas

7.8 Good

19

Roads to Quoz

"Roads to Quoz" is a 2008 travel book by William Least Heat-Moon that explores the obscure backroads, oddities, and ecce...

21ST Century Rural Road Trip Americas

7.6 Good

20

River-Horse

"River-Horse" is a 1999 travelogue by William Least Heat-Moon documenting his ambitious journey across the United States...

20TH Century Boat River Americas

7.5 Good