Road trips can feel soul-healing. They are wonderful trips to different places, usually surrounded by loved ones. The possibilities are pretty endless when it comes to road trips. You can take shorter ones, from town to town in the same state, or travel thousands of miles with multiple stops in between. Sometimes though, road trips and travel aren’t in the cards. While you wait for your opportunity to travel or road trip, you can live vicariously through characters on a screen. Thankfully, there are many road trips and travel films to choose from.
Road trip movies are rarely about the scenery though. They often have an underlying message or reason for the unique journey. Sometimes, it’s to honor a bucket list item. This is the case for movies that handle themes like sickness, grief, and death. Other times, road trip movies are about one last adventure, before a huge change. They can be comical, strange, or full of mystery. Many teen comedies and coming-of-age films are about traveling and taking road trips.
Travel films can be unforgettable, and don’t always center around travel. For instance, a fun travel movie that focuses more on the main character is “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.” Although Walter does travel to far-off places in the film, it’s his imagination that steals the spotlight. This is just one example though. Travel movies also display characters trying to find or lose themselves by going to different countries. Think of films like “Eat Pray Love” or “Holiday in the Wild.” If you’re interested in inspiring the wanderer in you, keep reading to discover the best road trip and travel movies.
To determine the best road trip and travel movies, 24/7 Tempo developed an index of movies using average ratings on IMDb, an online movie database owned by Amazon, and a combination of audience scores and Tomatometer scores on Rotten Tomatoes, an online movie and TV review aggregator, as of March 2024, weighting all ratings equally. We considered only movies with at least 2,500 audience votes on either IMDb or Rotten Tomatoes. Documentaries were not considered. Directorial credits are from IMDb. (Interested in taking your own road trip? Click here to discover the best road trip in every state.)
Scroll down for the list of the best road trip and travel movies ever made:
50. Easy Rider (1969)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.3/10 (105,530 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (82 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (54 reviews)
- Directed by: Dennis Hopper
49. A Perfect World (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (77,234 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (33 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
48. The Way (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Ocean Avenue Entertainment
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (31,762 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (100 reviews)
- Directed by: Emilio Estevez
47. Sorcerer (1977)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (19,883 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 79% (42 reviews)
- Directed by: William Friedkin
46. Thelma & Louise (1991)
Source: Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (144,492 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (82 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 85% (72 reviews)
- Directed by: Ridley Scott
45. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (298,246 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 78% (154 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
44. The Blues Brothers (1980)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (190,151 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 73% (90 reviews)
- Directed by: John Landis
43. Captain Fantastic (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Bleecker Street Media
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (205,102 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (229 reviews)
- Directed by: Matt Ross
42. Deliverance (1972)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (103,391 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (82 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (62 reviews)
- Directed by: John Boorman
41. Duel (1971)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (72,182 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 84% (84 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
40. The World’s Fastest Indian (2005)
Source: Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (55,754 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 82% (144 reviews)
- Directed by: Roger Donaldson
39. Nomadland (2020)
Source: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.4/10 (126,891 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 82% (82 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (416 reviews)
- Directed by: Chloé Zhao
38. The Last Detail (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (23,636 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (36 reviews)
- Directed by: Hal Ashby
37. Sideways (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (185,184 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 79% (79 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (233 reviews)
- Directed by: Alexander Payne
36. Leave No Trace (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Bleecker Street Media
- IMDb user rating: 7.2/10 (55,265 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 80% (80 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (240 reviews)
- Directed by: Debra Granik
35. Zombieland (2009)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (541,908 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (257 reviews)
- Directed by: Ruben Fleischer
34. Nebraska (2013)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Vantage
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (115,265 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 83% (83 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (251 reviews)
- Directed by: Alexander Payne
33. Green Book (2018)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.2/10 (496,895 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 77% (360 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Farrelly
32. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Source: Courtesy of Focus Features
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (102,152 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (158 reviews)
- Directed by: Walter Salles
31. Into the Wild (2007)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Vantage
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (626,587 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 83% (200 reviews)
- Directed by: Sean Penn
30. Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (130,619 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (60 reviews)
- Directed by: John Hughes
29. Midnight Run (1988)
Source: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (81,968 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (54 reviews)
- Directed by: Martin Brest
28. True Grit (2010)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.6/10 (323,355 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (275 reviews)
- Directed by: Joel & Ethan Coen
27. Forrest Gump (1994)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,905,676 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 71% (104 reviews)
- Directed by: Robert Zemeckis
26. Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
Source: Courtesy of MGM Home Entertainment
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 7.7/10 (122,685 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 92% (138 reviews)
- Directed by: Alfonso Cuarón
25. Stranger Than Paradise (1984)
Source: Courtesy of The Samuel Goldwyn Company
- IMDb user rating: 7.5/10 (36,300 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (26 reviews)
- Directed by: Jim Jarmusch
24. The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (69,738 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 90% (41 reviews)
- Directed by: Clint Eastwood
23. El abrazo de la serpiente (2016)
Source: Courtesy of Oscilloscope
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (23,798 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 85% (85 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (149 reviews)
- Directed by: Ciro Guerra
22. Rain Man (1988)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (490,155 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (80 reviews)
- Directed by: Barry Levinson
21. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Source: Willowpix / Getty Images
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (454,829 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (218 reviews)
- Directed by: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
20. Almost Famous (2000)
Source: Courtesy of DreamWorks Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (279,276 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 92% (92 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 89% (174 reviews)
- Directed by: Cameron Crowe
19. The African Queen (1951)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (75,886 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: John Huston
18. The Searchers (1956)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (85,281 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 96% (49 reviews)
- Directed by: John Ford
17. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (1,042,131 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (439 reviews)
- Directed by: George Miller
16. The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
Source: Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (47,055 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 90% (90 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 97% (31 reviews)
- Directed by: John Huston
15. Red River (1948)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.8/10 (29,715 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 87% (87 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (30 reviews)
- Directed by: Howard Hawks
14. Stagecoach (1939)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (46,215 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 86% (86 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (45 reviews)
- Directed by: John Ford
13. True Romance (1993)
Source: Courtesy of Warner Bros.
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (216,812 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (54 reviews)
- Directed by: Tony Scott
12. The Straight Story (1999)
Source: Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (91,786 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 91% (91 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 95% (103 reviews)
- Directed by: David Lynch
11. Stand by Me (1986)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (380,190 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (57 reviews)
- Directed by: Rob Reiner
10. Sullivan’s Travels (1941)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 7.9/10 (25,347 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 89% (89 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (35 reviews)
- Directed by: Preston Sturges
9. Paris, Texas (1984)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (112,195 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (51 reviews)
- Directed by: Wim Wenders
8. Paper Moon (1973)
Source: Courtesy of Paramount Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (44,587 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 93% (41 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich
7. Central do Brasil (1998)
Source: Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
N/A
- IMDb user rating: 8.0/10 (41,163 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (50 reviews)
- Directed by: Walter Salles
6. The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
Source: Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (89,491 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 88% (88 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (48 reviews)
- Directed by: John Ford
5. Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.3/10 (296,218 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 94% (132 reviews)
- Directed by: David Lean
4. It Happened One Night (1934)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (98,815 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 99% (97 reviews)
- Directed by: Frank Capra
3. Before Sunrise (1995)
Source: Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
- IMDb user rating: 8.1/10 (286,974 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 93% (93 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 100% (46 reviews)
- Directed by: Richard Linklater
2. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Source: Courtesy of New Line Cinema
- IMDb user rating: 8.8/10 (1,731,527 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 95% (95 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 91% (235 reviews)
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
1. Apocalypse Now (1979)
Source: Courtesy of United Artists
- IMDb user rating: 8.4/10 (629,925 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes audience score: 94% (94 votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer score: 98% (96 reviews)
- Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola