New site puts the fun back in long-distance travel

Nathan Hager, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – Maybe when you take a long-distance road trip, you just want to get there.

But if you have time to kill on your next long-haul drive, there’s a new way to see the sights just off the beaten path.

A new website called Roadtrippers gives you directions to wherever you’re going, much like Google Maps.

But it also lets you choose funky places to stop along the way by checking off dozens of categories, from offbeat hotels to farmers markets and roadside art to film locations.

The site doesn’t show every possible destination. The focus is on the offbeat.

For example, if you enter D.C. as your starting point and Ocean City, Md., as the destination, and search for movie theaters, only two will come up. One is the historic Bengies drive-in theater in Baltimore.

The site also estimates how much you’ll spend on gas during your trip, and it includes a space where users can suggest their own hidden gems along the way.

Follow Nathan and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up