I have moved my whole life.  I moved across country* for the first time when I was 3 months old and since that time I have made three more cross-country road trips.  Long distance road trips, like those involved with moving across the country, are very common in the United States.  I’m sure you have seen Americans on road trips in American movies too.  There are a number of famous movies devoted just to this subject.  Some of these movies include: National Lampoon’s Vacation, Thelma and Louise, Easy Riders, Rain Man, and Away We Go, to name a few. One of the reasons so many American go on a long road trips at some point in their life is due to the fact that there is an amazing interstate road system in the United States that makes road trips easy.  Also, there is just so much to see in this big country!

The amazing American Interstate System makes driving across the country not only possible, but easy and enjoyable.  The Interstate Freeway (or Highway) System is a network of roads, freeways, highways and express ways* that connect all of the major U.S. cities and all 48 contiguous*** U.S. states.  The highway system that exists today in the United States was first constructed in the 1950s with the encouragement of then U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower.  For the most part it is still in good repair.  These roads are in good repair because they are maintained by the federal and state governments.  They are, for the most part free to use, as well.  There are some toll roads**** that are part of the American Interstate System, but not many.

Here are some interesting facts about the American Interstate Highway System:

• From 1974 to 1987, the maximum speed limit on any highway in the United States was 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). Currently, speed limits range from 65-75 miles per hour (105 to 121 km/h) in most parts.

• Major north–south highways are assigned odd numbers, increasing in number from 5 (the long highway between Canada and Mexico along the West Coast) to 95 (the long highway between Canada and Miami, Florida along the East Coast).

• Major west–east highways are assigned even numbers and increase in number from 10 (between Santa Monica, California and Jacksonville, Florida) to 90 (between Seattle, Washington and Boston, Massachusetts) with two exceptions. There is no Interstate 50 or Interstate 60.

• The Interstate Highway System has a total length of 46,876 miles (75,440 km); approximately 2,900 miles (4,700 km) are toll roads.

If you like driving, a trip on the American Interstate Highway System is a great way to see the United States.  Happy driving everyone and don’t forget you have to wear your seat belt wherever you are driving in the United States.

Here is the movie trailer (the movie promotion video) for one of the road trip themed movies I mentioned above, National Lampoon’s Vacation.  This was a big hit in its time.  Now, even without driving across country you can see much that there is to see.  Enjoy!  Below is a transcript of what is said in the video trailer so you can check your comprehension.

This summer, when you think vacation, think National Lampoon’s Vacation.  See the real America. [Hey underpants’, hey…. Clark! I’m okay.] It’s friendly. [Don’t you want to look at the Grand Canyon?] It’s educational. [Great. Let’s go.] And most of all, it’s fun.  [The dog wet on the picnic basket.] Let Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, [Clark.], Imogene Coca, Randy Quaid, John Candy, and Christie Brinkley [Well are you gonna go for it?  This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!] take you for a ride. This summer, when you think vacation, think National Lampoon’s Vacation. [I’m gonna check under the hood.]

* across country or cross-country = from one side of the United States to the other; from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean
** freeways, highways, and expressways = terms used to describe large public roads
*** contiguous = touching or bordering
**** toll roads = a road that drivers must pay to use