On the Road in 2026
Dominique Van Olm
Wildsam's Road Trip Awards
We scoured the map to find people, places and projects taking road-trip travel to new destinations.
For the 2026 edition of our Road Trip Awards, we headed out to discover and celebrate the most intriguing destinations on our wide, crinkly, marked-up mental map of America. We looked for places rethinking what certain kinds of travel are all about; we searched for ideas, initiatives and even vehicles that could inspire us all to hit the highway. What did we find? Hop in.
Lodging
Places to stay that run a little bit wild.
West Virginia A-Frames Built for Stargazing
Count the stars from one of 12 cabins at the night sky-friendly Coopers Rock State Forest.
Bold New "Hotels" Getting Us Back to Nature
This year, we noticed one trend in particular: New spots, tuned to nature, designed to put guests in closer touch with their surroundings.
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Road Trip Rides
3 adventure-ready vehicles on our radar this year.
Food + Drink
The cities and towns that feed an appetite for discovery.
Savannah
Savannah is changing. Ironic for a place established in 1733—older than America itself—and nicknamed “Slow-vannah.” Surely, those who come for the architecture, the cobblestones, the ghost stories and shrimp and grits will still find those aplenty. But for those with an appetite beyond the traditional, change is certainly on the menu—even if it’s not always on the tourist map. 
Tulsa
Known as the “Capital City of Route” and home to oilman Cyrus Avery, the founder of Route 66, Tulsa has a deep connection to the Mother Road. The interest and plethora of events around the Mother Road’s centennial this year have no doubt contributed to the energy in town in all things culture, including food.
Ojai
Even with its longtime outpost status, tucked into the pink-hued sunset shade off the Topatopa Mountains, Ojai is far from a secret enclave these days. But when a town prides itself on the creative energy of its locals, along with a rich farming, ranching, citrus and wild fishery history, it’s bound to keep catching our attention in new ways.
Philly's Worldly Food Scene
In this 250th birthday year for the nation, you can count on authentic, often bombastic, displays of brotherly love and rampant main-character energy in the city where Independence was signed and sealed. Philadelphia's deep but brash personality extends to the restaurant scene, where vivid flavors and confident cooking converge in dishes you’ll think about long after you’re back home. Philly local Adam Erace takes us on a food tour of his hometown and looks at how immigration—a pillar of American ethos—has shaped the Philadelphia food scene.
Outdoor Places
3 far-flung destinations worth the effort to get there.
Culture
Projects that shed new light on the road, the wild and the places they call home.
10 Indie Bookstores on our Radar
A refreshing development caught our eye this year: So many inspiring new bookstores, in towns big and small. Often, their inventory runs deep on local lore and regional writers, and their owners work hard to nurture their hometown literary scene. (In one case, you can also get hiking gear.)
5 Stand-Out Spots for Culture + History
This year, a host of new institutions with real focus and vision are opening their doors to travelers and cultural explorers. Many tell a particular story about their place in the world. From a self-taught painter who transformed her home into a floor-to-ceiling work of art to a library that resembles a butte rising from the badlands, there’s plenty to explore at these new finds across the land—our prize-winning picks for 2026.
