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[radin2son]

Yes, there is Blue Highways, Travels with Charlie and On the Road, but have you heard of American Road by Pete Davies? Ever wonder why Dwight D Eisenhower was keen on interstates? Yes, there is the defense explaination...

In July 1919, the Federal Government put together a military "truck train" to create a 3250 mile road from Washington DC to San Francisco. There were cars in cities but little in the way of roads to connect them; the exception was California that had a well developed road system to support agriculture. People were also driving their private cars across the country.

Eisenhower, a Lieutenant, was p***ed that he missed out on fighting in Europe due to his organizational skills (ring any bells) went along for the ride...

Not a bad read and if you haven't read the others take them along as well.

[radin2son]

A good read with maps, data and photos is How to Read the American West, a Field Guide by William Myckoff. University of Washington Press.
Wyckoff is a professor of geography st Montana State University.

Basically it is a compilation of many road trips that looks at and defines what you see out the windshield. History, cultures, geology...