On the Road, Kerouac Style

The 50th anniversary edition of Jack Kerouac's On the Road comes out this month. What better time to pay homage? Just skip the booze and Benzedrine.

Call some friends, pack a duffel, grab some CDs. It's the ultimate American triad: you, a car and a highway.

We've compiled a short list of favorites, but we want you to add some as well.

So find your keys and your sense of adventure, and gas up

The Las Vegas Strip

This one's obvious. Approach it from any of the long lonesome highways that lead into the city, perhaps with CD narration from Hunter Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

Try to arrive at dusk as the desert cools and the lights come alive.

Las Vegas attempts to sugarcoat its Sin-City rep with family-oriented entertainment. Fine, it helps business. But the place is a hub of amazing nightclubs (like Tao and Pure) and parties -- even a topless beach or two.

Tip: Lots of girls who go out are part of bachelorette groups, which means if the bride-to-be doesn't want a last fling, one of her lonely cohorts will. But if you want a comfortable retreat, fully-equipped cabins are available about a half hour out of the city.

Arizona's Desert Highways

Folks don't just come here to retire. The state is dotted with natural wonders you've only seen in old Wile E. Coyote cartoons.

If you start at the Grand Canyon, identify which rim you want to visit. While the North Rim is a thousand feet higher—cooler, quieter, forested—the South Rim is more accessible and allows easier travel to the next destinations. No interstates connect these three, but AZ-89 runs through all of them.

(A classic option is heading west and north to Monument Valley on the Utah border, where you can pretend you're John Wayne. Or Dennis Hopper in Easy Rider.)

Further south is Flagstaff, a cool high-country destination, and Sedona glows crimson with sandstone. You'll wake up to see hot air balloons peppering the sky—and if you've got a few bucks to spare, you can be up there before the sun rouses.

Detour a bit to the west to Jerome, an old copper mining town that is allegedly the largest ghost town in the country—and was the “wickedest” town in the West. With miles to hike up every hill and down every chasm, the trip is worth battling dehydration.

Cali Coasters

Everyone knows about the Pacific Coast Highway. Let's assume you'll drive it eventually.

For now, consider a theme-park theme. It might make your brain lopsided, but it's worth the adrenaline rushes. Most of them are right on the ocean, so you'll be defying gravity—with a view.

The route we've mapped sticks close to the coastline, north to south. Start in Valencia at Six Flags Magic Mountain, which is slightly inland. But hurry—it's closing soon.

Next stop: I-5 to Santa Monica, home to Pacific Park and historic 1920s rides. To beat summer thrill-seeking crowds and keep your wallet well-fed, head east to Knotts Berry Farm in Buena Park. The 405's traffic is a headache no matter what time of day it is, so cut off the freeway at 91.

For some tamer beachfront fun, head to Anaheim's Belmont Park just moments away on I-5. And finally, the two-hour coastal trek to San Diego's Disney's California Adventure, which is less crowded than Disneyland. You can't beat avoiding L.A.

Colorado High Country

This one is about driving, and mountains. Make your own fun.

Start in the classic mining town of Leadville, the country's highest incorporated town (elevation 10,152 feet), head south on U.S. 24 until you reach Route 82. Then head west through the mountains (it's often closed in winter) until you reach Aspen.

Most Rocky Mountain ski resorts stay busy in the summer -- Aspen has more than its share of festivals and summer activities. At the very least, take a chairlift and check out the views (drive to the nearby Maroon Bells for some calendar photos).

Continue on until you hit Carbondale, then head south on Route 133 and veer off onto 135 for a swing past Crested Butte. When you hit U.S. 50, head west to the stunning Black Canyon of the Gunnison, then south on U.S. 550.

Now comes the fun part: when you get south of Ridgway, the road turns into one of the greatest in the country, from Ouray to Silverton to Durango. Get out, have a steak, and plan the next day's mountain biking.