Films about road trips are almost as old as film itself. There’s something about people hitting the open road that seems to create endless possibilities and cause filmmakers to revisit the genre time and time again.

Perhaps the reason films about road trips are so popular is because people can relate to them. Almost all of us at one time or another have hit the highway, and it seems every time something unforeseen, crazy or hilarious happens. So, before you plan your Great American Road Trip this summer, check out this list of some of the most memorable road trip movies of all time.

10. Lost In America (1985)

Albert Brooks wrote, directed and starred in “Lost in America,” which is about a couple of yuppies who decide to sell everything they own, quit their jobs and travel across America in a Winnebago.

Inspired by the film “Easy Rider,” Brooks and his wife (Julie Hagerty) set out from Los Angeles but don’t get vary far because Hagerty blows their entire life savings -- or “nest egg” -- during a night of gambling in Las Vegas. In one of the funniest scenes of Brooks’ great career, he lectures Hagerty on the “nest egg principle” and tells her she is never allowed to use the words “nest” or “egg” ever again.

9. Kingpin (1996)

“Kingpin,” like most of the Farrelly brothers' films, isn’t for everyone, but fans of raunchy comedies hold it in high regard.

It is about a one-handed, drunk, ex-bowler (Woody Harrelson) mentoring an Amish man (Randy Quaid) while they travel across the U.S. on their way to a bowling tournament in Las Vegas. Bill Murray steals the show as Harrelson’s nemesis, Big Ernie McCracken, a role he is said to have ad-libbed almost entirely.

8. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

“Little Miss Sunshine” won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and is about a family trying to make it to California in an old VW van so little Olive (Abigail Breslin) can compete in a beauty pageant.

Alan Arkin also won for Best Supporting Actor as the foul-mouthed grandpa. After seeing it, you will never be able to hear the song “Super Freak” by Rick James without thinking of this film.

7. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)

The late John Candy had many memorable film roles, but perhaps the role he will best be remembered for is Del Griffith, the blabbermouth shower curtain ring salesman who teams up with Steve Martin as the two try to get back to Chicago in time for Thanksgiving. Candy’s comedic persona as the lovable loser was never more alive than in “Planes, Trains and Automobiles.”

6. The Muppet Movie (1979)

“The Muppet Movie” tells the tale of how the Jim Henson’s puppets met and made it to Hollywood.

The film starts with Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear traveling in a Studebaker across the country, and along the way they meet all the other familiar faces from “The Muppet Show.” The film is just as enjoyable today as it was when it was released and it will bring back fond memories for adults that grew up with the Muppets and “Sesame Street.”

5. Rain Man (1988)

“Rain Man” cleaned up at the Academy Awards, winning for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman).

The film is about an autistic man (Hoffman) and his brother (Tom Cruise) traveling across the country in a convertible Buick Roadmaster. The cross-country journey is an old, familiar plot, but is made fresh and new because most films don’t have someone as unique as Hoffman’s savant character along for the ride.

4. Thelma and Louise (1991)

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis starred in “Thelma and Louise,” which is about two women who leave town on a weekend getaway but end up as two of America’s most wanted criminals after Sarandon shoots a man who was trying to rape Davis.

It is a great film from the opening reel and has one of the most memorable and shocking endings of the last 20 years.

3. It Happened One Night (1934)

“It Happened One Night" was the first film to win the Academy Award “grand slam” of Best Picture, Best Actor (Clark Gable), Best Actress (Claudette Colbert), Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. It is a film that anyone with an interest in the history of filmmaking must see, for it is one of the first road trip movies and is considered by many film historians to be the first screwball comedy.

2. Easy Rider (1969)

“Easy Rider” for many film fans represents the desire to drop out of society and hit the open road.

Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper star as two outlaws who leave California for Mardi Gras on Harley-Davidsons after completing a major drug deal. The film also launched the career of Jack Nicholson, who plays an ACLU lawyer who decides to ride along with Fonda and Hopper. It is one of the definitive films of its era and captured the malaise and lost idealism that was sweeping through young people as the 1960s rolled into the 70s.

1. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)

“National Lampoon’s Vacation” is one of those films that nearly everyone can relate to, and that is why its popularity has endured.

Many of us have been dragged on some terrible cross-country trip with their family at some point, and the story of Clark W. Griswold (Chevy Chase) driving his family from Chicago to Los Angeles in their Wagon Queen Family Truckster will bring back those terrible memories and make you laugh.

The film spawned three sequels, although none were as great as the Griswold’s journey to get to Wally World. Along the way they get their hubcaps stolen, have a relative die, lose their luggage, crash in the desert, fight nonstop and take a security guard hostage.

For everyone whose parents ever drove four hours out of the way so they could see some worthless sight like the second largest ball of twine on the face of the earth, this will always be the ultimate road trip film.

Other Memorable Road Trip Films:

• Dumb and Dumber (1994)
• Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
• Tommy Boy (1995)
• Road Trip (2000)
• Fandango (1985)
• Midnight Run (1988)
• Y Yu Mama Tambien (2001)
• The Last Detail (1973)
• Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
• Transamerica (2005)