Why Keegan-Michael Key says road trips still matter

Road trips still matter because they offer a tangible, immersive way to experience a country, not just fly past it. Keegan-Michael Key argues that the slower pace creates a presence air travel cannot replicate, and he sees 2026 as a moment to reconsider. He notes a convergence of milestones—the United States 250th anniversary, Route 66 turning 100, and the World Cup drawing global attention—and views them as invitations to explore by road. Key recalls childhood westward journeys with his family in a pop-up camper, traversing iconic landscapes such as the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, the Tetons and Yosemite. The road, he says, fosters memory and connection that planes cannot match.