Crusin' along WI Interstate 94 at the Milwaukee Interchange
Image ©  2023, David McCoy - Spiritbridge

" The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System or the Eisenhower Interstate System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Highway System in the United States. The system extends throughout the contiguous United States and has routes in Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico.

The enactment of the Fereral-Aid Highway Act of 1956 during Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration green-lighted the proposal of an interstate highway system. Construction of the original Interstate Highway System was proclaimed complete in 1992, despite deviations from the original 1956 plan. "


Within today's fast-paced, on-the-go society, interstate highways have become the mainstay of travel for commuters and road warriors alike. Many people today praise how these road systems expedite the trip from point A to B. Frontage road fare, easy off-and-on access to fuel, bathrooms, & attractions make it a breeze to keep on the go and keep the world passing by at high speed.

Such luxuries come at a price that many never think once, let alone twice, about. The days of road trips through rural America, small towns, greasy spoons, and tourist traps have long passed their prime. Communities once thriving on passing traffic are now shells of their former selves.

Personally, the interstate (or I system as I call it) is a go-to for getting to a directly planned destination quickly. The convenience is unmatched. The caveat of my last statement comes during rush-hour traffic when the old State and county highways come in clutch to avoid stand-still traffic.

For wanderlust and exploration, you cannot beat planning your way through the old rural routes of America's forgotten byways. There has always been an appeal to the forgotten & untold stories of the past. A front and center statement based on this project's direction.

I find myself drawn to the open back roads meditatively. I also find there are two times of wanderlust, each with a different result. More on that viewpoint in another post in the future. There is a feeling of wonder as I drive through a community that bears the bones of its past. You enter an old village/town/city space with old wooden welcome signs and aged streetlights. The buildings show their age and, at times, will be dusted with "For Lease" signs or Americana placed by its owners to distract from the decay.

Once you have rolled into a rural community, it's a great time to consider if it's time for a fuel-up for the transport or yourself. My go-to is always Casey's General Store, but you may find other options based on your locale. You can get a sense of the locals from a simple gas stop, more so stepping into the local eatery. I rarely have been in a small town where people felt unwelcoming, especially the further south you go in the US.

I should warn you, be ready to leave your diet at the welcome mat with many of these small-town eateries. Most old-time food stops are American fare. Burgers, Fries, Steaks, and Home Style Breakfasts tend to be the specialties of varying quality. Remember that not many restaurants still follow the old Duncan Hines rating logs. Quality of the food is still a wild west where many have chosen to use premade, flash-frozen ingredients to continue to operate with lower overhead to match the declined business.

At the end of the day, at a time when I feel road trips, unplanned wandering, and Sunday drives have become passé. I urge everyone to explore their local area by traveling the back roads and county highways. You might be surprised to find a small town you never knew existed. I have come across many nestled spaces unseen and unprompted from the interstate system.

I also urge you to look out the side windows on a direct A to B trip (carefully, I must stress!) to see if there is something you didn't otherwise notice. You can see a new thing on a daily route if you allow yourself to look past the car in front of you and any angry commentary of that person's driving skills.