To many of us, summer wouldn't be the same without taking a road trip. Whether you're planning a cross-America trek with kids and dogs in tow or a short jaunt on a favorite bit of highway, don't leave home without perusing these road-trip-targeted books for inspiration and instruction.

1. National Geographic's Guide to National Parks of the United States National Geographic Society
Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Great Smoky Mountains: National parks are the crown jewels of America's vacation treasure trove. No wonder they rank high among the most popular summer travel destinations. This guide, organized by region, offers detailed maps, lodging recommendations, and color photographs of the 55 parks. Each section lists costs, safety tips, advice on best times to visit, and wildlife highlights.

2. Road Trip USA by Jamie Jensen
Are you the type of traveler who prefers to bypass generic fast food and ubiquitous retailers and concentrate instead on discovering local character? Then the third edition of this classic guide is for you, with almost a thousand pages of historical facts, recommendations for unique places to eat and sleep, information on quirky roadside attractions, and advice for discovering the highlights of some of our country's most interesting destinations.

3. Roads: Driving America's Greatest Highways by Larry McMurtry 
In this vivid look at the connection between people and the places that inspire them, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Larry McMurtry sets out to "reread" several thousand miles of American roads via journeys around the country. Along the way, the author muses on the literary and cultural aspects of the roads he's traveling and records his own dreams, desires, and experiences. This is a fascinating and inspirational read, whether you're planning a road trip or just living vicariously.

4. Historic Haunted America by Michael Norman and Beth Scott
For those who like a good chill with their vacations, this comprehensive volume offers spooky stories about travel destinations in all 50 U.S. states and some Canadian provinces. Perfect for armchair travelers, the volume incorporates plenty of local history in its frightening tales, which highlight haunted mines, lodgings inhabited by spirits, and other spine-tingling places.

5. New Roadside America: The Modern Traveler's Guide to the Wild and Wonderful World of America's Tourist Attractions by Doug Kirby, Mike Wilkins, and Ken Smith
Looking for the wackiest, nuttiest, most bizarre attractions in these United States? This volume has what you're looking for and then some. From giant balls of string to weird celebrity museums and out-there collections, they're all organized and categorized by interest here. More than 200 photographs make for fun armchair browsing.

6. Watch It Made in the U.S.A.: A Visitor's Guide to the Companies That Make Your Favorite Products by Karen Axelrod and Bruce Brumberg
Want to incorporate some fun and learning into your summer road trip? From crayons in Pennsylvania to hot sauce in Louisiana, this volume reveals the locations of factories and companies where your favorite products are made and offers details about tours, schedules, and samples. The entries are categorized by states, for easy reference, and there are separate indices for companies and products.

7. The Most Scenic Drives in America Richard L. Sheffel, editor 
If getting there is half the fun, spectacular scenery like waterfalls and soaring cliffs can certainly add even more to a road trip's enjoyment. This guide focuses on travel to and through the most breathtaking vistas and outstanding natural features from coast to coast and everywhere in between. The book includes detailed route maps and enticing full-color photographs, as well as plenty of tips on dining, lodging, and local points of interest.

8. Blue Highways: A Journey into America by William Least Heat-Moon
In what has become a classic tale of discovery, the author explores more than ten thousand miles of our nation's backroads (depicted in blue on printed maps) in a van he calls Ghost Dancing. The richness of the volume comes from the stories of people in such places as Dime Box, Texas and Liberty Bond, Washington, which are unexpected, remarkable, and straightforwardly told. This is a book that has inspired many a journey, both physical and personal.

9. Route 66: Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion by Tom Snyder
Widely considered to be the quintessential road-trip road, Route 66 evokes nostalgia even in those too young to have traveled it before the Interstate Highway System made much of it obsolete. Besides detailed driving directions, author Snyder offers recommendations on lodging and dining spots, scenic stops, and museums, with a little local history thrown in for good measure.