The Old Red Trail

Traveling the Red Trail

The popularity and relative availability of the automobile gave Americans control of their travel schedules. They could depart when they wished, take as long as they wanted en route, and delay or accelerate travel as they wished. For many, the rigid schedules and predictable services of the railroad were replaced by the adventure of the open road and the new “sport” of auto touring.

Open road can be taken literally. There was no pavement. There were no directional signs – or maps - or gas stations – or rest stops. There were no motels or restaurants or fast food chains along the way...at least not in the beginning.

What must travel have been like in those early years? And how has it changed?

Packing the Car in 1916 and Today

Item	Required in 1916	Required Today
Food	Pack enough food to last the duration of the trip. If you were traveling the 200 miles from Bismarck to Fargo at 3.5 miles per hour, and you drove 8 hours a day, how many days would it take you to arrive? How much food would you need? If the food needs cooking, remember to bring pots, pans and either a portable cook stove or wood for a fire. Don’t forget water.	200 miles will require less than 3 hours to travel. Water, soft drinks and perhaps snacks will be “needed”. Or, if you departed near mealtime, you can stop at any number of restaurants, fast food outlets, or convenience stores along the route.
Fuel	Gasoline must be carried in gas cans. There is no assurance that fuel will be available anywhere along the way.	Gas stations dot I-94 at regular intervals. Depending on the type of vehicle and its miles per gallon, it is possible to complete the entire trip on one tank of gas.
Weather Considerations	There are no paved roads, no rest stops and no accommodations. Winter travel is not advised at any time. If rain, hail or other storms are predicted, delay travel until roads are dry.	Except for the most extreme cases, travel is possible throughout the year.
Maps	Some rudimentary directional maps may be available. Reliability and accuracy are questionable.	Highway maps are available in many formats including electronic Map Quest searches and on demand, satellite delivered GPS (Geographical Positioning System) data.
Traffic	In 1916 there were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads. Traffic was not usually an issue.	According to the Department of Transportation there are over 4 million miles of highway in the United States today. The Federal Highway Statistics Office reported that there were 241,193,974 vehicles licensed in the United States in 2005.
Speed & Distance	Speed varied from 3.5 mph to 10 mph depending on the road and the vehicle. After 10 hours of driving, travelers could expect to have traveled from 35 to 100 miles – depending on road conditions and the reliability of the vehicle.	Today, all makes and models of automobiles are capable of traveling 80 mph or more. Speed limits range from 25 – 45 mph in cities to 70-75 mph on the highway. The minimum speed on the highway is 45 mph. With 10 hours of driving, travelers can easily travel 600 to 700 miles each day.
Accommodations	Sleeping bags, blankets, cots, tents. Be prepared to find a site and spend some time before dark setting up. City parks were often available.	Stop at a convenient motel, hotel, or full-service camp ground if you happen to be traveling in an RV.