Thunder Road may not be a real place but Bruce Springsteen lives up to being Born In The USA by filling his songs with these all-American destinations.

E Street

Of course, a Bruce Springsteen Road trip would have to start in Jersey, a city synonymous with The Boss. Perhaps most notably E Street, the street Springsteen named his band after. The road perfectly summarises the boss, to the naked eye, just a simple street in Jersey with a simple name, but Bruce saw a short, punchy title for the band that would be by his side his whole career.

Ashbury Park

Greetings From Ashbury Park N.J. is a very fitting title for Springsteen’s debut album. The Jersey-based city is a straight line and a mere 10-minute drive from E Street is home to the Convention Hall, where Springsteen often played. This journey is truly the home to Springsteen’s origins.

Atlantic City

Follow the coast south and you’ll end up in Atlantic City. The city famed for its gambling becomes the setting of a song depicting the story of a young couple running away together. Drive at night and look up at the lights and see why they came there!

Philadelphia

Head over to Philadelphia and grab yourself an Oscar. The music video for this song shows Springsteen playing a vagabond, wandering around the city with no destination in sight. So play this song and drive without direction and replicate the mellow tones of the beautiful tune.

Baltimore

Hungry Heart starts with a bang, “Had a wife and kids in Baltimore Jack, I went out for a ride and a never went back”. The song takes Springsteen’s textbook feeling of wanting to get away but changes the voice to a more mature audience than his previous songs showcasing youthful longing.

Youngstown

Springsteen’s song tells the story of the rise and fall of Youngstown, Ohio. The song continues themes laid out in previous songs, depicting a working class down affected poorly by the Vietnam War. Youngstown is a regular number in Springsteen’s setlist for his live shows so drive through and see what he sings about for yourself.

Badlands

Sadly Badlands is not based on an actual place; Bruce thought of the title and thought it sounded great. So much so that he thought of the title before he even wrote the song. But Badlands national park in South Dakota is a beautiful and essential stop on this road trip.

Nebraska

Taking a moodier turn than the Boss’s other adrenaline-inducing driving songs, with the grey-soaked song depicting the murders committed by Clarence Starkweather. Drive around the state to Nebraska and replicate many of the Boss’s moody videos.

Cadillac Ranch

Springsteen gets specific in his next destination with Cadillac Ranch, a must-see on any American road trip. Located on route 66 is the art installation consisting of 10 Cadillac Cars submerged nose first in the ground. Route 66 is a car road trip must! But driving there listening to a song about it by Springsteen makes it even more special.

San Diego

Rosalita should be a part of any road trip. should be a part of every road trip playlist and is the perfect song to take us home. The 7-and-a-half-minute anthem talks of a “pretty little place in Southern California, down San Diego Way, so head anywhere you want and enjoy the ride. That is the thing about being behind the car with a Springsteen song playing, every road is Thunder Road.

Words Robert Prendergast