Mapping Out America’s Backroads
The TransAmerica Trail (TAT) is not your typical off-road trail. It’s a 5,900-mile stretch of mostly unpaved paths that link the Pacific coast of Oregon to the Atlantic coast of North Carolina. There are no official signs, no tourist stops, and no highway traffic – just a network of dirt, gravel, and remote paths pieced together by off-roaders over the years. Through deserts, forests, and mountain passes, TAT offers some of the most untouched scenery left in the country.
For off-roaders, it’s a kind of open secret – you have to know where to look, and getting lost is part of the adventure. But now, anyone curious about what lies along America’s wildest backroads can explore them from their laptop or phone. Thanks to a joint effort between Ford and Google Maps, the entire TransAmerica Trail has been captured for Street View. It’s the first time an off-road trail of this scale has been digitally documented.
How Ford Helped Make It Possible
In August 2025, a small team from Ford and Google Maps set off to tackle the trail in one continuous journey. The convoy included three Ford vehicles: a Bronco Badlands with a mounted Street View camera, a Ranger Lariat carrying supplies, and an Expedition Tremor serving as the crew’s mobile basecamp. Over 32 days, they drove from Oregon to North Carolina, recording every mile while crossing deserts, rivers, and mountain passes.
The Bronco, with Sasquatch Package and G.O.A.T. modes at its disposal, was the lead vehicle. The Ranger carried essential gear and spare equipment, while the Expedition provided a place to cook, organize, and rest. By the end of the trip, the team had logged hundreds of thousands of Street View images, allowing anyone to virtually preview the trail.
Ford
An Off-Roader’s Dream
Needless to say, the journey was a technical accomplishment, but it’s also a niche off-roader’s dream that has become something more accessible. The newly mapped TransAmerica Trail lets drivers gauge terrain conditions and plan their own off-road trips with confidence. It’s also a reminder that America still has places untouched by pavement – vast, unpredictable, and worth discovering, whether in person or through a screen.
Ford
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