Comedian, actor, and singer Keegan-Michael Key has long entertained audiences with his sharp comedic instincts, memorable characters, and voice work in video games. Yet, the actor’s lesser-known talent may be his knack for navigating the open road.

"It's becoming a bit of a lost art, isn't it?" said Key, widely recognized for his work in the sketch duo Key & Peele. "And being able to fold a map back up the way that you opened it. [With] Google Maps, you go, 'How did we do this before?'"

Key recalls a time when travel was slower and more immersive, guided by paper maps, intuition, and spontaneity. "Back in the old days, you'd get out your map and your dad was, like, 'Hold on, I gotta figure this out'," he said. "The excitement started to build when you'd undo [the map] on the bed and everyone [decided where to go next]. You can change your mind on a road trip."

Once a dominant form of American leisure, road trips have left an indelible mark on the country’s cultural landscape, stretching across highways, plains, deserts, and national parks. Key shared his thoughts on why the tradition continues to captivate travelers.

Road Trips in 2026

"I think we're craving a certain type of connection that we've been losing in the past couple of decades. [And] we've got a bunch of things happening this year; 100 years of Route 66, the 250th anniversary of the country. Also, the World Cup is happening this year all over North America, which would be a really great road trip."

Early Memories

Key grew up in Michigan, with family roots in Salt Lake City, Utah, and cherished trips westward. "When we were kids, we would go to national parks in [our] pop-up camper; the Grand Canyon, the Tetons, Yellowstone and Yosemite. Once you get to the outskirts of the Midwest, it's flat and then the hills start to roll. I remember being able to see miles in the distance. There's an excitement because you can literally see your destination."

He sometimes dreams of those journeys, recalling the awe of spotting the Rockies after miles of plains. "It was breathtaking. It still is breathtaking. Now because of work, I travel by plane a lot because you got to get someplace quicker. I don't really have the luxury to [travel by car]. But I encourage anybody who has any kind of wanderlust to take a road trip with your family. There's a really special connection that happens between people when you have to problem solve."

Unique Road Trip Moments

"That time that you spend singing together in the car. Remember those road games – trying to spot road signs like falling rocks or deer crossing? And remember getting up at 05:00 and seeing the Sun? We're busy people nowadays; we see sunsets all the time, but how often do you see a sunrise? That's something that almost exclusively happens on a road trip."

Key contrasts road trips with flying. "[On a plane], somebody else is taking care of the actual travelling, but [on a road trip], you're the one that has to figure it out. They're both communal experiences, but one of them is way more prescribed than the other one. The only time you share something on a plane is if something untoward happens, and it's 200 of you collectively having that experience. But a road trip consists of four to eight people at the most, so you're having a much more individual experience. On the plane, we're all doing the same thing. But anything can unfold on a road trip."

Road Trips With Fellow Performers

During his early career on the college comedy circuit, Key often shared long drives with Jordan Peele. "He's a very calming influence. I'm a very talkative person; only as I've gotten older have I realised that I can embrace silence. I learned that from Jordan. [One time] – I think we had left St Louis and we were driving to Columbia, Missouri – and we were driving on the road and I just felt a real sense of brotherhood with him, but there were no words spoken. It was an epiphany for me. We had such a good time with each other. And sometimes those good times were times where we were just existing."

Dream Road Trip Crew

Key imagines traveling with legendary actors such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, Jane Fonda, and Christopher Walken, imagining their stories from decades past. "I'd love to travel with older actors, like Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jane Fonda and Christopher Walken. They'd go, 'I remember in 1968, I was here and we did this.' I like hearing about people's history and their stories, especially travel stories. But at the same time, I'd throw a wild card in there, like Jim Carrey. That would be fun."

Road Trip Essentials

For Key, some items are nonnegotiable. "Gotta have books. I'm a physical book person, I like to turn a page. Even if I don't crack it, I have to have a book just in case. And I do keep snacks in my backpack. I like to bring my own tea bags or my own chocolate mix so that I can mix my own drink for myself. I have a thing that has reishi mushrooms in it, for mental focus."

Memorable Encounters and Favorites

Road trips have also introduced him to colorful characters. "There was a guy who used to give ghost tours in New Orleans. He was very elegant and he had this very dashing Van Dyke [facial hair] and he kind of dressed like a pirate. He does these ghost tours at nighttime, but when I saw him during the day, he was dressed the same as he was at night. So I was like, 'Oh, this is him. This is his lifestyle.'"

When asked about his favorite road trip movie, Key cited Midnight Run. "It's Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, you can't really lose. They're leaving a big city and they end up in the West. They go into this little saloon and they're trying to get money and they pretend that they're FBI agents. Charles Grodin just looks at this one guy and says, 'Have you seen anybody suspicious around here?' and the guy he's talking to is the most suspicious looking person you've ever seen. Most of the people in that scene were locals, not actors, and it's just sublime. Midnight Run's a great caper, but it's also a good road movie."

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.