I've created a map of America with placemarks for the major stops that John Steinbeck mentioned in the book "Travels with Charley." Over a period of months in 1960, Steinbeck went from Sag Harbor on Long Island to Midtown Manhattan, going the long way around with stops in Norhtern Maine, Chicago, the Badlands, Yellowstone Park, Seattle, San Francisco, Monterey, Amarillo, New Orleans and back up the East coast.
The link here to Google Earth places the view high enough over Kansas that you won't see the placemarks until you zoom in once or twice.

The Google Maps version can be found at Travels with Charley map

Here's a picture of cover art showing Steinbeck and Charley.

Terry -

Thanks for this post! I'm ashamed to say I've never read this book, though my excuse is that I've read lots of his others. Required reading if you went to school in California. Now, maybe I'll just have to get to this one...

Regards,
Diane

Hello,
Just starting reading the book and living in Australia I had a huge Atlas on my knee until I came across the fantastic Google Earth map created by Terry. Thanks it has helped with my understanding of the trip 100%.
Billysmum, Gippsland Australia

<SPOILER WARNING> Unlike his fictional works, this journal of Steinbeck's journey doesn't really have a plot or the colorful characters which are the standards of his work. I read it several decades ago, and have only a vague memory of it, but Terry's map helped to jog what memory I have. It's more of a story about the (interior) journey of a man growing old, his family growing up and going their separate ways, pleasant interactions with strangers from the different cultures which make up the various geographical regions of America, and the truly unconditional love of a dog.

I guess I should re-read it; I can remember the flavor, but not the detail. Compared with "Tortilla Flats", "Sweet Thursday", or "Grapes of Wrath", it is not nearly as captivating, as I recall, but at this point in my life, it may be more meaningful.

Thanks, Terry.