20 Photos Of What Travel Looked Like In The 1970s

Daniel Bonfiglio Published 02/19/2025 in wow

Today, New York to Los Angeles on a budget means squeezing yourself into a cramped, smelly, and delayed middle seat on a major carrier. But traveling was different back in the day.

Airlines focused on luxury and legroom over squeezing every last dollar out of customers, and road trips meant taking in gorgeous American scenery while experiencing local people and food.

The golden days of travel are gone, but we can still remember them in photos. Here are 20 pics that show what travel looked like in the 1970s.

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1. Playing Bingo
The Amtrak train between Chicago and Glacier Park, Montana, June 1974.
2. A Piano Bar
An American Airlines 747 in 1971.
3. Motorcycle Trip
Riding across the West, 1970s.
4. Camper Road Trips
Summer of 1978.
5. First Class Flying
The 1970s, an SAS Boeing 747-B Huge Viking.
6. Travelling By Bus
The winter, 1970s Finland.
7. A Backpacking Trip
Walking in the 1970s.
8. A Qantas Airways 747 Upper Deck
Luxury flying in 1971.
9. Teens Hook Riding an Electric Train
USSR, 1971.
10. Roller Skating Train
Redondo Beach, CA, 1970s.
11. Air India
Serving food, 1970s.
12. Western Tourist
Taking a road trip in Afghanistan, 1970s.
13. An Aerotrain
France in the 1970s.
14. Family Road Trip
The Mojave Desert. June 1970. Sunscreen needed.
15.
16. Nomadic Living
A Chevelle SS and a trailer, 1970s.
17. An Economy Class Mockup
Flying in 1970.
18. Bus Trips
Friends in the early ‘70s.
19. Riding the Train
Holland in the 1970s.
20. A Boeing 747
Traveling in the 1970s.

1. Playing Bingo
The Amtrak train between Chicago and Glacier Park, Montana, June 1974.
2. A Piano Bar
An American Airlines 747 in 1971.
3. Motorcycle Trip
Riding across the West, 1970s.
4. Camper Road Trips
Summer of 1978.
5. First Class Flying
The 1970s, an SAS Boeing 747-B Huge Viking.
6. Travelling By Bus
The winter, 1970s Finland.
7. A Backpacking Trip
Walking in the 1970s.
8. A Qantas Airways 747 Upper Deck
Luxury flying in 1971.
9. Teens Hook Riding an Electric Train
USSR, 1971.
10. Roller Skating Train
Redondo Beach, CA, 1970s.
11. Air India
Serving food, 1970s.
12. Western Tourist
Taking a road trip in Afghanistan, 1970s.
13. An Aerotrain
France in the 1970s.
14. Family Road Trip
The Mojave Desert. June 1970. Sunscreen needed.
15.
16. Nomadic Living
A Chevelle SS and a trailer, 1970s.
17. An Economy Class Mockup
Flying in 1970.
18. Bus Trips
Friends in the early ‘70s.
19. Riding the Train
Holland in the 1970s.
20. A Boeing 747
Traveling in the 1970s.