Who edits The US Detour
The project at a glance
These figures describe the published collection, rather than a promise that every stop can be reached in one road trip. The core guides and additional stories serve different purposes.
The travel-style labels help readers explore places but do not imply that a destination fits only one category. The interactive map and planner make the information usable rather than treating a larger inventory as a substitute for good route planning.
Dan McDowell
Dan McDowell is responsible for the site's editorial direction, guide structure, corrections, and publishing decisions. The US Detour is an independent road-trip planning project.
What the site is built to do
The US Detour helps travelers compare overlooked places, scenic roads, small towns, outdoor stops, and local context without turning every destination into a separate article. Each state guide keeps a focused 12-stop shortlist and connects it to the map and planner.
How destinations are selected
A stop should add a clear role to a real trip: a strong anchor, a useful change of pace, meaningful local context, a scenic connection, or a worthwhile alternative to the obvious stop. We also look for variety so a state guide is not twelve versions of the same experience.
Research and verification
Durable editorial context is separated from facts that change quickly. Before travel, readers should confirm hours, closures, permits, reservations, road conditions, weather, ferry schedules, and access rules with the relevant managing agency or operator. Our planning sources page explains that verification process.
Advertising and independence
Advertising does not determine which destinations appear in a guide. Commercial relationships, when present, are disclosed and do not replace editorial judgment or useful comparison.
Corrections
If you find a wrong place name, broken link, outdated context, or a recommendation that could create an access or safety problem, use the contact page and include the page URL plus the specific correction.