Scenes from the road in Donald Trump’s America

Practically since the invention of the automobile, the American road trip has been a source of inspiration and discovery for writers and photographers alike. Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Jack Kerouac and Garry Winogrand are among the many artists who have made the trek along the country's highways and back roads seeking a greater understanding of a diverse nation and its people.

In the aftermath of one of the most turbulent elections in recent memory, it seemed time to do it again. After spending more than a year covering Donald Trump's insurgent campaign for the presidency, Eric Thayer, an award-winning photojournalist, joined Yahoo News National Correspondent Holly Bailey on a cross-country road trip in the weeks after Election Day, visiting places where the GOP candidate won — and places where he did not.

The two-week trip, which spanned 13 states and nearly 5,000 miles, found not only a country at odds politically, but one where economic struggle continues in small towns that still haven't recovered from the recession. But it was also a road trip that invoked the many things that make America unique — its eccentric roadside attractions, the splendor of its natural landscape and, above all, its people. (Holly Bailey/Yahoo News)

Photography by Eric Thayer for Yahoo News

See the Yahoo News Special Report “Donald Trump’s America” by Holly Bailey >>>

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