Ellen DeGeneres is America's first choice to ride shotgun on a road trip, beating out celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Will Ferrell and Paris Hilton. And all politics aside, U.S. travelers elect to hit the road with presidential hopefuls Rudy Giuliani and Barack Obama.


These are just two of many revelations from Rand McNally's 2007 Great American Road Trip Survey, which polled 4,000 adults nationwide about their summer road trip outlook, favorite road trip destinations, what goes on in the car during the drive and which celebrities they most would like to have in the passenger seat.


According to the survey, 21 percent more Americans plan to take road trips this summer than last year.


"Rand McNally and road travel are practically synonymous," said Laurie Borman, editorial director of Rand McNally. "Who could you trust more to tell your road travel secrets to? The Great American Road Trip Survey is just one way we keep our fingers on the pulse of fun and fascinating road trip trends year-to-year."


Drivers overall selected Rudy Giuliani as the presidential candidate with whom they'd most like to take a road trip. Although Hillary Clinton tied Barack Obama for most desirable road trip companion among Democrat respondents, Clinton's intense unpopularity with Republicans (80 percent voted to leave her behind) and Independents (52 percent voted not to take her) made her top the list of least desirable companions.

Ellen DeGeneres was the most popular celebrity road trip companion for all ages, except respondents between the ages of 18 and 28. For that age group, Will Ferrell was the celebrity of choice. It was Ellen's appeal among women that put her in the top spot.