Art Garfunkel
Voice of Generations
Official website
Walks
Art Garfunkel has been known for his extensive walks for decades. His longest endeavors include his "Walk Across America" from the East to the West Coast of the USA, as well as his European tour from Ireland to Istanbul. A walking trip through Japan is also among his documented walks. The walks are presented on the basis of their routes and stations. For the "Walk Across America" and the European tour, PDFs with the individual stages and stations are available.
Walk Across America – Art Garfunkel’s Extraordinary Journey on Foot
The journey of an exceptional artist walking across the USA
Art Garfunkel, world-renowned as a singer and exceptional artist, combined his passion for music and nature with an extraordinary challenge: his walk across America – “Walk Across America”. Since the early 1980s, he has been traveling the USA on foot, a journey that has taken him along back roads, through small towns, and across breathtaking landscapes.
“My walk across America began in the early 80s, when, as the son of a traveling salesman, I took a freighter across the Pacific… to Japan. When I arrived there, I knew: I will walk the land from coast to coast.”
— Art Garfunkel
This idea was born during a trip through the rice fields of Japan. Inspired by nature and tranquility, Art Garfunkel put his plan into action and began to discover America on foot, piece by piece.
Why “Walk Across America”?
Art Garfunkel explains his motivation:
“It’s not a big challenge, but a personal journey. I use the horizon and the setting sun as orientation, I improvise my way through the landscape. The longer you’re out there, the more you find picturesque rescues and fascinating places.”
— Art Garfunkel
His concept is simple yet profound: to discover the beauty of America away from well-known tourist routes and to establish a deep connection with the land and its people.
Encounters with Fans and the Press
Although Art Garfunkel is a world-famous personality, he experienced surprisingly little attention during his walks:
“I was almost completely left alone. There were only a few moments when the press jumped on me – then I made a deal and gave interviews in small cafés. The world is a safe place, many people mind their own business.”
— Art Garfunkel
His restraint and natural manner helped him to be a “non-persona” on the road – not perceived as a celebrity, but as a man in search of beauty.
The Route and the Adventure
Art Garfunkel walked over several years, often in segments of around 100 miles, always starting again from his home in Manhattan. He describes:
“I have walked one-eighth of the northern hemisphere. The walk began in the ’80s, from coast to coast, along back roads, small towns, and fascinating landscapes. Sometimes I was alone, sometimes accompanied by my wife, my brother, or friends like Jimmy Webb.”
— Art Garfunkel
His goal was to experience America authentically – not as a tourist, but as a walker who feels the soul of the country.
The Rules of the Walk:
Art Garfunkel set clear rules for himself on his walk in order to shape the journey consciously and with focus:
-
No sniffing: He avoids exploring roads that are not yet passable and strictly sticks to proven paths.
-
Keep moving: “Constant starting and stopping is a waste of energy,” says Art Garfunkel, who handles his walk with precision and discipline.
-
“The walk is not an opportunity for socializing, but a journey of solitude and contemplation.”
— Art Garfunkel
Media and Public Attention
In an in-depth interview with Sports Illustrated (1990), Tom Dunkel summarized the walk:
“Art Garfunkel has been on a cross-country walk alone for five years. He covers the routes in segments of around 100 miles, then flies home and resumes his journey later. His walk has transformed from a straight line into a freely shaped squiggle.”
— Tom Dunkel, Sports Illustrated
English language list
English language list
Further Walks and Future Plans
In addition to America, Art Garfunkel also walked across Europe, from Ireland to Naples – another great adventure.
“I’ve crossed the USA and am now walking across Europe in stages. I always return to the exact point where I last stopped and continue my walk.”
— Art Garfunkel (Die Welt, 2007)
Conclusion: Walk Across America – A Source of Inspiration
Art Garfunkel’s walk through America is more than a physical achievement – it is a deep connection to the land, nature, and oneself. His story inspires people to rediscover travel and to feel the rhythm of the earth with their own steps.