Hitchhiking

For the genetics term, see Genetic hitchhiking. For other uses of "Hitchhiker", see Hitchhiker (disambiguation). For other uses of "Hitchhike", see Hitchhike (disambiguation).

Hitchhiking waiting times worldwide with uncertainties of estimation (2024) - based on data from Hitchmap
A man and woman hitchhiking near Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1936, photograph by Walker Evans
A man with an outstretched thumb and a sign indicating his destination.

Hitchhiking (also known as thumbing, autostop or hitching) is a means of transportation that is gained by asking individuals, usually strangers, for a ride in their car or other vehicle. The ride is usually, but not always, free.