Gibson (John cusack), a young man recently arrived at the university, decides to take advantage of the first gap of his vacations to visit a friend in California, who plans a party with lots of fun.
To get there, you have no choice but to share a car with a cheesy couple and with Alison (Daphne zuniga), a responsible girl who is going to visit her boyfriend. The trip turns out to be a real hell and because the fights between them are so constant, they end up being invited to get out of the car.
But Gibson Y Alison, who are then forced to hitchhike to reach their destination, gradually discover that their company is more bearable than they thought. And it is that deep down, they both like each other.