off the beaten track

Idioms  

1. An unusual route or destination, as in We found a great vacation spot, off the beaten track. This term alludes to a well-worn path trodden down by many feet and was first recorded in 1860, although the phrase beaten track was recorded in 1638 in reference to the usual, unoriginal way of doing something.

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

off the beaten track

A onetime California oil boomtown about 60 miles southwest of Fresno, Avenal has spent decades off the beaten track, known more for its pistachios and sprawling state prison than for political upheaval.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

It is also a lever for encouraging tourism into an area far off the beaten track.

From Barron's ● Feb. 10, 2026

The moral: Whenever possible, get off the beaten track.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2024

The town is so off the beaten track, the loudest sound is cows mooing in the distance.

From Seattle Times ● May 25, 2024

As before, he kept off the beaten track, making his way through open meadows, and patches of trees.

From Atlantic Narratives Modern Short Stories by Elizabeth Ashe

Related Words

• confined
• deserted
• detached
• hidden
• lonely
• outlying
• remote
• secluded
• segregated
• unusual