Two bikers embark on a journey across the American Southwest and South with the aim of discovering the true America. Following a successful drug deal in Southern California that nets them a significant sum of money, they stash their earnings in the gas tank of their motorcycles and head towards New Orleans with the intention of experiencing the Mardi Gras festival. Their trip is as much about freedom and escaping conventional society as it is about reaching their destination. Along the way, they encounter a variety of characters who reflect the changing social landscape of 1960s America. These encounters range from spending time in a commune, where they briefly experience an alternative lifestyle, to being arrested for parading without a permit.

The journey takes a significant turn when they are thrown in a small-town jail and meet a drunk lawyer, who manages to get them out. Grateful, they invite him to join them on their journey to New Orleans. As they travel, the trio engages in philosophical discussions, exploring the meanings of freedom, the American Dream, and societal constraints. These conversations, set against the sweeping landscapes of America and the distinct cultures of the places they visit, serve to underscore the contrasts and contradictions of the era. The bikers' quest for personal freedom and the fulfillment of their dreams is juxtaposed with the realities of intolerance and prejudice they face on the road.