Sal Paradise is a young writer whose life is shaken and ultimately redefined by the arrival of Dean Moriarty, a free-spirited, fearless, fast talking Westerner and his girl, Marylou. Traveling cross-country, Sal and Dean venture out on a personal quest for freedom from the conformity and conservatism engulfing them in search of the unknown, themselves, and the pursuit of "it" -- the pure essence of experience.

Garrett Hedlundas Dean Moriarty / Neal Cassady
Sam Rileyas Sal Paradise / Jack Kerouac
Kristen Stewartas Marylou / LuAnne Henderson
Amy Adamsas Jane / Joan Vollmer
Tom Sturridgeas Carlo Marx / Allen Ginsberg
Danny Morganas Ed Dunkle / Al Hinkle
Alice Bragaas Terry / Bea Franco
Elisabeth Mossas Galatea Dunkel / Helen Hinkle
Kirsten Dunstas Camille / Carolyn Cassady
Viggo Mortensenas Old Bull Lee / William S. Burroughs
Éric Gautier