To hit the road means to start a journey or to leave. It can also be used in normal, daily life when you decide it's time for you to go home ?. For example: “We have to be there by 10 am, so we're hitting the road early tomorrow” or “I've been here long enough, it's time I hit the road”.
Etymology. From Middle English travelen (“to make a laborious journey, travel”) from Middle Scots travailen (“to toil, work, travel”), alteration of Middle English travaillen (“to toil, work”), from Old French travailler (“to trouble, suffer, be worn out”).
At the beginning of the century, U.S. citizens and immigrants to the country traveled primarily by horseback or on the rivers. After a while, crude roads were built and then canals. Before long the railroads crisscrossed the country moving people and goods with greater efficiency.
Complete Answer:People travelled by foot only and they carried their goods on animals like horses, donkeys etc. Some travellers also used livestock like horses to travel long distances.