They didn't take the road to the wilderness. They may very well have walked 1oo to a 1ooo people abreast. Herding cattle on all sides. That they didn't take a road is revealed by their going where a road wouldn't lead:a dead end. A dead end is the destination of all men until they come to Jesus.
Regardless, it took many miraculous works of almighty God to feed, clothe, educate, church and provide land for them. What you may not realize is that God intends on doing it again.
Joman.