About Rt 66

Route 66 was the 2448 mile stretch of  highway linking Chicago, IL with Los Angeles, CA via Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona. Established in 1926, Route 66 underwent many changes to the original alignment before being officially removed from the US highway system in 1985.

US Route 66 was founded on a pre-existing network of roads, passing through both rural and urban areas, and has become known as “the main street of America”, Will Rogers Highway, and “the mother road” (based on a quotation from the John Steinbeck novel “The Grapes of Wrath”).

During the depression of the 1930’s Route 66 was a major path for migrants heading west to escape the dust bowl. It came to be seen as the pathway to opportunity and prosperity, with small-town businesses thriving on the passing trade. This was given a further boost during World War II due to further migration west to the war-related industries of California. Over the following few decades, as Route 66 was celebrated in popular culture, it became embedded in the public consciousness as a symbol of free spirit, independence and adventure. The Route became lined with neon-signed motels, giant statues and an array of iconic roadside attractions.

Beginning in the late 1950’s large portions of Route 66 were bypassed by completed sections of what was to be the new Interstate Highway system. In 1985 Route 66 was eventually decommissioned. This period was linked with a huge reduction in traffic and ultimately the demise of many businesses and even whole towns (forming the many “ghost towns” now seen along Route 66). Fortunately non-profit organisations such as The National Historic Route 66 Association were founded and fought for the preservation of the old road.

These days, for many people, driving Route 66 is an opportunity to pull off the interstate, take your foot off the gas and embrace an endangered American experience. It’s an opportunity to meet like-minded travellers, share experiences, sample new food and drink and embrace new experiences; a chance to be immersed in the nostalgia and kitschy Americana so prevalent along the Route. Route 66 is all about the journey, not the destination.

A large portion of Route 66 remains paved and drivable (approximately 85%) with a standard saloon car, although with an off-road vehicle this could be higher. There are some variations in the Route as the original alignment underwent some changes in the early years to improve the road and make it safer, so occasionally travellers may find themselves presented with choices between a paved section or a more rugged “dirt” section.

Since Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 it has ceased to be recognised as a US Highway and as such is no longer featured on standard maps. However, there are specialist maps available. If you are considering driving Route 66 then a highly recommended set of maps is the brilliant “Here It Is! The Route 66 Map Series” by Jerry McClanahan and beautifully illustrated by Jim Ross. Each of the 17″ by 21″ folding maps depicts a specific state and is a work of art in itself. The text on each map contains clear directions as well as commentary. Also incredibly useful is the “Route 66: EZ66 Guide For Travellers” by Jerry McClanahan. It’s a very highly regarded book and was developed in conjunction with The National Historic Route 66 Federation. I would consider both to be essential purchases. They are available from the US Amazon store at a very reasonable price.

The amount of time required for a Route 66 road trip depends on several factors… How true to the original alignment do you wish to be? Do you plan on taking any side-trips? How often do you plan on stopping the car and exploring the towns/sights? How spontaneous/planned do you want your road trip to be?

Driving from Chicago to LA can take only 4 days if you’re prepared to spend all day on the interstates, although this is not the same as driving Route 66. (It is worth noting that if you have a strict itinerary to follow then hopping onto the I40 occasionally is a practical consideration for those with limited time.) Ideally it should take you at least twice as long if you want to get a taste of the real Route 66.

As you get deeper into planning your Route 66 trip you’ll find it increasingly tempting to make the most of the opportunities for great side-trips; the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, the Santa Fe loop… If this is the case then you should set aside an extra day or 2 for each.

If you intend on getting the most out of the experience then you’ll be stopping frequently along the Route to explore towns, museums and roadside attractions. All of this takes time of course and will limit your day’s mileage.

If you are able to plan ahead a little you may find that there are times when all you are doing is criss-crossing the I40 on the frontage road and you might benefit from hopping on the Interstate if time is tight. This may feel like you’re cheating but there are times when you’re on the interstate that you’ll be less than 50 feet from Route 66! Remember - driving Route 66 shouldn’t be stressful and it’s okay to tailor the journey to your own requirements.

I found that two weeks allowed for a comfortable road trip, including a night at the Grand Canyon and a few nights at Vegas. The days were long but allowed me to experience all that I wanted to cover without ever feeling rushed. However, the length of your trip ultimately comes down to your own personal circumstances. I would recommend no less than a fortnight to cover the full length whilst at the same time pointing out that two weeks makes for a Route 66 trip of a lifetime!