Driving

In 2007 I spent approximately $300 (at the time this was equivalent to £150 UK) travelling the full distance, east to west, from Chicago to LA. This included the Santa Fe loop, and side trips to the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas.

For a more up-to-date estimate try using the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator found here.

It’s worth noting that every state has their own driving laws although it’s fair to say that they don’t differ greatly. State-specific driving laws can be found here. Generally speaking the maximum speed limit most states is 65mph (110km per hour) except where signs indicate slower speeds.

If you’ve never driven in the US before then driving Route 66 is going to be a real treat! Aside from the fantastic scenery you’ll also most likely be driving a rental car which will almost certainly mean automatic transmission. At first I was unsure of how I’d find driving an automatic car but I very quickly came to love the ease and comfort. Stop. Go. Simple. If you’ve never driven an automatic before it’s best to tuck the left foot away in a comfortable position and operate the brake/gas pedals with the right foot only. This will help avoid any sudden braking should you have the urge to go for the clutch!

Driving on the right-hand side of the road, in the left seat, takes a little adjustment and you may find yourself reaching for the window every time you want to change gear! However, as you’ll most likely be driving an automatic this is rare. Auxiliary controls (indicators, wipers, etc…) will also be reversed but the pedals remain in the same position (minus the clutch in an automatic - this is replaced by an oversized brake pedal).

In the States, STOP means stop! You should always come to a complete stop at a STOP sign even if the road appears deserted. This may seem strange to foreign drivers at first, as every car in a queue of traffic will do the same, but it’s a well-enforced law and shouldn’t be overlooked.

In most US states, and all of the those on Route 66, it is legal to turn right at a red light. Always look left to ensure the path is clear and don’t be bullied into turning if you feel uncomfortable. However, in cases where it is considered dangerous to turn right there will be signs stating “Do not turn right on red”.

Here is a website I found very useful before my first driving experience in the US. It gives detailed information on traffic lights and intersections (junctions).

This is obviously directly related to the amount of time you have to enjoy your road trip. I found that I averaged 240 miles a day but this is a distorted average due to some particularly long days: Grand Canyon to Las Vegas - 343 miles, and Las Vegas to LA, 374 miles. These were both very long days and particularly tiring. However, a usual day’s travel most often fluctuated around the 200 mile mark and this felt comfortable given the 2 weeks I had to drive the full distance, east to west. The day’s driving would usually begin between 9 and 10am and we’d comfortably get to our destination about 5pm - but occasionally as early as 2pm - having spent a lot of time stopping at various towns and attractions.

Every journey is different and these figures are only intended to be a guide to help you plan your own.

That all depends on whether you’re a belt ‘n’ braces person - a map is essential whereas SatNav is optional. The biggest problem with GPS navigation is that it defaults to providing you with the shortest/quickest journey from A to B, and Route 66 is far from the shortest/quickest journey from Chicago to LA!

If you’re hoping to rent a SatNav along with your car then it’ll be pretty useless as an accurate guide to Route 66 as it won’t contain the necessary “waypoints” to shape your path. However, if you’ll be taking your own SatNav then it would be possible to store a specific series of “waypoints” to force it into directing you via specific GPC co-ordinates. A GPS guide to Route 66 can be downloaded here for less than $5, although as I’ve never followed it I can’t endorse it’s accuracy.

I’m a traditionalist and personally prefer the map option. Of course this isn’t particularly practical if you’re driving solo but if you have a partner to help navigate this shouldn’t be a problem. My biggest recommendation is the “Route 66: EZ66 Guide For Travellers” by Jerry McClanahan. An absolute must for any Route 66 road-tripper.

Simple answer - not really. Most states feature signs bearing the “Historic 66” emblem that will point you in the right direction. With a good map and a reasonable sense of direction, navigating Route 66 shouldn’t be too difficult.

If you’re using the EZ guide then you’ll find that occasionally it offers you choices regarding different alignments, but again, each will be well described and easy to follow. If you ever feel that you might have missed a turn pull over at the next service station/cafe/shop and just ask for directions. Many businesses either rely on - or are aware of - passing trade as a result of their proximity to Route 66 and will be able to put you back on track.

Gas stations are reasonably regular along the route and finding fuel shouldn’t be a problem (at least every 30 to 40 miles). However, there are areas in the western states (particularly Arizona) where they can be as far as 100 miles apart. Also, if you plan on any side trips that take you off the beaten track and into the desert it would be dangerous to do so without first filling up.

Good advice is to fill up often and don’t let the tank go below half full.

It’s a good idea to fill up before crossing the California state line (basically in Kingman, Arizona) or embarking on a side trip to the Grand Canyon as the cost of gas will jump significantly when you enter the remote regions.

It’s also worth noting if you’ve not driven in the US before that you pay for your fuel before you fill up.