Route 66 Forum  

The place to discuss anything Route 66 related. Ask questions, make recommendations or simply chew the fat! New members might like to introduce themselves in the pinned thread. By registering for the forum you are also able to comment on or review any of the listings in the Trip Planner.
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(Pinned) INTRODUCE YOURSELF...
March 17, 2013
4:56 am
TGOJNB
Irving, Texas
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Just some more trivia. I made my first trip via Route 66 in the Summer of 1961 and either singly or as a family have been making trips to California on at least half of the route - Amarillo westwards - about every three years. Some times we would turn off at Barstow and head north to San Francisco but lately we turn off at Victorville and head to Northridge to visit my brother and his family.

 

On that first trip, I had been working the evening shift (4 PM to 12 Midnight) and left from work. Traveled all night and finally stopped in Tucumcari in the afternoon. I stayed at the old TraveLodge and had dinner at Del's.

 

Route 66 wasn't such a big deal then as it is now and I don't believe I have many if any pictures of just Route 66. I do have a lot of Petrified Forest and Grand Canyon but I can't recall of any "Road Pictures." I was more interested in getting to California and U.S. Highway 66 and later I-40 was just the quickest and shortest route from Dallas. I do remember that Needles was usually my next-to-last stop on the way to California to get an early stop to avoid the heat crossing the Mojave. (This was in the year before I had air conditioning in the cars.) The first trip was in a 1961 Dodge Lancer (this was the Plymouth Valiant's first cousin.) Cool

March 18, 2013
11:50 am
JennyVMcveigh
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Hi there everyone. I dont know if i am doing this right but here it goes. Me and my boyfriend are planning a trip this coming June for 3 weeks travelling Route 66 :). My boyfriend has done it before, however he only stuck to highways so this is a first for both of us. We have our flights booked, our visa's sorted and our Car Pre-booked (being paid for at the end of this month). So everything is sorted however i am stuck as to how much money we will actually need...i am roughly taking about £2000 but i am scared as i dont know if this will be enough. My boyfriend cannot get as much money as i can saved up...so would £2000 do 2 people is one of my main questions? We arent planning on booking the hotel's, just staying in motels along route 66. Now that all the important stuff is planned i just need to have some sort of idea, i want to be as planned as i can be. I need all the advice i can get regarding money and spends, so any help would be greatly appreciated :). Thank you very much

 

Jenny

Newcastle upon tyne, England

March 18, 2013
2:27 pm
frank
usa
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Jenny–You'll have enough money.  I assume airfare and car rental are paid-for and the 2000 British pounds covers everything else.  Here's an idea of other basic expenses over three-weeks.  Estimates are realistic but on the high side for Spring 2013.  

Driving:  Gasoline (petrol) 2500 miles, 30 MPG, $3.75 a gallon = $312.  This would be typical for a Camry, Accord or similar sedan.  Let's round up to $4.+ a gallon (because of fluctuating prices) and make it $350.  

Motels for 21 nights: $50. a night on average including taxes = $1050.

Food:  $5. day per person for self-made sandwiches, apples, carrots, breakfast bars, instant coffee = $210.

Total = $1610. or about 1060 British pounds at current exchange rates.

Gasoline is not a major expense overall unless you have a really thirsty vehicle…it might then cost $500. or more.  Motels are currently at $30. or below in a few places along 66.  You should be able to average $50 (including hidden taxes, frequently 15-20%).  Try to get a place well outside downtown Chicago and LA--you can cut the cost by at least half.  Motel 6 (frequently found along the Interstates) offers adequate basic lodging in the $50 range most places. Typical restaurant meals en route can average $5.-$15. per person. There's a lot more in the Travel section of my site, https://www.rt66pix.com and it's written largely for non-Americans.

You should be fine on your existing savings, plus what your boyfriend can muster.  You will be able to sample classic restaurants (and fast food), buy souvenirs, and stay at a mixture of classic and mid-range chain motels better than Motel 6. But the above should help others who have a more-stringent budget.  And it's for three full weeks.

One final note, economizing on a really small vehicle won't really save all that much in fuel and rental costs.  With more than two people it could lead to a really uncomfortable experience.  Better to pack your own breakfast and lunch and economize that way. 

April 6, 2013
8:37 pm
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wanted33
Down south in Dixie
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Hi folks, I'm Jim. I'm not really new here, but have been away for awhile. I lost my old user name, so had to re-register. The wife, and I have made two trip across the old road. We are now planning a partial trip for September of this year, and another complete trip again for next year. It's amazing how one never tires of the old road. There seems to be something new around every corner, on every trip.

 

Jim

June 3, 2013
6:11 pm
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Kilted Candyman
DFW area
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June 3, 2013
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Good day all,

 

My wife, Amy, and I have been working on a Bucket List for a couple years.  Things such as New Year's in Time's Square.  It all started when we did New Year's in Jackson Square.  The following year we went to the second weekend of Mardi Gras in NOLA.  This year we rode a Mardi Gras float.  Next year will be the Kentucky Derby.

 

One of the items on our list is Driving Route 66.  Granted, while a lot of our list can be done now, the trip will probably wait until we retire in a couple decades since it will take several weeks to do it right but why put off planning and dreaming?

 

Jim

June 3, 2013
8:09 pm
frank
usa
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Kilted Candyman--

In Dallas-Ft Worth you're close enough to enjoy even weekend visits to the heart of 66--roughly Springfield MO to Tucumcari NM.  (Also far enough away to escape Oklahoma-type severe weather, at least most of the time.)  I've only done 66 "in pieces" from my base in Deep East Texas, and wonder if that isn't actually the best way.  

Welcome to you and all the others who have joined recently.   

July 8, 2013
3:02 am
Monica Shaffer
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July 8, 2013
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Monica here! Been stalking 66 sites for the past 20 years. I've collected lots of books and items along the Illinois, Missouri portions. Originally I had planned to travel the road with my husband upon retirement, but have decided to not wait, and make it w family vacation to celebrate my 40th birthday. Aside from route 66, I'm a history buff, particularly dust bowl era, an avid reader and book lover and a huge old movie buff with Paul Newman being my personal favorite. I look forward to reading all the great advice here!

July 8, 2013
7:39 pm
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wanted33
Down south in Dixie
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Monica Shaffer said:

Monica here! Been stalking 66 sites for the past 20 years. I've collected lots of books and items along the Illinois, Missouri portions. Originally I had planned to travel the road with my husband upon retirement, but have decided to not wait, and make it w family vacation to celebrate my 40th birthday. Aside from route 66, I'm a history buff, particularly dust bowl era, an avid reader and book lover and a huge old movie buff with Paul Newman being my personal favorite. I look forward to reading all the great advice here!

 

Welcome Monica, glad to have you with us.

 

Jim

July 10, 2013
11:24 pm
frank
usa
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Hi Monica.   First, welcome to the group.  Have you been through the Dust Bowl area of Oklahoma through eastern New Mexico--or will this be your first time?  And your family--are they "into" this as well?  This additional info will be a big help in responding to your travel plan.   

July 30, 2013
2:32 pm
katier123
Leicestershire
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March 27, 2013
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Hi! I'm Katie! I have replied to a couple of posts before seeing this.

 

I am from Leicester in UK, originally from Yorkshire.

 

The husband Andy and I went to Route 66 for our honeymoon after getting married last September. We are both early 30's, and it's been my dream for years to visit America (the obvious tourist places like New York etc), and after 10 years of arm twisting he's been talked into it! As we had about 9 months to plan we had a lot of time to research and get excited. I admit, I instantly regretted booking it after realising I was the only one that could drive, so would be doing all of it!

 

In all we wanted a trip of a lifetime, which we would never forget. We have been on beach holidays before, and lovely as they are wanted a more interactive holiday. We definitely got that, and some amazing photos (and a fair bit of "tat"!). I will definitely be back, we are looking at the Deep South or Highway 1 at the moment, although invariably life will get in the way!

 

Thanks, Katie

July 31, 2013
7:47 am
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thepengy
Adelaide South Australia
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July 22, 2013
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Hi, Myself Simon and my wife Lynn, from Adelaide South Australia, have always wanted to do Route 66.

We want to do it well and not rush, we cant spare enought time to do what we realy want , so June 2014 will see us do Needles to Oaklahoma in a realxed time. We are enjoying reading everyones posts, and look forward to getting our plan together for your opinion.

Thanks to you all in advance 

June 15th to July 13th 2016
Did the whole thing, Chicago to Santa Monica

November 28, 2013
10:49 pm
Tim
Toronto Ontario Canada
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Hi My name is Tim.I love driving far,and exploring the States. I'm interested in the states first then Canada. I'm from Toronto Canada. I'm a Volkswagon Enthusiast,and love travelling through the Southern States,GA,TN. I need,and I'm driven to make this trip work on a limited budget.My 1985 Scirocco will take me from Toronto to San Deigo .Bucket list 16. Cheers Tim

November 29, 2013
10:26 pm
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Clarke
Florissant, MO
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November 29, 2013
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Hi all.  I'm Clarke from Florissant, Missouri and I just got re-registered after two days of trying.  My wife and I began our Route 66 travels in 2003 when we went from St. Louis to Santa Fe .  Two years later, we went to Santa Monica via Yosemite and the Pacific Coast Highway before returning to St. Louis on Route 66.  Since then, we've made trips to International Route 66 Festivals in Clinton, Litchfield, Quapaw, Flagstaff, Amarillo, Victorville and Joplin/Galena plus several shorter trips in Illinois and Missouri the last being a Missouri Route 66 Association tour from Carthage to St. James.

 

Glad to see the site is working again and working much better.  Unfortunately, a great deal of information was lost.  Hope it continues to work well.  It appears that any registrations or posts which were made after about September 4, were lost.  Perhaps Steve can figure out a way to recover that data.

 

For anyone having the same difficulty I had re-registering, you have to go to: https://www.drivingroute66.com/wp2

The red text is different from the old address.

January 27, 2014
5:14 pm
anna66
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January 26, 2014
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Hello, my name's Anne and I was 66 yesterday. I would like to do some of 66 in my 66th year. I've only looked at accommodation in Chicago but it all looks very expensive. Can anyone point me to cheaper places to sleep on the journey? I'm really looking forward to planning this trip.

January 27, 2014
6:26 pm
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Steve Bellamy
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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anna66 said

Hello, my name's Anne and I was 66 yesterday. I would like to do some of 66 in my 66th year. I've only looked at accommodation in Chicago but it all looks very expensive. Can anyone point me to cheaper places to sleep on the journey? I'm really looking forward to planning this trip.

Hi Anne - welcome to the site Smile
I think the "66" plan is a good one - how about spread over 66 nights?!

I'll start a new thread for you where it might be seen by more people - hope that helps?

Set up the Driving Route 66 website in 2010 following the best road trip experience in 2007.

January 28, 2014
5:50 pm
bonnieadele
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January 28, 2014
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Hi,
We're Bonnie and Cliff from Los Osos, CA (central coast halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco). We have family in OK and so have driven parts of Route 66 over the years. Now that we're both retired, driving from Chicago to Santa Monica is on our bucket list. And it will be in Cliff's corvette, his 66th birthday present! We plan on going in September, heading east via Las Vegas and Denver and then I-80 to Chicago. We chose this route because there is an annual train event, RailFest, in North Platte, NE during the middle of September. Then we will meander back west on Route 66.

We've looked at several books and maps and are beginning to make lists of places to see, stay, and eat. This website has had many great recommendations, which have been added to our lists. Thanks to all the veteran and new travelers for their ideas. We hope to add our discoveries when we return.
Bonnie

January 28, 2014
6:36 pm
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WillC
Oxford
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Hi Bonnie, sounds like you've done your research and made some good plans. This website has definitely got some great recommendations. Also, there are lots of tips on the message boards, e.g. Frank our resident expert has shared a wealth of knowledge. Let us know if you have any questions.

--- Drove Route 66 in August 2012 ---

January 28, 2014
6:50 pm
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Steve Bellamy
Cardiff, Wales, UK
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Hi Bonnie - welcome to the forum. Poke around the site to find lots of good ideas for places to stay or to visit. The site is undergoing a makeover so if you come across something that doesn't quite look right then feel free to blame me! Laugh

Set up the Driving Route 66 website in 2010 following the best road trip experience in 2007.

January 31, 2014
8:03 am
lmc77
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Hi all my name is Lisa. After years of wanting to do Route 66 this is the year it's finally gonna happen. Me and my best friend are heading out on 23rd August for just over 4 weeks. Flights and car booked, hotel in Chicago booked and then we plan on not planning !! Just take it as we find it. All info on here is very welcome.

February 1, 2014
11:07 am
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WillC
Oxford
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Hi Lisa, that sounds awesome! I recommend buying a good Route 66 travel guide (EZ66) so that you have plenty of options of places to stay and things to do. I like the idea of just hitting the road without booking too many places to stay, but I recommend booking some of the busier/famous motels to avoid disappointment.

--- Drove Route 66 in August 2012 ---

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