Route 66 Trip Planning

[PictureTheSouth]

Starting to think about a trip out west next year, more or less on what's left of Route 66. We'll come in from the east coast, and pick up the route somewhere between St Louis and OKC - then head at least as far as Joshua Tree. Thinking 3 to 4 weeks round trip from NC.



Anyone have recommendations for travel guides for the western portion? Lots of things on the Jungle site, but not quite what I'm looking for. Would like pointers to roadside attractions obviously, but would also like large detailed maps for planning or the inevitable loss of cell/GPS signal.

Any personal experience with a stand-alone GPS unit or app that's kept you out of weight/clearance trouble along that route also highly appreciated!

 

[Raeburn2000]

It’s a little easy of St Louis, but Double J Campground in Chatham IL is a great place to start the route. Close to Springfield IL where Abraham Lincoln history is based as well as quite a few Route 66 related attractions.

 

[paulwadley]

When we did Route 66 from the east to west, we bought a book that listed places to stay and explore. Also the book told us about places to eat along the route. We stayed one night at the Lincoln Motel in Oklahoma which had small cottages along the highway. It also took us along Interstate 44 but we stayed on route 66 avoiding Interstate 44 going through the small towns and farms. There are many books available that have those points of interests listed in them.

Paul

 

[ducksface]

Two guns.
Canyon de Chelle
Hack berry is on The longest serviceable section of route 66. Exit 123,on i40 in seligman AZ then on to Kingman, through oatman and back to the 40.
Kelso California is a nicely restored Harvey house as is la posada in Winslow.
Baghdad Cafe (if you know why) in California if it's open. It changes hands often and is often vacant.


Drive through the **** hole of Albuquerque as fast as you can.
I don't care who's feelings I hurt, it's like detroit fables but on REAL crack.
Get gas at the top of the hill, drive through, don't stop until at least thoreau....

 

[Cherry T]

We're doing a reverse Rt 66 this fall. We're picking it up, via I-40 near Barstow and heading to Chicago. I've been reading the books in reverse. I've planned it out that we go less than 200 miles per day and some days less than 150 miles. I wanted to give us time to stop and smell the roses along the way, or as we head to Mt Rushmore, stop in St. Louis and smell the BBQ. A happy coincidence, we will be in Albuquerque for the Balloon festival. I discovered the date in time to snag a spot at a local RV park to be there through the first Saturday.

In 2019 we drove from OKC to west of Amarillo on I-40 making several stops and visiting Rt 66 sites along the way. We did day trips in the car on the Mother Road rather than taking the RV and toad.

 

[PictureTheSouth]

Two guns.
Canyon de Chelle
Hack berry is on The longest serviceable section of route 66. Exit 123,on i40 in seligman AZ then on to Kingman, through oatman and back to the 40.
Kelso California is a nicely restored Harvey house as is la posada in Winslow.
Baghdad Cafe (if you know why) in California if it's open. It changes hands often and is often vacant.


Drive through the **** hole of Albuquerque as fast as you can.
I don't care who's feelings I hurt, it's like detroit fables but on REAL crack.
Get gas at the top of the hill, drive through, don't stop until at least thoreau....

Wife pulled up a YooToob video earlier this evening, showing the route through Stitgreaves Pass - Kingman through Oakman. Looked a bit hairy in places..... How would that be in a 35" (counting bikes) Class A?

 

[ducksface]

It's fine.
Traffic is very light,
The road is fine, the curves aren't as bad as videos show.

I hadn't even thought about it until you said something.

There will be no trauma on that road.
The chances of you noting anything but scenery are slim.

Did you look up two guns Arizona?
From there you'll see a route 66 bridge that not 1:100,000 people have seen.
Pics are somewhere in my signature thread but YouTube is easier.

If you're scheduled for a stop,
Moabi is on the Colorado river just inside the California side on a little leg of the original 66.
It is an old motor stop from the old trails highway/earliest 66 days.
A nice place for an rv for the night, river front spaces, some of them a half acre.
https://www.google.com/search?clien...aDv8QsKwBKAJ6BAh0EAQ&biw=757&bih=360&dpr=3.75

Way way overdone now, but still a nice stop.

 

[PictureTheSouth]

It's fine.
Traffic is very light,
The road is fine, the curves aren't as bad as videos show.



Did you look up two guns Arizona?
From there you'll see a route 66 bridge that not 1:100,000 people have seen.
Pics are somewhere in my signature thread but YouTube is easier.

.
Way way overdone now, but still a nice stop.

Yep - now that I realize that based on your Albuquerque recommendation, you didn't mean what I should be packing

Thanks for road feedback. Looks like several nice overlooks from there - I'll chance it, and ask wife for forgiveness afterwards (much like my drive through the canyons of downtown Houston to an HH brewery last month).

 

[JaneC]

I took an (unintentional) Route 66 road trip in my early 20s with my dad on motorcycles, the month after he taught me to ride. We went from Indianapolis to the Grand Canyon & back. I can only comment on the wind - it seemed I spent most of OK and TX riding at a 45 degree angle

Have a great time!

 

[williamprunty]

66 Trip

We have made the trip twice. First trip by motorcycle and second trip by Rv. I do recommend you stop at the Roadkill restaurant. We started at the beginning in California and ended at Bloomington/Normal Illinois (Interstate 74). Great trip. Planning on a 3rd trip someday.

We used a Rv specific GPS. It’s been years, but we did not have the greatest cellular connectivity in certain areas during the trip. Not sure how well a phone app will work with poor cell service in areas. We are from a generation that still knows how to read a good old fashion map, so we always carry a Rand/McNally map when traveling.

 

[cgeace29.3]

Having lived and worked for the government in AZ for many years I travelled the state extensively. There are big cities and small towns surrounded by areas of nothing but nothing. We recently visited relatives in the phoenix area and did some traveling. Be aware there are many roads in southern AZ that have warnings about the cartels, smugglers of drugs and people and migrants and to not stop along the roadway. I don’t know if this applies to northern Az but it would be wise to contact the highway patrol and check, you don’t want to get caught in a bad situation.

 

[Cherry T]

Having lived and worked for the government in AZ for many years I travelled the state extensively. There are big cities and small towns surrounded by areas of nothing but nothing. We recently visited relatives in the phoenix area and did some traveling. Be aware there are many roads in southern AZ that have warnings about the cartels, smugglers of drugs and people and migrants and to not stop along the roadway. I don’t know if this applies to northern Az but it would be wise to contact the highway patrol and check, you don’t want to get caught in a bad situation.

I recall seeing similar signs when we drove from Alamogordo to Phoenix 31 years ago.

 

[ducksface]

Route 66 is NOWHERE NEAR those common signs or southern Arizona.
The people who need warned by those signs are the same people that need signs warning them to roll up their windows when a bear approaches their vehicle during a Yellowstone drive-through.

Anyone with even non-extensive knowledge knows the smuggling corridor and where it is;
many many miles away from route 66 with Tucson and Phoenix another 100miles between.


i40, almost exclusively follows old 66 in northern Arizona.
I see no more border patrol vehicles along AZ i40 than I do in other i40 states.

The griswaldesque neighborhoods in St Louis are worth concern since they won't be 350 miles away.
(And watch Albuquerque news. Be as skeered as you'll ever be)

 

[Gemini Cruiser]

This was my favorite stop on 66. Plus excellent restaurant on site.
https://elranchohotelgallup.com/

 

[Jimbo56]

When you get near The Grand Canyon, stop off at the Duck’s ranch. I regret we didn’t get to visit last year due to a leaky Jack. A tour of the Behemoth garage should be on your todo list. Maybe you can get a Polaris ride up the hill to view a sunset.

 

[ducksface]

50 yearz of running i40, then up the 666
And we always miss El rancho.

We are not fond of gallup due to me being an easy touch for drunken beggars. I often am torn enough to succumb to emotion I'd rather not succumb to.
By the fifth one I'm just worn out and a bit embarrassed of myself for my abetting.
If I'm not accosted three times in any large parking lot, coming or going, it's because it's raining.
Some I say no to, some reflect myself to myself enough that I must realize some of success is genetic lottery and not ambition.
I try not to even stop for fuel.

We stop at the similar Harvey House, La Posada, in Winslow that has a marvelous restaurant. We like it so much it's sometimes where we stay a day or two if a controlled forest burn drifts smoke our way(a seasonal, almost guaranteed,happening)

But,
On your recommendation we'll hopefully stop soon at El Rancho.

 

[ducksface]

The sign is in the behemoth.
The pics are from 1992ish.

 

[happy-THOR]

We purchased the travel guide from Oklahoma Route 66 Association. These are not real big shiny editions but have a lot of great info. It is how we tracked down the original 9 foot wide pavement of Rt 66 in eastern Oklahoma.

 

[PictureTheSouth]

The sign is in the behemoth.
The pics are from 1992ish.

If you ever find yourself haunted by demons or poltergeists due that sign, and need to offload it in a hurry...... I'll take it off your hands.

 

[ducksface]

It is a dandy sign.
I meant to steal that 13 mile marker sign for years and never did.
I had a bounty on it and the sign I want badly 'formerly 666' for years after they made the number change.
My dad found this one about 5 years ago along the 666 while changing a tire or somesuch.


I have a cricut.
I guess I could make one.
But a factice wouldn't be experienced in evil ways...unless it's voodoo dolls....