Route 66 (Chicago, Springfield, Joliet: 2013, rent, motels)

[easherly]

Has anyone taken a road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles? I am looking into driving through on Route 66 in the near future because I have the time for it and it might be worthwhile. If you have any personal stories or insight into this, I would be greatly interested. Thanks

[chet everett]

I have done it the "easy" way by mostly following the interstates that replaced Rt 66 and then using guidebooks to make side trips to the places still around from the "mother road" days. Much more time efficent than sticking to surface streets and if you checkout some web sites and travel books you really get to see all the good stuff.

You can probably do it under a week both ways but honestly something longer is better for a round trip. I have heard there are folks that rent RVs for the ride out and then fly back, makes a lot of sense if you can afford it.

[leroy217]

The OP says that he has "the time", so taking the surface streets might be good. But like chet said, many of the routes were taken over by interstates. In some instances, the old highway is actually visible from the interstate.

[pvande55]

NAT KING COLE ROUTE 66 - YouTube
The route designation was mostly removed years ago, but you will find commemorative markers along the old route. Along I-55 it is mostly a frontage road but picks up two more lanes when 55 swerves away to bypass cities.

[madpaddy]

Originally Posted by leroy217

The OP says that he has "the time", so taking the surface streets might be good. But like chet said, many of the routes were taken over by interstates. In some instances, the old highway is actually visible from the interstate.

Something to consider is that route 66 wasn't constant. The roads that made up the route changed over time. In some areas there may be 2 or more parallel old Route 66 segments from different eras.

While I've driven segments of the historic route in various places between Chicago and Tulsa, and actually lived for a couple years on an old stretch of "Historic Route 66" in Springfield, IL, I've never had the time for a leisurely drive devoted to covering as much of the old surfaces as possible.

[easherly]

Originally Posted by madpaddy

Something to consider is that route 66 wasn't constant. The roads that made up the route changed over time. In some areas there may be 2 or more parallel old Route 66 segments from different eras.

While I've driven segments of the historic route in various places between Chicago and Tulsa, and actually lived for a couple years on an old stretch of "Historic Route 66" in Springfield, IL, I've never had the time for a leisurely drive devoted to covering as much of the old surfaces as possible.

Thanks. I'll have to take note of the historic sites that I do not want to miss then.

[ChicagoMeO]

Upon looking at some Route 66 route maps/information, some of the road is not there anymore, but they tell you where to go to make up for that.

I have been to Springfield from Chicago, and Route 55 generally follows the old Route 66 way, I stopped in Lincoln and Springfield, and saw the actual places that were there when i was a little kid on Route 66 when it was travelled.. that was exciting to actually be in a historic location! I'd love to take a trip out west to see some mom and pop Route 66 motels and eat at some historic restaurants.

[rfp]

Be different! Take the Lincoln Highway out to San Francisco! Pick it up in Joliet.



Go over the Donner Pass. Take the Great Depression highway Woody Gutherie sings about in "Hard Travelin."

Woody Guthrie - Hard Traveling - tekst piosenki, teledysk, mp3 (Click on album cover.)

The Lincoln Highway celebrates its 100th birthday in 2013.

Lincoln Highway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[photomakerjohn]

Tulsa pictures: This Tulsa art deco bridge in Tulsa Oklahoma is worth a stop there is parking on the east side the bridge is closed.

Tulsa art deco bridge.




Tulsa Pictures: Tulsa picture on route 66 is part of the Tulsa skyline viewed from the west it fits in well but this view shows the statue better. There is parking to the south the statue is 30% larger that life size.

Tulsa Pictures: Tulsa picture on route 66 By John Shoemaker

[mattywo85]

It you take the entire Route 66 it is long! Its great to see all the sites but a lot of twists and turns.