Route 66 - Where to go/avoid? (hotels, home, neighborhoods) - City-Data Forum

hdinia · 03-22-2009, 11:54 AM

DH and I would like to take a motorcycle trip on the original Route 66. Need to know where all it still exists and where to go/avoid. Any help would be wonderful! Thanks

KerrTown · 03-22-2009, 12:31 PM

Go to Chicago and L.A. and avoid everywhere in between. I'd suggest that you two fly. [/snark]

Coolhand68 · 03-22-2009, 01:12 PM

The most interesting stretch of 66 will be in New Mexico and Arizona, lot's of campy little shops, diners, old motels etc. As you go through Oatman AZ I believe there are still donkeys roaming freely around the street. There is a Rt. 66 museum somewhere in Oklahoma that's worth a visit. You will find yourself going on and off I-40 for much of the trip. While in Amarillo Texas be sure and stop at the Cadillac Ranch, where there are 10 classic Cadillac's buried nose first about halfway in the ground. It's hard to see from the road unless you are looking for it.

Ben Around · 03-22-2009, 02:23 PM

There are lots of good websites that have Route 66 info. Sounds like on some parts it is easy to get lost, as the old road wanders and splits, particularly in the western states. I also remember reading that there is a section near East St Louis that they recommend avoiding ("bad" neighborhoods?), but would seem to me to depend on your comfort level. Get a hold of the WPA Route 66 guide, written in the 1930s, to give you a sense of where the old road went and what is no longer there. Even if you can't see it anymore, it's fun to imagine what once was there.

hdinia · 03-22-2009, 02:32 PM

for the input! We haven't decided where to go for sure this year

. Rode out to Gettysburg last summer and had a good time, so thought about heading west, southwest this year. We pack a tent and stop for the day whenever we are ready either at campgrounds or possibly hotels. If you know of other nice roads/scenic routes please mention those as well.

grapico · 03-22-2009, 07:35 PM

not sure either ... we are moving from florida to san fran and thinking of going route 66 for portions too... never been there except in downtown chicago

is it significantly slower than interstate?

STLCardsBlues1989 · 03-22-2009, 08:57 PM

Some stuff to see in Missouri
Route 66 Points of Interest in Missouri
http://www.roadsidepeek.com/rte66/missouri/index.htm

retiredtinbender · 03-26-2009, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdinia

DH and I would like to take a motorcycle trip on the original Route 66. Need to know where all it still exists and where to go/avoid. Any help would be wonderful! Thanks

I've always wanted to ride Rt 66 too. There's a reason they call it the Mother Road. I've found a couple decent sites to look at and dream. Maybe you'll enjoy:

Doc's Route 66 Home Page

Picture Gallery Thumbnails--Travel & Fine Art Photography: US Route 66

Good luck on the trip. Hope you enjoy it.

ajf131 · 03-26-2009, 05:24 PM

I'd recommend doing the whole thing personally. I've basically travelled the whole stretch of it (Interstate 55 in Illinois, Interstate 44 in Missouri, Interstate 44 in Oklahoma east of Oklahoma City, Interstate 40 in Oklahoma west of Oklahoma City to Flagstaff, Arizona. That is the approximate path of Route 66, though I have not travelled the section of Interstate 40 between Flagstaff and Barstow, California.

hdinia · 03-26-2009, 07:30 PM

Thanks for the links to the sites! They have a lot of good info that I am going to share with DH. Last year we rode out to Gettysburg. It was a good trip but we got rained on a lot! Rain does not make mama happy!

Told DH that next time we take a ride I want to do it during a "dry spell" instead of during "flood season"!