Route 66 Road Trip

“So, you two are in Chicago and driving to LA…are you gonna take Route 66?” My dad posed this query, and we felt foolish that taking the nation’s most iconic street journey hadn’t even crossed our minds. We had simply hit our fiftieth state, and the Essential Road of America was a superb homecoming. Zigzagging 2,448 miles throughout eight states, it’s a freeway many people have pushed on–whether or not we’ve identified it or not.

It was decommissioned in 1985 and slowly paved over by main interstates or bypassed completely, placing a lot of its gems off the overwhelmed monitor. Although that’s the fantastic thing about the Mom Highway, it’s a treasure hunt reserved for these with a way of journey and an appreciation for the previous. Keep the course, and also you’ll be rewarded with neon motel indicators, basic vehicles, glass-tank gasoline pumps, hole-in-the-wall diners, and the great folks maintaining the spirit of the street alive.

The extra we drove, the extra 66 piqued our curiosity. Pulling as much as a gasoline station from the Twenties made us surprise concerning the first road-trippers rumbling throughout the nation in Mannequin Ts. A falling-down Fifties diner begged the query, what occurred to the basic soda fountain? And a wonderfully restored motel adorned with a glowing welcome signal, made us ask..who’s to thank for this? The story of Route 66 isn’t in its spectacular landscapes and even its neon artwork, however within the individuals who blazed this path and people who are preserving it.

On this Route 66 journey information, we’re specializing in the heroes of the street—well-known and unsung, previous and current—and why they proceed to make this freeway so legendary. Plus, we’ve added in our must-see locations in each state so you possibly can plot your personal Route 66 street journey journey and make some new associates alongside the way in which.

Chicago Surrounds & The Liquor Retailer with a Dream

Giddy to begin this epic street journey, we drove to the official begin of Route 66 in downtown Chicago. Within the shadow of a high-rise throughout from an alley, this small brown street signal with some stickers on it didn’t appear becoming for such a major landmark. We went deeper into Illinois, scanning the horizon for mid-century diners and drive-ins, however run-down homes and pawn retailers appeared to have taken their place.

Then, in Berwyn, a retro Route 66 signal appeared on a liquor retailer. We hopped out and took a selfie, then out of nowhere, the proprietor of Route 66 Beverage got here to ask, “Would you guys like me to take one for you?” When he purchased the store 30 years in the past, he determined to hold that classic signal to draw vacationers and welcome them to the street. Being on the historic route gave Manny added pleasure for his store, although this uncared for part of Route 66 wanted him simply as a lot.

📍Our recommended lodging in Chicago 🏨

Pontiac, IL & The Unique VanLifer

Pontiac was the primary city the place we felt that ’66 magic. It had nostalgic murals painted throughout the brick buildings, together with a map of your entire route with a grey-haired hippie holding a paintbrush. That man was Bob Waldmire. His dad owned the close by Cozy Canine Diner (house of the unique corn canine), and he grew up listening to Route 66ers share tales throughout the counter. In the summertime of 1962, his household took that Cal-i-fornia journey, and it will grow to be his first of 100.

Cruising up and down the route for 40 years and creating artwork all about it, Bob embodied the liberty, journey, and wanderlust that lure us all right here. We went into the Route Affiliation Corridor of Fame, and within the heart of the room was his house on wheels, a 1972 VW Microbus, embellished along with his Mom Highway artwork and keepsakes. The understated museum highlights the unbelievable entrepreneurs, advocates, and characters alongside 66–and we rapidly realized, the individuals are what it’s all about.

📍Our recommended lodging in Pontiac, Illinois 🏨

Illinois Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

• Take a selfie with Wilmington’s Gemini Big.
• Relive the opening scene of The Blues Brothers in entrance of Joliet Jail.
• In Pontiac, pay respects to the street warriors on the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and gawk on the basic vehicles of the Pontiac Oakland Auto Museum.
• Stomach as much as the counter on the Ariston Cafe–one of many oldest repeatedly working eating places on the route (est. 1924).
• Earlier than you hit Missouri, take a stroll over the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the engineering marvel that when ushered street trippers throughout the mighty Mississippi.

Uranus, Missouri & The King of Fart Jokes

We had been cruising via Missouri, and Mike says, “I believe we’re in Uranus.” Then the indicators rolled out one after one other: “We’ll pack your fudge, we’ll seize your nuts, no ifs, ands, or butts…you’ll have enjoyable on the Uranus Fudge Manufacturing unit and Common Retailer.” With out hesitation, we pulled in and had been greeted by a life-size rocket ship, a T. rex, and the world’s largest belt buckle. Now, the place to start? Get freaky on the Uranus Sideshow Museum, throw weapons within the Uranus Axehole, or head to their porcelain throne to learn the newest subject of the Uranus Examiner (remember to choose up a replica, it had us rolling).

We began on the Common Retailer, and the store ladies mentioned in refrain, “Welcome to Uranus!” Then one other visitor exited, and so they all cried out, “Thanks for choosing Uranus!” This over-the-top “city” idea was hatched by Louie Eager (now the self-elected mayor) within the early 2000s. He began with Massive Louie’s Burlesque Saloon, then added the Hen Bones Celebration Bar and tattoo parlor, plus a fudge kitchen, till he had a whole strip mall and named it Uranus. He was decided to deliver the enjoyable again to Missouri Route 66’s roadside points of interest, and he succeeded with this gag present to us all.

📍Our recommended lodging in Uranus, Missouri 🏨

Missouri Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

Kansas & The Deli That Received’t Give up

Kansas solely has an 11-mile stretch of the Route, however they put on it proudly (significantly with their huge 66 welcome signal product of rusty automobile wheels). Driving the principle road in Galena, you are feeling such as you’re on the set of Pixar’s Vehicles, with good purpose. Outdated-time gasoline stations have basic Studebakers with twinkling eyes of their windshields, and the precise 1951 Worldwide Harvester Tow Truck that impressed the Vehicles character “Mater” lives on on this city.

Whereas Galena performs up its Hollywood facet, neighboring Riverton is maintaining it actual with the assistance of Nelson’s Old Riverton Store (est. 1925). We pulled as much as the brick constructing, welcomed by a tin “California or Bust” signal and their Nationwide Register of Historic Locations plaque. Underneath a hammered tin roof, the slim aisles had been displaying on a regular basis groceries, and a silver-haired butcher manned the deli counter, Scott Nelson.

One thing concerning the rows of salami and bologna stored me from asking concerning the deli’s vegan choices, so I inquired concerning the retailer’s historical past. Scott’s aunt and uncle purchased it within the Seventies and employed him when he was 14; once they handed away, they left him the shop on the situation that it wouldn’t change. He has honored their needs, providing vacationers and locals alike a hearty slice of the previous.

📍Our recommended lodging in Riverton & Galena, Kansas 🏨

Kansas Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

• Cruise the nostalgic Essential Road of Galena and peek into the previous prepare station
• Rub elbows with stars of Pixar’s Vehicles on the Kan-o-Tex Station and Radiator Springs
• Replenish on street journey snacks and tales on the Outdated Riverton Retailer

Oklahoma & The Father of Route 66

Oklahoma doesn’t get a lot love as a journey vacation spot, however in the case of Route 66, the state is one of the best of one of the best. Cyrus Avery, the Sooner State’s first freeway commissioner and member of the federal planning board for Route 66, was instrumental in creating this nationwide freeway (and ensuring it stretched the size of his house state).

Many name him the “Father of Route 66.” The Okies’ pleasure for the Mom Highway runs deep, and with the assistance of modern-day advocates, this state retains essentially the most drivable miles of the unique alignment of 66. In Miami, Oklahoma, they also have a six-mile stretch of “The Ribbon Highway” from the times when the route was solely 9 toes large.

The Virtually Ghost City of Erick, Oklahoma
& The Mediocre Music Makers

Driving Route 66 via Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, we had seen loads of picture-perfect Americana cities, however we additionally noticed our share of ghost cities. Many trusted tourism from the 66ers, and when the street modified course, it left native companies with little to get by. The one purpose we turned onto the principle road of Erick, OK, was as a result of we had been gobsmacked by its sheer desolation. A lot of the nineteenth-century storefronts with grand show home windows had been both lined with cobwebs or plywood. Although simply once we thought this city had nothing left, we noticed the Sandhills Curiosity Shop, shimmering with classic motor oil and cola indicators.

We hopped out to take a number of footage, after which the display screen door swung open. “Welcome to the Redneck Capital of the World,” mentioned a man in denim overalls, grey beard all the way down to his chest, and some entrance enamel. “C’mon in!” We entered, and it was full of much more retro indicators, auto elements, musical devices, and pictures. This needed to be the mom of all Route 66 vintage retailers—however nothing was on the market. It’s Harley Russell’s private assortment and decor for “The Mediocre Music Makers Studio.”

Again in 1999, Harley and his spouse Annabelle had been of their former well being meals store, simply messing round on their guitars, when a passerby requested if he may deliver some folks over to hear. They mentioned certain, and a bus-load of overseas vacationers walked in. With a mixture of being their quirky selves and hamming it up with a little bit Redneck shock-and-awe, they gave their first efficiency to Route 66 vacationers, of what would grow to be hundreds. In 2020, with COVID-19 proscribing worldwide journey, Harley had few guests and was in search of a little bit firm.

He put a beer in our palms and confirmed us his late spouse Annabelle’s hand-drawn welcome indicators, pictures of his friends having a raucous time, and presents from the numerous nationalities that visited Sandhills. After an hour of hang-time (laden along with his redneck schtick and smack speak), we headed out and observed one final plaque on the wall, which learn “2020 Oklahoma Route 66 Corridor of Fame” with the names Harley & Annabelle Russell engraved in gold. We realized we had been within the presence of a celeb and that he deserved each little bit of his declare to fame.

📍Our recommended lodging in Eric, Oklahoma 🏨

Oklahoma Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

• In Miami, pop by the beautiful Coleman Theater and the Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum (a should for bikers), then take a bumpy trip down the unique Ribbon Highway.
• Be completely charmed by the Blue Whale of Catoosa, a Seventies waterpark anchored by an 80-foot-long concrete sperm whale with pectoral fins for slides and tail as a diving board.
• Take a stroll round certainly one of America’s most spectacular new metropolis parks, The Gathering Place: Tulsa’s Riverfront Park.
• In Stroud, cease for an All-American breakfast on the Rock Cafe (constructed from the stone rubble from Route 66’s development) and lots extra neon picture ops on Essential Road.
• Tip your hat to the nice entertainer and Route 66 advocate on the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in his hometown of Claremore. (Do you know Route 66 can be referred to as Will Rogers Freeway?)
• Select from 700+ types of fizzy drinks on the new-age soda fountain store Pops Soda Ranch.
  Marvel on the world’s tallest gasoline pump in Sapulpa (66 toes tall, after the route quantity).
• For arguably one of the best overview on the historical past of the Mom Highway, go to Clinton’s Oklahoma Route 66 Museum for a decade-by-decade tutorial with dynamic shows.
• And within the virtually ghost city of Erick, say howdy to Harley for us, and see if a replica of Ultimate Journeys for Two continues to be proudly on show 🙂

Texas & The Roadside Peacemaker

We crossed the Texas state line and hardly knew it with their dinky tin signal. (Isn’t every little thing greater in Texas?) The street was largely a lonely stretch of granaries and tumbleweed prairie till about 25 miles east of Amarillo, when the Stoner Patriot Peace Backyard of All Faiths emerged out of the mud. Metal indicators in rainbow colours, circled round an enormous peace signal. Quotes from John Lennon, bible verses, stats about nuclear destruction, and marijuana symbols had been reduce into the steel and printed in shadows throughout the bottom.

Then a gravestone of types mentioned, “To my household and associates, it’s been a visit & it’s been my honor. Peace. – Richard Daniel Baker, Born June nineteenth, 1951. Died _____.” There isn’t a artist bio or description of any variety at this renegade artwork set up. Once you attempt to look this man up, he’s just like the enigma of the web, although with some weblog digging, I discovered a pal of Baker’s who added this to the remark thread:

“Richard D Baker is a novel particular person whom I’ve identified for 38 years. He’s a farmer, a philanthropist, and a retired phone repairman. His household has farmed within the panhandle of Texas for over 100 years. He’s a good-hearted man and an excellent pal to many…When he first conceived the thought, he contacted his dearest associates and requested them to submit a date that was essential in historical past…it’s left to the traveler/customer to determine what significance that date represented…After we every painted our pedestals, he threw an enormous BBQ with all of the fixings for us and plenty of others. That’s simply his manner. Quiet and unassuming and ornery as a little bit brother.”

You’ll have thought an artist like Baker would have been shunned as a “dreamer” within the conservative Panhandle, however it seems…he was not the one one.

📍Our recommended lodging in Amarillo, Texas 🏨

Texas Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

• Return to the times when gasoline stations might be Artwork Deco masterpieces on the Conoco Tower Station in Shamrock.
• Play with optical illusions on the Leaning Tower of Texas.
• Go antiquing within the Route 66 Historic District of Amarillo.
• Seize a can of spray paint and depart your mark on the Cadillac Ranch residing artwork set up.
• Deal with your self to a slice of pie on the Midpoint Cafe, located precisely 1,139 miles from the beginning and the end of Route 66, as a result of as they are saying on the menu, “Once you’re right here, you’re midway there.”

New Mexico & Motel Heroes

Once you’ve been road-tripping for weeks (or 8.5 years), the states can begin to mix collectively, however you at all times know whenever you’re in New Mexico, with its wealthy mix of Native American, Latino, and cowboy cultures. The city of Tucumcari exudes this Land of Enchantment identification with a Route 66 twist, as seen at Tee Pee Curios with its conical facade, the massive cement sombrero adorning La Cita restaurant, and the nice and cozy neon glow of the Blue Swallow Motel. How may you not cease when it’s an indication that claims “Emptiness” and “100% refrigerated air”?

We obtained out, and Glenn Miller’s Moonlight Sonata stuffed the courtyard, basic vehicles peeked out of their non-public garages, and Schwinn bicycles had been prepared for a spin round Reminiscence Lane. A cheery man in his early 50s came to visit to greet us. He observed Buddy the Camper and instructed us how he and his spouse Daybreak virtually turned full-time RVers final 12 months, however determined their subsequent journey could be to purchase the Blue Swallow Motel. Rob and Daybreak Federico noticed the magic on this place and had been humbled by the 82 years of hospitality that preceded them.

Whereas making it barely extra fashionable and extra snug, they’ve stored the rotary telephones, Fifties Albuquerque furnishings, and Lillian Redman’s (the proprietor for 40 years) Blue Swallow Benediction, wishing vacationers to be as “snug and glad as in the event that they had been in their very own house.” The motel was Lillian’s engagement present in 1958, and he or she stored the spirit of giving, typically accepting barter for lodge rooms for cash-strapped vacationers. Chatting with Rob, we may inform he nonetheless had a little bit of wanderlust, however was comforted by Lillian’s phrases about her tenure on Route 66: “I find yourself touring the freeway in my coronary heart with whoever stops right here for the evening.”

📍Our recommended lodging in Tucumcari, New Mexico 🏨

New Mexico Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

• Go from neon signal to neon sign up charming Tucumcari.
• Take a dip or scuba dive in Santa Rosa’s historical spring-fed Blue Gap.
• Wander the centuries-old kivas and adobe church buildings on the Native-American-meets-Spanish-colonial civilization of Pecos National Historic Park.
• Go to Santa Fe’s nice convergence of trails—The Camino Actual, Outdated Santa Fe Path, and the unique Route 66.
• Once you hit Albuquerque, seize a burger on the nostalgic 66 Diner and catch a present (or a tour) on the Twenties Kimo Theater, a shining instance of Pueblo Deco structure.
• Drive via the flaming 66 sign up Grants.
• Mosey into the El Rancho Hotel, the Gallop lodging of option to John Wayne, Ronald Reagan, Humphrey Bogart, and extra previous Western stars.

Arizona & An Unlikely Oasis

When Route 66 makes 191 switchback turns up a 3,550-foot mountain, it will get a particular identify: “Oatman Freeway.” Nestled within the Black Mountains, this 48-mile stretch of stark and beautiful desert makes you concentrate on how early vacationers survived this street. The reply? The Cool Springs Camp and Service Station. It was a spot to flee the scorching solar, refuel, hydrate, and relaxation up earlier than the street obtained even hairier up Sitgreaves Move. When the recognition of the route waned within the Nineteen Sixties, the lights went out at Cool Springs and didn’t come again on till 2004.

Route 66 fanatic Ned Leuchtner restored the principle constructing as a museum, present store, and snack bar, and partnered with a number of distributors to diversify their choices. After poking round this throwback oasis, we walked as much as the Uncooked Rock Creations stall, an open-air store shaded by a tarp and walled in with glass circumstances. Nobody was manning the piles of gems till an previous man popped out of a truck with a dusty rucksack. The stall proprietor, Jack Norton, was working late after a full morning of rock-hunting the hills. “You gotta see what I simply discovered,” he mentioned to us as he pulled out baseball-sized rocks.

He spritzed a stone with water and mentioned, “See these orange veins, that’s hearth agate and an excellent one too.” Mike, as an novice rockhound, was equally excited as Jack, particularly to listen to his tips about discovering native gems, rock identification, and his private story. Jack got here to this space simply three years in the past, however spending his days digging, sprucing, creating jewellery, and sharing them with vacationers, he discovered his glad place.

📍Our recommended lodging in Kingman, Arizona 🏨

Arizona Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

• Hike among the many historical bushes of Petrified Forest National Park.
• In Holbrook, test into the Wigwam Motel for some Forties glamping.
• Peek into Meteor Crater, a 550-foot deep abyss and one of many best-preserved meteorite influence websites on the planet.
• Keep up late in Flagstaff to bop the Arizona two-step whereas ingesting 10-cent pints on the historic Museum Club (we went pre-pandemic and had one of the best time).
• Journey the Grand Canyon Railway from vigorous Williams to the nationwide park. The Grand Canyon is a fixture on certainly one of our different street journeys…learn all about it in our National Parks Grand Circle article.
• Poke across the kitschy retailers and drive-ins in Seligman.
• Go wild west within the former gold mine city of Oatman, the place donkeys roam the streets and cowboy shootouts occur twice day by day.

California & Father Is aware of Greatest

Having spent the primary 18 years of my life in Southern California, a lot of this part of the drive was acquainted to me—but I didn’t bear in mind it as Route 66. I knew it as Freeway 2 and Santa Monica Boulevard, and though there have been in all probability a number of historic markers, typically you simply don’t discover what’s so particular about your hometown. Sundown was simply a few hours away, so we had been rushing via Rancho Cucamonga, San Dimas, Claremont, and making an attempt to comply with a former freeway chopped up with lots of of stoplights and congested intersections.

We needed to hop on the freeway if we had been going to make it to the Santa Monica Pier—the Finish of the Path—earlier than darkish. We exited the ten freeway, and the picket boardwalk, framed with palm bushes and a neon archway, welcomed us to the Pacific. We parked Buddy on the seashore and walked the ultimate 200 toes of our 2,448-mile journey. We kissed on the “Finish of the Path” signal, sealing in our 50-state street journey and the Mom Highway that introduced us house.

My cellphone buzzed; it was my dad saying he was within the parking zone with a bucket of champagne to toast our journey. In spite of everything, it was his thought to take this loopy byway; he raised me a number of miles off Route 66, and he’s one other one of many individuals who made this street journey so particular.

📍Our recommended lodging in Santa Monica, California 🏨

California Route 66 Highway Journey Stops

• Get misplaced within the Joshua tree forest and run down the Kelso Sand Dunes of the Mojave Desert.
• Take a slight detour to see essentially the most suave recycling initiative at Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande.
• Cease on the Cucamonga Service Station (est. 1915) for a gasoline station even older than Route 66.
• Observe within the footsteps of the celebrities on the Chinese Theater & Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Stretch your legs one final time on the Beverly Hills Park and do some window-shopping on Rodeo Drive.
• Journey the Ferris wheel on the Santa Monica Pier, gaze on the infinite ocean, and the miles of superb street that introduced you right here.

Route 66 Highway Journey Suggestions

• Obtain the “Route 66 Final Information”. This app highlights lots of the traditionally vital and charming stops alongside the route. Sadly, their navigation characteristic continues to be being developed, however by the point you are taking this journey, it should hopefully be able to roll! The Route 66 Navigation app already affords this service for $30 bucks, however it could be value it for the way circuitous the route might be.
• Keep on Course. All GPS units try their darndest to drag you off this slow-going byway. Put in frequent waypoints and choose “keep away from highways” so Google Maps doesn’t attempt to maintain routing you onto the interstate. And maintain our eye out for Route 66 indicators (some are extra delicate than others), they’ll assist you keep on monitor at many intersections.
• Lodging. Attempt to keep at a number of basic motels just like the Blue Swallow, Wigwam Motel, and so on. RVers gained’t have an issue discovering boondocking spots alongside the route with the assistance of the iOverlander app, pleasant companies, and BLM land. We stayed without cost in all places from the attractive Coyote Move Trailhead to Pops Soda Ranch with the acquisition of a celery soda and fries.
• Get Good. College your self with a cease at both the Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman, Arizona, or the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Choose up a replica of The Best Hits on Route 66: 100 Essential Stops on the Mother Road. This model new e-book knowledgeable us about quite a few these great folks and locations.
• Do as A lot as You Can. Whereas it’s the sum of the elements that make this street journey so unbelievable, for those who solely concentrate on a number of states, we’d begin with the Oklahoma-Arizona part.
• Make Pals: Route 66 could also be well-known for its basic diners, motels, and gasoline stations, however for each excellent place, there are people who made it that manner. Whereas it’s tempting to simply hop out for a selfie in entrance of a neon signal, make some extent to dig a little bit deeper, and also you’ll discover the true spirit of the street.