Route 66 drive - recommendations for maps/app/???

[Warhawk]

Thanks for the responses so far about the East Coast trip!

My wife and I are likely looking at a full Route 66 drive (start at the Santa Monica Pier and drive to Chicago) next summer. It is one of her bucket list-type items and it sounds great to me as well.

Are there any good apps, maps, travel guides, etc., that detail the "best" way to hit the Mother Road (as far as where it follows existing highways and where it is off on the side somewhere)? We've been on bits and pieces before (down near Kingman and through Missouri, etc.), but we want to do the whole thing. Some googling led me to some websites that are somewhat hit or miss at times. This one seems good for a quick map, etc.:

The Ultimate Guide to Route 66

Learn everything you need to know about Route 66 from the most popular road trip site, including state-by-state stops and interactive maps.

roadtrippers.com

Anyone know of anything better, or have other recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I drove I-40 and hit a lot of the stops that way and decided I'd really enjoy doing the full go myself one day.

There's a lot of youtube videos on it, but I can't recommend Roadside America and Atlas Obscura enough for this mission.

Also, I think you should consider Chicago to Santa Monica vs going East. I think a big part of that route was people migrating permanently Westward so it may be a more "authentic" mother road experience, but that's maybe just me being quirky.

 

[Warhawk]

I drove I-40 and hit a lot of the stops that way and decided I'd really enjoy doing the full go myself one day.

There's a lot of youtube videos on it, but I can't recommend Roadside America and Atlas Obscura enough for this mission.

Also, I think you should consider Chicago to Santa Monica vs going East. I think a big part of that route was people migrating permanently Westward so it may be a more "authentic" mother road experience, but that's maybe just me being quirky.

Thanks! I'll check those out.

If I didn't live in CA and if we hadn't hit several sections already in the Southwest and Midwest over the years (LA through Kingman and on to Gallup back in 2010 and OKC through St. Louis at some point as well), I would be inclined to agree on the "ideal" direction to drive it. But to me St. Louis to Chicago is the "big prize at the end of the trip" (the major part I haven't seen before, other than eastern New Mexico and the top part of Texas) - if we started in Chicago and went west, we'd go through the "new stuff" first and then we'd be spending the last half of our trip driving through desert into LA, most/all of which we've seen before. It would be more of a "letdown" at the end of the trip that way (for us) as far as things to look forward to on the trip. But I totally get the desire to go east to west. I would agree for anyone who hasn't seen large portions of the route already.

This book appears to be something that might be good to take along:

EZ66 Guide For Travelers 5th Edition - Jerry McClanahan

Although over 80% of original Route 66 is still easily drivable, today, it is not on ordinary maps and signage is spotty. The EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers is the answer to finding the Route.The 5th Edition EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers has nearly all pages updated. This is the ultimate guide for finding...

national66.org

 

[pdxKingsFan]

I feel what you are saying, the flip side of "the big prize" to me is that you might have more energy up front for seeing new stuff. Especially if you spend more time exploring at the start and leave yourself some time to veer from any plans you can at least in theory take in everything while you are fresh and if/when it gets old re-focus on getting back home. On my last trek I wound up burning my feet to death in Nashville on the second day of my trip. Just one of those things to think about, obviously you know how you work personally on trips and perhaps operate differently than I do towards the end.

 

[kingsboi]

stop at your local book store and they usually will have a route 66 booklet with plenty of enticing attractions and stops

 

[chief bromden]

Fun idea, hope you have fun with the planning part. I don't have much to offer you in terms of the route, but definitely recommend stopping by Green Mill in Chicago once you are there if you haven't been before.

 

[Warhawk]

I feel what you are saying, the flip side of "the big prize" to me is that you might have more energy up front for seeing new stuff. Especially if you spend more time exploring at the start and leave yourself some time to veer from any plans you can at least in theory take in everything while you are fresh and if/when it gets old re-focus on getting back home. On my last trek I wound up burning my feet to death in Nashville on the second day of my trip. Just one of those things to think about, obviously you know how you work personally on trips and perhaps operate differently than I do towards the end.

My wife has a whole bunch of family in the Joplin/Neosho/Springfield/Nixa/Ozark/Sparta area, so we'll be taking a break 2/3 of the way through the trip (mileage-wise) to visit them anyways. It's been a few years since we've been there, so that would be a good respite from the road.

We'll probably run down to get some throwed rolls at Lamberts. Go grab an Andy's frozen custard. Maybe hit up the first (and largest) Bass Pro Shop in the world.

 

[Spike]

I actually made this drive with my college roommate after graduation. (From Chicago to Santa Monica)
Some parts were nearly impassable, and some entirely cut out by interstate, but it's definitely an experience to get a small slice of Americana. I think a book is a good idea - we kinda winged it in some sections, and probably drove on some farmers' ranches by accident.

Beware the burros in Arizona. Bring cash for the lemonade stands. Bring Tums for the lemonade.

 

[Warhawk]

I doubt we will go wandering off into farmer's ranches. We'll likely be skipping the more remote (unpaved/poorly maintained, etc.) sections and just be hitting the majority of stretches suitable for a rental car. Definitely looking forward to some of the mom and pop places along the way.

While our cars would be good for the trip, we don't want to put that many miles on them in that short a time frame, plus having to drive down to Santa Monica to start and then driving back to CA after we're done. I also only have so much vacation time!

Thanks for the tips!!!