A Nine-Day Guide to Driving Route 66
Chicago to Santa Monica–Day-by-Day on the Mother Road
Aug 2, 2009
Any Route 66 trip should start at the beginning, at Jackson and Lake Shore Drive (the Post-1937 terminus of Route 66) in Chicago. After driving through the Windy City, signs welcome travelers to Route 66 on Ogden Avenue.
Remnants of old Route 66 are evident throughout Illinois. There isn’t enough traffic to justify a four-lane, divided highway anymore. The four-lane Mother Road has been reduced to the east-bound lanes, making them into a two-way with the old, west-bound lanes lying with grass poking up through the pavement cracks.
Pontiac, IL, is a good first stop. The Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum exhibits artifacts from all eight states in which Route 66 runs. Outside, a large mural dedicated to Route 66 fills the brick back of the building.
Stay in Normal, IL, on the first night. Normal is next-door to Bloomington, IL, and both are the home to the State University of Illinois.
Invest in GPS on Route 66--Mother Road's Back is Often Broken
On Day 2, travel to Lebanon, MO. Trying to get out of Normal can be confusing and a few wrong turns are possible. If it results in too much of delay, it might be advisable to use a GPS and take I-44 to the next destination. But along that super highway, construction can cause major delays.
On Day 3 head to Chandler, OK, and observe abandoned gas stations, diners, and produce stands. Large signs, once colorful, advertise businesses both open and closed. Some signs sit in front of buildings that no longer exist.
Day 4 takes one to Amarillo, TX. Parts of Route 66 are closed for construction and detours exist. Again, a GPS comes in handy. On the upside, fields of Black-Eyed Susans line the highway.
Travel to Santa Rosa, NM, on Day 5. Stop at Cadillac Ranch where ten old cars are buried nose down in the ground. Bring spray paint for adding to the graffiti. Afterwards, pass through Adrien, TX, which claims to be the halfway point between Chicago and Santa Monica, CA.
Take a deep breath and headed down an 18-mile, optional portion of old Route 66. Along the way, the ghost of Endee, TX, reveals shells of motels, diners, and gas stations. Be sure to have water, gas, and air-filled tires.
New Mexico Provides Visual Delights of the Sandia Mountains Along Route 66
On Day 6, drive to Gallup, NM. The landscapes sport orange hues and dramatic shading. The Sandia Mountains are breathtaking.
West of Moriarity, NM, post office box units stand at the corners of country roads. There might be 50 or so boxes in each of these units. It’s odd to see people checking their mail on the side of the road.
Lava beds that look like blackened charcoal lay east of Gallup, NM, Apparently, New Mexico is quite known for its volcanoes. Who knew?
Arizona’s Mother Road Passes South of the Grand Canyon
On Day 7, head to Williams, AZ. Notable sites along the way are the San Francisco Peaks. If it’s raining, the mountains take on shades of purple and grey.
Williams, AZ, is known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon Railway makes daily trips to the Canyon. An extra day for a trip to the canyon won’t be a disappointment.
On Day 8, drive to Barstow, CA, and see Seligman, AZ, along the way. Seligman is a cute town with a funny gift shop area, with old cars on the street for photo ops.
Then, EZ 66 Guide for Travelers instructions say to follow the sign, “To Oatman.” Note: According to the book, “The road REALLY gets hairy . . . with hairpin curves and sheer drops coming hot and heavy. Note the interesting variety of stone or cable guardrails (or LACK thereof) . . . .”
California’s Mother Road Hits Both Desert and Ocean—And the End of the Road
Barstow, CA, is a windy town, because it’s a desert town. In the summer, it’s windy and warm. In the winter, it’s windy and cold. Barstow is home to outlet malls, with stores such as Liz Claiborne, Ann Taylor, Ralph Lauren, Nine West, and Tommy Hilfiger.
On Day 9, head to Santa Monica, CA, the end of Route 66. There’s only a small plaque to let a traveler know that the end of Route 66 has been met.
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