Traveling Route 66

 

Trying to follow Route 66 today requires special travel maps as the highway was decommissioned and removed from official maps in 1985. Using old period maps only leads to extreme frustration as the Interstate System sliced up, demolished, dead-ended, and overlaid sections of 66. Nor can travelers expect to rely on Historic 66 signs to show the way. In other words, you can't wing it; you are going to need help.

The good news is that about 70-80% of the old highway remains and there are dedicated road warriors who have made it their mission in life to map it so today's travelers can experience for themselves this legendary highway.

There are a number of travel guides to 66 on the market today. We carry a select few: the Map Series that covers all 8 Route 66 states, the EZ66Guide which covers the Route in more detail and is the perfect companion to the Map Series, the Oklahoma Route 66 book that exhaustively covers Oklahoma's section of Route 66, and Bones of the Old Road - the video that takes viewers to five little-known and difficult-to-locate sections of early 66 and includes a map as well. For other guides, especially those that go into detail about individual states, you might check www.amazon.com. It never hurts to have more than one guide when you are traveling 66! I also suggest carrying a travel atlas or more detailed Delorme-type topographic state maps too.

Now, it's reality-check time. Many people only allow themselves a week or two to travel the entire length of 66 and get back home. But remember, 66 covers 2400 miles and 8 states. A two-week journey means you will spend an average of less than 2 days per state and that's just traveling one direction! If two weeks is all you can spare, don't try to see everything. You simply can't. There are too many cool places to photograph, interesting people to meet, and fascinating attractions to experience to do it all at once.

If all you can spare is one week, don't even try to do 66 all at once. Content yourself with exploring several states. Hopefully you’ll be able to do Route 66 again and stop at a different set of places.

Also, be sure to contact the various not-for-profit official Route 66 State Associations for information and guidance. They are there to help you, the tourist, as well as to help promote and preserve 66 in their own states.

There are a lot of Route 66 sites out there. However, there are a select few we feel you need to visit in order to plan your trip and learn more about the historic road:

Route 66 Association of Illinois
Route 66 Association of Missouri
Kansas Historic Route 66 Association
Oklahoma Route 66 Association
Old Route 66 Association of Texas
Route 66 Association of New Mexico
Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona
California Historic Route 66 Association
National Historic Route 66 Federation
Calendar of Route 66 events
www.Route66University.com
www.route66world.com

You might also consider joining the Yahoo-based Route 66 eGroup. It is over 1500 members strong and has quite a diverse composition, with folks from all over the world. You will have to create a free Yahoo account if you don’t already have one. Go to www.groups.yahoo.com/group/route66/join. You can ask questions and seek advice as you plan your trip.

Finally, be prepared to get lost. Road conditions change, maps can be confusing to decipher. It happens to everyone. Just laugh, regroup, and try again. Odds are you’ll discover others out on the road who are equally confused as you! By sharing your woes and problem-solving strategies as you travel the Route, you'll strike up friendships that will enhance your journey's experience.
 
Enjoy your journey!