Route 66
Travel Guides
Trying to follow Route 66 today requires special travel maps as the highway was decommissioned and removed from official maps in 1985. Using old maps only leads to extreme frustration as the Interstate system sliced up, demolished, dead-ended, and overlaid sections of 66. Nor can travelers expect the Route to have "Historic 66 this way" signs everywhere. Face it, you are going to need help.
The good news is that about 80% of the old highway remains and there are people who have made it their mission in life to map it so today's travelers can experience for themselves this legendary road.
There are a number of travel guides to 66 on the market today. We have selected a choice few. Click on the links below or use the navigation bar to the left to check out: 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 book that exhaustively covers OKlahoma's section of Route 66, and 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, you might check out Amazon.com.It never hurts to have more than one guide when you are traveling 66!
Now, it's reality-check time. Many people only allow themselves a week or two to travel the entire length of 66. 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. Plan right now to spend later vacations in just one or two states at a time. If all you can spare is one week, don't even try to do 66 all at once. Content yourself with exploring several states.
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 the promote and preserve 66 in their own states.
Finally, be prepared to get lost. It happens to everyone. Just laugh, regroup, and try again.
Enjoy your journey!
Here It Is: The Route 66 Map Series map set
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 Route 66 Association
EZ 66 Guide for Travelers
Oklahoma Route 66 book
Bones of the Old Road video
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