Route 66

Sitting here watching a travel show, and got to wondering if anybody here has taken Route 66 all the way or even part of the way? If so, would love to hear all about it.

TC

That would be nostalgic. What were the two guys names in that TV show in the 50's "Route 66"?

Not that this answers your question, but when we did our trip around the USA back in 2006, we ran into 2 guys that were bicycling Rt 66. They started in Chicago and their plan was to end in Los Angeles. They were older gentlemen, not experienced bicyclists, just 2 guys out to see the USA and enjoying Rt 66. When they started there were 4, and 2 quit less than 1/2 way through.

We met them in Needles, CA, so they were close to finishing their trip.

Martin Milner and George Maharis ...

We have done several sections of Rt. 66. My parents live just off of it in Walnut Grove, MO, so anytime you travel around there, you are going to be on it. It is truly amazing that you guys could fit 2 of those cars/boats next to each other back in the 50's & 60's. The road itself is still in great condition. There was a section up by where I went to college in Columbia, MO that had washed out by the Missouri River, but that is the only bad part I know of. I would love to travel the whole thing and just may do that one day.

On that note, we have traveled most of Hwy 50 (the loneliest Hwy in the country the sign says). It remains one of the highlights from all of the trips we have taken. We took it from Carson City, NV to Wichita, KS.

We lived in Oklahoma for 8 years. Oklahoma has the most usable stretches (not covered over by new highways) of Route 66 than any other state. We've driven on quite a bit of it in the Tulsa area. Actually, when thinking about it, we've driven Route 66 in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Only state we've missed was Kansas. We'd like to actually do a Route 66 trip. We'd have to stay overnight a lot along the way, as parts of Rt 66 aren't accessible with a trailer in tow.

This is my favorite scene along Route 66. It's the Blue Whale, just a little bit east of Tulsa in a town called Catoosa, OK. It was a little amusement park/swimming hole.



This is inside the whale.

Had no idea you couldn't tow all the way. How come?

TC

US 50 from Carson City NV to Delta UT is pretty lonely. I really would not like to have travel problems on that stretch.

Some small sections of route 66 dead end and don't have enough turn around space for a trailer. Some might have something of interest, but not enough room to park for awhile to look around. Fortunately, there are a lot more drivable stretches than non-drivable stretches. I copied a report of touring route 66 to my old computer. Still have the computer, so I can look it up. There are books that go into a lot of detail, including maps. Before we go on a Route 66 trip, we'd probably get one of the books. We have a book telling about quite a few old routes east/west and north/south in the U.S. We intended to travel some of them, but still haven't gotten around to it.

Tater

Scruffy and Tater wrote:We have a book telling about quite a few old routes east/west and north/south in the U.S. We intended to travel some of them, but still haven't gotten around to it.

Tater

We have been at the northern terminus of US 41 and might drive the whole thing some day.

When I was very young, we drove down route 66 a few times. We would get on at a town called Coal City a few miles south of Joliet, IL. It was the way to get from Northeast Illinois to Springfield or Saint Louis.

My Dad was part of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) before he and Mom met. He used to point out areas where he worked along Route 66 - he also pointed out a couple places that were part of the Underground Railroad.... but I was too young at the time to understand what it was about.

Tater

Don't have to far to travel in Kansas on Rt 66, about 11.5 mi. We live near Tulsa so have been on most of the route in Ok. We also try to take the city routes off I-40/44 which in most cases are the old route. Love the part in Ca. from just west of Needles to Barstow. I remember it when I traveled out west in my younger days.

We haven't driven route 66 west of OK City. Except when we had to pull off I-40 to gas up, then we'd get on it a bit - but not in an area of much interest.

Tater

The longest continuous stretch still in existence is in Arizona. It starts in Ashfork and continues through Kingman to Topac. Around 165 miles. Traveled it in my '55 Chevy two years ago, what a hoot!

Interesting, is it towable?

Nice car. I had a '56 - wrecked it and got a '59. Wish I still had the '56.

Tater

Very nice Gerry!!

TC

So if I'm understanding correctly, it's a beautiful drive, and definitely worth doing, but not good to pull the Cat on?

TC