Route 66 advice please

[poidy]

Looking at booking a 14 day self drive holiday along route 66. Chicago to LA spanning over 2000 miles and passing through about 8 different states i think it is.

Has anyone ever done this or perhaps know anyone that has done it? Some recommendations would be great. More importantly is it the sort of holiday that can be done alone?? Being a driving holiday and a very expensive one at that i have discovered it really isnt to everyones liking and interest for this one hasnt been great. Its something ive wanted to do for a long time now but im worried if i do it alone im just gonna get bored to be quite frank. The other argument is that ill probably never end up going with that attitute.

Advice greatly recieved.

Cheers

 

[Albalbion]

ive always wanted to do that aswell, except on a motorbike, you should just do it, even if it is on your own, means you can just do your own thing and enjoy it

 

[Tricky Dicky]

Does Route 66 still exist ? I thought it was now called Interstate 40. I passed across it, round about Flagstaff - but a long time ago.

 

[Icy Gull]

I took a detour onto route 66 whilst en route from Lubbock Texas to Albuquerque. I spent about 20 mins on it and went back to the newer route. The road was shit and the diners and one horse towns on the route were rundown and uninviting. Big disappointment as I'd always fancied driving coast to coast as it featured in so much 60's nostalgia. Don't want to put you off and maybe someone had a better experience somewhere else on Route 66. I have the photo of me and my wife under a route 66 sign though which is nice and made the detour worthwhile.

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

ive always wanted to do that aswell, except on a motorbike, you should just do it, even if it is on your own, means you can just do your own thing and enjoy it

Yeah agreed, sometimes these things just need to be done. Besides, if its a long held ambition and you never get to achieve it, you could start wondering to yourself, 'if only l'd tried it!'.

 

[8ace]

Take the California Zephyr instead, ALL ABOARD!

 

[Cowfold Seagull]

Take the California Zephyr instead, ALL ABOARD!

Or the Ford Zephyr.

 

[Ian Bairds Fist]

We did this back in 2007, and as others have said on here, you can't do Route 66 end to end anymore without coming off it from time to time and hopping back on - the road is very old now and in disrepair in a lot of areas.

We ended up doing; Chicago - Springfield - St Louis (do the tour of Barry Izbak's baseball team's stadium there) - but then instead of doing Tulsa and Oklahoma City (due to local advice) we ducked south and went to Memphis. That was one of the highlights; going to Gracelands, etc and a great city for a night out! Following that we went parrallel to R66 and on to Dallas and Fort Worth (what you'd expect.. typical Longhorn/cowboy town but worth a visit). Went to Austin for a couple of nights - another good Uni town with interesting nightlife!! After that we headed back towards R66 and hit Amarillo and Albuquerque, nothing to see there really, just redneck towns with truckers and diners. Then kept to R66 and went to Flagstaff which is a great little town but gets cold in Oct(!), down to Sedona for scenery and then were supposed to head onto LA but went via the Grand Canyon and Vegas first!

A lot of driving and probably 4-6 hours a day at the wheel but there were 3 of us in a Mustang and it went pretty fast (just look out for police with speed guns hiding behind bridges)!

Some of the best experiences (actually nearly all) were in towns/cities just off R66. Good to use the road as a rough route but if you have 14 days you'll have loads of time to venture off the beaten track and do your own thing.

 

[goldstone]

I did Chicago to St Louis ten years back. Some bits are interesting, but much of the time you're on the regular highways. Have also done bits in Arizona, but nothing dramatic there. Personally if I was planning a road trip in the USA I would plan something in the Western states where there is some mind-boggling scenery.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Does Route 66 still exist ? I thought it was now called Interstate 40. I passed across it, round about Flagstaff - but a long time ago.

Did part of it on my travels around America and Canada, Flagstaff was great very quirky town, go up to the ski runs in the hill for the best views its epic. Also have the grand canyon near Flagstaff hike in and camp, but make sure you have the right permit! I am the only person i know to get chucked out the grand canyon.
Joshua tree national park is good, stars in the desert are amazing. Tip check your spare tyre before you go anywhere!

 

[Lyndhurst 14]

Route 66 really disappeared a long time ago and is now just a rag bag of Interstates and by passes and some very good memories. That’s not to say that the great American road trip doesn’t exist – it does, it’s just in a different format. I’d agree with Goldstone – there are some great trips to be had out west. I did the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion Canyon and Monument Valley and there was some stunning scenery to be experienced in Utah, Arizona and Colorado. A great experience.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

Think the old Route 66 runs parallel to the wizzy Interstate on the LA to Las Vegas stretch. Least that's what I was told. Be sure to stop off in Barstow, on the edge of the desert...

 

[Seagull on the wing]

Went on part of the 66 in 2005 near Grand Canyon,went to Death Valley and a small town called Prescott.The 66 was in bad shape but the rest of the roads,Interstate 40 were superb,careful of speeding,a guy got caught by a helicopter which landed and booked him.

 

[Vicar!]

Essential reading: Route 66 Lost and Found by Russell A Olsen (Voyageur Press)

 

[DIFFBROOK]

I've always wanted to do a road trip across the US. Have done parts. Probably best was from Yellowstone, across to South dakota (Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse monuments), them down to Wyoming and onto Colorado. Through Rocky Mountains (Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak, Gunniston and down into Durango Great steam train to Silverton). Then into 4 corners (where 4 states meet Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah) and then through Monument Valley. Then into Page to take a boat down Colorado River and Grand Canyon. Back onto Road and past a place called Meteor (a massive hole where a meteor struck). Then past a place called Williams (where Route 66 originally went through and you can get mugs etc). Then into lovely Sedona.

Brilliant trip and saw so many things. I have all details, towns, motels, route etc, so if you are interseted PM me

And to answer the second part of your question, yes, if going alone or not going, then I would go alone. You only live once.

Wish I could go with you!!

 

[Lethargic]

Back in the 80s I did a fair part of the route travelling from LA to St Louis as said previously a lot of the original route 66 has disappeared but essentially the highways follows much the same route. Although there are some sites and experiences along the route it is really the freedom of the trip that is what it is about, travelling several hours at a time without seeing anything but open countryside.
Make a few diversions to include other sites eg Grand Canyon, Indian reservations, etc and it will be worth the trip.

 

[poidy]

Thanks for the advice all. Think im definetely going to go for it now. After all you only live once. Have got a few quotations im waiting on so will take it from there. I have no idea what its going to cost but would guess its going to be around the 3 grand mark?

Fortunetely ive got a cheeky £2500 work bonus coming in November though which will come in handy. The only thing im unsure of now is whether to book it all through an agent or individually and sort accomodation out as im out there?

 

[Beach Hut]

Thanks for the advice all. Think im definetely going to go for it now. After all you only live once. Have got a few quotations im waiting on so will take it from there. I have no idea what its going to cost but would guess its going to be around the 3 grand mark?

Fortunetely ive got a cheeky £2500 work bonus coming in November though which will come in handy. The only thing im unsure of now is whether to book it all through an agent or individually and sort accomodation out as im out there?

Given my dotage myself and Mrs Hut plan this as on the to do list when we retire.

I would have thought pre-booking a hotels is a total no no, surely the idea is to pull up for the night at your own leisure.

 

[poidy]

Given my dotage myself and Mrs Hut plan this as on the to do list when we retire.

I would have thought pre-booking a hotels is a total no no, surely the idea is to pull up for the night at your own leisure.

I thought this aswell. My only concern with that would be that by pre booking at least you know you are following the itinery by the letter. I wouldnt want to get three days away from my flight back to the UK and realise ive still got 1200 miles to cover or something daft like that. But i do agree id rather spend more time in say Albuquerque and Vegas than say Illonois for example. I guess by not pre booking you do get this freedom.

Also where are the birds at on this route 66?

 

[Beach Hut]

Vegas needs 5 days max to be honest and not really that.

Went there in February, fascinating place - Grand Canyon trip was awesome. The rest a bit take or leave for me but Mrs Hut certainly enjoyed the shops !