Road Trip on Route 66: Where to turn for your travel fun

Mar 17

“Route 66”. We’ve all heard, read, and even fell in love with animated Cars. People worldwide are attracted to this highway, including fans in Australia who have their own Route 66 Fan Club and touring packages ; https://www.ozroute66association.com/

The lure of this highway seems to be constant and indifferent to age, sex, race, or cultural heritage. However, driving this historic highway can be a daunting experience, especially if you’re not well prepared and patient. Route 66 traverses over 2,400 miles through eight states, urban and rural areas, and a seemingly endless variety of landscapes.

Route 66 needs to be better marked because of souvenir hunters removing its historic signs. The regional interstates also add to your adventure, as they must provide consistent directions for exits, even though they parallel and cross them over much of their distance.

However, these navigation challenges are not obstacles. They provide a fabulous opportunity to slow down to take in the sights, sounds, and tastes along the highway. It’s like an unplanned outcome of the drive. Without this, you could be driving along, feeling confident of your direction and schedule, but then driving through Galena, KS, and missing the inspiration for Tow Mater. http://www.kansastravel.org/route66.htm Or even worse, miss Ted Drewes Frozen Custard in St. Louis, MO. http://www.teddrewes.com

There is help before you start the journey. It is well suited and includes well-established Route 66 associations. On October 13, 1984, Interstate 40 was officially opened, and the small town of Williams, AZ, had the distinction of being the last Route 66 town bypassed by the new Interstate. Even before this date, and the future of Williams, AZ was changed; local, city, and state agency representatives from various cities and towns along the highway began to meet. They started forming organizations and alliances “to preserve, educate, and promote the heritage of The Mother Road.”

For example, in February of 1987, The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona was formed by a small group of residences from Arizona Route 66 communities. Later that year, as a direct result of the efforts of these residences’, the State of Arizona dedicated the highway from Seligman to Kingman as Historic Route 66. This same designation was later bestowed upon Arizona's former U.S. Route 66. http://www.azrt66.com

Another example is the Route 66 Association of Illinois, formed in February of 1989. Like others, its purpose is to preserve, educate and promote Route 66 - while enjoying its past and present opportunities. Expanding beyond the state borders, the association participates in cooperative national efforts including preservation efforts, fairs, and other public events along the historic route. http://www.il66assoc.org

Today, each of the eight state’s along Route 66 have associations - each with a unique set of goals and objectives. However, they all share a common love of the highway and a common mission.

When planning your drive, be it for a day though Illinois, or taking a week to drive the distance, you’ll want to check out these associations. They contain a wealth of information about the highway as a whole, and especially about their individual state. These sites provide map information, where to eat, sleep and what to see. Events, festivals, car shows and more are listed. And many include links to local and regional chambers for even more information.

In short, these Route 66 associations are your starting point. Then once your journey begins, be sure to unplug. Take in the scenery, enjoy the food and sights of this historic highway and create your own history. Everything else can wait. Because as you know, we here at American Open Roads believe, to experience Route 66, one must drive Route 66.

Here’s a list of predominate Route 66 associations:

The Route 66 Alliance http://www.route66alliance.org

National Historic Route 66 Federation http://www.national66.org

Historic Route 66 http://www.historic66.com

Route 66 University http://www.route66university.com

Route 66 Chamber of Commerce http://route66chamberofcommerce.homestead.com

Route 66 News http://route66news.com

Project Route 66 http://www.projectroute66.com

Route 66 Association of Illinois http://www.il66assoc.org

Route 66 Association of Missouri http://missouri66.wordpress.com

Route 66 Association of Kansas/facebook https://www.facebook.com/KansasRoute66Association/info

Route 66 Association of Kansas http://kansastravel.org/route66.htm