[baabootoo]

I'm planning on an extended trip on it in June from IL to NV (I also got the itch after watching "Two Lane Blacktop" and a lot of Roadkill episodes). I couldn't find many posts about the activity level of Route 66 anymore. There was a long thread from 2015, but it covered more weather and "how to use painter's tape" as opposed to restaurants and motels. Anyone know how things are lately? Thanks.

 

[Dennis H]

Hit or miss. Skip Cadillac Ranch, a waste. Stop at Grand Canyon Caverns, and the El Rancho in Gallup. Lots more. Had the Hellcat and the 69 out there.

 

[baabootoo]

Thanks.

 

[OKSS]

NE Oklahoma's part of Route 66 doesn't have much going on. Nothing worth going out of your way for. Few car shows a year, couple cruise nights. Nothing really special.

Really the only thing worth stopping for in Oklahoma is the Route 66 museum in Clinton. Oklahoma Route 66 Museum | Oklahoma Historical Society (okhistory.org)

 

[Rockster]

Some stretches of Route 66 are nice. These though tend to be in towns of which Route 66 was the main drag. Other stretches Route 66 barely qualifies as a road any more.

I've only been on a few short stretches of Route 66 mainly in towns in which Route 66 was and still is the main road through town. And once an accident east of Kingman AZ required I (and everybody else) get off of I-40 (can't recall now if we got off at Seligman or Ash Fork, and use Route 66 as an detour. And another time west of Albuquerque a severe (multiple fatalities) accident again required a detour using Route 66 to continue west.

You might find this link of some value:

Route 66 Attractions state by state

Route 66 "Top Ten" attractions in each state. The most interesting sights and places to see in each state along U.S. 66. Our selection of landmarks and must-see places and stops

www.theroute-66.com

 

[Slidd]

Someone gave me this book years ago and I have always wanted to do the drive from start to finish but never have. Don't know what has changed from the book but there are many books and guides for sale so I'd pick one up and go from there. The author did recommend doing the route westward as it was originally intended so that's good that you are in Illinois. Sounds like a fun trip, hope you get to do it!

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[baabootoo]

Thanks all.

 

[TXRedEye]

I'm planning on an extended trip on it in June from IL to NV (I also got the itch after watching "Two Lane Blacktop" and a lot of Roadkill episodes). I couldn't find many posts about the activity level of Route 66 anymore. There was a long thread from 2015, but it covered more weather and "how to use painter's tape" as opposed to restaurants and motels. Anyone know how things are lately? Thanks.

National Park Service has a decent website with details showing points of interest along the way.

Travel Route 66 (U.S. National Park Service)

www.nps.gov

 

[baabootoo]

Wow, who would have ever thought the national parks. Great.

 

[HemiMetal]

You're going to need this...

 

[SIXGUN]

Pretty limited these days, but about a year ago my wife and I hit Winslow, Kingman, and further west, there is a curvy section of road just prior to a town, can't recall the name. My wife says "It goes through sitgreaves pass, from cool springs station, just outside of Kingman, and goes to Oatman where all the burros are", FWIW. If you are thinking all kinds of cool stuff, lower your expectations!
Not a Rt 66 thing, but I suggest checking out the Meteor Crater while in the neighborhood. Pretty impressive dent! It is beautiful country, just enjoy the ride!

 

[MJS73]

Find Michael Wallace's book on Route 66. He also has a mini series on Route 66 on Amazon Prime. And he was the voice of Sarge in "Cars". Most of 66 from is uninteresting from it start in downtown Chicago until you get to Joliet (take a short detour to see the old state prison on Collins, where they filmed the opening scene of The Blues Brothers) then there are scattered attractions through central and southern Illinois. From what I can tell most of the interesting and surviving attractions are out west.

 

[Dennis H]

 

[baabootoo]

Cool, videos. I think that it's Wallis also. Wallace writes a TON of books.

 

[SIXGUN]

 

[Mattm400]

Make sure to stop and eat at the Roadkill Cafe in Seligman AZ. There's a few other attractions there as well.

 

[MJS73]

Oh and the Route 66 and Pontiac murals in Pontiac, IL.