Where is route 66

The largest city on the route is Flagstaff, with only about 65, residents. Other stops along the way are smaller towns Some of today's journey is on I, which parallels the old Route 66 in many places.

We always drive the segments of the Mother Road where it still remains. Exits from I onto Route 66 are marked in many locales. Driving time non-stop from Lupton near Gallup at the New Mexico border to Oatman is , less than a day's drive. But you probably want to split the trip up into at least two days.

Many other lodging options are available in other cities such as Winslow and Williams, as well as smaller towns. Map showing Route 66 across Arizona from Holbrook to Oatman. Holbrook to Flagstaff. Seligman to Kingman. Flagstaff to Seligman. Kingman to Oatman. From the Arizona state line to San Bernardino U. Highway 66 followed the old National Old Trails Highway. In the first freeway in Los Angeles was included as part of U.

The original terminus of U. Route 66 was at 7th and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. The route was later extended to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards in Santa Monica, about one mile from the Pacific Ocean.

This is often referred to as the official ending point of Route Map showing the "official" and "unofficial" ending points of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California click image to open in Google Maps.

The End of the Trail Santa Monica, California Staff Photo. Google Maps of Route Illinois: Route Missouri: Route Kansas Travel: Route Travel Oklahoma: Route Travel Texas: Route Part of the pueblo dates back to the s, but people have been settled in the area since at least the s, and tribes have passed through since B.

Gallup, which lies in the middle of a Navajo Reservation, is also home to an abundance of Native American crafts, artwork, and history.

Surrounded by majestic red rock canyons and pine forests, this small desert town is known for its vibrant art scene and mysterious healing forces. Yes, you read that right—Sedona is supposedly a hotbed of cosmic activity, sitting atop several energy vortexes that are easily accessible through hikes and tours. With its artsy vibe and comfortable climate, Sedona is also home to cute shops and restaurants, galleries, and lots of aging hippies. Officially designated as a national park in , the Grand Canyon sees more than five million visitors annually.

This stretch is also packed with iconic roadside attractions. But whether the Santa Monica Pier is your ending or starting point, take some time to celebrate and reflect. With more than 2, miles of classic neon, motels, larger-than-life roadside attractions, museums, diners, and countless colorful characters, it should be obvious why the allure of Route 66 is as strong as ever. With that in mind, focus on accessibility and multi-functional items.

A small overnight bag should contain everything you need after a long day of driving—think sleepwear, toiletries, and a good book. Route 66 starts in downtown Chicago and ends at the Santa Monica pier in California. It is a prime lesson in the art of the road trip: A sudden change in direction, an abrupt end to the pavement, and a few wrong turns are all welcome parts of the adventure rather than an inconvenience.

Typically, travelers will plan no less than two weeks for the entire Mother Road road trip. But if you want to savor the entire experience—strolling historic downtowns, sipping a root beer float at a soda fountain, and sleeping at a retro motel with a blinking neon sign—you could spend up to a month or longer. Will you go from Chicago to Los Angeles or vice versa?

The best time to take a road trip on Route 66 is from late April to early October. Be prepared for remnants of ice and snow during the early spring and thunderstorms in late spring and early summer. During July and August—peak travel months—expect sometimes sweltering temperatures, over-crowded attractions, and higher rates for lodging. Come late October and into November, you might see snowfall on parts of the route. Soon you will need to use Roadpass to sign in to your Roadtrippers account.

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We need your email address to send you trip itineraries and other updates. Last updated October 11, Route 66 is the quintessential embodiment of the road and all its greatest promises: freedom and serendipity, kitsch and living history, and a case study of the very particular way Americans have moved and multiplied. Order Roadtrippers' Route 66 book Our brand new Route 66 book will help you find every classic, quirky, and fun stop along the Mother Road. Buy the book.

Oro Grande, California Route 66 mural. Route 66 map Ready to get started? Santa Monica Pier Whether you call it the starting or ending point of the Mother Road, the Santa Monica Pier is the perfect spot to stretch your legs or snap photos of the ocean before embarking on a 2,mile trip east.

Route 66 history Although it only existed as a unified, legally codified road for 59 years—between and —Route 66 became a great symbolic trailway of human civilization. Route 66 beginning in downtown Chicago. Route 66 Illinois Chicago, Illinois, is the eastern terminus of the Mother Road—depending on which way you travel, you will either start or end your trip across from Grant Park and Lake Michigan.

Meramec Caverns sign on Route But more significantly, Route 66 facilitated perhaps the single greatest wartime mobilization, as thousands of jobseekers headed to California, Oregon, and Washington to work in defense plants. When the war ended, traffic increased as rationing and travel restrictions were lifted. Automobile ownership grew dramatically over the next 10 years, with With more cars and leisure time, families headed west on Route 66 to the Grand Canyon, Disneyland, and the beaches of Southern California.

With the heavier traffic, businesses along the highway boomed, and the image of Route 66 as a Dustbowl migration route changed to one of freedom and kicks.

The adventures of two young men seeking their kicks in the s television series, Route 66, further immortalized Route 66 as a highway of thrills. Just as the enormous traffic in the decade after World War II sent Route 66 into a boom time, the popularity and crowding of the highway signaled its demise. Interstate construction coincided with the powerful forces of economic consolidation as evidenced by the growth of branded gasoline stations, motels, and restaurant chains.

The bypassing of the last section of U. New associations organized to promote travel and preservation of Route 66, working with State agencies to mark it with signs. Businesses along the road again started to sell to tourists, who sought out the storied highway. This study led to the enactment of Public Law to preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance.

This program provides financial and technical assistance to individuals; nonprofits; local, State, tribal and Federal agencies; and others to facilitate preservation of the most significant and representative historic resources along the route. In , the significance of Route 66 and the importance of preserving it were again recognized when the World Monuments Fund listed Route 66 on the Watch List of Most Endangered Sites.

The Watch calls international attention to threatened cultural sites around the world, and seeks to build capacities and constituencies for the long-term, sustainable protection of those sites.