Route 66: where to start, what to do, which states cross?

On a motorcycle, on a camping car or in a van... whatever your way of locomotion to make Route 66, it remains mythical! This is our roadmap for your trip to Route 66.

Its simple evocation is modern myth. A road that crosses the country, a unique atmosphere, a road trip where the history of the United States blends with its wild, sometimes bucolic, sometimes urban landscapes. In service from 1926 to 1985, Route 66 made whole generations dream. It evokes the perfume of ancient America, the freedom and happiness of riding. His story is tumultuous and exciting, and visiting Route 66 today is touching an authentic America and offering the dream of a life.

So, it’s time to put his becane alone or to install his family in a SUV size XXL, and go to the West through 3940 kilometers, 8 states and 3 time zones.

Also: The 12 most beautiful roads in France

1. Illinois: the great departure of Chicago

You just landed in Chicago, take advantage of it to give you one or two days on site to get back from the time lag and especially to visit one of the largest American cities. Chicago It is both a history of architecture (where the first skyscraper was born), a history of gangsters (with the tragic career of Al Capone), a history of nature (with its immediate proximity to one of the great lakes), but also a cultural history, as the city hosts museums of international class. In short, Chicago is a bustling and exciting city to visit and it is especially the starting point of Route 66 .

Once you’ve made the tour, it’s time to get started and you first have to get out of town, because if technically, the zero kilometer is good in Chicago, you already have to cross the huge suburb not always as welcoming as the city center. Once the megalopolis is behind you, the city of Joliet deserves a small stop with its theatre in the European style and its former prison (one of the worst in the country) closed in 2002 and served as a decor to the series Prison Break .

A little further, in Wilmington, the local celebrity that accompanies travellers is the Launching Pad restaurant, known for its giant mascot. Both eccentric and a little kitch, these forms of communication or artistic expression will accompany you throughout your journey.

In Springfield, the capital of Illinois, we cultivate another legend: that of the 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is here that he made the essential part of his career, and we can also visit his home or gather on his grave. President during the delicate period of the Secession War, he was assassinated in Washington in 1865, but his shadow still flat on the city of Springfield, which will be the occasion of a good stop for travellers.

Last important step in Illinois: Auburn. The city certainly doesn’t tell you anything, and it’s normal, because it’s the road you need to look at. And more specifically, the 2 kilometers of red brick paved road registered in the register of historical monuments. These are the last vestiges of the original road that dates back to the 1920s.

2. The Missouri crossing

As you have already done about 485 kilometers, the Grand West opens up to you with the city of Saint-Louis, the legendary historical border between the Civilized East and the Wild Far-West. This is why the Gateway Arch, symbol of the city, was built.

As in Chicago, Route 66 here tends to get lost in the huge suburbs of the city, not always very friendly. Although Saint-Louis offers a different face to her great sister of Illinois, she remains a beautiful stage with a centre to visit and famous museums.

Once we find the peace of the countryside, we arrive at Devils Elbow, with its famous steel bridge built in 1923 above the Big Piney River. At the same time isolated, mythical and disturbing, especially when covered with mist, this bridge is part of the legend of the road.

At 40 minutes away, the small town of Lebanon will welcome you with its Munger Moss Motel, one of the oldest in Route 66, which is still in service. Huge sign of light, sparkling colors, simple and unbelievable welcome... no doubt, we are in the heart of the myth.

Two good hours later, close to the city of Joplin, a time drive-in cinema awaits you. Built in 1949 and rehabilitated in 1998, it still welcomes the nostalgic of a certain art of living and projects two films every weekend.

3. Kansas: a simple 21-kilometre crochet

Kansas hosts a tiny portion of Route 66 in its south-east end, in an industrial and mining region that has suffered a lot. Galena is the first city you'll cross. Nothing spectacular, but a strange ambience, between unaffected mines, abandoned houses and downtown with almost disturbing tranquility.

But it is in Galena that we owe one of the characters of the animated film Cars . It is indeed here that an old rusty truck was spotted that became the companion of the Pixar movie hero. Since then, the service station has been bought and renovated and is part of the steps to be seen on Route 66.

Finally, the rainbow bridges (rainbow bridges) built in the 20s specifically for Route 66 and recently rehabilitated are also an integral part of the journey in this corner of Kansas.

Just walked into Kansas and you came out immediately. Oklahoma stretches your arms with nearly 700 kilometers to go.

4. Oklahoma: art deco and oil

Art, electism and exuberance have accompanied the development and renewal of Route 66. One of these symbols is this huge blue whale in Catoosa, in the Tulsa region. A huge statue, built by a pond that served as a playground and adventure park for children with its slides and divers. With its somewhat disappointing charm, it is part of the symbols of the past that accompanies the visitor throughout his journey. This living and family place of the 1970s became an icon, but swimming is now forbidden.

Tulsa, self-proclaimed "world capital of oil" is a friendly step for one or two nights, to blow a little. Oil is part of the city’s history, as the discovery of wells near Tulsa has largely contributed to creating an unprecedented economic and demographic boom, as the Golden Driller statue shows.

More modern and retaking the marketing archetypes of Route 66, the Pops Restaurant, opened in 2007 in Arcadia, illuminates the night with its huge bottle of soda.

5. Texas: 300 kilometers of road at the edge of the state

One of the first major landmarks of Route 66 in Texas is a service station and restaurant with a unique style, since built in 1936 in an art-deco style. Again, it’s the shock of cultures and that’s what makes all its charm! The U-Drop Inn has inspired the film’s creators Cars to create one of the buildings in the city of Radiator Springs. Closed in the late 1990s, the site was renovated and now accommodates the Chamber of Commerce and many services for tourists.

The attractions and madness are not missing along this portion of Route 66. Choose: a huge cross considered the largest in the Americas,

a leaned water castle whose only interest is to be noticed by travellers,

or the famous Cadillac Ranch with its 10 cars planted in the ground.

And if this is not enough, stop at Big Texan Steak Ranch, a famous restaurant known for the quality of its meat, but also for its competition: if you swallow a 2 kilos steak, including filling, in less than an hour, the addition is free!

6. New Mexico: a moving 66 Route

The tracks of Route 66 have evolved considerably over time, and it is especially in New Mexico that these changes have been the most visible. Santa Fe, first connected by the road is finally avoided in 1937 for a more direct route. Purists will therefore not fail to follow the original road, especially that Sante Fe, with Spanish inspirations, is one of the most beautiful and ancient cities in the West.

And above all, following this route, you will find the spirit of Route 66 with portions away from any civilization, dirt tracks, wooden bridges and semi-desert landscapes so typical of New Mexico.

As you get closer to Arizona, the city of Gallup welcomes you. Famous for its large Indian population, the city, founded in 1881, tried to perpetuate the many Indian traditions. The opportunity to touch the fingers of the cultures often unknown or even caricatured by Hollywood movies, whose teams came here in the first half of the 20th century to chain the shootings in typical landscapes. The El Rancho Hotel has also been successful for hosting the movie stars who come to work in the area.

7. The Arizona: spectacular and authentic

The Arizona welcomes the visitor with two national parks separated by Route 66: north the Painted Desert and south the Petrified Forest. The opportunity to visit these two wonders of nature that adjoins the road.

Shortly afterwards, the Meteor Crater attracts travellers. A huge hole of 1200 meters in diameter caused by a meteorite that fell on Earth 50,000 years ago and destroyed any form of life on nearly 150 kilometers in the round.

The road then crosses the very nice town of Flagstaff and then continues on Williams where a train can take you to the very nice town of Flagstaff. Grand Canyon , obviously unavoidable stage of everything trip to Western American , even if you get away here a little more from Route 66.

Then, it is a succession of small towns that are equally different and melancholic that have kept a trace of Route 66 in their DNA. Seligman, Kingman, Hackberry, we find an atmosphere of inimitable style. Far from all, it smells like the Far-West and the relics of a glorious era where the "mother road" was a vital artery for the country.

Those who want to, can then temporarily leave Route 66 to make a crochet by Las Vegas , the famous city of the sin, which we no longer present.

8. California: Arrival on the Pacific

This is the time of the last 500 kilometers. Here are days or even weeks, which you explore the country and discover these grandiose landscapes, its tragic or heroic history, its exuberance, this road that winds in incredible landscapes with its unusual ruins and lost memories. Entering California is discovering the state of all dreams. The one that the travellers were looking forward to after crossing the country. And yet, the reception is arid with the Mojave Desert which extends to a loss of sight.

The famous Baghdad Café, of the eponymous film, is still standing and welcomes tourists, and the last rural and isolated cities are slowly drawing along the road. Soon it is the megalopolis of Los Angeles Who's going to swallow the backpackers. After miles of road, the glitters of the city of the Angels await you.

Route 66 follows Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard. Although the official route of the road ends in the middle of an uninterested crossing between Lincoln Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard, most travellers continue to the Pacific at the end of Santa Monica Boulevard.

There you go! After almost 4000 kilometers, you managed to tame the famous Route 66. From there, Los Angeles offers a lot to do for a few days visit. If your plane doesn't wait for you right now, and if the heart tells you, California Highway One stretches your arms from Los Angeles and to the north of San Francisco . It runs along the Pacific coast for about 900 kilometres... in other words, a broutille after making 66! But this is another story!

Main photo credit: Wikimedia – Dietmar Rabich