Jan/Feb '26 - RoadRUNNER

RoadRUNNER

Jan/Feb '26

January/February 2026

Best Motorcycles for Route 66

Best Motorcycles for Route 66

Family station wagons and chrome-laden hot rods once roared down Route 66, as did motorcycles. In its heyday, Harley-Davidsons were a common sight along the route, and there is certainly something special about doing the ride astride big American iron. Today, however, riders are spoiled for choice. For our own

The California Dream

The California Dream

If you spend enough time riding Route 66, you start to feel the ghosts tug at your sleeves. Not in a spooky way, but in the gentle, persistent way history taps you on the shoulder. Out west, dreams aren’t just born; they migrate. And for decades, they all seemed

The Historic Brick Road

The Historic Brick Road

One of the most distinctive surviving stretches of Route 66 in Illinois is the hand-laid brick road south of Auburn, about 20 miles from Springfield. Known simply as the Brick Road, this 1.4-mile segment is a rare opportunity to experience the Mother Road much as travelers did nearly a

Flagstaff, AZ—The Capital of Northern Arizona

Flagstaff, AZ—The Capital of Northern Arizona

Flagstaff is commonly renowned as the outdoors paradise of Arizona, but the city offers more for motorcyclists than just magnificent mountainscapes. Steeped in history, Flagstaff was also a significant stop along Route 66. Proud of the part it played in the story of the Mother Road, both the old and

Blue Whale of Catoosa

Blue Whale of Catoosa

The Blue Whale of Catoosa is one of the more whimsical roadside attractions in Oklahoma. Sitting on a small pond just off the highway, this giant blue whale began life in the early 1970s. It was originally a simple backyard project by Hugh Davis, who built it as a surprise

The End of Route 66—Santa Monica, CA

The End of Route 66—Santa Monica, CA

All good things must come to an end. When motorcycling through Route 66, the road ends in Santa Monica, CA. Or that could be where your journey starts, depending on which way you’re going. We started our ride in Illinois, though, so Santa Monica is where we put the

Dead Man’s Curve: The Perils of Towanda’s Route 66

Dead Man’s Curve: The Perils of Towanda’s Route 66

Dead Man’s Curve earned its name the hard way. Long before Route 66 was widened and straightened, the highway squeezed through this tight, blind bend outside Towanda, catching countless drivers off guard. Cars approached at speed, met a sudden kink in the pavement, and too often ended up in

Route 66 Traditions at Lou Mitchell’s

Route 66 Traditions at Lou Mitchell’s

If you’re aiming your front wheel down the spine of America, there’s an unwritten rule seasoned riders will nod to without saying a word: your Route 66 journey doesn’t begin at the “Begin Route 66” sign. It begins one block earlier—at Lou Mitchell’s. Tucked into

The Biggest Route 66 Pit Stop—Tulsa, OK

The Biggest Route 66 Pit Stop—Tulsa, OK

You might want to add Tulsa to your destination list, OK? Especially if you’re traveling through on Route 66. It’s the kind of city where a quick pit stop can easily turn into a full day of exploring. Known as the Oil Capital of the World in the

My Route 66

There’s magic in abandoned roads. Their secret histories, hidden in woods and deserts, tug at our imaginations. As a child, while on road trips, I loved tracing lost highways; sections of deserted roads that wind back and forth across the efficient paths of modern highways. Sometimes, they circle off