Route 66

A collection of 68 posts

Travel Guide

Route 66: The Ultimate American Road Trip

Riding a motorcycle across the entire length of the Mother Road is not a simple task. Whether you’re a new rider or an experienced motorcycling veteran, you need a detailed plan of where you’ll sleep and eat, which attractions you’ll see, and where you’ll take a

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Arizona Route 66

High Desert, Low Crowds Arizona brings on a dramatic blend of high desert landscapes, rugged mountains, and towns steeped in history. Stretching nearly 400 miles from the New Mexico border to California, this part of the Mother Road showcases everything that makes a cross-country ride unforgettable. The winding highways bring

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Missouri Route 66

Show Me More After crossing the Mississippi from Illinois, Route 66 winds through more than 300 miles of rolling hills, cozy towns, and vibrant green countryside of Missouri. The Show Me State features some of the longest rideable stretches of the original highway still in existence today. Riders on Missouri’

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

California Route 66

End of the Road California represents the final leg of Route 66, where the Mother Road meets the Pacific Ocean after thousands of miles across the heartland and deserts of America. Covering roughly 316 miles from the Arizona border to Santa Monica, California transitions from desert landscapes and towns to

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Illinois Route 66

Route 66 Begins Illinois holds a special status as Route 66’s official starting point. The journey begins at the corner of Adams St and Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago, where you’ll find the iconic Begin Route 66 sign. From there, the road stretches southwest across 300 miles of

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Riding Through Time: The History of Route 66

No road in America is more famous than Route 66. Even if you’ve never set a tire or foot on it, you know the name. It conjures up images of neon signs, roadside diners, family vacations in big-finned Chevys, and motorcycle riders chasing a low sun on the horizon.

Accommodations

Review: Wigwam Motel—Holbrook, AZ

The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook is unique these days. Originally, it was a part of a small chain of Wigwam Villages built in the 1930s and 1940s, which has now dwindled to just two independent locations.  This motel features free-standing concrete and steel tipis (not wigwams like the name would

Jan/Feb '26

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

Destinations

Where Route 66 Begins—Chicago, IL

Chicago is a legendary city for many reasons, from jazz music to Prohibition-era gangsters, baseball, and unique hot dogs. Motorcyclists, however, have a wholly unique reason to ride to the Windy City. This is where Route 66 begins. I suppose you could also argue that this is where the Mother

Columns

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

Accommodations

Review: El Rey Court—Santa Fe, NM

El Rey Court in Santa Fe is a classic Route 66 motor court with deep roots in the Mother Road’s history. Opened in 1936, it provides a convenient and stylish stop for motorcyclists exploring the high desert of New Mexico. The property’s adobe architecture gives it an unmistakably

Destinations

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

Destinations

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

Destinations

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

Destinations

The Town With A Famous Corner—Winslow, AZ

Nestled along historic Route 66, Winslow, AZ, carries the weight of railroads, Native American heritage, roadside kitsch, and genuine small‑town charm. For motorcycle riders, Winslow is a must-visit if you’re motoring down the Mother Road, or are visiting the area in general.  This is where the spirit of

Destinations

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

Accommodations

Review: Blue Swallow Motel—Tucumcari, NM

Arriving at the Blue Swallow Motel is like riding into the past. Only, this motel has been lovingly restored, neon-lit, and made perfectly comfortable for modern-day motorcyclists.  We stayed here last summer on our Route 66 trip, and it was one of the most memorable stops of the entire journey.

Destinations

Santa Fe, NM—The City Different

Santa Fe is an old city. It’s also a different city. That’s at least what the city’s official nickname, “the City Different,” claims. For once, the tagline thought up by the local tourism authority isn’t an empty promise. Motorcyclists looking for a wholly unique city would

Destinations

Leave Your Mark on Cadillac Ranch

Cadillac Ranch is one of Route 66’s most unconventional roadside attractions. It’s a landmark that refuses to blend into the landscape, even though it rises from it like some automotive Stonehenge dreamt up during a late-night fever brainstorm. Created in 1974 by a group of San Francisco artists

Destinations

The Heart of Historic Route 66—Kingman, AZ

Kingman, AZ, if known among motorists by the not-so-humble moniker of the Heart of Historic Route 66. The city has certainly earned the nickname, as almost its entire history revolves around the Mother Road. Our story begins before the city even existed. In 1857, Lt. Edward Fitzgerald Beale arrived in

Destinations

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

Destinations

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

Destinations

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

Destinations

Amarillo, TX—The Yellow Rose of Route 66

Amarillo is the largest city on the Texas stretch of Route 66. No motorcyclist roaring down the Mother Road should miss taking a break at the Yellow Rose of Texas. After all, Amarillo earned a place in Bobby Troup’s “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.” That alone should convince

Destinations

Conoco Tower Station— Shamrock, TX

The Conoco Tower Station, also known as the U-Drop Inn, is one of Route 66’s most iconic stops. Built in 1936, this art deco structure served as a gas station on one side and a cafe on the other, immediately becoming a hub for travelers.  Its most striking feature