Route 66

A collection of 30 posts

Destinations

Have a Whale of a Time in Catoosa, OK

If you want to see whales, I suggest you take a boat or motorcycle tour in Alaska. That, or you could motor down Route 66 to Oklahoma. In the Sooner State, you’ll find the city of Catoosa and its blue whale. This whale isn’t flesh and blood, though.

Accommodations

Review: Western Motel—Shamrock, TX

Caleb, Florian, and I rolled into Shamrock, TX, weathered from a week on the road in the sweltering heat of summer and ravenous appetites.. We pulled our Harley-Davidsons into the shade of the welcome awning at the Western Motel, which from the outside is decorated in a typically western theme.

Travel Guide

Where We Stopped on Route 66 from Missouri to New Mexico

One of the best parts of traveling Route 66 is the abundance of quirky and unforgettable roadside attractions. Here are a few of our favorite stops along the middle stretch of The Mother Road, from our summer 2024 tour The Great American Road Trip leading up to the route’s

Destinations

Holbrook, AZ—The Town Too Tough for Church

Many old Wild West frontier towns were infamous for being brutal, lawless places. Jerome, for instance, was called the wickedest town in the West, while Deadwood had no sheriff at all due to being an illegal town. Holbrook, AZ, rivaled both of these dens of sin. Once upon a time,

Destinations

Barstow—A California Stop on Route 66

As you cross from Arizona to California on Route 66, one of the first major stops along the way will be Barstow. This city of about 25,000 sits amidst the arid, rugged beauty of the Mojave Desert. Barstow’s history is intricately linked to mining and making use of

Destinations

Gallup, NM—The Gateway to Native America

Considering they’re the original inhabitants of the land, Native American influence can be felt throughout the U.S. However, in few places does it remain as strong as in Gallup, NM. This city of roughly 22,000 residents sits amidst the New Mexico desert, some 20 miles east of

The Great American Road Trip Premium Content

Part 2: The Golden Age of The Mother Road

Three scruffy bikers walked into a bar, boots dusty from the road and their eyes sharp as the edge of a Bowie knife. They weren’t looking for trouble—although trouble had a way of finding their kind. Outside, their Harley-Davidsons sat gleaming in the sun, lined up like stallions

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Route 66: Birthplace of the American Diner

Long before fast food chains dotted our landscape, the American diner was the king of the open road. Nowhere was that more evident than along Route 66.  Known as the Main Street of America, Route 66 didn’t just connect Chicago to Santa Monica. It connected people to pie, pancakes,

Destinations Premium Content

Tucumcari Tonite! New Mexico’s Gateway to the West

There used to be a certain way to tell you’re approaching the New Mexico-Texas border on Route 66. As you rode on, every few minutes you would pass a sign reading: “Tucumcari Tonite!” Hundreds of these signs, each promising “2,000 motel rooms,” once enticed travelers on the Mother

Accommodations

End of Route 66 Hotel Roundup

Every great journey eventually comes to an end—even a ride on Route 66. Once you push past Adrian, TX, the number of miles left to go keeps only getting smaller. But there are still many miles to go, and you’ll need to sleep somewhere along the way. We’

Destinations

Adrian, TX—The Midway Point of Route 66

Reaching the halfway point of any ride is an event in itself—there will be more miles behind you than there are ahead. Whether that’s a good or bad thing depends on the ride, I suppose. On Route 66, though, you’ll reach that midway milestone in Adrian, TX.

Destinations Premium Content

Shamrock, TX—The Small Irish Pit Stop on Route 66

The Texas section of Route 66 isn’t particularly long, stretching only around 180 miles across the Panhandle. Along this near-straight alignment, the largest (and only major) city you’ll pass is Amarillo. The second-largest city is Shamrock. And it’s a strangely Irish place. Despite its rank as the

Accommodations

Middle of Route 66 Hotel Roundup

After a long day of riding on Route 66, nothing beats a cozy bed in which to lay your head and dream of the next day’s adventure. We’ve previously covered some unique and nice hotels on Illinois Route 66. Now, we’re continuing to the middle section of

Destinations

Where Honest Abe and Route 66 Meet—Lincoln, IL

Illinois is today widely known as the Land of Lincoln in recognition of the former president’s contributions both to the state and the country. However, one place in Illinois —along Route 66 — has carried the name of Lincoln well before his presidency. During his break from national politics, Lincoln

The Great American Road Trip Premium Content

Part 1: Historic Route 66 Begins

There's a road that stretches across the Heart of America, a thread of pavement and promise that has captured the imaginations of travelers for nearly a century. For Caleb, Florian, and me, it was a road we'd always dreamed of riding in its entirety—all 2,

Travel Guide

Where We Stopped on Illinois Route 66

One of the best parts of traveling Route 66 is the abundance of quirky and unforgettable roadside attractions. Here are a few of our favorite stops along the Illinois stretch of The Mother Road, from our summer 2024 tour The Great American Road Trip leading up to the route’s

Accommodations

Review: Wagon Wheel Motel—Cuba, MO

Many motels along Route 66 have come and gone, or been rebuilt. Not the Wagon Wheel Motel.  The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, MO, has operated continuously for nearly 90 years, adapting through the decades without ever closing its doors to travelers. It’s more than a place to stay—

Travel Guide

8 of the Most Interesting Attractions Along Illinois Route 66

Illinois marks the eastern terminus of Route 66. Simply riding the Mother Road through Illinois makes for an unforgettable trip back to the golden age of American motorism. But the road itself isn’t everything. The fun, entertaining, and occasionally delicious pit stops you find along the way elevate the

Accommodations

Stay at These Hotels Along Illinois Route 66

Riding through the entirety of Route 66 is many motorcyclists’ dream journey—but it’s a very long one that takes a lot of planning. One of the most important things to figure out is where you’ll stay each night. A smart rider will book accommodations in advance to

Destinations

Cuba, MO—Missouri’s Official Mural City

Many towns and cities along Route 66 boast some types of murals. But only one of them is officially dubbed the Mural City. That would be Cuba, MO. This small city of a bit over 3,000 residents sits in Crawford County, some 85 miles southwest from St. Louis. Since

Destinations

Follow Bonnie and Clyde’s Trail in Joplin, MO

On the surface, Joplin, MO, looks like any other Midwest city along the old Route 66. A closer look, however, reveals a vibrant town with plenty to do and a fascinating history including a tale of two cities and plenty of lead—in the form of both ore and bullets.

Destinations

The Birthplace of Route 66—Springfield, MO

Most riders would say Route 66 begins in Chicago (or Los Angeles, depending on your perspective). But although the Windy City is the road’s starting point, that’s not where it begins. To find the birthplace of Route 66, you’ll have to point your front wheel to Springfield,

Destinations

Discover the Proud Route 66 History of Galena, KS

Back in its glory days, many small towns across America thrived on the steady flow of motorists on Route 66. Although the Mother Road is long gone, many of these places still hold on firmly to its legacy. One such place is Galena, KS. This small city of roughly 2,

Classic Roads

The Mother of All Roads: Historic Route 66

Some roads are famous. Others are legendary. And then there’s Route 66. Really, I see little point in writing this piece—you probably already love Route 66. It would be hard to overstate just how important the Mother Road is to American motorists, whether they hit the pavement on

Travel Guide

Illinois Route 66

In the bustling heart of downtown Chicago begins the road that changed history—Route 66. Over the decades, the Main Street of America’s siren song of freedom has called thousands of motorists to hit the road. The 300 miles of Route 66 in Illinois are preserved like nowhere else