Route 66

A collection of 23 posts

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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,

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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.

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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

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

Accommodations

Revitalizing Route 66: One Motel at a Time

Originally running from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA, Route 66 is perhaps the most famous road in America. However, since its removal from the national highway system in 1985 in favor of the new interstates, Route 66 has struggled to recapture its former glory. Today, though it’s impossible

Destinations

37 Years Ago: Route 66 Decertified

June 27, 1985, was historically a rather uneventful Thursday. But it did mark the end of an era for riding and driving Americans. On that day, U.S. Route 66 stopped being Route 66. Without much fanfare, the Mother Road was removed from the U.S. Highway System. The end

Classic Roads Premium Content

Route 66 West: Riding the Mother Road

Today, when people think about Route 66, they see visions of dramatic expanses of southwestern desert and the adventure of exploring the wide-open country. At its peak, the stretch of 66 through New Mexico, Arizona, and California was a bustling highway as Americans moved west to seek their fortunes. Then

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Route 66 East: America’s Main Street

More than any other stretch of pavement, Route 66 imprinted the open road into the American psyche and helped shape the cultural fabric of the nation as the automobile came of age. The historic route can trace its origins back to 1857 when the Army Corps of Engineers began work

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Riding Along Route 66

You may know how it is. You're sitting through a long, cold winter evening beside the fireplace and dreaming about tours while the bike hibernates in the garage. Years ago I was in this situation. The fire crackled and Pink Floyd played in my headphones while I read