12 Reasons to Take a Road Trip Along Route 66

Experience the Real America

Route 66, also known as “The Mother Road,” is perhaps the most iconic highway in America. Stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, it paved the way for the westward migration of hundreds of thousands of Americans during the early and mid-20th century. It is feted in songs, books, and television and interwoven into the fabric of American culture.

At some time in your life, you have probably considered driving the entire length of Route 66. Take it from someone who has done it twice; you need to do it. It's always hard to find time for bucket list items, but driving Route 66 is entirely doable, and if you don't smell the roses too long, a quick and affordable vacation.

Route 66 FAQs

• How long is it? About 2,000 miles
• When did it officially open? 1926
• How many states does it go through? Eight (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California)
• Where does it start? Chicago
• Where does it end? Santa Monica pier (California)
• How long does it take to drive? Well, it depends on how many hours a day you want to drive and how many stops to want to make along the way. You can whiz through it and catch just the biggest highlights in a week, but taking at least two weeks (or longer) is better.

If you haven't planned your Route 66 pilgrimage already, here are some reasons why you should.

1. The Food

The Mother Road is lined with mom and pop diners and drive-ins that serve up some delicious grub. This would not be the time to stick to a diet or count calories. You only get one life, and if there is a time to throw culinary caution into the wind, this is it.

During its heyday, there was a lot of competition for traveler's business. Today, with so little traffic, the burger stands, and Mexican restaurants have perfected the a menu for travelers. So down a greasy burger or hot dog and sip on a shake, and enjoy a repast of the past.

2. The Vanishing Highway

Once a national route, the highway lost its recognition as such in 1985. The road was taken over by each state that it traverses and was often designated as a state route. The main reason it fell out of favor with motorists was the advent of interstate highways.

While a godsend for many, those new interstates were the beginning of the end for Route 66. Offering a new way west that was faster and easier to drive, travelers flocked to the interstates. This loss of traffic killed many of the small, local businesses along Route 66, with only a small sample of what was remaining.

The fact is, you can no longer travel the entire length of Route 66 because some of it no longer exists. Many states saw no reason to maintain roads that, in many instances, paralleled the interstate. Many of those sections of the Mother Road are now decommissioned.

There might be some pavement left, but the road itself is blocked off. The actual route is evaporating at a disturbing rate. If you wait too long to travel it yourself, it may be gone.

3. It's a History Lesson

Traveling the route is recreating the journey many took during the first half of the 20th century to find a better life out west. Only those folks didn't have air conditioning, cruise control, and the efficient engines that today's vehicles have. In those days, it was also a test of endurance for the driver and car.

Each small town Route 66 passes through has its own unique history. Pick a few and take the time to learn more about them. Some have had some seriously spooky events happen within the city limits. And where else could you find a Barbed Wire Museum than along Route 66?

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4. It's Kitschy as Hell

Enjoying kitsch is a personal taste. Even for those that don't have a passion for it can still take in the towering muffler men and teepee hotels that call Route 66 home. In order to attract travelers in the olden days, many businesses had some sort of kitschy lure to beat out the competition. Giant dinosaurs and a Mexican restaurant with a giant sombrero for a roof are just a few examples that await you. Even some roadside parks have something to entice you to stop.

Who could resist checking out the Blue Whale in an Oklahoma park?

5. It's Affordable

Vacations are getting so pricey that few Americans can afford them. Those that can often drive to the beach or mountains for a few days for a quick getaway. Admission to events and parks, parking fees, resort fees, and other money-grubbing surprises really put a damper on any planned family break. And have you checked out airfares lately?

A leisurely drive along Route 66 will cost money, but far, far from the fiscal hit you would take going to Disneyland or other popular vacation venues. Those places are rigged to separate you from your money. Checking out Route 66 involves buying gas, eating at reasonably priced local diners, and staying at some very affordable motels. Nearly 90% of the side attractions to check out are free and informative. Making the Mother Road your next vacation can save you a bundle.

6. Sleep in the Past

Speaking of motels, some of those that were in business during Route 66's prime are still in operation. They have few amenities but are clean and comfortable and a blast from the past. Just like mid last century, some have playgrounds and chairs outdoors as well as original fixtures. The Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, are the ones that I would highly recommend.

7. Plan Your Vacation to Fit Your Schedule

You can whiz through Route 66 and catch only the main highlights and be done in less than a week; even faster if needed. Or, you can saunter down one of the world's most historic highways and drink in the nostalgia and history. Most choose somewhere in between. If you have limited time, do some research and plan out the sights you want to experience. If you are retired or have lots of time on your hands, just drive along and let the Mother Road decide when you stop.

8. It Has Great Side Trips

While Route 66 should be the main attraction of your trip, there are a few things just off of the road that you can add to make it even more interesting. In St. Louis, you can veer off the current path to take a walk across the Chain of Rocks bridge which was part of the original route. It spans the Mississippi River and is a must-see.

There is also the Painted Desert and, of course, the Grand Canyon in Arizona. You can also use the short-lived but original route in New Mexico that runs west via Santa Fe. There is a great guidebook that is affordable and useful for your entire trip, including side trips.

9. See a Variety of Landscapes

Starting off in Chicago, skyscrapers will surround you, and then you'll enter the gently rolling land of Illinois. You will also venture through some lush forests in Missouri, great plains in Oklahoma and Texas, desert-like terrain in New Mexico and Arizona, as well as some mountainous areas of Arizona and California. You will not be bored with the scenery. To make touring by car window even more soothing, plan a playlist to be the soundtrack for each type of landscape.

10. It's a Photographer's Dream

Diverse landscapes, kitschy attractions, and historic buildings all make for an extremely fun trip for anyone who enjoys photography. The subjects are endless. Abandoned gas stations, run-down buildings, interesting bridges, locomotives, and cars are just a few of the subjects worth photographing. It also helps document your trip for everyone else to enjoy.

11. Scant Traffic

You wouldn't think of Route 66 as a low-traffic drive as you start in Chicago, pass through St. Louis, and have to go through the greater Los Angeles region, but other than a few larger cities, it is mostly a stress-free drive. I can't imagine the days when cars used to have to share the two-lane road with 18-wheelers, but there was a time. Perhaps the only positive facet about the decline of traffic on the Mother Road is that it makes for a much more subdued vacation for you.

12. It's Good for Your Soul

Some people like to get back in touch with nature. Route 66 allows you to get in touch with America's past. These were simpler times, like when a giant fiberglass man holding a tire was something exciting to see. And when the restaurant's menu only had one page or when business owners smiled and were actually happy to see you.

Driving Route 66, you feel connected to the Mother Road in a way no other road trip can duplicate. You can feel the history seeping into your soul as your mouth begins to water when thinking about that restaurant with the sombrero for a roof you've decided to stop at.

It also helps you appreciate (and, at times, regret) how far the United States has come since the inception of Route 66. It is a trip that will make you think, not consume.

What's Stopping You?

As you may already know, you are not getting any younger; neither is Route 66. If driving it is not on your bucket list, it should be. As you age and the road vanishes, your opportunities to experience this one-of-a-kind road trip are waning. Don't be that person who, on their deathbed, laments not traveling more. It's cheap, it's accessible, and it's calling you.