What cities does route 66 run through?

Answer 1

It starts in Chicago IL and runs to Santa Monica in CA (however this was not the original ending site). So it goes through 8 states, IL, MO, KS (which only has 13 miles) OK, TX, NM, AZ, and CA. It is a great trip and there is still almost 2,000 miles of it that are drivable. Most of the old route is now country highways and little back roads that take you through small towns. If you do your research you can drive most of the route. I would also contact the visitor's center for ALL the towns along the way and let them know you are traveling the route. They will give you some great suggestions for things to see, send you maps and coupons for places. It does take a lot of time to plan but well worth it. We drive 66 all the time and just love it. There are so many wacky roadside attractions to see such as the worlds largest totem pole, the blue whale, Route 66 Museums, Murals, and so much more! Pops in OK is a new attraction and very cool it has the largest soda bottle in the world and has the largest soda collection around. Just shoot me an email and I will send you a whole list of places to see (I help plan trips on 66 for people). The best part of the Route 66 drive has got to be the drive to Oatman AZ who what a cool drive. Oatman for the most part is a ghost town, however they have things on weekends and there is a hotel there and saloon. In OK there are some great driving parts that will put you on the original one lane road that 66 used to be, they also have several sections that are made out of brick. Don't think that you can drive Highway 40 and see 66 this is not the original route. There have been several alignments over the years and again with research you can connect a lot of them together. Diners are no problem Route 66 has some of the best food around. There are places like the Rock Café (featured in cars), the Metro Diner, The Adrian Café and the Snowcap. The Route 66 Museum in Clinton OK is just amazing a must stop for any Route 66 Traveler. In IL there is the Rivera which has an old diner out back. Funks Grove with the best Maple Sirup around. Springfield which has a ton of Route 66 stuff. Lou Mitchell's, Del Rays Chicken Basket, Launch Pad Café, and the Artisian Café. MO has some great old parts of the route and some amazing bridges. The small towns have some crazy roadside attractions to see. There are several mom and pop places to stay which are really cheap and very nice, the Munger Moss, Blue Swallow, Wigwams (sleep in a Tee Pee), and the Route 66 Motel are some of my favorite. Stay in the mom and pop places they save you money and the people can give you additional information on places to see on the route. Seligman AZ is another must stop. The Snow Cap is like no other place and this Route 66 town is Route 66 crazy. It is really hard to describe the place but take a camera and go. There is the Petrified Forest/Painted Desert., the meteor crater, the ice cave and volcano and so many more outdoor activates to do. In OK check out some of the smaller towns, go see the museum in El Reno, check out the Route 66 Museum in Yukon and just have fun exploring. TX has Amarillo which has the Big Texan home of the 72 ounce steak…eat it and get it free. There is also Cadillac Ranch which is 10 Caddy's nose first in the ground. Stop and get some spray paint trust me. Check out Here it Is the Jackrabbit trading post and have your picture taken with a large rabbit. You will find several working drive in's along your way make time to stop and see a movie at one of them. You can bring your own food and drink and hey it is what they used to do back in the day. The Round Barn in Arcadia OK is funny to see, it is pretty close to OKC and there is a ton of stuff to do there. If you want to see a large part of America and see how a lot of the country lives this is the trip for you. I would allow at least 3 weeks for the trip, be prepared to rent a car and take your time! Once you get to CA you will want to spend at least a day or two off the route and relaxing on the beach! Stuff along 66 just jumps out at you, if you follow the directions below you will just stumble upon roadside attractions.