Mirage From Portugal, joined May 1999, 3120 posts, RR: 16 Posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 13 hours ago) and read 594 times:
Well, after two car trips in 14 european countries, me and 3 more friends want to go to uncle Sam's land. We are thinking in renting a car and make the route 66 for 2 or 3 weeks. Anyone here has made it and if so what kind of advices can I get? also do you have youth hostels along that road? renting a car in the USA is expensive?
N863DA From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 48 posts, RR: 6 Reply 1, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 570 times:
If you are under 25 you cannot rent a car in the United States - simply because no major rental car company rents to people under 25 as they are too expensive to insure for.
N863DA From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 48 posts, RR: 6 Reply 2, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 567 times:
I just realised that that shouldn't be a problem as you're in the 26-35yr range. Sorry 'bout that. Just the mention of a youth hostel....
TWFirst From Vatican City, joined Apr 2000, 6346 posts, RR: 53 Reply 3, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 11 hours ago) and read 564 times:
If you, get hip to this timely tip
And take that California trip
Get your kicks, on Route Sixty Six
Well it winds, from Chicago to L.A.
More than 2 thousand miles, all the way
Get your kicks, on Route Sixty Six
Well it goes through St. Louie
Joplin Missouri
Oklahoma City is might pretty
You'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow
San Bernadino...
Travelin man From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 3311 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 10 hours ago) and read 566 times:
TWFirst -- Are you playing the guitar while singing the lyrics (my head hurts, by the way)
Luis --
I travelled on portions of old US 66 in California and Arizona. In California, it starts at the Santa Monica pier, and you can travel the old route all the way to San Bernardino. It is marked by historical Route 66 signs. There's a lot of gas stations and hotels and fast food. From San Bernardino, it pretty much follows Interstate 15, and then it follows Interstate 40 all the way to Texas. Basically, there are few services on the road in the desert, but there are a lot of motels, food, and gas along the Interstates (but no youth hostels that I know of). The motels are pretty cheap though.
You'll have fun, and it's a great way to see the U.S. Don't go in the summer, though (it's very hot). Definitely take time to see the Grand Canyon, and some of the other national parks. And enjoy L.A.!
Jtb106 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 554 times:
I did most of it from St. Louis to Needles. Take your time and make side trips to cool things and to check out earlier alignments of the road. It's very important to have a good Rt.66 guide book, or better yet several, so that you don't miss anything (and so you know what to look for!). Our primary guide was "Rt 66: A Guidebook To The Mother Road" by Bob Moore and Patrick Grauwels. It is thorough and has you zero your odometer at landmarks so you can watch for notable things. You'd better hurry if you want to make the trip, though. More old landmarks disappear every year. While planning, note that (for me) a lot of time is eaten up in Missouri and Oklahoma. It's very winding road there and there's a lot to see, but you start flying through the miles from Texas on. Also, this trip isn't for everyone, you gotta have a taste for nostalgia and a little imagination to get the most from the trip. I enjoyed it!
Jim
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 19 Reply 7, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 4 hours ago) and read 552 times:
The largest stretch of the old Route 66 still exists in Arizona... now designated Arizona state route 66. It departs from Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff and goes north into some indian reservations south of the Grand Canyon and meets up again with I-40 at Kingman. Get yourself some good guides, check out some videos on it too. While on this strecth check out the Grand Canyon, Sedona, Flagstaff, and Hoover Dam. And if you can afford it, rent something like a Cadillac or a Lincoln Town Car or a convertible.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
DeltaRNOmd-80 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 548 times:
We drove from Fallon, NV to Jacksonville, FL in '94. We took US 95 down to Vegas and then I-40 thru Arizona (slept in Flagstaff Howard Johnson on the way there, Kingman on the way back), Gallup and Tucumcari, NM (where we broke down because of a vapor lock in the Bronco and had to spend the night). Went thru Amarillo, Oklahoma City, Conway and Fort Smith Ark. It was fun, but hot, especially in the Hoover Dam and thru Arizona and NM.
Mirage From Portugal, joined May 1999, 3120 posts, RR: 16 Reply 9, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 544 times:
Thanks all for your opinions, what I expect is to discover the real USA away from those tall buidings. The month we would like to go is next May, I hope is not to hot. Just one more question, do you have to pay some kind of tax on that road? here in my country we must pay to drive in some important highways.
Jtb106 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 541 times:
No tax, but as a highway that's been bypassed, it's very fragmented, and some parts are gone altogether, being actually paved over by Interstate 44 or 40. Your guidebooks will help. But expect a lot of second rate pavement. And DesertJets, I also loved the AZ section from Seligman to the CA border, especially near Oatman. But there was a ton of continuous highway in OK. MO and OK still have a ton of old things to see and if you ever get the chance, drive it.
DesertJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2000, 7673 posts, RR: 19 Reply 11, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 540 times:
Some parts that follow the old Rte 66... mainly I40 and I44 in Oklahoma are tollroads. Nothing too expensive. No more than 5 bucks. Plus as you leave Chicago you will encounter a few tollways as well. otherwise it is all free. While little of the old road is still intact there are the monuments and sights along the way. The Mississippi River, The Gateway Arch, and nothing till you hit the west... *l*. May can go either way temperature wise. In AZ, NM, CA and other areas of high desert it can get hot... but nothing over 100 degrees at that altitute at that time of year.
As for accomadations... plenty of Motel 6's and Econolodges... not exactly the hilton but not too rustic either.
Stop drop and roll will not save you in hell. --- seen on a church marque in rural Virginia
TWFirst From Vatican City, joined Apr 2000, 6346 posts, RR: 53 Reply 12, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 542 times:
Much of the road in Illinois is now the frontage road paralleling I-55. I used to travel a portion of the old road from Hamel, IL to Edwardsville everytime I would travel to/from my home town of Decatur from where college in Edwardsville.
I don't know what time of year you are considering making the trip, but if it's in the summer, be sure and stop by Ted Drewes frozen custard stand in St. Louis.
Mmmmm... heaven. It's world-renowned (OK, maybe just regionally renowned.) Anyone been there?
Johnboy From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 2469 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (12 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 538 times:
This topic is strangely coincidental, as I just got back from helping a friend drive from the Bay Area to Albuquerque. From Barstow, California to Albuquerque we saw frequent roadway signs (esp. in Arizona) for Route 66. I especially liked the Navajo Indian culture in New Mexico along Route 66 (Gallup, New Mexico is the Navajo center of government). And I never knew that Winona was just east of Flagstaff. There's an exit sign for it on Interstate 40! I always thought it was a made-up name to rhyme with everything else!
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