Why is Route 66 called `The Mother Road`?

It was John Steinbeck who first referred to Route 66 as `The Mother Road`. In his influential 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, he wrote that the road that stretched to California was beckoning migrants from Oklahoma (also on Route 66) to hop on it so they could escape the Dust Bowl. The Joads, who were fictional, mirrored thousands of other real-life families who hoped for a better life out west.

As the importance of Route 66 grew even more in the 1940s and 1950s as a popular tourist drive, the term `The Mother Road` took on a new meaning, as travelers from back east drove to California searching for adventure, excitement, and fun. Today, the mystique and lure of `The Mother Road` endures almost a century later, and over a generation after it was decommissioned, because it brought prosperity and life to so many communities along the way. Glimmers of that prosperity can still be seen in some Route 66 communities.

How long is the drive on Route 66? How many states does it pass through?

The original Route 66 path in 1926 stretched on for 2,448 miles. Some portions, such as the route from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, have since been bypassed, making your drive just a little bit shorter. Route 66 passes through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Where are the starting and ending points for Route 66?

The starting point is the Historic Route 66 Begin Marker located at 78-98 E. Adams Street in Chicago, Illinois. The ending point can be found at the Route 66 End of the Trail Marker in Santa Monica, California, located at 330 Santa Monica Pier. (The 1926-36 ending point for Route 66 can be found at the corner of South Broadway and East 7th Street in Los Angeles, California.)

How can I be sure I am traveling on Route 66 and not another road?

Many parts of Route 66 were superseded by interstates, mainly Interstate 40. There are some portions of the drive today along Interstate 40 that are not paved, requiring you to drive on the Interstate at various points. Still on other parts of I-40, Route 66 exists as a frontage road running right next to the Interstate. So the short answer is, you might not always know, you will have to be careful to look for signs denoting Historic Route 66, and in some cases the original Route may not be there for you to physically drive on anymore.

For faster drive times, we encourage using the Interstate Highway System when there is a gap in must-see attractions. You can find portions of Route 66 that are in unspoiled condition and are still drivable: they are noted on our must-see attractions list, for the most part confined to the states of Illinois, Arizona, and California.

What are some of the `Americana` highlights along Route 66?

No other road in the United States does `Americana` quite like Route 66. Some of the attractions have been tourist favorites for generations, and others are new arrivals. Whether they are new or old, the roadside attractions combined with the down-to-Earth homespun charm of their immediate surroundings have become parts of the American cultural fabric, the `Americana`.

Some highlights we would recommend seeing are:

- Route 66 (East, from Illinois to Oklahoma): The Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois; the Tall Paul Bunyon Hot Dog Statue in Atlanta, Illinois; the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri; the self-described `World's Largest Rocker` in Fanning, Missouri; the 66 Drive-In Theatre in Carthage, Missouri; the Blue Whale of Catoosa in Catoosa, Oklahoma; the Arcadia Round Barn in Arcadia, Oklahoma; the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and the Sandhill Curiosity Shop in Erick, Oklahoma.

- Route 66 (Central, from Texas to Arizona): the Leaning Tower of Texas in Groom, Texas; the Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery in Amarillo, Texas; Cadillac Ranch, also in Amarillo, Texas; many businesses and sights along Central Avenue in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Acoma Curio Shop in San Fidel, New Mexico; the Wigwam Motels in Holbrook, Arizona; Standin' on the Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona; the various sights along the stretch of Arizona State Road 66 from Seligman to Kingman, Arizona, such as the Hackberry General Store; and the sights in the small town of Oatman, Arizona.

- Route 66 (West, through California): Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, California; the Original McDonald's and Museum in San Bernardino, California; Bono's Historic Orange in Fontana, California; The Gamble House in Pasadena, California; Rose Bowl Stadium, also in Pasadena, California; Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California; Los Angeles's Chinatown district; Hollywood Boulevard from Vine Street to Highland Avenue in Hollywood, California; and the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.

What are some of the most popular natural landmarks along Route 66?

Considering Route 66 runs through a few distinct areas, such as wide plains, mountains, and deserts, there are definitely many fun and exciting natural landmarks and attractions to see while you are traveling along Route 66. The highlights we recommend seeing are Meramec Caverns in Sullivan, Missouri; Tucumcari Mountain near Tucumcari, New Mexico; the Edge of the Plains Scenic Marker in Clines Corners, New Mexico; the Tijeras Canyon Historical Marker in Tijeras, New Mexico; the Sandia Mountain Wilderness in Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties in New Mexico; Petroglyph National Monument west of Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert and Rainbow Forest in eastern Arizona; Meteor Crater west of Winslow, Arizona; Grand Canyon National Park due north of Williams, Arizona; Grand Canyon Caverns near Peach Springs, Arizona; Mojave Trails National Monument in San Bernardino County, California; and Amboy Crater near Amboy, California.

What kinds of museums and historic sites are located along Route 66?

If you're looking for Route 66 history and memorabilia, you will note that every state that Route 66 passes through has its own state historical society and state Route 66 Museum. (The descriptions and addresses for each state's Route 66 Museum are located on the must-see attractions pages.) The national Route 66 and Transportation Museum is located in Elk City, Oklahoma.

In addition to museums dedicated to Route 66, there are also dozens of museums that dot the route, ranging from small one-room exhibition areas to world-renowned galleries. Along Route 66 there are:

- history museums such as the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and the Lincoln Home in Springfield, Illinois; the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Missouri; the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and the Western America Railroad Museum in the Casa del Desierto `Harvey House` in Barstow, California;
- science museums such as Mesalands Dinosaur Museum in Tucumcari, New Mexico and the National Museum of Nuclear Science in Albuquerque, New Mexico;
- art museums such as The Art Institute of Chicago; The Huntington in San Marino, California; and the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, California;
- and culture and heritage museums such as the Mohave Museum of History and Arts in Kingman, Arizona and the Goffs Schoolhouse in Goffs, California.

There is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site along Route 66, Cahokia Mounds, located in Collinsville, Illinois.

Are any of the old gas stations from the 1920s to the 1940s still standing along Route 66?

Yes, many of them are still standing, although 99% of them no longer serve customers as gas stations. You can see refurbished and renovated versions of 1920s-1940s era Route 66 gas stations at the following places (among others):

- Odell, Illinois, where there is a Miller's Standard Oil Gas Station
- Mount Olive, Illinois, where there is the Shell-branded Soulsby Service Station
- Galena, Kansas, where there is a former Kan-O-Tex Service Station now operating as a café
- Shamrock, Texas, where the U-Drop-Inn is now a visitor center and soda fountain
- McLean, Texas, where there is a former Phillips 66 station that opened in 1929
- Peach Springs, Arizona, where there is a Shell-branded gas station that is now owned by the Hualapai nation.

Are there any ghost towns we can see while driving along Route 66?

Yes, there are a few ghost towns along Route 66, especially in the Southwest where Interstate 40 bypassed many of the communities that once thrived because of their locations along The Mother Road. Examples of ghost towns along Route 66 include Glenrio, Texas and New Mexico; Two Guns, Arizona; Amboy, California; and Daggett, California. There are even ghost towns that have become tourist towns again because of their ghost status: Oatman, Arizona and Calico, California are great examples.

We have noticed some must-see attractions have `Route 66 Roadside Attraction` signs while others do not. Why is that?

Hampton Hotels (best known for the Hampton Inn chain, now owned by Hilton) started the Save-A-Landmark initiative in the early 2000s, where the company gave grants to local preservation societies to help refurbish and restore select popular roadside attractions along Route 66.

Approximately two dozen landmarks were recognized and honored by Hampton Inn, including Lou Mitchell's Restaurant in Chicago, Illinois; Miller's Standard Oil Gas Station in Odell, Illinois; the Blue Whale of Catoosa in Catoosa, Oklahoma; the Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery in Amarillo, Texas; Midpoint Café in Adrian, Texas; the Wigwam Motels in Holbrook, Arizona; Standin' on the Corner Park in Winslow, Arizona; and Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California.

While Hampton Hotels worked with local preservation societies for this renovation project, the signs that were installed afterward were paid for by Hampton Hotels and not endorsed by any state Department of Transportation or the National Park Service. For as many attractions that you see with a `Roadside Attraction` sign, there will still be many, many others without such signs as preservation efforts do take a lot of time and money.

What are some detours Tripmasters recommends while driving along Route 66?

We recommend a couple of detours that might take you more than a handful of miles off your path. The major detours we recommend taking are to Santa Fe, New Mexico and Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. These detours are present in select Route 66 packages and can be customized by you during the booking process.

Santa Fe was included on the original Route 66 alignment in 1926, but was bypassed completely by 1937. Santa Fe is an hour north of Albuquerque and can easily be seen in a day. Just remember to adjust the number of days you would like to stay in Albuquerque when booking your vacation in order to accommodate your choice of detour (which will be self-guided as the rest of the trip has been). If you would like to stay overnight in Santa Fe, make sure to find a package online which includes Santa Fe, or inquire with your booking agent.

To ensure you have proper time to explore the Grand Canyon, make sure to select at least a two-night stay at accommodations in the area. Detouring to visit the Grand Canyon can be time-consuming so make sure to allot for this detour when booking and scheduling your trip. The Grand Canyon National Park's main entrance is a 90-minute drive from Williams, Arizona, which is located on Route 66. Tripmasters offers a number of vacation packages which include the Grand Canyon.

Which type of car should I rent for a long journey like Route 66?

Many people opt to rent a car and pick it up at the start of their trip, drive one-way, and drop it off in a different city. This can be a more expensive way to do it, but it`s more convenient than driving Route 66 both ways. If you choose to drive a rental car, there are many considerations. An SUV might be your best bet, as it will be able to handle any type of driving you are going to face, including the mountains of New Mexico. However, it isn't the full Route 66 experience without taking the journey in a convertible. Popular convertible models out today that you can rent include the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Mazda MX-5 Miata. Since it is popular for tourists to traverse Route 66 in a convertible, make sure that your selection is available well in advance; it might not be available if you request a convertible upon arrival.

When is the best time of year to set out on my Route 66 journey?

Since Route 66 covers a wide geographic area, weather might be more suitable for driving at certain times versus others. For example, in California and Arizona it is fine to drive those portions of the route by late March or early April, while in the mountains of New Mexico or the cold and snowy Midwest it might be too early just yet.

If you are starting your drive in Chicago and taking the full drive across the country, we recommend going between the months of June and September. We lean toward advising people who wish to take the entire journey to leave in the second half of that timeframe, so you can experience the Southwest at a cooler temperature. (Temperatures tend to run as high as 120 degrees or more in the summertime in places like the Mojave Desert of Arizona and California.)

Where should I expect to deal with the worst traffic?

Hands-down you will expect to see the worst traffic as you are starting your journey in Chicago and as you are close to ending it in Los Angeles near Santa Monica. Other metropolitan areas such as Oklahoma City and St. Louis have traffic issues of their own, but as you take interstate highways to get through them, the traffic issue will only come up if you stop inside a city to sightsee, or if you reach these cities during their rush hours (between 7-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m.). For the most part, away from the major cities it should be smooth sailing.

Will parking be an issue in major cities and at attractions?

Parking is usually an issue in the major cities only, where there is a premium on space. Street parking in cities may be limited, and are almost always metered. Be prepared to pay the meter either via coins or credit card before leaving your car and sightseeing. There are also many parking garages in downtown areas of major cities, some private and some public, which are worth looking into as well. (Be sure to leave all valuables out of sight in your car.) At major and minor attractions, there should be parking lots which are either free or included in the cost of admission (if there is one). Smaller towns should have parking available on the streets and in most cases it is not metered.

Are there any portions of Route 66 that are unsafe for travelers at night?

Much of the central portion of Route 66 can be desolate, especially in New Mexico and Arizona. These are places that you should not drive at night, in case your car breaks down and you are stranded in the desert (which can get very cold at night). For that reason, we recommend that you do not drive on Route 66 at night at all; our vacation packages have taken into account drive times which should put you in your next major city by sunset if you leave your previous city in the early morning (approximately 9 a.m.).

In the event that you do decide to drive along Route 66 at night, make sure to keep enough water and snacks with you in the car, do not leave your car to get help, don't explore around and disturb plants or rocks (there may be snakes or scorpions in or under them), and make sure to pack not just insect repellent but a tool to remove ticks too. You might not have cell phone reception in the desert, so being stranded there for a night can be very dangerous.

Where should I stop for accommodations?

The vacation packages offered by Tripmasters allow you to customize your accommodations the way you want, ranging from location to price point. With our Route 66 packages, we take into account drive times per day and have spaced out overnight stops in large cities and national parks typically a few hours apart from one another.

If you are booking your hotel through Tripmasters and not on your own, you can stop in the vicinity of any of these cities and parks: Chicago; Springfield, Illinois; St. Louis; Springfield, Missouri; Tulsa; Oklahoma City; Amarillo; Albuquerque (and Santa Fe if you choose); Petrified Forest National Park; Flagstaff; Grand Canyon National Park; and Los Angeles.

If you are interested in staying at one of the Route 66-era motels along the drive, please inquire with your booking agent regarding availability.

What kinds of restaurants and other food options should I expect to see along Route 66?

The `greasy spoon` café type of restaurant was once king along The Mother Road, and some of the old diners and cafés, such as The Ariston Café in Litchfield, Illinois, still serve customers generations later. With that said, there are restaurant options for every type of palate across Route 66, although the options in more remote areas can be as limited as one diner and a convenience store.

You will find your most delicious and varied options at the tail ends of the route, in Chicago and in Los Angeles; Chicago is well-known for its Polish and Italian culinary traditions, and Los Angeles's Mexican roots intertwine with the many Asian communities who live there today.

How much should I budget in spending money for my Route 66 journey?

We recommend booking your flight, hotels, and rental car with Tripmasters so the out-of-pocket expenses you should consider will be gas for the car, admission and parking costs at attractions, meals, and souvenirs. A budget of at least $150 per person per day should ensure that you are comfortable and not wanting for anything while you are on your vacation. Consider adding a toll pass to your budget for certain states such as California, where you will need to access freeways in the Los Angeles area. (The system in California is called FasTrak; if you are picking your rental car up in Los Angeles, ask the rental car company about FasTrak and how to use it upon arrival.)

I read that some attractions have different operating hours during `low season`. What does that mean for me and my trip?

Outside of the high season (which tends to run between April and October depending on the region), many businesses which gather most of their revenue from Route 66 tourism either curtail their operating hours or close entirely for the winter, and reopen in the spring. If you are going to explore Route 66 in the late autumn or winter, do your research before leaving home so you know which sights will be open and for how long.