Advice, maps, & inspiration for your North American road trip
Compiled by Kathy Weiser, this remarkable site includes historical and current photographs, articles, tall tales, and memorabilia. This site may be the most complete Route 66 resource guide we have ever seen. Be sure to check out the Route 66 recipes Kathy has collected.
California's only wigwam motel on Route 66 in Rialto, California, was built in 1949 and has been restored by its new owners. This site has links to historical photos and descriptions of the seven wigwam motels built over sixty years ago. The one pictured at left in Holbrook, Arizona, is one of three still in existence. The only other wigwam motel still in existence is open about eight months a year in Cave City, Kentucky.
Guy Randall's Tour of the Mother Road includes 4,566 photographs, historical anecdotes, and an up-to-date report of road conditions. To take a virtual road trip, open any one of the state pages (example: New Mexico), scroll down to the bottom of the page, and check out the map of the state. Click on any of the cities on the map to open a new page with descriptions of attractions on that section of the route. Use the navigation links for "Route 66 West" and "Route 66 East" at the top of the page, or click on the next town shown on the map. When you reach a "new" state, simply repeat the process to continue your journey. Easily the best historical and contextual overview of Route 66 on the Web.
Four country/jazz musicians headed out of Chicago on Route 66 in "Clementine," a bright orange truck. Their mission was to travel the entire lengh of the Mother Road paying all expenses with income from gigs & CD sales.
Tedd Drewes is still serving up "concretes" on the Mother Road
Los Angeles to Amarillo with plenty of stops at famous hangouts like Oatman, Tucumcari, Santa Fe, and the Cadillac Ranch.
Route 66 through the Cajon Pass & over the Colorado River at Needles, California.
This establishment in Victorville houses the unique art of Miles Mahan—a collection of discarded wine bottles attached to wooden posts that he called a cactus garden. The museum also has historical photos and artifacts found along the Mother Road.
Complete Route 66 itinerary with links to roadside attractions written by Jamie Jensen author of Road Trip USA
Includes photos from Route 66
Offbeat tourist attractions (Use "search by attraction" by entering "Route 66")
Way Station on the Mother Road: Artifacts galore collected by the Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association on display near Needles, California
This site features maps, books and events for those who love "The Mother Road." Maintained by Swa Frantzen and chock full of great info, this site's claim that it's the "oldest updated Rte. 66 site on the Web" is undoubtedly true. The most remarkable feature is the outstanding map detail provided for each section of the highway, all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica.
Route 66 Adventure Handbook: 4th EditionFrom the publisher: "Route 66 Adventure Handbook is your personal guide to the vanishing American roadside, with all of its exuberance, splendor, and absurdity.
"For this updated and expanded fourth edition, Drew Knowles has included it all: magnificent architecture, natural wonders, Art Deco masterpieces, vintage motels and cafes, unique museums, offbeat attractions, fascinating artifacts and icons, and kitschy tourist traps. The addition of city maps, showing the multiple paths of Route 66 and displaying the exact locations of points of interest, is a major improvement over the already critically acclaimed third edition of the book. The fourth edition also includes hundreds of beautiful new photographs and the addition of dozens of new attractions."
Route 66: The Mother RoadFrom the publisher: "America's Main Street is celebration! Michael Wallis hit the road again, revisiting people and places that made the Mother Road on American icon, and uncovering new treasures. A love letter and a tribute, Route 66: The Mother Road takes us on an unforgettable journey through the secret corners and hidden towns of America's most famous and beloved highway."
Legendary Route 66From the publisher: "Starting in Chicago and running to Santa Monica, this book highlights the sights along the highway with historic and current photos in then-and-now pairings, and includes Route 66 postcards, road signs, trinkets, maps, brochures, and advertisements."
There is no substitute for a paper map. They never run out of juice, they don't need wifi, and they work even when wet.
that you might find helpful in planning your next road trip!
