RoadTrip America

Route 66: Online Resources & Books

Sports Fan's Guide to Route 66 book cover
Get Your Balls, Bats, and Sticks on Route 66!

Rolling west from Chicago to Santa Monica, sports writer and lifelong sports fan Ron Clements, in his new book RoadTrip America A Sports Fans’ Guide to Route 66, shares inside information about the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB teams based in the cities and towns along Route 66. Immortalized in countless books, songs, and movies, Route 66 is a timeless icon of American culture. Because no book would be complete without it, there’s plenty of info about the iconic roadside attractions that have entertained and enthralled travelers for the past century.
Click here to purchase!


Best maps to Route 66

Route 66 historians Jerry McClanahan and Jim Ross, designed a set of eight fold-out paper maps showing the entire alignment of the Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica. These maps were used in Ron Clements’ book and used by just about every Route 66 historian who have written books. We have a set in the RoadTrip America offices and refer to them whenever we are asked questions about Route 66.

Route Magazine

In-depth articles by knowledgeable and professional roadtrippers about historical places and people found along the Mother Road. The web site is excellent, with great photos and stories about the legendary towns along Route 66. The printed magazine is available by subscription and also sold at Barnes & Noble Bookstores. The site also maintains a very good library of videos shot by Justin Scarred on his travels along the historic highway. An example of the kind of articles that make this site a stand-out is the profile of Elmer Land. Without question this site is one of the best resources currently available for those planning road trips along US Route 66.

Legendary Route 66: Ghosts of the Mother Road

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.

Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ
California Wigwam Motel

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.

Virtual Route 66 RoadTrip

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.

Cool Stop on Route 66

Tedd Drewes is still serving up "concretes" on the Mother Road



Route 66 Summer Road Trip

Los Angeles to Amarillo with plenty of stops at famous hangouts like Oatman, Tucumcari, Santa Fe, and the Cadillac Ranch.

Rare Historical Photos

Route 66 through the Cajon Pass & over the Colorado River at Needles, California.

California Route 66 Museum

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.

RoadTrip USA

Complete Route 66 itinerary with links to roadside attractions written by Jamie Jensen author of Road Trip USA

Historic Road Signs

Includes photos from Route 66

Roadside America

Offbeat tourist attractions (Use "search by attraction" by entering "Route 66")

Historic Goffs

Way Station on the Mother Road: Artifacts galore collected by the Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association on display near Needles, California

Discover Historic Route 66

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 Route 66 Adventure Handbook: 4th Edition
by Drew Knowles

From 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 Route 66: The Mother Road
by Michael Wallis

From 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 66 Legendary Route 66
by Michael Karl Witzel

From 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."

 

More articles and Web resources

that you might find helpful in planning your next road trip!