Route 66 Road Trip

When was the last time you went on a road trip?

I have one to share with you that’s definitely one for the books! It’s the iconic Route 66 road trip, also known as the Main Street of America or the Mother Road. It stretches from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California.

If you follow me on social media, you know about “Big Al”, the 1946 family heirloom that my husband lovingly restored. This old truck has already provided hours of entertainment for us and won countless awards at vintage car shows.

Some time about a year ago, my husband mentioned a bucket list item that he had never shared with me. He said he wanted to drive his old Dodge pickup truck on part of the historic Route 66. He wanted to start in Springfield, Missouri and drive to Amarillo, Texas. Always up for a adventure, I said, “Let’s do it!” and a plan was made.

Living in South Georgia, it would obviously take us a few days to get to our starting point. So he mapped out our travel days and estimated traveling on Route 66 through the states of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

While there are way too many pictures to share all of them here, I did want to share some of the highlights of what we saw along the way. Due to time and a severe weather outbreak of tornadoes expected in Oklahoma the week we were there, we didn’t make it to Amarillo, but instead stopped in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

We have decided that we will pick up there at some point in the future….probably flying to Oklahoma City and then renting a car to go to California. Not sure we will ever go north to Chicago to finish that smaller section.

Here are some highlights of the trip

Established in 1926, Route 66 was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System and played a significant role in the migration west during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s and later during the post-World War II economic boom.

Route 66 covered a distance of about 2,448 miles (3,940 kilometers) from Chicago to Santa Monica, passing through eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. We started our journey at the historic Rail Haven Motel in Springfield, Missouri. We spent the night in this adorable cottage style motel before starting the Route 66 part of our road trip.

Room 409 is said to have been where Elvis stayed once when in the area. They give tours of the room when it’s not rented, but sadly it was rented the night we were there and we didn’t get to peek inside.

The motel’s website shares this photo above to show guests the Elvis room that can be booked. Looks awesome, right?!

The office area for the motel also sells Route 66 products for customers. Of course, we had to get t-shirts to wear to start our journey 🙂

Along Route 66, travelers encounter numerous landmarks and attractions, including quirky roadside motels, diners, gas stations, and tourist traps. It’s like going back in time to see it all. This big guy was the first “giant” we saw. He was literally right down the street from our motel.

These “giants” are being found at various places around the country. When they were removed from businesses years ago, they were left for “trash”. Now being found, they are being restored and placed along the route for travelers to enjoy.

With the construction of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s and 1960s, Route 66 gradually declined in significance as traffic shifted to the new freeways. In 1985, Route 66 was officially decommissioned as a U.S. highway, but many sections of the road remain accessible as historic byways.

There are many stops along the route where you can experience the nostalgia of days gone by. This little gas station was one of our favorite stops.

If you love the “Cars” movie, you will enjoy stops like the one above. So many good photo ops!

We crossed over several old bridges along the way. Rainbow Bridge was one of them.

Our plan all along was to try to spend the night at as many retro motels as possible. We lucked up and got reservations at a couple. One was a little disappointing though lol 🙂

My favorite thing for sure was spotting the “giants” on the route.

Scott had read about the Blue Catoosa Whale and was excited to see it in person. It was raining when we arrived, but we still managed to get some pictures and video. The whale used to be a water slide a man built for his family. Swimming is no longer allowed there, but I can see how it would have been great fun!

Despite its decommissioning, Route 66 continues to captivate the imagination of travelers worldwide. Various communities along the route have made efforts to preserve its history and heritage, with some sections being designated as National Scenic Byways.

Route 66 has left an indelible mark on American culture, influencing literature, music, art, and film. It symbolizes the spirit of adventure, freedom, and the pursuit of the American Dream, making it an enduring symbol of American identity. We had a fantastic time on this iconic road trip, and highly recommend you go on this epic adventure yourself!