The famous Route 66 in the USA has a complex and rich history. It shows America’s history, a source of social transformation and transportation. This fabled highway’s multiple alignments connect not only the East and the West, but also the past and the present.
Route 66 had its official beginnings in 1926 when the Bureau of Public Roads launched the nation’s first Federal highway system. Like other highways in the system, the path of Route 66 was a cobbling together of existing local, State, and national roads.
The highway quickly became a popular route because of the active promotion of the U.S 66 Highway Association, which advertised it as “the shortest, best and most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles.
Starting Your Journey in Chicago
The ancient starting point of the popular Route 66 is in Chicago: that’s where your adventurous journey begins. Starting your journey from a place which has the world’s famous food, colorful streets, mesmerizing architecture, and vivid history makes it thrilling.
You can have fun in popular Millennium Park, enjoy the deep-dish pizza and take photos at the Route 66 sign board for memories before hitting the road. You experience the old classic American life in Chicago before preparing for the journey of your life.
Taking a road trip on Route 66 is one of the best ways to travel with friends.
Classic Route 66 Roadside Attractions
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The Mother Road is also popular because of its roadside attractions, like the ancient routes. The purpose of all these is to add fun, adventure, and nostalgia to your journey. from having vintage dinners to classic giant statues, every point is so scenic and becomes memorable for a lifetime.
The Gateway Arch
Just 15 minutes from Cahokia Mounds, Gateway Arch National Park marks the only national park famous for an artificial creation: the St. Louis Arch. Representing the westward expansion in the US during the Jefferson era, the arch is a sight to behold. Take a moment to ride the tram up into the arch, pondering how all this led to so much of this country’s history, from the Dust Bowl to the Trail of Tears to the creation of Route 66.
Joliet, Illinois
Technically, the start of Route 66 can be found in Chicago’s Millennium Park at Buckingham Fountain. But since you’re not going to pull up your Toyota to the edge of the spraying water, start in the quiet suburb of Joliet, Illinois, specifically, the Joliet Area Historical Museum, where you’ll catch an awesome exhibit on the route’s Muffler Men, the famed advertising fibreglass giants that dotted the route.
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Elk City, Oklahoma
With more original Route 66 road miles than any other state (and home to those Dust Bowl refugees), Oklahoma and its National Route 66 Museum in Elk City take their job seriously. Here you can experience the 1955 hop pink Cadillac, where its music takes you back to the theatre for a movie. In Clinton, you can experience this type of 1950s if this does not come on your route.
Cadillac Ranch
Pair that shiny pink Cadillac experience with 10 rusting ones buried nose-down in the dirt. One of the most famous roadside attractions in route 66 is Cadillac Ranch. The place where you will see many colourful painted cars is drenched in the earth. Many travellers stay there for a while and use their artistic skills to paint these cars with paint colours. It’s a unique activity to do during your road trip.
Small Towns on Route 66 – Full of History
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Shamrock, Texas
It used to be an artistic gas station, but now it’s a space for travellers to visit and a theatre of just cars. The people of this town follow the Irish heritage with the St Patrick’s Day festival. This festival enhances the vintage vibe of Route 66. If you are visiting route66, this place is a must to visit.
El Reno, Oklahoma
The best fried onion burger you can have on Route 66 is in El Reno, which is in central Oklahoma. Even the people of this town celebrate the burger festival in which they cook thousands of patties. This town is full of vintage architecture buildings, an ancient downtown with a historical museum.
Pontiac, Illinois
Pontiac, Illinois, this place offers you relaxing energy like a small town. Visiting this place is like a full nostalgia lane, like you can walk downtown, you’ll see classic old American signage, and museums full of information about Route 66. There is a huge Route 66 shield where travellers take lots of photos, so don’t forget to take a snap here. Near the Vermillion River, you can enjoy a walk with your loved ones or friends.
Natural Wonders Along Route 66
The famous route starting from Chicago and ending at Santa Monica gives you magnificent views, American cultural knowledge and vintage nostalgic vibes. Your journey becomes thrilling and adventurous when you get to see the natural wonders with mesmerising views. Capture these views in your camera and enjoy them later.
Lake Michigan
When this beautiful lake coastline meets the dunes. In green forests, it becomes more scenic. The story of this lake is thousands of years old. When you stand at the coastline of this lake, you just see the water at the end, nothing else.
An old community named it Michigan, which means large water. Even some travellers say it is the Bermuda Triangle of the lakes. At the coastline of this lake, there are dunes which are known as the sleeping bear in the story of Mother Bear and her children.
Red Rock Formations
The history of this park is that it was home to the Kawaiisu Indians. After some time, when the mining team came here, it became their favourite place. They used this place as their meeting area because of the huge, distinct rock formations.
Some parts of this park are privately owned by some people, like the area of Hagen Canyon, the owner was rudoplh hagen of this place. In the mining process, he claimed the land and built a bar there.
Historic Bridges
U.S. Route 66 was one of the United States’ first paved stretches of continuous highway, and served as a major path for those migrating west.
The highway turned more westward through Oklahoma and Texas, with the final stretches in New Mexico and Arizona before its termination point in Los Angeles.
To cross this route, hundreds of bridges were constructed. Some of them are huge and momentous; when you cross them, you get their railroad tracks and smaller dreams in the bridges. Some famous bridges are:
- Chain of Rocks Bridge
- Pony bridge
- Rainbow bridge
- Rio Puerco Bridge
- Devils elbow bridge
- Verdigris River Bridge
Best Stop on Route 66 in the Southwest
Flagstaff
In Flagstaff, you can still cruise Route 66 and look back in time at iconic buildings, some still with their neon signs.
There are several of the historic hotels still lining Route 66 in Flagstaff, and the world-famous Museum Club that turned from a Route 66 roadhouse and taxidermy shop into a country western nightclub where you can go to line dance and hear live music.
There are ghost towns and flourishing businesses along the route that speak to a simpler time.
Travel Tips for Route 66
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As I’m telling you about the history, best and adventurous routes and natural wonders of Route 66. So, I must tell you about travel tips for this trip. First of all, I suggest you properly plan your route, don’t just start your journey suddenly.
When you start your journey in the morning, you experience a lot and capture clear photos of vintage Route 66. It is basic to keep a first aid kit in your car, some snacks and drinks to enjoy the road trip. A map, phone charger and some clothes are essentials.
You will see lots of natural wonders in your journey, and help the government in preserving them.
Plan your trip to explore the vintage and historic lifestyle of Route 66 and share your experience with us.
Conclusion
In the past, Route 66 was not just a road; it covered the whole of America. When you embark on your journey, you get to know about the vintage lifestyle of Americans.
Starting this road from Chicago to end it in Santa Monica. This drive gives you lifetime memories. Today, this road is the world’s first open sky museum, which is explored by thousands of travellers every year.
