Any Route 66 advice? | FerrariChat

Any Route 66 advice?

Discussion in 'Travel' started by Gatorrari, Jun 28, 2019.

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  1. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Feb 27, 2004
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    Jim Pernikoff
    In this, my 66th year on this planet, I'm planning to "celebrate" by driving the length of US-66 in September. I plan to stay off the Interstates as much as possible and see the attractions along the old roads. I presume that there are people here who've done the trip, and I'm wondering if anyone has any particular advice. If it matters, I plan to make the drive east to west in 5 or 6 days.
    • Places to stay, places to eat, must-see attractions?
    • The best guide books or maps to plan the route?
    • Any places or roads to particularly avoid?
     
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  2. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
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  3. TTR

    TTR F1 Veteran
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    #3 TTR, Jun 28, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2019
    While I've driven across the U.S. perhaps couple of dozen times in past 35+ years and most with vintage cars, I've never done "66" per se, but my best friend and his wife did it (east-to-west) last year.
    They had a twenty some years old "Attractions along the Route 66" book with them and told me afterwards that about half the "attractions" or "points-of-interests" listed/noted in that book no longer existed, but she still managed to shoot several thousand photos during that week on the road.
     
  4. Hocakes

    Hocakes Formula Junior

    Apr 24, 2010
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    https://www.pilotguides.com/articles/route-66-study-guide/
    https://smile.amazon.com/Route-66-Dining-Lodging-Guide/dp/0988924609/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

     
  5. Texas Forever

    Texas Forever Seven Time F1 World Champ
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    Apr 28, 2003
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    Texas!
    You will need at least two weeks to do it right. The USA is a WIDE country. Don't have a plan, just go with the flow.

    Ps. I'd wait at least until mid-September. It gets hot.
     
  6. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

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    Exactly this. There's a nice little diner on the Texas border. Think the town is called Adrian. Get a bite to eat in Amarillo, but save room for pie in Adrian.

    If it's still in business, there's an old school teepee motel in Holbrook. That's a bit of fun. Tucumcari NM has a couple of nice little local eateries.

    If it were me, I'd skip the Illinois section and join in somewhere near MO. Have fun.

    T
     
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  7. Alpintourer

    Alpintourer F1 Rookie
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    I'm surprised no one suggested you drive this in a vintage Corvette.
    (Oddly, the TV series had little to do with the iconic road.)
    Are you taking the 328?
     
  8. Alpintourer

    Alpintourer F1 Rookie
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    Do put this in your iTunes list:

     
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  9. arizonaitalian

    arizonaitalian F1 World Champ
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    #9 arizonaitalian, Jun 30, 2019
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2019
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  10. arizonaitalian

    arizonaitalian F1 World Champ
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    Still there, still in business. This pic was 4 months ago today...
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  11. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

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    Cool. It is not the Waldorf, but it was a hoot staying at that place.
    T
     
  12. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Thanks for all the advice so far. I considered taking the Ferrari but I think the trip will be more relaxing in my Honda, especially if it gets hot. I may stretch the trip if my research shows that to be a good idea.
     
  13. 71Satisfaction

    71Satisfaction Formula 3

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    Another one for the playlist... :)



    Have a great trip and come back to share your photos..
    - Art
     
  14. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    I did the Route, as part of a road trip that took a total of 15 days, went through 16 states, and added at least 5500 miles to the Civic's odometer. The Route 66 part took 7 days, as I decided it was better to both start and finish the trip during lunch hour, to avoid the worst of Chicago and Los Angeles rush hours. I didn't see everything on the route, but I saw plenty, and took over 100 photos. This really is a trip that everyone should do at least once.

    I will open another thread on this forum to describe the trip and post some of the photos. Again, thanks to everyone for the advice.
     
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  15. Patek

    Patek Formula 3

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    my friend owns a new Mel's Drive In that route 66 dead ends into. Grab a snack. So you know you will not starve if you make it to the end.... good luck.
     
  16. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    Are you talking about the one at Lincoln and Olympic in Santa Monica? I had lunch there on the last day!
     
  17. Gatorrari

    Gatorrari F1 World Champ
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    As a preview to my photo story, iconic restaurants on the Route that I ate at included the Berghoff (Chicago), Skippy's (Leasburg, MO), Arnold's (Tulsa), Lucilles's Roadhouse (Weatherford, OK), El Charro (Amarillo), Pow Wow (Tucumcari), Mr. D'z Diner (Kingman), Ludlow Cafe (Ludlow, CA) and Mel's Drive-in (Santa Monica). All are either recommended in one of the Route 66 tour guides or were recommended by local innkeepers. And I had good meals in all of them!

    Lodgings I stayed at that have some notoriety included the Carlin Villa Motel (Carlinville, IL), the Best Budget Inn (Carthage, MO), Motel Safari (Tucumcari), the El Rancho Hotel (Gallup) and the El Trovatore Motel (Kingman). Not all had the latest modern conveniences, but all had that certain Route 66 charm that made them good choices for the trip, and all were reasonably priced. The famous Blue Swallow in Tucumcari was booked (it only has 12 room), but the Safari was a block away and I was able to walk over and pay them a visit.

    Are any of you familiar with any of these establishments?
     
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  18. tomc

    tomc Two Time F1 World Champ

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    ^Very cool. I think we may have stayed at Motel Safari, but that was a long time ago...T
     
  19. TTR

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    Glad to read your trip was a success and would like to read more about it.
    I might’ve stayed in or visited some of these establishments during some of my many cross country road trips decades ago, but can’t remember for sure.
    I just love long distance road travel/trips, but prefer doing them in vintage cars, driving on older 2-lane scenic highways and staying in cool historic old hotels/motels.
     
  20. Patek

    Patek Formula 3

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    that is the place Jim. My friends was Mel. and it is still in the family.
     

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