Get Your Kicks on Route 66 | Buckle Up for a Classic Road Trip
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Debuted in 1926, the historic Route 66 connects Chicago to Los Angeles, crossing eight states and over two thousand and four hundred miles. It was constructed to be an alternate, more southern route to cross the country, making it the first all-weather highway. This famed journey connects the east and west, the past and present. Start planning your trip today with these must-see highlights.
tarting in downtown Chicago at and stopping for a bite at a local mom-and-pop roadside café, continue to Springfield, Illinois to visit the capitol building and the home of Abraham Lincoln. Traveling farther west through the state, the road crosses the mighty Mississippi River at Collinsville to welcome all to St. Louis, the Gateway to the West. For an aerial view, ride to the top of the St. Louis Arch. Then, travel to the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains with your GPS set for crossing from Joplin to the Missouri-Kansas state line.
There are countless reminders of the past along Route 66, one of which is former mining town Galena, Kansas. The arrival of the highway was crucial to the mining network and local businesses such as roadside filling stations like Kan-o-Tex, which lent inspiration to the Disney-Pixar film, Cars. Next, you’ll travel four hundred miles through Oklahoma. To break up the drive, take full advantage of pit stops in charming towns along the way, steeped in nostalgia: quaint motels, drive-in movie theaters, brightly colored neon signs, and (many traveler’s favorite) the Blue Whale of Catoosa.
The journey through Texas becomes I-40, which cuts through the Texas Panhandle. Ironically, the largest state in the Lower 48 hosts the shortest stretch of the route on your journey. Some not-to-miss stops are Amarillo’s Route 66 Historic District and Cadillac Ranch. When you cross into New Mexico, the adventure takes you to the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and passes through artsy Santa Fe and Albuquerque. This portion of the drive lives up to the state’s motto: the Land of Enchantment.
If you have time to spare, make some nature-inspired stops in Arizona. The first is Petrified Forest National Park, which is home to the largest and most colorful concentration of petrified wood. The second is in the town of Williams. This pit stop and detour is to witness the splendor of the Grand Canyon via train or car. Thankfully, the natural masterpieces don’t end in Arizona. California pulls out the stops with the Mojave National Preserve and a small side trip to Joshua Tree National Park. Both are great for hiking and stargazing. The rest of the journey to Los Angeles leaves the desert behind to welcome the Pacific Ocean and a grand finale at the popular Santa Monica Pier.
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