Route 66 Centenary - Some Trip Highlights

[Voodoo Blue]

We spent a few weeks in 2024 doing a coast to coast road trip from Washington DC to LA via Chicago and Route 66 and went back last year to do most of it again as we felt we'd not seen everything we wanted.

As this year is the Centenary of Route 66 I thought I'd share a video of some of the highlights from both trips as I'm sure this is on a few peoples bucket list and you might find it interesting. We were also lucky enough to rent a Dodge Challenger in '24 so that features as well since we felt it made the trip for us.



I know there are other PHers on here that have done this trip as well so guys please feel free to add your memories here as well.

[Essarell]

Thanks for posting, i really enjoyed that, love seeing all the memorabilia that lines the route and even though the road has been declassified for decades there's always something new to see.

The first third to Tusla is probably my favourite, rolling farmland and towns from a different era, everyone's all excited at the start of what is likely to be a dream drive or ride.

It all goes a bit vast once into Texas and i notice that's a very early o'clock, maybe a Sunday? as you ride through BH to Santa Monica.

I bumped into Si King a few years back and asked why they didn't show Cyrus Avery in their Rt66 adventure, said something about CA's past but i pointed out they were happy to feature Al Capone in episode 1........

We are drawing up a bucket list of places to see, we've dedicated the past 23 years to exploring the US and its now time to fly the other way, Oz, New Zealand and Japan are places that i can't wait to explore but the US will always have a place in our hearts. I'd love to ride my own motorbike in the US, shipping isn't that difficult, the PCH would be incredible and starting in Chicago would be perfect, Rt66 as far as St Louis then point it northwest to Seattle then follow the ocean to San Diego.

[DodgyGeezer]

I want to go back and do it all over again (went last year) - loved it

[Voodoo Blue]

Essarell said:

Thanks for posting, i really enjoyed that, love seeing all the memorabilia that lines the route and even though the road has been declassified for decades there's always something new to see.

The first third to Tusla is probably my favourite, rolling farmland and towns from a different era, everyone's all excited at the start of what is likely to be a dream drive or ride.

It all goes a bit vast once into Texas and i notice that's a very early o'clock, maybe a Sunday? as you ride through BH to Santa Monica.

I bumped into Si King a few years back and asked why they didn't show Cyrus Avery in their Rt66 adventure, said something about CA's past but i pointed out they were happy to feature Al Capone in episode 1........

We are drawing up a bucket list of places to see, we've dedicated the past 23 years to exploring the US and its now time to fly the other way, Oz, New Zealand and Japan are places that i can't wait to explore but the US will always have a place in our hearts. I'd love to ride my own motorbike in the US, shipping isn't that difficult, the PCH would be incredible and starting in Chicago would be perfect, Rt66 as far as St Louis then point it northwest to Seattle then follow the ocean to San Diego.

You certainly see a gradual change in landscapes, as you say from rolling grassy hills, vast flat farmland and dry dusty desert as you move from east to west. I'm quite fascinated by the SW as it's such a contrast to the green hills of southern England where we live.

Well spotted with the clock in BH. We actually arrived in downtown LA early Saturday afternoon and there were roadworks all over the 101 with consequent gridlock so we abandoned our attempts to get to Santa Monica, check into our hotel and get up early the following morning to finish it off. We ended up having breakfast in Mel's Drive In on Lincoln and got chatting to the waiter who surprised us with a Route 66 Certificate of Completion which was a really nice touch.

We went back last year to do the stretch between St. Louis and Albuquerque as we felt we did that bit too quickly in 2024 and then headed south through Texas and on to New Orleans which was really good. Like you we've been travelling to the US for more than 25 years often 2-3 times a year but also feel it's time to see some more of the world while we can. We went to Singapore last year and then jumped on a cruise to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan finishing up in Japan where we spent a week in Tokyo and found the whole trip so fascinating we've booked a trip to Malaysia in few weeks to see a bit more of that part of the world.

One place I would highly recommend to anyone who loves the great outdoors is Yellowstone NP, it's spectacular and probably our favourite park in the US although many others are not too far behind.

[DodgyGeezer]

Our trip... or parts of it

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[Voodoo Blue]

DodgyGeezer said:

Our trip... or parts of it

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Lots of good memories

[mattyn1]

Have finally got round to editing and filtering out all of the thousands of photos we took when we did this in 2024. I have uploaded to Flickr so thought as the albums are public, I would link here and then maybe post the actual images in my own R66 thread. Plenty of cheesy editing going on too, but all part of the therapy I guess!!

LHR to Chicago - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC1FTn

Chicago to Springfield IL - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC2qKM

Springfield to St Louis - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjC4QK3

St Louis to Springfield MO - https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCJL39

Editing wise, I am up to Durango, so more to follow IDC

[Voodoo Blue]

Great pictures and great memories.

It's great to see other peoples experiences as there is so much to see it's impossible to do it all in the few short weeks we spent there even over 2 years.

Looking forward to seeing more

[DodgyGeezer]

Absolutely this ^^^

I can't wait to get back

[mattyn1]

More:

Springfield MO to Oklahoma City: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCJTU4

Oklahoma City to Amarillo: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCK7HZ

Amarillo to Albuquerque: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCK6m7

[mattyn1]

And more:

Albuquerque to Santa Fe: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKxxD

Santa Fe to Taos: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKxxD

Taos to Manitou Springs: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKD4K

Pikes Peak: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCKDTL

def stick Pikes Peak on your list!!