Route 66 is arguably the most famous driving roads in the world, stretching 2448 miles through 8 states from Chicago to LA. There are so many interesting places to stop and explore on this drive it is hard to pick a top ten, even those who have driven it multiple times are still discovering new and unusual places.
We spent just over 3 weeks exploring the Mother Road and still only scratched the surface of all the attractions, trading posts, museums and towns along the route. Also, we must mention the characters we met on the road, from the fellow Route 66 travellers to the business owners and locals. The people you’ll meet definitely add to the overall experience of the trip.
No doubt there will be people who will disagree with our choices but the list is purely based on the personal experiences we had on our first Route 66 drive. It may have been our first trip along the road but it definitely won’t be our last.
10. The Gemini Giant, Wilmington, Illinois
The big green Gemini Giant is one of the most recognisable images of Route 66. You’ll find a number of ‘Muffler Men’ along the route but we chose this one as it is relatively close to Chicago and when you see it, you really know you’re on your way.
9. Pontiac And The Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum, Illinois
A great museum and again, like the Gemini Giant, you’ll probably visit it on your first day on the road. The staff we met were really helpful and it was good to see the van and bus of Bob Waldmire, the Route 66 artist and legend. His VW van was the inspiration for the character “Fillmore” in the Pixar film Cars. Don’t forget to take time to see all the Route 66 and vintage style murals around the town.
8. MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, Texas
It may not be much more than a line on the road, a sign and a cafe but Adrian Texas is the halfway mark of your epic journey so you have to stop. We bumped into a couple of fellow travellers who we met a couple of days early so it was good to catch up with coffee and one the Midpoint Cafe’s renown ugly crust pies.
7. Gary’s Gay Parita, Missouri
You’ll come across a lot of old-style gas stations and bizarre Route 66 nostalgia but Gary’s Gay Parita is definitely one of the best. What make’s this place is George, the owner. He is really welcoming and knowledgeable, he also provides free refreshments and snacks.
6. Seligman, Arizona
The little town of Seligman is exactly how you would imagine a Route 66 town to be. Quirky diners, bizarre shops and the home of Angel Delgadillo, a former barber and the guardian angel of Route 66. We were lucky enough to meet the man himself in his old barber’s shop. Despite being in his 90s he was still cycling to his shop.
5. Meteor Crater, Arizona
Not for from Winslow on the way to Flagstaff is the 50,000-year-old meteor crater, one of world’s best-preserved meteorite impact site on Earth. The crater itself is nearly one mile in diameter and over 500 feet deep. Although you do have to pay to visit the site we think it is an attraction not to be missed.
4. Oatman, Arizona
Wild burros, cowboys and gold mines, what more do you want. It sounds like a theme park attraction but Oatman is a real town with an interesting history. The wild burros are actually descendants of the donkeys which once belonged to the 19th prospectors who came seeking their fortune.
The town is not only frequented by donkeys but also Hollywood film stars, Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their wedding night in the old Oatman Hotel.
3. Santa Fe, New Mexico
The difference in the architectural style of Santa Fe compared to other towns on Route 66 is striking. The 1950s style motels, neon and diners give way to low-rise, Pueblo Style buildings. The adobe brick architecture evolved from early Native American dwellings which impressed the Spanish when they arrived in the region in the 16th century.
2. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Another amazing natural landscape on the route can be found in the Petrified Forest National Park. The name comes from the fossilised fallen trees which grew here 225 million years ago. You can clearly still see the patterns of their bark and rings, it’s as if they were made of fibreglass for a film set and not quartz.
A section of historic Route 66 used to run through the park and a line of telephone poles still mark the original track of the road.
1. Santa Monica Pier, California
It may be busy, touristy and not the original end of Route 66 but Santa Monica Pier on the Pacific Coast was definitely the spiritual end of the journey. We just ran out of continent and couldn’t head west anymore. Make sure you visit the 66 to Cali kiosk to get your Route 66 completion certificate.
After all that driving and weeks on the road, we did feel slightly sad that the trip was over. We both wished we could have jumped back into the car and made the return drive all the way back to Chicago. Unfortunately, that will have to wait until our next trip.
