How Long Is Rt 66?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Historic Route 66 is approximately

2,278 miles (3,665 km)

long and across 14 days, a person needs to drive an average of 163 miles (262 km) per day. If one drives at 45 miles per hour (MPH) on average, that would be approximately 3 hours and 37 minutes of driving each day.

Where does Route 66 begin and end?

Where does Route 66 start and end? Route 66

starts in downtown Chicago and ends at the Santa Monica pier in California

. Throughout the journey from Chicago to Santa Monica, you’ll discover sections where the original route diverges, seemingly shooting off in two directions and yet nowhere at once.

Is Route 66 still the longest road in America?

US Highway 66, popularly known as “Route 66,” is significant as the nation’s first all-weather highway linking Chicago to Los Angeles. When contrasted with transcontinental corridors such as the Lincoln Highway and US Highway 40,

Route 66 does not stand out as America’s oldest or longest road

.

Is driving Route 66 worth it?

Is Route 66 still worth driving?

Driving Route 66 is still a great experience

. It’s not an easy road trip, as the defunct nature of the route means you’ll need to be aware of some things. For example, since Route 66 is technically decommissioned, it won’t show up on GPS.

Does Route 66 go through Grand Canyon?

While

the Grand Canyon isn’t technically on Route 66

, it’s worth a detour. The South Rim is the most accessible from the route and has the best viewpoints; although that does make it the most popular with visitors.

Can you drive Route 66 in a week?

So to those asking “Can you do Route 66 in a week?, the answer is

yes! you can and have a lot of fun doing it

. Having said this, you should consider at least extending the ride to two weeks.

What is the most scenic part of Route 66?

  • Blue Hole — Santa Rosa, New Mexico. …
  • Meteor Crater — Winslow, Arizona. …
  • Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert — Arizona. …
  • Calico Ghost Town — California. …
  • Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch — Oro Grande, California. …
  • Original McDonald’s Museum — San Bernardino, California. …
  • Santa Monica Pier — Santa Monica, California.

How long does it take to drive Route 66 from Chicago to LA?

The drive takes about

40 hours

.

Route 66 rolls through small towns (with plenty of stop lights) along the way, so you won’t be driving as fast as you would on an interstate highway.

How much of Route 66 still exists?

Nowadays,

over 85%

of the original alignments of U.S. Route 66 are still drivable. Many segments of the road are simple two-laned highways, so you should drive with care and pay attention to the road signs.

Why was Route 66 closed?

The last

outdated, poorly maintained vestiges

of U.S. Highway 66 succumbed to the interstate system in October 1984 when Interstate 40 at Williams, Arizona, replaced the final section of the original road. In 1985, the highway was officially decommissioned.

How long would it take to walk Route 66?

You need

around three weeks

to complete Route 66. There is no perfect time to drive Route 66.

What is Route 66 called now?

U.S. Route 66 Will Rogers Memorial Highway Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap Route information Length 2,448 mi (3,940 km)

Is it difficult to drive Route 66?

A Route 66 road trip is no ordinary holiday. Driving it is an exhilarating prospect, but

putting plans together may also be slightly daunting

. There’s a lot of ground to cover, and not everybody has time to explore every town or city that crops up along the route.

Is Route 66 and I 40 the same?


Interstate 40 subsequently replaced a large segment of Route 66

and the roadway was decommissioned in 1985. However, in the aftermath, a variety of non-profit groups were formed to help preserve the historic highway and much of Route 66 remains drivable today.

What is the best time of year to drive Route 66?

The best time to take a Route 66 road trip is from

late spring to early summer and in the early fall

. The weather is usually temperate and roads are open, as are most Route 66 businesses.

Can you drive all of Route 66?

Can All of Route 66 be Driven?

No, you can’t drive the “entire” original Route 66

, but you can still drive the sections that have been preserved -which are quite a few! Route 66 was decertified on June 27, 1985 and no longer exists as a U.S. Highway.

How do you plan a Route 66 trip?

  1. Day 1: Chicago, IL to Springfield, IL.
  2. Day 2: Springfield, IL, to Sullivan, MO.
  3. Day 3: Sullivan, MO to Carthage, MO.
  4. Day 4: Carthage, MO to Tulsa, OK.
  5. Day 5: Tulsa, OK to Clinton, OK.
  6. Day 6: Clinton, OK to Amarillo, TX.
  7. Day 7: Amarillo, TX to Tucumcari, NM.

Can you do Route 66 in 3weeks?

On our

three week fly-drive holiday

you’ll pack in all the iconic sights you’d expect to see along the Mother Road, plus detours to incredible places such as Monument Valley, Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Santa Fe and historic Durango at the base of the great Colorado Rocky Mountains.

Is Route 66 RV friendly?


The entire 2,400-mile route makes for an epic RV trip, or you can tick off one segment at a time, in any of the eight states that the route passes through

. Either way, a Route 66 RV trip is a nostalgic journey through America’s early days of westward travel.

Does Route 66 go through Las Vegas?

Strictly speaking,

Las Vegas is not on Route 66

. Fortunately, this city is a either the beginning or the end point for Route 66 Tours, and it’s one of our favourite destinations. It seems like quite the oversight that the Mother Road never passes through this still-growing town.

What is the longest road in the world?

Spanning some 19,000 miles, the

Pan-American Highway

is the longest roadway in the world. Starting in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the road moves south, passing through Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America.

What cities does Route 66 connect?

The highway stretches from

Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California

. Don’t be fooled by the iconic sign at Santa Monica Pier.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.