Route 66

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Jan 24, 2016 | 03:56 PM

rwtrick

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 619

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From: North Ridgeville, OH

Route 66

I starting to plan a route 66 ride. I want to do the entire stretch from Chicago to Santa Monica. My plan is to take 1 day to ride to Chicago from Cleveland, 12 days to do route 66, and then 6-8 days back from CA to Cleveland. I've looked at a group ride- The Mother Road Ride Rally as a possibility to ride with them. Or of course to do the ride on my own.

Have any of you ridden Rt 66? If you have, do you have any recommendations or advice? Has anyone ridden with the Mother Road Ride Rally group? I'm planning this ride for 2017 (this year I'm doing a Lake Superior circle ride).

Thanks!

Jan 24, 2016 | 04:00 PM

ultra_classic

Club Member

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 937

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From: Ontario, Canada

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Jan 24, 2016 | 04:12 PM

mmcbeat

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 4,229

Likes: 10

From: Oklahoma

I haven't ridden the whole route, just east and west out of Tulsa for a bit. In Oklahoma, Route 66 is iffy at best. A lot of it is in need of repair and part of the original 66 does not exactly come through the best part of Tulsa. If I were making the trip I think it would be part interstate and part original 66.

Jan 25, 2016 | 07:31 AM

billnourse

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 7,934

Likes: 43

From: Bloomfield, NM

I have ridden the whole route, or what's left of it. Michael Wallis has a good book on riding the road and there are others that you should reference.

I rode part of the route with HOG and Wallis was the guide. The rest I have done on my own. It is really hard to find it all and there is a lot of backtracking, so a guide book or guide is a must. Don't plan on more than 250 t0 300 miles a day for most stretches.

Bill

Jan 25, 2016 | 01:47 PM

Chief2505

Tourer

Joined: Aug 2013

Posts: 342

Likes: 44

From: Granville, IL

Through most of Illinois the road is in poor condition. There are stretches that are ok and others not so much so. 66 is basically a frontage road for I55. There is about a 5 mile stretch south of Bloomington that the signs take you onto the interstate.

That being said, there are some cool towns and sights on the route. Also as someone else mentioned you need to research. I know of several towns where there are 3 different route 66. Depends on the years. It started out in town, then moved to the edge of town and then maybe moved again to the outskirts of town.
Some of the towns have signs, this way for 33-38 route, or that way for 39-46 route as an example.

Jan 27, 2016 | 11:50 AM

Black_Maiden

Intermediate

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 49

Likes: 3

From: Austin, TX

I have "Driven" the Route66, December of 2015. Riding the Mother Road is on my Bucket List...
The Road is Nice and runs pretty much parallel to Interstate. We did not take the Interstate except where the Route66 merges. That being said, you dnt have to worry about gas stations being miles apart...But always fill up when you get chance...
All towns you hit are worth stopping and looking around...We drove approx. ~ 250 miles each day so we get to stop at places of interest.
Like the Saying goes, "Its not the Destination, Its the RIDE"
Also, We visited each and every Harley Showroom on the road...

When are you planning to take the actual trip???Keep us posted...I would like to hear the stories..

Thanks...

Jan 27, 2016 | 12:29 PM

66cruiser

Road Warrior

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 1,390

Likes: 127

From: SW OREGON

I've done it end to end 3 times in the last decade an a couple times "back in the day" before the the interstates. Your best friend is a Gps and Rt 66 route downloads. go to historic66.com for all the info you'll ever need.