Route 66 - Question
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: scotland
Route 66 - Question
Hello ...anyone any suggestions for the best way to ride 66....are any of the Tour companies better than the others.... or is there a better way to ride 66.
This would be me and my wife's first trip to the States....currently riding a 2014 SG on bonnie Scotland.
Thanks guys.
This would be me and my wife's first trip to the States....currently riding a 2014 SG on bonnie Scotland.
Thanks guys.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,391
Likes: 351
From: MO
Ditch the tour companies. Buy this book and go at your own pace. That's what we did.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 4
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
I'm probably repeating what you already know, but the iconic Rt 66 now is largely gone. Much of the
original surface roads that were combined together to create Rt 66 still exist, but it's no longer possible
to actual ride the entire, original route.
As modern interstates replaced much of it, most of the motels, restaurants, scenic roadside facilities
also disappeared. Albuquerque, New Mexico where I live has probably the longest existing urban
stretch of Old 66 remaining and the city is increasingly trying to preserve as much of what still exists
as is possible.
That doesn't mean that there isn't a lot to see following Old 66, but it's not the time capsule that a
nostalgia book or website may give you the impression of.
Here's probably THE best place to start researching what remains and what makes sense to incorporate
in a trip..
http://www.historic66.com/
You can order some very good, annotated maps of Old 66 and what remains today through the site.
Here's a biker's personal log with a lot of pics..
http://williamacarr.smugmug.com/Road...5133&k=FDrsPpd
and my own Flickr set of a 2010 trip over sections of Old 66 and on into Death Valley.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4554250...7637218311896/
Also do a search on Rt 66 in this forum and you'll find a ton of threads about it.
IGNORE THE LINK ABOVE.. THE PICTURE INSERT DIDN'T WORK AND I CAN'T EDIT OUT THE %$#^& LINK...
original surface roads that were combined together to create Rt 66 still exist, but it's no longer possible
to actual ride the entire, original route.
As modern interstates replaced much of it, most of the motels, restaurants, scenic roadside facilities
also disappeared. Albuquerque, New Mexico where I live has probably the longest existing urban
stretch of Old 66 remaining and the city is increasingly trying to preserve as much of what still exists
as is possible.
That doesn't mean that there isn't a lot to see following Old 66, but it's not the time capsule that a
nostalgia book or website may give you the impression of.
Here's probably THE best place to start researching what remains and what makes sense to incorporate
in a trip..
http://www.historic66.com/
You can order some very good, annotated maps of Old 66 and what remains today through the site.
Here's a biker's personal log with a lot of pics..
http://williamacarr.smugmug.com/Road...5133&k=FDrsPpd
and my own Flickr set of a 2010 trip over sections of Old 66 and on into Death Valley.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4554250...7637218311896/
Also do a search on Rt 66 in this forum and you'll find a ton of threads about it.
IGNORE THE LINK ABOVE.. THE PICTURE INSERT DIDN'T WORK AND I CAN'T EDIT OUT THE %$#^& LINK...
Last edited by Mike Horrell; Nov 30, 2013 at 07:52 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 149
From: High in the Colorado Rockies
The segments of Route 66 that I have ridden are boring, not very scenic, towns are rundown, and the road is not well maintained. I can name dozens of roads just in the Western US that are vastly superior. But, if you are set on Route 66, go get your kicks on Route 66. I did warn you. SJ Ron 
Supporter
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 807
Likes: 1
From: Milwaukee, WI
Hello ...anyone any suggestions for the best way to ride 66....are any of the Tour companies better than the others.... or is there a better way to ride 66.
This would be me and my wife's first trip to the States....currently riding a 2014 SG on bonnie Scotland.
Thanks guys.
This would be me and my wife's first trip to the States....currently riding a 2014 SG on bonnie Scotland.
Thanks guys.
I hope you and your bride enjoy your visit to our fair country! Would LOVE to visit yours! When are you planning your trip?
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
As you are coming from Scotland I would also urge you to skip 66. I would also urge you to skip the great plains which is the center of the US(Parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska, etc). Flat, boring and windy. Colorado and southern Utah will fill up a couple of weeks of riding. Then on to Death Valley and into California.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 284
Likes: 9
From: Louisville, Ky.
+1 on what others have said regarding skipping Rt.66. I know the allure is strong, even here in the states, but there are much better rides and places to see especially if this is your only visit to the U.S.
If it were me I believe I'd fly into Denver or Colorado Springs, rent a bike and head to the Million Dollar Hwy. , a ride so nice they should charge you to ride. Spend the night in Durango. Head to the Four Corners on the eastern edge of Monument Valley then through Monument Valley toward Utah or loop back another way through more of Colorado to Utah. Colorado and Utah. Tour Utah, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and on and on. Southern Utah borders the Grand Canyon a place not to be missed. Then if you wanna check out probably the best stretch of whats left of RT.66 drop down through Flagstaff and head west and pick it up from Sleigman, Az. to Oatman California then back up to Las Veagas. Come to think of it lots of people fly into Las Vegas and rent and ride from there. Course if ya wanna go another way there's Montana....how much time ya got LOL
If however you're stuck on riding RT. 66 one very nice to place to stay is the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, N.M., a very nice hotel built in 1937. A very cool place http://historicelranchohotel.com/
I did a solo trip out west in '12 and met people from Austria, France and Germany all on rented Harleys and they all said they were having the time of their lives. Whatever route you decide Welcome to America, you're gonna love it!!
If it were me I believe I'd fly into Denver or Colorado Springs, rent a bike and head to the Million Dollar Hwy. , a ride so nice they should charge you to ride. Spend the night in Durango. Head to the Four Corners on the eastern edge of Monument Valley then through Monument Valley toward Utah or loop back another way through more of Colorado to Utah. Colorado and Utah. Tour Utah, Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon and on and on. Southern Utah borders the Grand Canyon a place not to be missed. Then if you wanna check out probably the best stretch of whats left of RT.66 drop down through Flagstaff and head west and pick it up from Sleigman, Az. to Oatman California then back up to Las Veagas. Come to think of it lots of people fly into Las Vegas and rent and ride from there. Course if ya wanna go another way there's Montana....how much time ya got LOL
If however you're stuck on riding RT. 66 one very nice to place to stay is the El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, N.M., a very nice hotel built in 1937. A very cool place http://historicelranchohotel.com/
I did a solo trip out west in '12 and met people from Austria, France and Germany all on rented Harleys and they all said they were having the time of their lives. Whatever route you decide Welcome to America, you're gonna love it!!
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,232
Likes: 4
From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
There are bits and pieces of Old 66 that are worth seeing, but as I said in my post above, most of
what people really want to see now exists only in old photos.
Kahunajim's advice is EXCELLENT. I rode much of the route he's proposing earlier this year and did the
rest in 2010. I live about an hour from Gallup, NM and that old hotel is great as is La Posada in Winslow,
right on the corner that the Eagles made famous in the song "Take It Easy" and about 2 1/2 hours from
the Grand Canyon.
Jmorganroadglide's advice to skip the plains is spot on unless you just want to bask in endless highway.
There is something awesome about 70 mile horizons, but why not get them in spectacular country like
the Southwest?
Just some thoughts..
what people really want to see now exists only in old photos.
Kahunajim's advice is EXCELLENT. I rode much of the route he's proposing earlier this year and did the
rest in 2010. I live about an hour from Gallup, NM and that old hotel is great as is La Posada in Winslow,
right on the corner that the Eagles made famous in the song "Take It Easy" and about 2 1/2 hours from
the Grand Canyon.
Jmorganroadglide's advice to skip the plains is spot on unless you just want to bask in endless highway.
There is something awesome about 70 mile horizons, but why not get them in spectacular country like
the Southwest?
Just some thoughts..