Brief history of Route 66

Route 66 was established with the intention of connecting the east with the west. It is often said that it joins the two coasts, but that’s not strictly true, because although one end does pass through the Californian village of Santa Monica on the Pacific Ocean, the other passes through the city of Chicago (Illinois), beside the vast Lake Michigan. And it lies 1,500 km away from the Atlantic coast.

Also known as “The Main Street of America” or “The Mother Road”, among other names, Route 66 became part of the United States Numbered Highway System in 1926. However, it was not signposted until the following year and its surface wasn’t completed until 1938, so many of its sections were initially just dirt and gravel.

Over the course of its almost 100-year history, its layout has been altered several times. In addition, in the 1950s, most of the route became secondary as highways were built, and it became less traveled as a result. So much so, in fact, that in 1985 it was officially removed from the United States Numbered Highway System.

However, although today it is no longer possible to travel the original Route 66 uninterrupted (only around 80% has been preserved), some sections have been kept the way they were many years ago, taking us back to what life was like in the US in the middle of the last century. That’s why tourism there has been growing exponentially recently, and some of its sections have been declared “Historic Route 66”.

Although tourists can travel Route 66 in both directions, it is most common to travel it from east to west, i.e., from Chicago to Los Angeles. This route passes through eight of the 50 states that make up the US. In the order they are found, they are: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. However, you could actually say there are nine, as many travelers deviate from the route and pass through Las Vegas, in the state of Nevada, before entering California.

Where does Route 66 start and end?

Officially, Route 66 begins in Chicago, at the Jackson Boulevard and Michigan Avenue intersection, and ends at the Santa Monica Pier, very close to Los Angeles. If done in its entirety it’s easy to cover more than 4,000 km, and if attempted in one go, it is advisable to spend a minimum of 14 days, averaging around 300 km a day. Of course, the route can take many forms depending on different factors, including taking in all the tourist spots. It is true that it can be divided into two or more sections and done more leisurely, taking even longer breaks at landmarks. Similarly, you can do only part of the route, and not necessarily start in Illinois and end in California. It is important to remember that the maximum speed limit is 55 miles per hour (just under 90 km/h) and on some stretches even reduced to 35 mph, so it is advisable to take your time, keeping in mind how strict some US law enforcement officers can be on this issue.

How to do Route 66?

Different companies specialize in renting vehicles to travel along Route 66 in one direction, without having to drop off the vehicle at the same place. There are many different types of vehicles to rent. The route can be done by bike, car, or motorhome; and choosing a vehicle “made in the USA” makes it even more authentic, allowing you to get the most from the experience and culture.

How to do route 66 on bike?

The average trip price for two people, for example, on a Harley-Davidson Touring bike, for 14 days is around 4,000 euros per person, including a double room, insurance, and roadside assistance. If it’s for two people and two motorcycles, and also a double room, the price comes to 5,250 euros per person. It should be noted that gas and meals are not included in these prices.

Other ways to do it: by car or bus

Meanwhile, if we prefer to do it in a Ford Mustang car and book our own accommodation and extras, the price of renting the car only comes to around 2,000 euros for two weeks.

Another more economical way is to take a Greyhound bus, a well-known interstate company whose original motto was “A lot more travel for a lot less money”. You can travel for 16 days with a double room, including breakfast, for around 2,000 euros per person.

In the summer months, from July to September, is the best time to travel Route 66. Although it can get hot at times, the days are longer and there is less chance of rain.

What are the most symbolic places to visit along Route 66?

Across the nearly 4,000 km of Route 66 there are many must-see tourist hotspots and towns. Obviously, it depends on where you stay, but there are some very famous places along the way, below are just a few:

Hall of Fame (Illinois)

In the city of Pontiac, before leaving Illinois, less than 200 km from the starting point in Chicago, is the Hall of Fame Museum. It houses thousands of historical memorabilia from the glory days of the “Mother Road”. The large mural that decorates one of its exterior walls is one of the most photographed monuments along Route 66. Thanks to all the images and photos, you can learn what life was like when Route 66 was the most important highway in the United States.

 

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Saint Louis and the Gateway Arch (Missouri)

The city of Saint Louis is usually the first or second stop after setting off from Chicago. Located on both sides of the Mississippi River, it brings together culture, history, music, and sports. During your visit, you can watch a Saint Louis Cardinals baseball game, walk or bike through Forest Park, or visit the iconic Gateway Arch. You can scale the enormous arch to its highest point at 192 meters, where you can get a panoramic view of the city.

 

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Meramec Caverns (Missouri)

The Meramec Caverns are another unmissable hotpspot on Route 66. A collection of over 6,000 caves hidden inside an extension of more than 40 km², and according to objects discovered inside, they have been confirmed to be inhabited by different pre-Columbian cultures. They were also used by the Union forces during the Civil War (1861–1865), and even served as a refuge for the famous gunman Jesse James and his gang after the war. These beautiful caves were formed from the erosion of limestone deposits over millions of years.

 

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Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park (Oklahoma)

To get there, you have to make a detour of around 6 km. At this historic site, you can admire 11 totem poles made by sculptor, Ed Galloway, between 1937 and 1948. They are an example of Oklahoma folk art and include figures of birds and Native American men. They are all made of concrete and one of them holds the record for being the tallest in the world. Twenty eight tons of cement, six tons of steel, and another 100 tons of stone and sand were used to build them. Using this material, Galloway managed to build the giant totem pole to almost 28-meters high.

 

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Blue Whale of Catoosa (Oklahoma)

Another peculiar attraction on the route is the Blue Whale of Catoosa, a large “sculpture” made in 1972 on the shore of a pond beside the road. The landmark is surrounded by trees, and there is a well-equipped picnic area. It is also possible to take a dip and cool off from the summer heat here.

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Cadillac Ranch (Texas)

Just 15 minutes by road from the Texan town of Amarillo is one of the most emblematic and unique landmarks on Route 66. It is known as Cadillac Ranch, located in the Texan desert. It is a public art installation and sculpture composed of 10 half-buried Cadillacs painted with graffiti. The cars are lined up, with the front end buried and the back end pointing towards the sky. They really do attract a lot of attention. Visitors are also encouraged to freely use spray paint to decorate the cars.

 

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Santa Fe (New Mexico)

The state capital of New Mexico is a city worth visiting. Founded in 1610 as a Spanish colony, it is famous for its architecture and panoramic views of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. The Spanish influence can be seen in its large plaza in the center of the city and in the winding streets of its historic district. Its various adobe buildings also show signs of its history.

 

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Sandia Peak Tramway (New Mexico)

Located just outside the city of Albuquerque, this 4.5-km long aerial tramway offers views of deep canyons and breathtaking scenery. Once at the top, the platform overlooks the Rio Grande Valley and the Land of Enchantment. The surrounding forest is stunning, as is the sunset from the top.

 

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The Painted Desert (Arizona)

The variety of colors of this northern Arizona desert gives it its name in this vast and beautiful area. It is dry and barren with rocks of multiple shades, from pinks and oranges to grays and purples. It is recommended to visit the Painted Desert in the evening to enjoy the sunset that makes the colors pop.

 

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Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

It is said that Arizona is the best preserved section of Route 66, if you consider what it was like in the mid-twentieth century. Once you hit the city of Flagstaff, you have to make a two-hour detour north to reach the Grand Canyon National Park. It is somewhat out of the way, but it is a natural wonder truly worth visiting. The Grand Canyon, formed by the Colorado River, reaches 29 km in width at some points and more than 1.5 km in depth. The scenery is truly breathtaking and draws more than six million annual visitors.

 

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Wigwam Motel (Arizona)

Located in the town of Holbrook, this well-known motel offers its guests the possibility of sleeping in individual tepee-shaped rooms. These were cone-shaped tents historically used by indigenous people of the United States. The motel was built in 1950 and is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places.

 

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Santa Monica (California)

The end of the route and an ideal place to relax and take in the Pacific Ocean from its impressive beach. There is the famous amusement park, Pacific Park, on the pier, along with the historic Looff Hippodrome’s merry-go-round. A visit to the city’s aquarium is also highly recommended or Muscle Beach, an open-air gym founded in 1930, where many scenes from movies have been filmed.

 

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The Pyrenees are a mountain range located at the north of the Iberian Peninsula and which serves as a natural border between Spain and France. It extends nearly 500 kilometres counting from the Cap de Creus, in Girona, to its connection with the Cantabrian Mountains, to the west of the province of Navarre. In this way, its mountainside occupies the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalunya, Aragon, and Navarre, and in the north occupies the French regions of Occitania and Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It also includes the Principality of Andorra, a small independent state that also has many points of tourist interest and very good mountain roads.

As is logical, the Trans Pyrenees route can be travelled in one direction or another, starting from any Gironan town to end up in Gipuzkoa, or the other way around, and with an itinerary where we can drive on Spanish and French roads, and also cross the aforementioned Principality.

In this case, we have chosen a Trans Pyrenees route of about 930 km that starts from Hondarribia, in Gipuzkoa, and arrives in the town of Roses, in the Alt Empordà of Girona. We have also preferred to limit it to journeys on asphalt so that it is more accessible and easier to complete for most people, and so that it can be done with motorcycles of all types, although the most appropriate is to do so with a trail motorcycle, whose driving comfort is superior on the tertiary roads that are plentiful when passing through the Pyrenees.

To carry out the Trans Pyrenees route on motorcycle, between two and four days are usually needed, although it is also true that there are motorcyclists who invest more time. It all depends if it is done alone or together with other motorcycles, or if there are one or two people on each motorcycle. It will also depend a lot on the motorcycle that we use and on its engine, and the type of roads that we choose.

With regards to accommodation and meals, there is a long list of possibilities. To sleep, we can choose among hotels, hostels, cottages, apartments, camp sites… And for meals, the variety is also extremely wide. We can equally opt to stop over in towns with several thousands of people, as well as small villages with hardly a hundred people. It will all depend on the budget that we have to carry out the trip and the type of adventure that we intend to experience.

On this occasion, we will invest three days, carrying out between 250 and 380 km on each one of them, doing so in company, so that it is easier to have a greater number of stories to liven up the route. During the trip, we will find other motorcyclists, the majority of them Spaniards, but also a few foreigners coming from different parts of Europe, which will mean an interesting contribution to the journey.

DAY 1: HONDARRIBIA-JACA / 252 KM

After enjoying a good dinner and overnight stay in Hondarribia, we will start our particular Trans Pyrenees route first thing in the morning with Jaca as the destination, the town in Huesca where we will spend the second night and which is 252 km away.

Just after starting the route, we cross to France through the border crossing town of Behobia and we head for Urrugne on the D810. There we take the D4 that passes through Ascain and which takes us to Ainhoa, where we take the D918 to San Juan Pie de Puerto, heading for the border crossing of Pekotxeta to enter Spain again. From there, we reach the Navarrese town of Roncesvalles on the N-135, where there are very good places to eat. After we head for Jaca, now in the province of Huesca, on the NA-140 that takes us to Isaba, to continue on the NA-137 which becomes the A-137 when entering Aragon, and the A-21. Once in Jaca, it is worthwhile visiting the Citadel and the Museum of Military Miniatures it houses.

DAY 2: JACA-VIELHA / 295 KM

After a necessary rest, we get on our bikes again in the morning to return to France on the A-136, but first passing through Biescas and Formigal. The destination is the town of Lourdes on the roads D934, D918, D35, and D 937, where we visit its famous sanctuary.

After some kilometres on the D821, we turn left to take the D918 that ascends to the mythical Col du Tourmalet, mountain pass famous in the Tour de France because of its toughness and history. Its pass is 2115 m above sea level and is a “must” to stop and take a photo alongside the Col sign and also enjoy the views. Once back down and passing through the town of Arreau, we head for Spain again via the “Col du Portillon”, which, along a very twisty N-230, takes us to Vielha, the capital of the spectacular Val d’Aran, after having travelled nearly 300 km.

DAY 3: VIELHA-ROSES/ 381 KM

One has to have a good breakfast, as the longest day awaits us, loaded with 381 km and curves. The route starts upwards on the C-28 and leads us to the Baqueira Beret ski resort and the Port de la Bonaigua.

After a long descent we head towards La Seu d’Urgell on the C-13 and N-260. There we turn left towards Andorra la Vella, to, after buying some things and eating, go through the Principality, passing through El Pas de la Casa toward Spain again and specifically the town of Puigcerdà on the N20. There we take the N-260 that takes us to the Collada de Tosses, one of the most sought-after passes by Catalan motorists. We continue on the N-260 to Ripoll, a sharp and long descent, packed with all types of curves. From this point, the trip starts to gradually smooth out, and we continue on the N-260 to the city of Figueres, which we border to the south to take first the C-260 and then the GI-614 which takes us to Roses and its beautiful terraces on the beach. Here we end our Trans Pyrenees route after having travelled a total of around 930 km.

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Our point of departure is the stage of the Spanish GP, the Jerez circuit, where we will be heading north, towards Cáceres. Our destination is the Motorland Aragón circuit and, to get there, we will be taking the famed “silver route”. Of Roman origin, the construction of this road connecting Andalusia and Asturias began in 1 BC. The first stop we must make is undoubtedly Seville, where one may enjoy sites as renowned as La Giralda, Plaza de España, and the neighbourhood of Triana.

Depending on whether we prefer driving on the motorway or on national roads, we will be leaving Seville to take the A-66 or N-630, northbound, towards Mérida. A great many Roman ruins, as well as the Ribera del Guadiana wine region, are sure to meet us along the way. We will end the day at Cáceres, where we can treat ourselves to the city’s legendary cuisine, trying the Torta del Casar cheese or world-renowned Iberian ham.

Cáceres – Madrid (approx. 301 km)

Leaving from Extremadura’s capital down the A-58/A-5 or the N-521/N-5, we make our first stop at the municipality of Navalmoral de la Mata. Here, we can find two reservoirs that spill into the Tajo river: Almaraz and Valdecañas. We continue east, crossing Talavera de la Reina and, if we so choose, taking a detour to pass through Toledo. For the time being, our destination is Spain’s capital, Madrid, where we are sure to be treated to many cultural activities. If we’re not too road-weary, however, we could always make a stop at the classic Jarama circuit and do a few laps before heading towards Alcañiz.

Madrid – Alcañiz (approx 381 km)

We’ll take the A-2 in a north-eastern direction, until we reach Alcolea del Pinar, where we will get off the motorway to head down the N-211. Here, we can visit the Barranco del Río Dulce natural park or the Hoz cave. Continuing down N-211, we will take a moment to stop in Molina, to see the old town and the largest castle in Guadalajara. Finally, if we continue on our way, we will eventually reach Alcañiz, home to the permanent Aragón MotorLand racetrack. We should, however, also take a moment to appreciate everything else the locality has to offer, starting with its picturesque old town.

Alcañiz – Cervera (approx. 175 km)

We continue on our way, on course for Montmeló, to the north, heading in the direction of Lérida, where we must make a stopover at the Mitjana park. The park is made up of 90 hectares of poplars, ash trees, and willows, all nourished by the Segre river. If you absolutely need more speed, you should also visit the Roda Roda museum, where you’ll be greeted by a huge variety of vehicles, motorcycles, and models.

Other interesting stops along the way are the Pla del Aigua underground water reservoir and the Water Museum. If we continue east, we will eventually reach Cervera, Marc Márquez’s native town, where we can visit the racer’s museum and, if we’re lucky, perhaps even cross paths with him!

Cervera – Montmeló (approx. 122 km)

Setting the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit as our destination, we will head down the C-25 or take the winding N-141 to reach Calaf. There, we can drive up to the medieval town of Prades, founded in 987. If you’d rather not stop, don’t think twice about going up the Castelltallat mountain range, which offers impressive landscapes and magnificent, winding paths. Our path leads to Manresa and, putting the city behind us, we will continue down this impressive route to the Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac natural park.

If we would rather take a quicker and quieter route, we can opt for the motorway instead. Whatever we decide to do, we will take the Tarrasa exit and immediately set a direct course to the MotoGP circuit we know so well: Montmeló.

Montmeló – Deltebre (approx. 189 km)

Once we’ve reached the province of Barcelona, we can always make a stop at the capital and enjoy this sunny, coastal metropolis. Our path, however, takes us south, in the direction of the circuit Comunitat Valenciana of Ricardo Tormo. That said, we absolutely cannot leave without first visiting Deltebtre, on the Ebro river delta.

There, we can visit the gorge of the Migjorn, once the mouth of the largest river in our country. The delta holds impressive landscapes we cannot miss and, if we’re not in much of a hurry, we can even climb up to the Fangar lighthouse.

Deltebre – Cheste (approx. 213 km)

We head down to Valencia on the AP-7, leaving behind Catalunya and crossing the localities of Peñiscola and Oropesa, with their sun-drenched beaches and many cultural activities. Putting the coast behind us, we will pass by Castellón de la Plana and, with a bit of time, could go deeper into the province, to discover the hidden treasures of the Espadán mountain range .

Another option is to continue south, making a stop at Vall de Uxó, where we can take in the picturesque caves of San José and the longest navigable river in all of Europe. After treating ourselves to these natural wonders, there is nothing left for us to do but resume our journey, in the direction of Cheste, to end our trip exactly where the World Championship calendar comes to its conclusion.

Reaching this point, we will have more than 1700 kilometres of unforgettable memories and moments to look back on.

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