{"id":114,"date":"2020-09-18T11:50:53","date_gmt":"2020-09-18T11:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=114"},"modified":"2026-09-18T10:39:22","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T10:39:22","slug":"well-if-you-ever-plan-to-motor-west","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=114","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWell if you ever plan to motor west\u201d &#8211; Route 66."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rolling Stones Route 66 Best Video\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uTG9dKW7EaA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Just take my way that&#8217;s the highway that&#8217;s the best&#8221; Bobby Troup 1946.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each of us will have their own favourite version of this song, but the original lyrics were written 80 years ago, when Booby Troup got the idea for the song on a &#8220;cross-country&#8221; drive from Pennsylvania to California.  That route actually took in US 40 and US 66 and originally he considered writing a song about US 40, but his wife suggested the title &#8220;Get Your Kicks on Route 66&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nextvoyage-sign-2380075-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"End of Historic Route 66 Sign -Image by Andrzej from Pixabay\" class=\"wp-image-1673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nextvoyage-sign-2380075-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nextvoyage-sign-2380075-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nextvoyage-sign-2380075-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nextvoyage-sign-2380075-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nextvoyage-sign-2380075-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/nextvoyage-sign-2380075-1568x882.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">End of Historic Route 66<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Route 66 officially started in Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California and was officially designated as a route in 1926.  It was officially removed from the US Highway System in 1985.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hunter16-route-66-2472502-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"Historic Route 66 Sign - Image by HUNTER16 from Pixabay\" class=\"wp-image-1672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hunter16-route-66-2472502-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hunter16-route-66-2472502-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hunter16-route-66-2472502-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hunter16-route-66-2472502-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hunter16-route-66-2472502-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/hunter16-route-66-2472502-1568x1176.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many sections of the route have since been preserved as <strong>Historic Route\u00a066<\/strong>.  The impact of the National Highways bypassing small towns like those of the original Route 66, form the basis of the Pixar Film &#8220;Cars&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Planning a driving holiday this year, then there could be no better choice than driving down Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles linking hundreds of rural communities along the way.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although the original route was declassified many years ago with careful planning its possible to drive along most of it.\u00a0 There are some excellent <a aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.co.uk\/s?k=historic+route+66&amp;crid=21PWOWRFVKUKG&amp;sprefix=route+66+histor%2Caps%2C160&amp;ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_15&amp;_encoding=UTF8&amp;tag=yanktanks-21&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;linkId=0431e059ee7dc5dc06e5de0cf925e67b&amp;camp=1634&amp;creative=6738\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Historic Route 66 Maps and Guides<\/a> <sup>(*AD)<\/sup> available to help you plan your journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/painted-route-66-1-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"Route 66  \nCopyright Linnaea Mallette\" class=\"wp-image-116\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/painted-route-66-1-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/painted-route-66-1-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/painted-route-66-1-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/painted-route-66-1-1568x1041.jpg 1568w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/painted-route-66-1.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Route 66<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most people drive the Route 66 East to West, so all the rental cars end up in the West.&nbsp; You can save up to 30% on the cost of your car rental by travelling from West to East plus you get the benefit of a shorter flight back to the UK. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The original Route 66passes through eight states and nearly 2,500 miles of diverse landscapes and historic communities. Travellers can explore classic roadside attractions such as vintage neon signs, restored diners, quirky museums, and well-preserved motels that capture the spirit of mid-20th century American travel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cities like St. Louis, Tulsa, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff each offer unique glimpses into the cultural and economic history that made Route 66 famous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Due to its length of the highlights of a Route 66 journey is the remarkable variety of scenery along the way. The route crosses the rolling plains of the Midwest, the wide-open prairies of Oklahoma and Texas, the dramatic mesas of New Mexico, and the striking deserts of Arizona and California. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/roszie-cars-7035228-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Cadillac Ranch - Image by Rosy \/ Bad Homburg \/ Germany from Pixabay\" class=\"wp-image-1674\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/roszie-cars-7035228-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/roszie-cars-7035228-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/roszie-cars-7035228-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/roszie-cars-7035228-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/roszie-cars-7035228-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/roszie-cars-7035228-1568x1045.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cadillac Ranch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Popular stops include Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, and the charming town of Williams, known as the gateway to the Grand Canyon. Each region offers a distinct blend of natural beauty, local traditions, and historic landmarks that make the journey as memorable as the destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blairelizabethbwn0-painted-desert-548607-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Painted Desert Arizona - Image by blairelizabethbwn0 from Pixabay\" class=\"wp-image-1675\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blairelizabethbwn0-painted-desert-548607-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blairelizabethbwn0-painted-desert-548607-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blairelizabethbwn0-painted-desert-548607-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blairelizabethbwn0-painted-desert-548607-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blairelizabethbwn0-painted-desert-548607-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/blairelizabethbwn0-painted-desert-548607-1568x882.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Painted Desert<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A trip along Route 66 is not just a drive across the country; it is a nostalgic exploration of American culture, history, and the enduring appeal of the open road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Best Time to Go<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>May-June:<\/strong> Pleasant temperatures and long daylight hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>September-October:<\/strong> Less crowded with excellent weather.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid July-August if possible, as temperatures in Arizona and California deserts can exceed 40\u00b0C (104\u00b0F).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Check out our <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/?page_id=1677\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1677\">14 Day Road Trip Itinerary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/?page_id=1681\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1681\">7 Day Road Trip Itinerary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>As an Amazon Associate I may earn a commission on links highlight <sup>*AD<\/sup>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Just take my way that&#8217;s the highway that&#8217;s the best&#8221; Bobby Troup 1946. Each of us will have their own favourite version of this song, but the original lyrics were written 80 years ago, when Booby Troup got the idea for the song on a &#8220;cross-country&#8221; drive from Pennsylvania to California. That route actually took &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=114\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;\u201cWell if you ever plan to motor west\u201d &#8211; Route 66.&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[611,449,99,311,98,477,100,786,898,78],"tags":[102,101,1186,464,103,1185,788,508,104,1183,1184,97],"class_list":["post-114","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-arizona","category-california","category-chicago","category-driving","category-fly-drive","category-historical","category-los-angeles","category-oklahoma","category-santa-barbara","category-usa","tag-chicago","tag-fly-drive","tag-historic-route-66","tag-historical-sites","tag-los-angeles","tag-new-mexico","tag-oklahoma","tag-road-trip","tag-route-66","tag-santa-monica","tag-texas","tag-usa","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=114"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1688,"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114\/revisions\/1688"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=114"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=114"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travellogs.co.uk\/wordpress\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=114"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}