Hello All !
This coming Spring or so we want to trip down from PA to route 66 and back along the Southern states.Has anyone ever done this and what all should I look out for ? We have a 23' class 3,and carry a 250cc scooter on the back,plus our pooch.Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Welcome! I'll start off with the obligatory first question: how much time are you allowing for the trip? And the obligatory second one: what are your interests? The latter will determine what kinds of recommendations you get (i.e. don't-miss places, etc.)
Not sure what a "class 3" is, but that's less likely to be as limiting a factor as time and interests are.
It sounds like a great trip. Give some details on your Class 3, how much time you have and what your interests are to see. This is not a 2 week trip. Welcome to the forum.
What do you mean "down to route 66?" It starts in Chicago, goes to Los Angeles through eight states. Do you want to start at the beginning, or connect someplace along the way?
I drive sections of 66, or the Interstate highway laid on top of it, regularly. I've been on some sections a 2-4 times a year the past 30 years, other sections as often as several times a month. There is all kinds of interesting stuff if you stop to see it, but no more so than on some other old US highways.
What there is to see, depends on what sections you choose to travel. How long it takes, depends on what you choose to see. Many visitors from overseas, who come to "do" Route 66, budget a month of RV or motorcycle travel for a one-way trip between Chicago and LA. But you can easily make the drive in four days, and say "I've driven Route 66."
Last month I spent three days visiting some of the Route 66 stops between Oklahoma City and Amarillo, normally a four hour drive. Three days was enough for short stops at about a fifth of the sites and destinations in the Oklahoma Route 66 guide, and one stop in Texas. To stop at everything between OKC and the Texas line, listed in the Oklahoma guide, might take a week or more.
Each state has a Route 66 Association and usually a free state 66 guide. There are at least two national Route 66 associations, and many commercial histories, picture books and guide books. I suggest a search on Route 66, or Route 66 Association, to find links to organizations that will send you free trip planning materials, or sell you histories and guides.
For travel along the 1950's - 1960's roadway, I recommend "EZ66 Guide for Travelers" by Jerry McClanahan, published by National Historic Route 66 Federation. There are guides with more story and pictures, less travel detail, and guides with more detail and information about the different alignments and structures, but EZ66 is easy to follow.
If you would rather zip along the Interstate where there is little to see, and visit the main Route 66 sites and attractions, I recommend Jamie Jensen's "Road Trip USA" from Avalon Travel.
This book covers 10 other road trips on historic US highways, in addition to Route 66. Jensen's US-20 trip would connect you with 66 in Chicago, the US-50 trip would connect with 66 in St Louis. You could come home using the US-80 road trip east from Los Angeles to connect with the Appalachian Trail road trip. I've used "Road Trip USA" like this, piecemeal, to put together several different extended trips, carry a copy in the RV and keep another at home for planning.
Study what materials and trip guides you can find. Decide how much of Route 66 you really want to see, how much of it you want to drive the old road (travel pace is about half the speed of Interstate), where you want to stop, find out what fits your time budget. Much of what is available along the way does not appeal to everybody, you need to figure out what appeals to you.
Thank you for the welcome.For a better idea of my intentions,I'm thinking along these lines.I will start in Harrisburg Pa and head South on 81.Once I get really South I would like to find a good highway heading West.I'm figuring about 60 days max for the total trip,stopping here and there to see the sights,New Orleans being one of them.I want to stop just shy of California and head a little North,then head East again,without hitting the Northern tier.The North will be another trip.Whatever major sites there are,mountains,parks,special scenery,what have you ? I have a 23',1996,cab over,Ford 427 MH.I will be carrying a 250 scooter on the back for short jaunts.We will also have our dog along who sometimes rides the scooter with us.Top speed on the scooter is an honest 70+ with all three aboard.The MH is in good shape with 4 new tires and two that are 3 years old.Please give me your thoughts ?
Offline
