If you’ve played around with the idea of a cross-country road trip, you’ve likely looked into traveling along historic Route 66. An adventure along The Mother Road is a bucket list for many travelers.
But can you even travel that road anymore? And how long does it take to drive Route 66 from beginning to end? Let’s take a closer look at the history of this important highway and what you can expect today!
Route 66 starts in Chicago, Illinois, and ends in Santa Monica, California. The road travels through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.
From California to Illinois, the entire Route 66 is 2,448 miles. In some areas, the remnants of the historic highway parallel I-40. You’ll see frontage roads in many of the Western states.
Most travelers take at least two weeks to travel from one end to the other. Other road trippers choose a section and spend a week enjoying the sights and history.
Businesses and towns suffered, and many locations that relied on the traffic from The Mother Road became ghost towns as people moved to make a living elsewhere.
What Happened to Route 66 When I-40 Was Constructed?