helen63

We started planning Route 66 road trip that we are thinking to do in the end of May, and we will have two weeks.
My husband wanted to do this for a long time, and he is interested in nostalgic aspect of the Mother road and the Old Americana. On the other hand, I am interested in visiting interesting places/detours along the way, so we will try to strike a balance.
Just to give some background… We live in Chicago, so we will not be spending time here. We also drove the Rt 66 from Chicago to St Louis back and force, so we can drive this part on highway.
We have also been to Los Angeles and Santa Monica, so would like to finish our drive in San Diego or Palm Springs.
From detours perspective – we visited Grand Canyon in the past, so will not be stopping this time.
In addition, we also visited Sedona, Painted Desert, Meteorite Crater and Petrified forest in the past as well, but do not mind visiting again, especially Sedona.
The rest of places on this route, we have not seen.
I put together a plan draft based on Rough Guide suggestions, and now really looking for your input to fine tune it from overnight and driving perspective. Also, looking for your input on detours – beautiful nature, hikes, ghost towns, small towns, etc.
Thank you in advance for your help!
Day 1 Saturday - to St Louis on highway, maybe stops at Pontiac or Litchfield - overnight in Stanton or Cuba?
Day 2 Sunday - Meramec caverns - Springfield. Perhaps detour to Branson for a show?
Day 3 Monday - to Tulsa
Day 4 Tuesday - to Oklahoma
Day 5 Wednesday - to Amarillo
Day 6 Thursday - Palo Duro Canyon and to Tucumcari (or Albuquerque?)
Day 7 Friday - to Albuquerque and to Santa Fe. Overnight Santa Fe.
Day 8 Saturday - Santa Fe, side trip - Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks
Day 9 Sunday - Santa Fe, side trip to Taos
Day 10 Monday - to Winslow, Arizona
Day 11 Tuesday - to Kinsman, Arizona
Day 12 Wednesday - Arizona; not sure what to do. Spa in Sedona, detour to Scottsdale?
Day 13 Thursday - to Barstow, to Joshua tree, overnight Joshua tree
Day 14 Friday - Joshua Tree
Day 15 Saturday - off 66 - to Palm Spring or San Diego
Day 16 Sunday - fly home

jayne1973

If you can carve out a little time in the Tulsa area, there are a couple of cool Rt. 66 sites worth your time that are also great photo ops. One is the Blue Whale and the other is The World's Tallest (orlargest) Totem Pole. There is also a Woody Gutrie Museum and the Bob Dylan collection might be open by then at another local museum. There are a couple of Rt. 66 museums along the way in Oklahoma, as well as The Roger Miller Museum, which I think is located in Erick, Ok. Oklahoma has the most miles of oringinal drivable Rt. 66 and you might want to do a little research on what all you can see along the way.

In New Mexico, we like to stop to eat at Joesph's in Santa Rosa and pay a visit to the Blue Hole, a small deep pool often used by divers, There is also a little bit of the oldest portion of 66 in the town. In Tucumcari, we stayed at The Blue Swallow Motel, a cool old motor lodge from the 66 era.

In the Palm Springs area, you would enjoy the beauty of taking the aerial tram that goes up the mountain, ehere you can hike around. Bring a warm jacket. It is cold up there!

$ounds like a fab trip! Rt. 66 from Oklahoma to Chicago is on my bucket list .

DebitNM

I would stop at Tent Rocks on the way to Santa Fe rather than go to SF 1 day, then drive to Tent Rocks, then drive back to SF then back down to go to AZ.

emalloy

For fun, take 66 through Oatman AZ, a little south of Kingman

MargieHar

We were just in Kingsman, several museums there, one talks about Andy
Divine, his home place, articles there from his estate. A little diner with a rock and roll theme, good food too! Old truck sitting out front, as the previous note said don't miss Oatman, the drive there was wonderful, and the little donkeys all over town was worth the drive just for them. Boardwalks, coffee shops too. We could have used an over night in Kingsman, but we had tickets for the rodeo in Vegas and had to keep moving. Have fun it sounds wonderful!

helen63

Jane, Debit, Emalloy, Margie, thank you so much! I am putting these details into my plan.
I just wanted to finalize my overnight stops to start booking.

I will look into staying in Tent Rocks.

And carve out some time in Tulsa, I did see a picture of that blue whale

Oatman is on the plan, I saw pictures of donkeys, sounds like fun.

If anything other ideas, I would be happy to hear.

Thank you again!

DebitNM

I'm sorry, you misunderstood...

I didn't mean to stay the night near Tent Rocks...especially since there's nothing there!

I meant -

You were going to be driving "near" Tent Rocks on day 7 on the way to Santa Fe. I meant that you should stop, on day 7 at Tent Rocks and then continue to Santa Fe. That would allow you to spend day 8 in Santa Fe and then on day 9 go up to Taos. Then on day 10, head to Winslow from Santa Fe

tomfuller

Just so you know: Seligman is pronounced se-LIG-man.
After crossing into California on I-40, take US 95 north and then turn left onto the old 66. It crosses back under I-40 at Exit 107 and goes through Amboy (aka Radiator Springs).
Main Street though Barstow is the old 66.
In Barstow there is a Route 66 museum at the old train station.
Take the National Trails Highway all the way to Victorville which also has a Route 66 museum across the highway from the Victorville Amtrak station.

helen63

Debit, yes, I misunderstood. This makes sense. How much time do you think we need in that park to do some hiking?

helen63

Tom, perfect! Thanks!

DebitNM

At the main trail head - There are 2 different hikes; one is more strenuous; it is a slot canyon and is an out and back, so you can turn around at any point; it's about 1 mile to end and is at about 6300ft. The 2nd trail is easier and is 1.2 miles and is a loop trail though you can of course turn around at any pointand is at about 5900 ft.

Further down the road is an area where you can park and walk a loop but it has far less spectacular formations.

Things to keep in mind:
1. ALTITUDE - being flatlanders, this will impact your ability and speed.
2. WATER - there is none there and you need a lot. Due to the dry air, you don't sweat and it is easy to get dehydrated very fast.

DebitNM

There are 2 trails from the trailhead.
#1 is through a slot canyon and is an out and back so you can turn around at any point. It reaches altitude of about 6300 ft. It is strenuous as you have to climb over lots of boulder size rock and through some narrow spots. It is 1 mile each way.
#2 is a loop and is easier than slot canyon. You can always turn back. It is less strenuous and altitude is 5900 ft.

There is another loop further down the road where you can walk around a scenic overlook but it is far less spectacular.

IMPORTANT:
1. Altitude - being flatlanders, the altitude WILL affect you; no matter how good of a condition you are. It will slow you down as well.
2. Water - there is none; bring lots on the hike with you. It is very easy to get dehydrated here because you don't feel any sweat as it evaporates quickly do to dry air so you don't even realize you are losing water.
3. Sunscreen, hat lip stuff is a must.
4. Hiking poles are more trouble than help in slot canyon hike.
5. If the weather look threatening; dark clouds forming - DO NOT enter SLOT CANYON!! Water is unbelievable swift and strong.

DebitNM

https://www.blm.gov/style/medialib/b...il%20Guide.pdf

helen63

Debit, thank you so much for all these details! So appreciated!