If you really want to explore, get some old maps ('50s era) and some newer maps ('70s era). Then you can compare the two to locate where the new road and the old 66 are. Much of 66 is paved over by Interstate or in broken sections that dead end into clumps of weeds on dirt piles. Be prepared to backtrack a lot, as many sections may take you miles before you hit the end and have to turn back to the last interstate entrance. An old rule of thumb to remember in this hunt is that roads were built most of the time near the railroads. They often had telephone and telegraph lines by them, as that made access for repair much easier. These old highways were not originally limited in their access so many times a driveway would pull right out onto the main road. Look for the older houses and farms to line the original route of Route 66. So as you are standing in an intersection trying to decide which road is the old, look for the signs of an old highway.
Touring it is the whole point of your trip, not speed to the final destination. Take I-55, I-44, I-40, and so on if you are in a hurry. Take a motorcycle, a convertible, or a fun vehicle if you drive Route 66.
One thing I should say about Route 66 and part of the reason that it attracts so many today (at least from what I perceive) is that in the '60s and early '70s when the Interstate Highway System boom was spreading, Route 66 already signified much of the pioneer spirit in the US and the desire to "see what's around the bend" from its main westward path to LA for many people during the drepression and World War II and back afterwards. It was the main path for vacationers headed for the wonders of California and later Disneyland. Route 66 took you away from your troubles and worries and off to the land of magic. Oversimplification, but you get the idea.
Route 66 had evolved from the series of paths to a two lane road and on to a four lane (and many times divided) highway. This evolution was distinct in its phases for much of the road, as you'll find in these books. Thus the divided four lane Route 66 is a different route from the two-lane route in most areas, as the bigger 4-lane required more area, although sometimes the old 2-lane became one direction and a new 2 lane for the other direction as built elsewhere, many times as a bypass on small towns. (Example: I-44 from Leasburg, MO to past St. James, MO is the west bound side, Hwy. Z and the route shown in the books is the eastbound side or original route.) In the case of Litchfield, IL, the "new" 4 lane is on the west side of Hardee's and the old 2 lane is the east side of Hardee's, merely over one block. Where the 4 lane is in a slightly different route, the old original 66 stopped in time, roughly in the '50s, as mainstream businesses moved to the new Route 66 or died. This was an expression heard often, "Old 66" and "New 66".
This evolution of routes was different than most other US Highways as they tended to expand and grow, either in width or lanes, rather than reroute. As such, the clock never stopped for them.
When the interstates were built, the interstates were either build on top of the 4 lane version, along the bypass leg, or in a new area altogether as towns had crowded Route 66 too much. The original Route 66 was bypassed in most areas by only a relatively short distance, so most businesses moved the quarter or half mile to the interstate. Time then began to cease for much of Route 66 that was left, roughly mid '60s/early '70s.
As interstates were built in other places, they did not follow the paths of most US Routes nearly as close or built right on top of them. Since these other highways were still used, time did not stop nearly as much as businesses continued, changed, and went on in towns that grew slowly. Time didn't stop.
So for many today, I think that Route 66 represents a time machine with which to visit these years of long ago. Granted that it is not a true time machine and these area have grown, changed, or died, but they are closer to what was past than what is present in many areas.
So the attraction is the time machine, not just items to see along the way. Put the top down and enjoy. Allow more time than you think, as I think you'll find you'll use it and more.
Swa Frantzen's Route 66 Association list
Thanks for visiting.
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