Looking for information on when is a good time to go and what and where to avoid. I was thinking about starting RT66 around St Louis. I am coming from New Jersey.
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Looking for information on when is a good time to go and what and where to avoid. I was thinking about starting RT66 around St Louis. I am coming from New Jersey.
Why not start in Chicago where Rt 66 starts? There are a lot of museums related to 66 all along it. June or September would probably be the most enjoyable weather time. July & August can be hot and muggy in the Midwest. Not all parts of the route are clearly signed as old 66 so pay attention to your maps. Much of it is parallel and adjacent to more modern roads so traffic is light. And some has been completely replaced by modern roads. It will be an interesting trip.
Keep an eye on the weather forecast. There can be some really nasty storms crop up in the Midwest. When I was on it a tornado was forecast to track right along 66 northeast of OK City toward me, so I got off and moved over to I-40 into OK City.
Avoid summer because of the desert and avoid winter because of the snow.
That said, I've made the run from NJ as far as Grant, NM and was turned back by 2 huge snow storms heading from Grand Canyon and Cali - June 6th 2019. We woke the day before in the Rockies (Fairplay, Co) to the start of a snow fall and rode in sleet due south to lower alts in NM. Then, in Texas, we missed a hail storm by 4 hrs while fleeing east. The flip side is it's common to get snow in the Rockies in Sept.
Given that, I would start from NJ in late May/early June. With luck, the snow with be mostly clear and the desert will be bearable in ATGATT.
My riding pal And I are planning to finish what we started in '19 this Spring sometime. That entails making it to all the Left-Coast 'Fun roads'. Estimated days out = 24+-.
I have GPS routes tracking Rt66 (as best as possible) all the way to LA if you want. Also 2 other loops from NJ. 1 loops to Left Coast thru most states. The other loops to Yellowstone. Let me know if you want them.
If you must do the ride in July or August, start your day before dawn. Be on the road as the sun rises and the desert temperatures will be manageable until 10:30 a.m. Then open all of your jacket vents, wet your clothes and create a poor man's swamp cooler. Hydrate! Visit cafes and museums during the hottest part of the day. I've ridden in temperatures over 110 degrees. It's not comfortable, but it's doable.
Anything is "doable", just not much fun. However much time you plan to allow, double it if you can, and even then, you can't see it all. Rt66 is an idea, an experience as much as an actual road. There are places where you can ride the actual blacktop, do it. Tucumcari comes to mind, ie, a must stop. There are some places in Amarillo, Tx. Clines Corners is a must see. This is a gas stop between Moriarty and Tucumcari MN. Yes, it is a tourist trap, but it hasn't changed much since we first stopped there in 1958. Get you a Rt66 guide book and study it and pick your stops; but stop as often as your time allows. Pick a time period to concentrate on, Rt66 served the country from the 30's thru the 60's. Travel changed a lot through those years and so did the Road. Mostly just have fun. Ride it to experience it, to enjoy, to learn, and have fun. Write it up and tell us all about it. With pictures.