Route 66 Road Trip

[TATurbo]

Hello TAC!
 I feel a little odd sharing a 'My Summer Vacation' type thread.  But, this is in large part a PSA for Rt. 66 and this amazing country.   So, here goes...
This Summer we had an opportunity to make an epic road trip from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.  This is something I've always wanted to do and it was definitely worth the wait.  If I had a dollar for everytime we came around a bend in the road and said 'Wow! Look at that!' that money would've paid for the whole trip.

The PSA part of this is two fold...
It was disheartening to see so many small towns along Rt. 66 in disrepair presumably because of the interstate by-passes and our changing travel habits. There are a bunch of people and businesses working to preserve places and sites along the 'Mother Road'.  I'm hoping my experience might encourage one or two others to make the trip to support those people and places.
Second - This country is amazingly beautiful, colorful and interesting.  I think it'd be good for our national phsyce if more people spent time this way.

Check out the pics below.  Share some of your road trip memories.  And, if you don't have any big road trip stories...Go out and make some!  You wont regret it.

WARNING-This post contains Mopar content.

Day one  Atlantic City NJ - The AC Boadwalk and Atlantic Ocean
IMG_6530 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Philadelphia PA - From Walt Witman Bridge crossing Delaware River from NJ

IMG_9115 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

PA Turnpike tunnel
IMG_9133 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Somewhere in West Virginia
IMG_9137 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

"The Castle" Kentucky near the Bluegrass Parkway:
IMG_9155 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Lebanon TN - West of Nashville:
IMG_9217 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Center Hill Lake between Knoxville and Nashville TN:
IMG_6570 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Mt. Juliet TN
EFOL9713 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

We picked up Route 66 in St. Louis MO:
IMG_6617 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_6635 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Our first Rt. 66 Roadside Attraction The Blue Whale of Catossa OK:

IMG_6655 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr
IMG_6649 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

A section of original Rt. 66  in Sothern OK
IMG_6671 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Conoco Station in Sharmock TX - The inspiration for Ramones House of Body Art in the Cars movie:
IMG_6692 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

A canyon in TX which we didn't know existed but happened upon avoiding traffic near Amarillo TX:
IMG_6725 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_6726 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Cadillac Ranch - West of Amarillo TX:
IMG_6772 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Bring a small can of spray paint to leave your mark:
IMG_6769 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Near the "VW Slug Bug Ranch". East of Amarillo - A row of VW Beatles buried like the Caddy's @ the Cadillac Ranch.  A failed attempt to cash siphon off some of the Cadillac Ranch's visitors.
RIRB1789 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Taking in the sunset near Tucumcari NM:
IMG_6796 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_6795 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Leaving Tucumcari - This Rt. 66 monument is at the west end of town, just before the entrance back to I-40.  The town itself is desolate with most businesses shut down. Including the Convention Center right behind this monument.
IMG_6807 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Rt. 66 Auto Museum in Eastern NM
IMG_6812 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert in AZ:
IMG_6818 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_6834-002 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

It was like driving on another planet in places...
IMG_6854 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_9695 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

A PSA from the NPS to discorage poeple from trying to take petrified wood from within the park boundries:
IMG_9733 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Holbrook AZ:
IMG_9763 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Somewhere near the AZ/NM boarder:
IMG_9771 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr


We spent a day of rest in Sedona AZ.  We checked into the hotel at night and awoke to this view...
IMG_6906 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Our Hotel from the other direction.  Everywhere you look in Sedona there's an amazing view.
IMG_9828 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Somewhere in AZ:
IMG_6816 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Williams AZ "Gateway to the Grand Canyon"
IMG_6932 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Grand Canyon South Rim
IMG_6970 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

4th of July in Vegas
IMG_6982 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_7029 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Spent 5 days in Vegas to enjoy the summer sun:
IMG_7057 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_7238 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_7149 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Death Valley CA:
IMG_7092 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

IMG_7099 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Made it all the way to the Pacific! Ventura Beach CA:
IMG_7134 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Best rest stop in the country, between LA and Vegas... Candy, ice cream and video games above the urinals controlled by your stream aim!
IMG_7141 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

We made a Bee-line home from Vegas.  Vegas to Philly in 3 days.

Southern Utah is amazingly beautiful:
IMG_0303 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

Colorado wasn't bad either:
IMG_0280 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

We did make a couple stops along the way home...
Near a 'Old Town' attraction at the CO/KS border:
IMG_0362 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr

And the 'Worlds Largest' Painting on an easel, somewhere in KS
IMG_0397 by Tom Sherer, on Flickr


That's a LOT of pics, but really just scratches the surface of the sights.  And, there were many stops we didn't get a chance to make.

If you have an opportunity to make this trip, don't hesitate!  Take it!

Take care everyone!

[5th T/A]

Tom,

Thanks for posting the spectacular pictures, I am so envious. Traveling over the backroads is the best way to see this country. Makes you really appreciate the beauty and size. Out of curiosity how much time did you take? Any idea on mileage totals?

About seven years ago my wife and I took a trip to a wedding in Colorado Springs on our motorcycles taking US 30 most the way. From Colorado we road to to Sedona Arizona to visit friends. Then took historic Route 66 much the way home. We took three weeks not nearly enough time but vowed to do it again and take our time.

[roadking77]

Thanks for the pics and documentary. Looks like an absolute blast! I am so envious of you guys for doing that. Something I have been wanting to do for a few years now, need to convince my wife now. I have travelled over a lot of the country on my motorcycle and doing a coast to coast on 2 wheels is def on my bucket list, need to do one in the car to keep the wife happy.

I like the pic going through the desert with your speedo on 94!  I travelled that area on motorcycle. I was surprised the first time a semi truck passed us, and we were cruising about 85mph!

[kentucky yeti]

Epic vacation!   I’ve been to about all of those- but it has taken me 7 or 8 or 10 trips.  Makes me want to try it when I retire.

[aussieta]

oh my goodness
route 66 was something i had thought i might like to do
but seeing those photos!!!!!!
it is now a must do
beyond fabulous

[Jack]

What everyone else said.

[TATurbo]

I know...Right?  And, one of the things we kept saying each night looking back at pics was that the cell phone pics don't do it justice.  I can't wait to take another similar trip. 
We took two weeks for this trip.  We a week traveling out to Vegas. That included a couple days of rest, one day visiting my brother in Mt. Juliet/Lebanon TN, and a day in Sedona. We left Monday and got to Vegas Sunday. Sunday to Friday we stayed in Vegas with one of those days being a day trip out to the Pacific coast via Death Valley. On the trip home, we left Vegas Friday AM and arrived home Sunday night.
Mileage wise it ended up being almost 7000Mi.!  Vegas to Philly direct is like 2400Mi.  The rest of that mileage was related to side trips.  For example, we weren't certain we'd stop at the S. Rim of the Grand Canyon.  It's about an hour north of I-40 @ Williams AZ.  We stopped in Williams, just south of I-40, to check out the town. We left town and headed N. back towards the interstate.  When we got to the I-40 entrance we had a decision to make...Head W. towards Vegas or stay on the two lane road north from Williams to the S. Rim. We had been to the North rim years ago, but not the South side.  After about 30 seconds pulled off the side of the road we decided to take spend the couple of hours to see the Grand Canyon.  A significant part of that decision was because I wanted to see the hotel Clark Griswold stole the cash from in National Lampoon's Vacation.   For the record, the South rim looks pretty much exactly like the North rim. LOL.   Both are amazing!   I got pic of myself in the hotel lobby, and saw a moose.  So, yeah...totally worth it!

We are hoping we can take a similar trip next year.  I think we'll spend more even more time on the road...I figured we'd need a couple days along the way and a few days turnaround before the trip home to 'rest' from the driving.  That didn't pan out though.  We ended up driving a bunch on our 'off' days anyway, and there wasn't one day where we woke up dreading getting back in the car.

One final selling point...The trip ended up costing less than I expected.  Even less than I usually budget for -one- week beachfront @ the Jersey Shore. 

[Jack]

I was not able to see all pic from my phone. Now I'm seeing the majority of the pics and have to say they are stunning and it doesn't hurt if you are traveling in style.

[5th T/A]

I’ve only seen the south rim of the Grand Canyon, for me if you are with in a couple hours it’s a no brainer.

The Challenger is the right car for the drive. Only 2200 RPM at 94 MPH, made me smile. Kowalski of Vanishing Point should have had it so good.

[76455sd]

Fantastic pictures.  Thanks for taking the time to share.  I’m definitely jealous.  Looks like great trip.

[rkellerjr]

Thanks for the post and journey through America!

We did a trip to the Tail of the Dragon and I need to re-post it since the crash.

[firebirdparts]

Thanks for posting!  That looks like a great trip

[TATurbo]

I'd love to see pics from the Tail of the Dragon.  That's an area of the country I've driven by a few times, but never made the detour to check out.  It's definitely on my list.

The Challenger was definitely the right tool...I can't say enough good things about late-model Challengers as road trip cars.  I obviously haven't driven every car out there.  I've made long trips in maybe 5 different vehicles. Up until my 2011 Challenger, I always 'felt it' at the end of a long drive.  Either an elbow, an ankle, or a Knee...Something at the end of the day required a rest and stretch to reset.   The first time I drove my 2011 Challenger to Nashville I was amazed.  After 11 hours on the road I felt surprised that the drive was over already.   Aside from them being ergonomically perfect for me personally, these things just cruise.  No matter the speed or circumstances on the highway it's quiet, composed, comfy, and yet fully hunkered down and connected. It'll cruise along at 95 like 'nothing.  But if you need to pass or get out of an uncomfortable situation, grab the shifter, drop it  down to 5th and it'll scoot all 4000lbs easy.  Grab 4th at 60 or so and it'll take off like  a scalded cat.
   
It's never unsettled, and with the right tires it'll scrub off speed and turn plenty fast enough to make your passenger reconsider their choices.   

I love, love, love these cars.   

[gm muscle]

Thank you for sharing your vacation with us. Perhaps when I retire my wife and I can do the same.

[hakitup]

I love those kind of trips, so many people fly and miss what our country is about, a lot of history on that road.

Tom H

[737driver]

Looks like it was a really fantastic trip! Looks like you had a great time!
Jim

[ryeguy2006a]

That's a dream vacation! I'd love to do something like this some day. Thanks for sharing.

[Jur5664]

I am French but I  have done part of this trip on 66 or side interstate, Arizona and New Mexico in 1994, it goes through the meteor crater beteween petrified forest and Flagstaff:
https://meteorcrater.com/

There was also this motel twin arrows that still exists. Things have mostly not changed. As Petrified in AZ and NM.   

[roadking77]

I took a m/c trip through  the south west. One of our stops was at the meteor crater. We didnt want to spend a whole lot to look at a big hole in the ground, so we made up our mind ahead of time that $5 was the limit. I think it was something like $10 so all I got to was the admission gate 

On a side note I did stand on the corner in Winslow AZ.

[pancho400cid]

Great photos!

Thanks!

[76455sd]

On a side note I did stand on the corner in Winslow AZ.

Did a girl in a flat bed Ford slow down….?

[roadking77]

No but I kept waiting........