Bicycle Route 66 Archives - Adventure Cycling Association

Bicycle Route 66 Digital Route Set

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:50 +0000

Ride this iconic route, often called, “The Main Street of America,” made famous in popular songs, literature, television and movies. ‘Route 66,’ became a reality as a highway in 1926 connecting Chicago and Los Angeles. Many buildings, signage, and businesses can still be seen along this route. More information about this route is available here.

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 1 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:50 +0000

The route begins at Grant Park in downtown Chicago along Lake Michigan. You’ll be riding trails and city streets to make your way through the city and its suburbs. Due to high traffic levels and safety concerns , the route does not follow historic Route 66 leaving the city. The riding through Illinois is over flat to rolling terrain that originally supported the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. Central Illinois is characterized by small towns and mid-sized cities.The route crosses the Mississippi River into Missouri via the picturesque Chain of Rocks bridge which is closed to motorized traffic. The Riverfront Trail goes along the Mississippi River through an industrial area to reach downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch. More information about this route is available here.

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 2 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:49 +0000

This map section begins in St. Louis, the largest city on Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles. In St. Louis the route follows city streets that require extra vigilance due to significant traffic. Plan your itinerary accordingly to get through the city and its suburbs. Missouri is hilly. Between St. Louis and Springfield, cyclists will encounter some bigger hills as you are riding through the northern reaches of the Ozark Mountains. The route parallels I-44 following frontage roads and flipping back and forth from either side of the interstate. Local traffic uses these roads while the majority of the through traffic will be on I-44. Officially recognized as the birthplace of Route 66, it was in Springfield that officials first proposed the name of the new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway on April 30, 1926. Between Springfield and Joplin the route departs the Historic Route 66 corridor north of SR 96 in favor of several lesser traveled county and farm road. More information about this route is available here.

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 3 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:49 +0000

You’ll encounter both flat terrain and rolling hills on this section of Bicycle Route 66. Oklahoma tends to slope gradually upward from its eastern to western boundaries. Woodlands and transitional prairie grasslands, composed of shortgrass, mixed-grass, and tallgrass prairie cover the central portion of the state. In the upper portion of Texas, referred to as the Panhandle, the Great Plains become a reality in the flat, wide open expanse of country you’ll be riding through. The route parallels I-44 between the Kansas border and Oklahoma City, then uses multiple frontage roads along I-40 between Oklahoma City and Adrian, Texas. The 12.9 miles of the route in Kansas retains much of the character of the Mother Road. Services are reasonably spaced with Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Amarillo offering full services and bike shops. West of Amarillo the route is all on roads that parallel the interstate. More information about this route is available here.

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 4 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:48 +0000

Wide open space is the theme across west Texas and New Mexico with semiarid landscapes and generally long distances between services. Shoulder widths vary on I-40 and I-25 and contain rumble strips and road debris. Elevation will increase at Clines Corners and again east of Tijeras passing between the Manzano and Sandia Mountains. The route into Santa Fe roughly follows a pre-1937 alignment of Route 66. It is longer but has less interstate riding, fantastic views, and a more authentic Route 66 feel. Plan on traffic and the elevation increase again through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains into Santa Fe. The ride along the Turquoise Trail road between Santa Fe and Tijeras provides beautiful open vistas. Expect urban traffic and road conditions through Albuquerque except on the multi-use trail sections. West of Albuquerque the route goes through portions of Laguna and Acoma Pueblos. The route to Grants follows Historic Route 66. Bike shops are almost nonexistent on this map section and can only be found in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. More information about this route is available here.

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 5 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:48 +0000

Between Gallup, New Mexico and Oatman, Arizona the country is open and semiarid; there are generally long distances between services provided by the few trading posts along I-40. Traffic on I-40 is fast and can be heavy due to it being a major east/west truck route. Shoulders are generally wide with well-placed rumble strips, but conditions may vary. Between Gallup and Chambers the route crosses the Navajo Nation and is subject to the rules and regulations of both the U.S. and the nation. The Petrified Forest National Park offers a welcome diversion from riding the shoulder of I-40. The elevation and traffic increase between Winona and Flagstaff. Expect more traffic and urban riding through Flagstaff. Towns increase in frequency beyond Flagstaff. From the I-40 crossing to Oatman there is gradual climbing across the basin for approximately 15 miles. It is followed by 9 miles of steep, narrow ascents around switchbacks to the expansive Sitgreaves Pass before winding downhill into Oatman. In Oatman you can enjoy a trip back to the Old West but don’t feed the wild burros — they‘ve been known to follow and harass bicyclists. More information about this route is available here.

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 6 Digital Route

Joe LaRiche — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:43:47 +0000

Between Oatman, Arizona and Los Angeles this map section contains some of the most isolated stretches and some of the busiest urban stretches of Bicycle Route 66. Plan to carry extra provisions through the Mojave Desert between Needles and Barstow. There are two summits to cross — Cady Summit and Cajon Summit. Expect urban riding conditions from San Bernardino to Santa Monica, with increasing traffic levels as you head west. Riding miles from Pasadena to Santa Monica on an early Sunday morning can help also. The route ends at the Santa Monica pier on the Pacific Ocean. More information about this route is available here.

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 2

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:45:01 +0000

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 3

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:45:01 +0000

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Bicycle Route 66 Section 4

Tim Heuermann — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 19:45:01 +0000

Wide open space is the theme across west Texas and New Mexico with semiarid landscapes and generally long distances between services. Shoulder widths vary on I-40 and I-25 and contain rumble strips and road debris. Elevation will increase at Clines Corners and again east of Tijeras passing between the Manzano and Sandia Mountains. The route into Santa Fe roughly follows a pre-1937 alignment of Route 66 into the historic plaza. It is longer but has less interstate riding, fantastic views, and a more authentic Route 66 feel. Plan on traffic and the elevation increase again through the Sangre de Cristo Mountains into Santa Fe. The ride along the Turquoise Trail road between Santa Fe and Tijeras provides beautiful open vistas. Expect urban traffic and road conditions through Albuquerque except on the multi-use trail sections. West of Albuquerque the route goes through portions of Laguna and Acoma Pueblos. The route to Grants follows Historic Route 66. Bike shops are almost nonexistent on this map section and can only be found in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.

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