Maps

You won't find Route 66 on any current highway maps. To roughly trace its path, get a map of the Interstate Highway system that, for the most part, replaced Route 66. At Chicago, trace I-55 to St. Louis, then switch to I-44, through Oklahoma City. At Oklahoma City pick up I-40 and follow it all the way to Barstow, CA. Then switch to I-15, then to I-10. Follow I-10 all the way to its end at the Pacific Coast Highway.

You really need two types of maps to 'do' Route 66.

Type 1...'Macro.' Large scale. The whole United States. This will get you from where you are TO Route 66 and then BACK from Route 66 to where you came from. We favor Rand McNally's Easy Finder because it is laminated, a cinch to refold and includes mileages and other usefull information. It is also cheap

Type 2... 'Micro.' Small scale. As small as you can find. Since Route 66 was decertified, it has dropped off most maps you find. Speciality publishers abound, each with a slightly different focus. We favor Ghost Town Press' 8 map set. A separate, fold out map for each of the 8 states the route passed through. Obviously they've done some padding - Kansas only had 13 miles of Route 66 - but you'll see how the route twists and turns around, under, over, etc., the Interstate system and other roads.

Once beyond those offerings, you are pretty much on your own. Contacting the various Route 66 Associations will yield quite a spread of material. And of course our home page and clicking 'Books' will take you to a section of books about Route 66 that often have maps.