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Route 66

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Most Interesting Attractions Along Illinois Route 66 | RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

8 of the Most Interesting Attractions Along Illinois Route 66

Illinois marks the eastern terminus of Route 66. Simply riding the Mother Road through Illinois makes for an unforgettable trip back to the golden age of American motorism. But the road itself isn’t everything. The fun, entertaining, and occasionally delicious pit stops you find along the way elevate the

Riding Illinois Route 66 | RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

Stay at These Hotels Along Illinois Route 66

Riding through the entirety of Route 66 is many motorcyclists’ dream journey—but it’s a very long one that takes a lot of planning. One of the most important things to figure out is where you’ll stay each night. A smart rider will book accommodations in advance to

Missouri Route 66 | RoadRUNNER Motorcycle Touring & Travel

Cuba, MO—Missouri’s Official Mural City

Many towns and cities along Route 66 boast some types of murals. But only one of them is officially dubbed the Mural City. That would be Cuba, MO. This small city of a bit over 3,000 residents sits in Crawford County, some 85 miles southwest from St. Louis. Since

Follow Bonnie and Clyde’s Trail in Joplin, MO

Follow Bonnie and Clyde’s Trail in Joplin, MO

On the surface, Joplin, MO, looks like any other Midwest city along the old Route 66. A closer look, however, reveals a vibrant town with plenty to do and a fascinating history including a tale of two cities and plenty of lead—in the form of both ore and bullets.

The Birthplace of Route 66—Springfield, MO

The Birthplace of Route 66—Springfield, MO

Most riders would say Route 66 begins in Chicago (or Los Angeles, depending on your perspective). But although the Windy City is the road’s starting point, that’s not where it begins. To find the birthplace of Route 66, you’ll have to point your front wheel to Springfield,

Discover the Proud Route 66 History of Galena, KS

Discover the Proud Route 66 History of Galena, KS

Back in its glory days, many small towns across America thrived on the steady flow of motorists on Route 66. Although the Mother Road is long gone, many of these places still hold on firmly to its legacy. One such place is Galena, KS. This small city of roughly 2,

The Mother of All Roads: Historic Route 66

The Mother of All Roads: Historic Route 66

Some roads are famous. Others are legendary. And then there’s Route 66. Really, I see little point in writing this piece—you probably already love Route 66. It would be hard to overstate just how important the Mother Road is to American motorists, whether they hit the pavement on

Illinois Route 66

Illinois Route 66

In the bustling heart of downtown Chicago begins the road that changed history—Route 66. Over the decades, the Main Street of America’s siren song of freedom has called thousands of motorists to hit the road. The 300 miles of Route 66 in Illinois are preserved like nowhere else

Revitalizing Route 66: One Motel at a Time

Revitalizing Route 66: One Motel at a Time

Originally running from Chicago, IL to Los Angeles, CA, Route 66 is perhaps the most famous road in America. However, since its removal from the national highway system in 1985 in favor of the new interstates, Route 66 has struggled to recapture its former glory. Today, though it’s impossible

37 Years Ago: Route 66 Decertified

37 Years Ago: Route 66 Decertified

June 27, 1985, was historically a rather uneventful Thursday. But it did mark the end of an era for riding and driving Americans. On that day, U.S. Route 66 stopped being Route 66. Without much fanfare, the Mother Road was removed from the U.S. Highway System. The end

Route 66 East: America’s Main Street

Classic Roads Premium Content

Route 66 East: America’s Main Street

More than any other stretch of pavement, Route 66 imprinted the open road into the American psyche and helped shape the cultural fabric of the nation as the automobile came of age. The historic route can trace its origins back to 1857 when the Army Corps of Engineers began work

Route 66 West: Riding the Mother Road

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Route 66 West: Riding the Mother Road

Today, when people think about Route 66, they see visions of dramatic expanses of southwestern desert and the adventure of exploring the wide-open country. At its peak, the stretch of 66 through New Mexico, Arizona, and California was a bustling highway as Americans moved west to seek their fortunes. Then

Riding Along Route 66

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Riding Along Route 66

You may know how it is. You're sitting through a long, cold winter evening beside the fireplace and dreaming about tours while the bike hibernates in the garage. Years ago I was in this situation. The fire crackled and Pink Floyd played in my headphones while I read