Is Route 66 a ghost town?

Eventually, Route 66 was rerouted to higher ground in the 1930s and the area dwindled into a ghost town. There are vacant farms and ruins of the old tourist court left, and you can see the endings of both the Jericho-Alanreed and Groom-Jericho sections of the Jericho Gap.



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Route 66's popularity led to its downfall, with traffic swelling beyond its two-lane capacity. In 1956, legislation created the Interstate System, and over the course of three decades, five separate interstates bypassed segment after segment of Route 66.

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Route 66 became a popular route because of the active promotion of the U.S 66 Highway Association, which advertised it as “the shortest, best and most scenic route from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles.”

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Blue Whale of Catoosa (Catoosa, Oklahoma) Every Route 66 road trip needs a few stops at roadside oddities, and this giant blue whale in a small lake is one of the most famous. Enter the whale if you dare, or simply grab souvenirs at the gift shop after you've snapped your photo.

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Federal law states an individual can be imprisoned and fined for so much as digging a small hole or removing anything at an archaeological site. Unfortunately this rules out all metal detecting. The only thing you can legally take at a ghost town is pictures!

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Of the original 2,448 miles that made up Route 66, about 80-85% is still drivable.

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And it's a prime example of a rebirth of Route 66 that's occurring in various parts of the country. Town leaders here decided to use the history of the famous road to their advantage, 20 large murals, a museum of Route 66 collectibles, and much more, all bringing in tourists from around the world.

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If you to travel the most famous routes, you will need a sedan or city SUV. If you want to use the oldest routes, definitely choose a SUV 4×4 with a high chassis. Don't forget about the passengers – if there are more of you, choose the car size that provides enough comfort to everyone.

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While the Grand Canyon isn't technically on Route 66, it's worth a detour. The South Rim is the most accessible from the route and has the best viewpoints; although that does make it the most popular with visitors.

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