How to Drive on the Route 66: My 4 Tips

So my Route 66 is almost here (finally) and I am looking for a reliable car rental agency to rent a car to drive Route 66. I'm gonna share with you guys all my ideas about that in another post, but for now I want to put in evidence some facts about driving on the Mother Road. We all know that Route 66 crosses eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, with a total length of 2,278 miles. Read also how long does it take to drive through the Route 66. Nowadays Route 66 no longer exists, at least officially, since the previous numbering system was changed, but many sections of Historic Route 66 are still passable as today the Main Road goes parallels to the highways, so I need to keep an eye out for road signs that often indicate it as Historic Route 66. Here are a sort of bulleted list on things to know about driving on the Route.

How to Drive on the Route 66

Tip 1: speed limits

Speed limits on the Route 66 may vary according to the States where you are driving. Here is a more detailed list: Here are the speed limits for the requested states according to the table on the provided page (these speed limits are subject to change and it's always best to follow the posted speed limits when driving). Illinois

• Rural interstates: 70 mph
• Urban interstates: 55 mph
• Other limited access roads: 65 mph
• Other roads: 55 mph

Missouri:

• Rural interstates: 70 mph
• Urban interstates: 60 mph
• Other limited access roads: 70 mph
• Other roads: 65 mph

Kansas:

• Rural interstates: 75 mph
• Urban interstates: 75 mph
• Other limited access roads: 75 mph
• Other roads: 65 mph

Oklahoma:

• Rural interstates: 75 mph (80 mph on specific segments)
• Urban interstates: 70 mph
• Other limited access roads: 70 mph
• Other roads: 70 mph

Texas:

• Rural interstates: 75 mph (80 mph or 85 mph on specific segments)
• Urban interstates: 75 mph
• Other limited access roads: 75 mph
• Other roads: 75 mph

New Mexico:

• Rural interstates: 75 mph
• Urban interstates: 75 mph
• Other limited access roads: 65 mph
• Other roads: 55 mph

Arizona:

• Rural interstates: 75 mph
• Urban interstates: 65 mph
• Other limited access roads: 65 mph
• Other roads: 65 mph

California:

• Rural interstates: 70 mph
• Urban interstates: 65 mph
• Other limited access roads: 70 mph
• Other roads: 65 mph

Tip 2: double check opening times

While it's generally advised to avoid excessive planning for your Route 66 journey, there's one exception to this rule: ensure to verify the working hours of any major stops you're interested in. Route 66 is filled with a plethora of fascinating museums, diners, and attractions, so missing a few isn't a significant issue. However, if there's a particular place you're keen on visiting, it's crucial to check its operating hours. Many establishments often open late, close early, or operate only on specific days of the week.

Tip 3: fuel

The cost of petrol in the USA is much lower than other parts of the world. Prices vary depending on the State you are traveling. Here is a table with the current gasoline prices on the Route 66 (source):

As you can see, the more you drive towards California, the higher the price is.

Tip 4: always fill up your car (always!!)

When you have the chance remember to fill up your car, always! Even if you still have half a tank of gas, fill it up. Especially when you are in the middle of nowhere, you'll never know when you find another petrol station: and if it's closed? You don't wanna find yourself in the middle of the desert with no fuel, trust me!