8
Nov

How long would it take to drive Route 66 nonstop?

   Posted by: admin   in Route 66

In an effort to avoid the Rocky Mountains in December, I am looking at driving route 66 straight through (2 adult drivers, car stopping only for fuel.) Could it be done in 2-2.5 days? I would be on it from Chicago to Los Angeles. Other route ideas are also welcome.

You are over-estimating the problems with the Rockies and severely under -estimating the problems with crossing the big empty spaces of the Great Plains in winter
The stretch of I-70 that you have devoted two questions to is about 200 miles and 5 hours
Once you get west of Grand Junction CO on I-70 then really crappy winter weather ceases to be a major issue
From Soldier Field in Chicago there are 4 ways to do this trip and Yes I have driven them all under winter conditions
1) Lake Shore Drive >I-55 S >>I-94 E [Dan Ryan } I-57 S>I-55 S >I40 W>I-15S
Assuming that you leave Chicago in good weather then the weather on that stretch starts getting funky around OKC >Possibily of snow from St Charles NM to ABQ
and then more snow possible from Winslow to Ashfork AZ >West of Ashfork you lose the weather and start hauling ashes into LA >allow 2.-2.5 days
This is your best bad weather option

2) LSD >I-55S>I-44W >I-40 W >I-15 S
This is your Rt 66 option and you already know where the weather is .Try not to hit STL during rush hour
3)LSD>I-55S >I-80 W>I-76 W>I-70 W >I-15S
This is your dreaded crossing of the Rockies at high altitude via the Eisenhower Tunnel
If the weather is crap then Des Moines to Denver and especially Grand Island NE to Denver can be a cold and lonely stretch of road
4)If the weather is good across the Plains then this is the fastest way to do it
LSD>I-55S >I-80 W >I-15S
You have low altitude crossing of the Continental Divide in WY and the only really nasty stretch is from I-80 at the WY/UT line downhill thru Echo Canyon to I-15 S
In all cases carry chains and whatever you need to safely spend a night sleeping in your vehicle

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 8th, 2009 at 10:41 pm and is filed under Route 66. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

3 comments so far

Steve in NC
 1 

Yes! It’s about a 35 hour drive if you go straight through, only stopping for fuel, etc.
References :
Me

Rte 66 and I-40 are basically the same thing until Tulsa – then go north on various interstates

November 9th, 2009 at 3:49 am
Cave Creek
 2 

Route 66 no longer exists except for isolated pieces and they are mostly touristy and it did go through the Rockies as do all Interstates and other roads. You can look and choose between I70 and I40. Check on the weather and be prepared for snow and ice. Carry tire chains or you may be stranded as you cannot go without them in certain conditions. With good weather and few stops you should be able to average close to 60 MPH.
Go to mapquest.com and ask for the fastest route. It will give distances and driving times. Be alert and arrive safely.
References :
Lots of driving.

November 9th, 2009 at 4:37 am
mr danger
 3 

You are over-estimating the problems with the Rockies and severely under -estimating the problems with crossing the big empty spaces of the Great Plains in winter
The stretch of I-70 that you have devoted two questions to is about 200 miles and 5 hours
Once you get west of Grand Junction CO on I-70 then really crappy winter weather ceases to be a major issue
From Soldier Field in Chicago there are 4 ways to do this trip and Yes I have driven them all under winter conditions
1) Lake Shore Drive >I-55 S >>I-94 E [Dan Ryan } I-57 S>I-55 S >I40 W>I-15S
Assuming that you leave Chicago in good weather then the weather on that stretch starts getting funky around OKC >Possibily of snow from St Charles NM to ABQ
and then more snow possible from Winslow to Ashfork AZ >West of Ashfork you lose the weather and start hauling ashes into LA >allow 2.-2.5 days
This is your best bad weather option

2) LSD >I-55S>I-44W >I-40 W >I-15 S
This is your Rt 66 option and you already know where the weather is .Try not to hit STL during rush hour
3)LSD>I-55S >I-80 W>I-76 W>I-70 W >I-15S
This is your dreaded crossing of the Rockies at high altitude via the Eisenhower Tunnel
If the weather is crap then Des Moines to Denver and especially Grand Island NE to Denver can be a cold and lonely stretch of road
4)If the weather is good across the Plains then this is the fastest way to do it
LSD>I-55S >I-80 W >I-15S
You have low altitude crossing of the Continental Divide in WY and the only really nasty stretch is from I-80 at the WY/UT line downhill thru Echo Canyon to I-15 S
In all cases carry chains and whatever you need to safely spend a night sleeping in your vehicle
References :

November 9th, 2009 at 4:44 am