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Well Friday was my last day at work. Company offered a nice retirement package that I accepted. Still hasn't really hit me yet that I don't have to get up at 4am tomorrow. Once I learn to dial back my clock and realize I can take my time on things I am planning a road trip. Probably 1st week in June. I'm looking at Route 66 and have done a little research. I live in Atlanta and would prefer not to drive to Chicago to start the journey. Anybody recommend a good starting point in say Mo.?
My second choice is just fill up the tank, pack a suitcase and head west until I hit either a mountain or the ocean......Say Grand Canyon maybe.
Might be a longer trip than you want to do, but I would suggest:
Conyers to Nashville and Bowling Green, KY. Visit the National Corvette Museum.
West out of Bowling Green to St. Louis. Follow I-44 & I-40 to the Route 66 attractions.
How far do you want to go on Route 66? All the way to Santa Monica? Drive the Pacific Coast Highway up to Monterey.
Drive the coastline through Northern California, Oregon and Washington.
I-90 through Washington, Idaho, Montana and South Dakota.
Turn south at Sioux Falls and head for home.
Options would be I-80 through Wyoming and Nebraska or I-70 through Colorado and Kansas.
ps - congratulations on your retirement!
Last edited by duckvett; May 10, 2020 at 10:12 PM.
I like the St. Louis/Nashville idea. I did visit the museum back in January though. As for how far I want to go, I have no idea.Just going to head west until I want to head east I guess. I've driven the PCH and it was nice but I'd like to avoid California. I'll start mapping this adventure out this week. Thanks to all for the congrats......It's finally sinking in and I am thrilled.....
Congrats! I have made a couple of cross country trips while moving from duty station to duty station in the past. All the above posts are great recommendations, and I would echo @Zjoe6 ...stay away from Chicago! I agree that St. Louis would be a great starting point. Get a good photo of you and the car under the St. Louis Arch prior to heading west.
Congratulations on your retirement! A road trip is just what you need to de-wind! We drove Route 66 and PCH in 2013 and had planned to do it again in April/May this year. So much for that - maybe same time next year depending upon the Virus status. Our previous trip began at the Chain of Rocks bridge north of St. Louis. I would suggest this is a great place to start - on the Illinois side because it is reportedly the safest side to leave your Corvette for a few minutes. Have fun!!
I think it's settled then. Start in St. Louis. (I like the pic at the arch idea.) I think I'll base the length of the trip more on time than miles. I mean I do plan on returning home eventually....LOL The Grand Canyon keeps popping up in my head almost as if it's calling me. North rim, south rim.....need to map this out and see how close if at all rte 66 takes me near there.
I think it's settled then. Start in St. Louis. (I like the pic at the arch idea.) I think I'll base the length of the trip more on time than miles. I mean I do plan on returning home eventually....LOL The Grand Canyon keeps popping up in my head almost as if it's calling me. North rim, south rim.....need to map this out and see how close if at all rte 66 takes me near there.
Grand Canyon is a must, I regret I missed Monument Valley but on the bright side I now have a destination for the next trip!
Be advised that the NCM is currently closed. I was planning a road trip myself for the Bash this year, then they moved it to end of May and just announced it will be virtual only - no in person attendance. I would hope they are open in June, but hard to say. Check their website to be sure.
If I were to run Route 66, I would start in Joliet, Illinois. Lotsa stuff to see between there and St Louis. Odell has a restored gas station and you can see some of the original pavement by it. Also a large Route 66 museum in Pontiac. Odell, Illinois
Did the trip with a Vette club in 2017. We travelled from Va. to Effingham, Illinois. Went to Mid America MW. Met Mike Yeager by accident and he spent a half day taking us thru his entire complex and then leading our group to our motel. Later that evening, he came back to our motel to make sure our group was safe and sound - he is really a great guy. We then started Rt. 66 a couple of hours from there - the Soulsby Service Station in Mt. Olive, Ill. Other than that, not that much in Illinois.. We went as far as Williams, AZ to see the GC. I've travelled a great part of the world, but the Rt. 66 trip was the trip of a lifetime. We met so many great people - everywhere we stopped, there were folks who welcomed us and had many stories to tell regarding Rt. 66. Biggest piece of advice - don't watch the clock and don't be in a rush or you'll miss the real experience. Driving on Rt. 66 just to drive on it is not a big deal. You can drive the country roads where you live and have the same feel. It's the people you'll meet that make the trip. If you do start in St. Louis or go thru it, and you're a fan of ice cream as I am, do not miss going to Ted Drewes. Just ask - everyone there knows where it is. One other piece of advice - stay in as many of the 50's motels as you can, ie, The Blue Swallow among others, unless your require modern day creature comforts. Staying at the older 50's motels, you'll meet plenty of other car enthusiasts travelling Rt. 66. We had quite a few parties with travelers we met in the motels.
Biggest piece of advice - don't watch the clock and don't be in a rush or you'll miss the real experience. Driving on Rt. 66 just to drive on it is not a big deal. You can drive the country roads where you live and have the same feel.
Thats been my hardest adjustment..............realizing I have more than a weekend and a two week vacation to make the trip.
I have made the entire trip along Route 66. It is a great drive and will take some time to see the attractions. I actually love the old towns along the way that still exist. Get yourself a good map of the old route. You can still drive some good sections of the original route. On this trip stop in Williams Arizona and take the Grand Canyon Railway to the South Rim.
Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman, AZ is guaranteed to be one of the most entertaining stop of your trip. These are some of the funniest, goofiest people you will meet! The owner took some of our wives for a ride...and ran out of gas!
Road trip
I've driven the PCH and it was nice but I'd like to avoid California. I'll start mapping this adventure out this week. Thanks to all for the congrats......It's finally sinking in and I am thrilled.....
