Decide where you will begin your trip along Route 66. While some travelers may want to experience the "Mother Road" in its entirety, others are only looking to visit specific places along the highway.
Select locations that interest you and the parties you are traveling with. This is the easiest way to navigate Route 66 and plan your route. For example, if you want to see the Blue Swallow Motel neon sign along Route 66 in New Mexico, you would plan to pass it at night or, better yet, spend the night there if your trip agenda and budget allow.
Use route planning software to plan your trip based on your selected points of interest. When selecting your route planning software, determine if it is compatible with the GPS you are planning to use for the trip. The ability to plan a route and upload it directly to the GPS can be handy.
Check your planned route online to make sure it is safe to travel. The original path of Route 66 is no longer passable by motor vehicles. Checking with veteran Route 66 travelers will keep you safe and prevent damage to your vehicle while making the trip more enjoyable.
Print a hard copy of your route from your route planner and take it with you. If you choose not to use your GPS or lose the signal, you will have backup directions so you don't travel off the planned route. Following printed directions rather than GPS can also add an element of adventure to a trip.
