EZ UPDATES

For readers of the EZ 66 Guide for Travelers, I have provided free online updates to help keep your Route 66 experience as current as possible. As you might imagine, Route 66 is constantly undergoing changes, some good, others not so. Businesses open and close, roads are re-routed and street names change.

Please check back here just before your trip for the latest info. Entries are dated as to when they were added.

If you wish to purchase your own copy of the EZ Guide, please go here.

EZ 66 readers have been helpful in keeping me keep the guidebook updated in between my own road trips, so if you discover something that needs to be addressed while on your journey, please let me know!

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bumping to the top again on Oct 24, 2020 at 4:22:06 pm [Print]
Gasconade river bridge MO page-17: You can now drive old 66 between exit 145 and exit 140 east of Lebanon. A new outer road bridge has been opened, bypassing the closed and endangered 1923 Gasconade river bridge. You do NOT have to "JOIN I-40 WEST or EAST anymore. There is a side road that will let you get closer to the old bridge. B
MO page 23 on Jul 13, 2019 at 9:44:08 am [remove] - [edit] [Print] Just a reminder that since the last edition Gay Parita has indeed been reopened by the late Gary Turner's daughter Barb and her husband George. Good folks!




Mesita to Laguna NM on Oct 21, 2020 at 11:57:32 pm [Print]


This road from exit 117 past owl rock to LAGUNA is apparantly OPEN again. Don't venture off the pavement or get out to explore.

Vinita Oklahoma on Oct 19, 2020 at 11:16:56 pm [Print]
Had a bad report today on the Relax Inn in Vinita. Bad customer relations.

bumping to the top again on Oct 05, 2020 at 5:09:30 pm [Print]
BUMPING UPDATES AND GOOFS o JUST BUMPING A FEW IMPORTANT UPDATES (AND A COUPLE OF CORRECTIONS) TO THE TOP OF THE LIST (YES, I DO MAKE MISTAKES, BUT I ADMIT THEM!)

EMBARRASSING TYPO #1:

IL PAGE 3 TYPO
Yikes. I must have had my head on backwards the day I revised Illinois page-3!
The first paragraph of the text should begin with "WB: To reach the EASTERN terminus..."!!!!!
Argh.

EMBARASSING TYPO # 2:
I also got my left and tight mixed up in the OPTION (paragraph 3). You turn LEFT on Adams Street! But I already confessed that long ago.
I just can't believe no one else corrected me on these two blunders.
(I just got another reminder of this goof today 10-5-2020 hence the bump!)

GOOF!

Il page-13 Eastbound directions: There is NOT a stoplight for the right turn onto Pine street from Linden Street in NORMAL.
EB turn LEFT at the Linden Street stoplight, go 4 blocks to turn RIGHT onto Pine. There IS (currently) an HISTORIC 66 sign at the corner.
This is why I try to drive 66 as much as possible using my directions...to catch blunders like this.

BUMP: ONGOING CA DETOUR
Due to washouts from heavy storms the route between Essex CA and Chambless (Cadiz Jct) CA is currently CLOSED.
See the maps on CA page 2 and 6. This detour route below is indicated.
Westbound, JOIN I-40 west from Goffs Rd/Fenner at Exit 107. Take EXIT 78 Kelbaker Rd SOUTH (across I-40) for 11.5 miles back down to 66 / National Trails Hwy, then turn RIGHT to Amboy.
Eastbound, go thru Amboy, then LEFT on Kelbaker Road for 11.5 miles to I-40. Join I-40 EAST to EXIT 107 Goffs Rd/Fenner and rejoin the tour route.

NOTE: THE FORMERLY ROUGH OPTION ROUTE BETWEEN LUDLOW AND NEWBERRY SPRINGS IS NOW REPAVED AND A GOOD DRIVE!

BUMP: REOPENED SECTION IN CA

CA page-17
Cajon Blvd is now reopened between Kenwood Ave and Devore! You do NOT have to get on I-15 at Kenwood Ave. Just keep following Cajon Blvd. You'll curve under I-15 and then reconnect with old 66 on the other side!
Eastbound just follow Cajon Blvd instead of getting on I-215!

OK Motels on Jun 07, 2020 at 8:06:40 pm [Print]
Just got a bad report with photos about the Route 66 Motel in Afton. I can't recommend them at this time.

The Western Motel in Sayre DID get a good report today.

The Desert Hills in Tulsa and the Lincoln Motel in Chandler are still good choices.

Pleas let me know of any good or bad experiences with motels on 66.


MILEAGE POINTS on Feb 12, 2020 at 5:52:28 pm [Print]
I recently had a complaint about the mileage points not being consistent or easy to determine. I addressed this in the introduction (PLEASE READ the intro!). But basically, due to odometer error, and differences in how people interpret the mileage points (I can't be with you to say "check your odometer NOW as you pass thru a intersection...will you look at the odometer BEFORE or AFTER a turn, for example?). So, as I said...these are APPROXIMATE.

It is NOT necessary to slavishly keep your eye on the odometer to follow the directions. The mileages exist to help you know if the next turn is quickly approaching, or if you have 10 miles or so. In a FEW cases the mileage points are critical to finding a turn and I remark on these instances.

Its not rocket science, and you don't need to be glued to your odometer.

ROLLA EAST SIDE on Feb 12, 2020 at 5:43:15 pm [Print]
They've also reworked old 66 on the east side of Rolla.

WB: Follow the directions as before...but they now take you on a new connector road that re-connects the former "Dead end 66" shown on the detail map MO page-13. The mileage now works out to about 2.5 miles...but that's not terribly important.

EB: Turn RIGHT onto RD 2000 (there IS a "66" sign there currently. The former Y is gone, so stay with RD 2000 (former "Dead End 66" on the detail map) which now connects directly to the HWY V JCT. Continue with the current directions.

It is no longer necessary to drive the section of earlier 66 once marked "2020" but now confusingly marked "2040" and "39". But you CAN access and drive this earlier section from either end if you wish. The former Y connections are now sharp turns and easy to miss.

Rolla MO on Feb 12, 2020 at 5:27:32 pm [Print]
They've really reworked 66 on the west end of Rolla by adding a NEW highway connection to MO 72 into the mix. This cuts formerly continuous Kingshighway just east of the roundabout.

WB: follow KingsHighway west. Curve to the stoplight at MO HWY 72: Turn RIGHT and continue to the roundabout and follow signs onto Martin Springs Drive.

EB: follow Martin Springs Drive into Rolla.

AT JCT 44. KEEP RIGHT to bypass the roundabout (or you can follow the lane thru the roundabout if you miss this) and briefly join MO 72 (follow signs: BL 44 ROLLA). Quickly prepare for a LEFT TURN at upcoming stoplight. Turn LEFT onto BL-44/Kingshighway.

(this is why I drive old 66 both directions as often as possible).

Essex to Amboy detour on Jan 30, 2020 at 8:42:32 pm [Print]
The current detour via I-40 and Kelbaker road from Essex CA to Amboy CA (see CA maps 1 and 2) will likely still be effect into 2023. Federal funding is set to rebuild many of the damaged bridges, but others wait their turn. DO NOT attempt to drive past the signs!

DETOUR DETAILS:
Due to washouts from heavy storms the route between Essex CA and Chambless (Cadiz Jct) CA is currently CLOSED.

See the maps on CA page 2 and 6. This detour route below is indicated.

Westbound, JOIN I-40 west from Goffs Rd/Fenner at Exit 107. Take EXIT 78 Kelbaker Rd SOUTH (across I-40) for 11.5 miles back down to 66 / National Trails Hwy, then turn RIGHT to Amboy.

Eastbound, go thru Amboy, then LEFT on Kelbaker Road for 11.5 miles to I-40. Join I-40 EAST to EXIT 107 Goffs Rd/Fenner and rejoin the tour route.

NOTE: THE FORMERLY ROUGH OPTION ROUTE BETWEEN LUDLOW AND NEWBERRY SPRINGS IN NOW IN GOOD CONDITION AS REPORTED BY MANY READERS (and i drove it too).. Its OK to drive now. POSSIBLY some wight limits on this stretch. Check ahead if driving a heavy rig.

misc on Sep 11, 2019 at 8:21:19 pm [Print]
Be sure to scroll down for DETOURS in OK, NM and especially CA (plus two road re-openings in that state).