Two Months left before we arrive on Route 66: Leaving the Highway Blueprint Behind
Updated: 2 hours ago
By Dirk Ebener - August 16, 2026
In about 60 days,we will start a 3,000-mile RV journey across America, following the legendary Route 66 as it passes through Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
With just 60 days to go, the thought of journeying the Mother Road is equally exciting and requires plenty of planning. People often wonder how to prepare for such a famous, unpredictable, and sometimes rough route without losing its magic.
The answer is simple: don’t try to make everything perfect. The genuine magic of Route 66 comes from surprise detours, small mistakes, and chance encounters that no plan can promise.
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To truly experience Route 66, avoid thinking like a tourist. Explore with an open mind and let your inquisitiveness and the local culture lead the way.
First, be flexible. Older parts of the highway can have surprise construction, narrow bridges, or sudden dead ends.
Second, skip the chain restaurants and try the famous diners and unique local foods that make this road special.
Third, watch your RV’s condition closely, because the rough and older parts of Route 66 will test every part of your vehicle.
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Travel guides often show Route 66 as a perfect drive through a living museum, with shiny classic cars under neon lights. They make it seem like a perfect plan means a perfect trip, but it’s time to let go of that idea. Our dining table is covered with Route 66 maps, GPS apps, and jotted notes about which stretches can handle our RV. Our plans change every day, and that unpredictability is what makes this adventure exciting.
Trying to follow a strict schedule on a highway that closed years ago will only leave you frustrated. If a detour in Missouri or a closed stop in Oklahoma ruins your day, you’re missing the real point of this trip.
From our past trips, we know the best memories originate from unexpected moments. A missed turn might lead you to a local artist in a small town, or a car problem could leave you under a lighted sign you would have missed. Let yourself wander, because the real spirit of the road is found off the usual path.
Our route is a carefully planned loop that connects our Southern roots with classic American sights. We begin in the flatlands of Georgia, then travel through the hills of Tennessee and the rolling roads of Kentucky.
We’re starting this trip slowly, avoiding fast highways so both we and our RV can get used to the old, two-lane roads ahead.
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Striking the Historic Arteries of Missouri
Our adventure really begins when we cross into Missouri and join historic Route 66. At this point, the drive changes from relaxed cruising to careful, hands-on navigation.
Right now, we’re checking clearance charts for old overpasses and measuring tight turns in historic town squares. From the hills of the Ozarks to the old roadside stops near St. Louis, these roads require patience and close attention to our RV’s suspension.
The Expansive Horizon of Oklahoma and Texas
As we head southwest into Oklahoma, we travel along the longest unbroken stretches of real Route 66. The landscape opens up into endless prairie skies, and the road changes from old, worn concrete to new bypasses.
We plan rest stops across these plains to check our tire temperatures as the heat rises. When we reach the Texas panhandle, the trip gets harder, with changing weather and strong winds that keep us alert and moving at a steady pace.
On our way back through Arkansas, we follow winding mountain roads and end our long journey with peaceful, wide-open views.
A common mistake on Route 66 is filling your RV with too much food and missing out on the famous restaurants and food stops that make the highway special.
We keep it simple: we have breakfast and snacks in the RV, but every dinner and afternoon break is at classic diners, drive-ins, and smokehouses that have served travelers for years.
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From Southern Smoke to Midwest Diner Classics
Each region on our trip has its own special food, making the journey memorable. Even before we reach the main route, Tennessee greets us with spicy hot chicken, and Kentucky serves up hearty stews.
When we get to Route 66 in Missouri, we will look for frozen custard stands, old-fashioned soda fountains, and thick pork chops at classic diners. We will visit these places not just for the food, but to support the families who keep the road’s spirit thriving.
Brisket Trails and Fried Onion Burgers
As we travel through Oklahoma, we’ll stop for real fried onion burgers, a dish from the Depression era that’s still popular today.
In the Texas panhandle, we enjoy big plates of mesquite-smoked brisket and cowboy-style food. Our trip wraps up in Arkansas with cornmeal-crusted river catfish. By making these meals special, each one becomes part of our adventure, not just a quick bite.
Crossing each state line on this route feels as starting a new phase, with new accents, scenery, and roadside sights showing up quickly.
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In Tennessee and Kentucky, we explore the musical history and rolling hills that connect us to Eastern traditions. Missouri is where we first see classic Route 66, with neon signs lighting up the Midwestern night.
Oklahoma gives us a chance to learn about the Dust Bowl’s history and the rich customs of Native American nations, who share their stories along the highway.
In Texas, we look forward to endless horizons and legendary roadside attractions that show the state’s big personality. There are also thick forests and bubbling thermal springs, giving us space to relax after the busy highway. We’re not just passing through; we want to soak up the particular rhythm of every place we visit.
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Can a large RV safely handle the earliest alignments of Route 66?Yes, but it takes careful research before the trip and staying alert on the road. While many parts have been updated, some historic stretches still have narrow lanes, tight turns, and low-clearance bridges. We use special RV GPS units and Route 66 maps to spot trouble spots before we get stuck on a one-way bridge.
How do you manage the logistics of tracking a decommissioned highway?Because RSince Route 66 is no longer a single, officially recognized highway on regular interstate signs, we use historical route guides and state preservation maps. Traveling this road means looking for the brown "Historic Route 66" markers and knowing the path will often run next to, cross over, or move away from modern interstates.
Specific mechanical prep: Are you doing 60 days out for this route?The old concrete slabs and rough expansion joints of Route 66 can cause serious vibration damage to a motorhome. In these important 60 days before the trip, we’re focusing on securing cabinets, checking the torque on all chassis bolts, inspecting our suspension, and making sure our spare tire and roadside assistance gear are ready to go.
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With 60 days left in Georgia, the real meaning of this 3,000-mile journey is becoming clear. This adventure isn’t about racing or checking off tourist stops. It’s about looking beyond the new highways and meeting the people who bring these old towns to life. It promises real food at classic counters and the living heritage of the American heartland, one serving at a time.
By slowing down to match the pace of the old highway, we find a feeling of nostalgia that celebrates independence, grit, and hospitality. In the end, we drive our RV onto Route 66 to collect lasting stories of a country in motion.
These stories come from facing the road’s challenges, seeing the shine of neon signs, and following the pavement toward the wide American horizon.
Dirk Ebener is the founder and creator behind the Food Blogger Journey website, and author of “Travel That Makes Sense”, drawing on over 40 years of international travel across more than 60 countries. His global adventures have deepened his understanding of regional cuisines, local customs, and the powerful connection between food and culture. From bustling street markets in Asia to quiet vineyard dinners in Europe, Dirk captures authentic culinary experiences through immersive storytelling. Through Food Blogger Journey, he invites readers to explore the world one dish and step at a time.
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