Great Route 66 Books - The Complete Guidebook and Atlas to Route 66

The Complete Guidebook to Route 66, and The Complete Atlas of Route 66 are a two book set published by Bob Moore and Rick Cunningham editors of Route 66 Magazine. The two books come together and openly reference each other, the guidebook will refer to the atlas by map numbers.

This book set has some major advantages and disadvantages, but is definitely worth adding to your collection. It is not only a great book to carry with you while you travel the route but is a awesome planning tool. 

Let me explain about this set. The guidebook is broken down state by state, and then by sub regions, and then almost mile by mile. The book is extremely detailed, and continually points out landmark after landmark with well researched but short descriptions. The guidebook is fantastic and is almost like having a tour guide with for every mile. But the guidebook also provides you with detailed directions. The directions and sites will usually reference a number that correlates with one of the maps in the atlas book. The book can also be read two ways one side will go through the Chicago to Santa Monica route, and the other Santa Monica to Chicago route.

The atlas by itself could have some use but really possesses no details without the guidebook. Each page is broken down in two to four maps with an assigned number that as previously mentioned relates to the directions and details in the guidebook. The maps are pretty detailed National Geographic Topo maps. Inside each map are usually a few dots notating turns or mile points. The atlas book is not two sided like the guidebook. 

What I like about these books is the detail. You can see Moore and Cunninghams love and commitment to Route 66 in these books. As I said these books are like having personal guides with you along the way. On the home front these books are also fantastic for planning. You can't get this kind of detail on the Internet, either in maps or guidebook materials. Plus the guidebooks ability to cover the route with the stating point at either end is unique. 

What I don't like about the book is that they are traditionally bound. Leaving Chicago the book had let loose of its cover by Oklahoma. Another issue I had with the book was sometimes a few of the directions can be off, for instance it will tell you that you go over tracks, when instead you go under, or make a right turn when you go left. For the most part the flubs are minor, but the latter issue did cause us some frustration in Victorville, CA. That and I do wish they combined the two books. 

If your planning a trip these books are a must have. Be sure to look them up on Route 66 Magazines website, or check Amazon for a used set. 

Great Route 66 Books - Introduction

In this series I hope to review books that may help you in learning about and/or traveling Route 66. 

There are actually a ton of books out there on Route 66. Take a look on

Amazon to see for yourself, the selection can be overwhelming. Add to that independently published books, kindle books, and books sold through Route 66 associations nationwide and the selection becomes a positive avalanche of book options. 

Being an experienced Route 66 traveler, and knowledgable about Route 66 I have an incredible collection of books on the subject. This has also given me the ability to sort out the truly good books, from the bad and/or clone books the subject has produced over the years. 

So keep watching for my suggestions coming to you soon. 

Connecting the Rails with the Road

In the  Spring 2005 issue of Route 66 Magazine railroad photographer and enthusiast Louis R Saillard published an article called "Tracks by the Road". The article which is only three pages long and half dedicated to photos and other exhibits, is a brief personal narrative of the writers encounter with the last of the Super Chiefs on Route 66 near Winslow, AZ in 1971. 

The article was as fleeting as the encounter, and having quickly read the three pages I wanted more. Somehow I hoped the writer was going to mention that the article was and excerpt from and upcoming book on the subjects, but the article just ended quickly. Now I can't fault Route 66 Magazine for that since obviously we know by the title the magazines subject, and a long Super Chief article or series would be a capricious digression from the magazines subject matter. 

To say the least though Mr. Saillards article was like an restaurant appitizer put before a hungry man. It was good to have the small portion but it only made me hungry for more. It was at this point I realized that my own knowledge of the subject, and personal library gave me the ability to research the subject on my own, and pass on my knowledge in this blog. 

I would like to encourage my readers to share their knowledge, stories, and opinions.