15 Route 66 Books To Help Have The Best Trip On The Mother Road (And To Relive The Memories After)

I found an older version of this at a used bookstore this summer to help with planning but also just to browse.

This takes you through tons of ghost towns along Route 66 and this edition includes directions and travel tips along with a fold-out map!

Route 66 changed immensely between it’s opening in 1926 and it’s removal from the highway system in 1985. Now it’s enjoying a renaissance as interest in the Mother Road as a destination and historical byway have increased.

This (from the same author as above) is an illustrated atlas exploring the route from it’s birth until now, divided into six categories for easy browsing. While this may not specifically be for planning, it’s a great planning companion.

This is a fun Route 66 book to help plan some of the best stops along the 2,500 mile drive. You’ll find some of the most unique and iconic Route 66 stops in here.

There are even specialized itineraries with themes to make planning even easier.

I managed to snag this as a Kindle deal this summer, but it looks like it’s still 2.99 (as of 12/22/2020)!

This is a classic Moon travel guide with maps, stops for eating, sleeping, and activities, itinerary ideas, and expert advice for planning your trip.

I’ve heard this is one of the best Route 66 guides and one I will definitely be getting. Whether you’re driving west to east or east to west, this covers both.

While 80% of the Mother Road is still easily drivable, it can be poorly marked. You can’t just put Route 66 into Google Maps, after all. This will get you from end to end with easy to follow directions and maps with tips, activities, and games for along the way.

This is more of a fun Route 66 book, but could also be used to plan some quirky stops.

They heyday of Route 66 was the WWII and post-war era and lots of tourist attractions sprung up along the way. Gas stations, motels, and diners all had to compete for business so to attract visitors they made them a little quirky, like a wigwam motel or a whale-themed diner. This books takes us to those fun and strange stops to see what’s left before time takes it’s toll.

This is a great way to either get excited about your future trip or to keep the memories alive when you get home from it. This Route 66 coloring book is unique and full of pages to make your own.

This is a fun guide to the weird and obscure stops along route 66 with a breakdown of each place like cost, where it is, what it is, and any tips for those stops.

This is a color illustrated list of everything you could possibly want to see along Route 66 in alphabetical order.

You’ll find history, landmarks, personalities, culture, and more that are related to the Mother Road.

You’ll also learn about it’s historic role and how that’s changed over the years. It’s a time capsule, a history book, a memorial, and more.

This is a great way to bring a little taste of Route 66 home! With stories and recipes, this will have you feeling like you’re back on the road.

Here is another Route 66 cookbook to bring the road home. You’ve got delicious American classics with a side of humor and memorabilia contributed by roadside restaurants and well-traveled chefs.

We’ve got Jim Hinckley back (the first two books on the list) with good old Route 66 guide perfect for planning the details of your trip. You’ll find stops that are still around today (versus the encyclopedia type books which may not all be around anymore) and detailed itineraries and descriptions to make the trip perfect for you.

It also includes day trip and detours from the main path that will make your trip even more memorable.

While it’s been abandoned for more than 25 years, Route 66 still lives up to it’s promise of finding new friends and even yourself.

This roadside companion will make driving Route 66 easier than ever and more exciting. You’ll find up-to-date routings, easy to follow maps, and updated information on attractions along the way.

This is a great illustrated guide for Route 66. I almost got this one recently but had to wait a bit before I did.

This is more of a fun at-home reference book than something to take with on the road but it’s great for the planning stages and reliving your trip once you’re home. It would make a great coffee table book.

Finally we have a Route 66 memoir so you can read all about someone else’s trip to get you even more excited for your own!

What started as a road trip turned into more of a pilgrimage in search of the ever-changing American landscape. It’s Shing’s journey with her small adventure dog from Santa Monica all the way to Chicago.