Route 66: EZ66 Guide for Travelers Reviews

• Best guide yet for Rt. 66!

  
  By A2U3K60OO47Z04 on 2005-11-23
  I've spent two months out of the past three years traveling Rt. 66 for an upcoming photography book. I wish I had had this guide on all of my trips. It is the most user-friendly guide available, down to the rather compact size and choice of spiral binding, so it always lies flat and stays on the page you need while in the car.
  
  The author is incredibly knowledgable about the history of 66, and the maps in this book are as extensive as just about any traveler would need, but perfectly clear and easy to follow. Alternate alignments are clearly marked.
  
  I have used the book for Missouri, Kansas, and for parts of California, and only wish I had the book for earlier trips. Using other 66 guidebooks got me hopelessly lost, this book kept me right on course.
  
  I reserve one star because the text and the maps don't always align perfectly (requiring some flipping back and forth) and some of the pages in my copy seem to be bound out of sequence. But don't let that stop you from buying this inexpensive, invaluable guide to 66!
  
  

• EZ? Not So Much.

  
  By AQ3KWZ39DCPF6 on 2007-06-27
  This guide has a lot to recommend it, and McClanahan deserves our thanks for chronicling easy-to-overlook delights along the path of the Mother Road, but let's not confuse "EZ" with "Small." The same information displayed on pages large enough to permit juxtaposing it with the strip maps would be much more user friendly. It's very EZ to lose your point of reference on any given page, which requires forward and backward thumbing through the text to retrieve the corresponding map, and the celebrated spiral binding actually contributes to this.
  
  It's interesting to note that several of the reviewers rated it five stars without actually having used it, which speaks more to the cuteness of its appearance than its practicality. McClanahan's syntax and terms of art also can be fairly frustrating. The route instruction "Stay Ahead" not only lacks any intuitive meaning, it's also misleading because whereas "staying ahead" implies going straight ahead, it doesn't rule out the need to watch carefully for required turns. In the intro, he says "Stay Ahead" means "do not turn off the road you are traveling," but is that the street name, the route number or the pavement? Rally nomenclature is much more instructive, e.g. "Turn onto Jones Road and follow," where "follow" is the operative term meaning "stay on the road marked Jones Road until instructed to leave it." Based on last week's real-world experiences using the guide from Oklahoma through Arizona, I would strongly recommend studying each section thorougly before entering it, and using color-coded highlighters, Post-Its or other such devices to facilitate quick cross referencing.
  
  I wish I could gush over this work as other reviewers have because I truly appreciate the work McClanahan has done to improve awareness and appreciation of this once-lost natural treasure. Good info? Absolutely. EZ? Not so much.
  
  The following was added to my review after a second experience with the book:
  
  My wife, who is a seasoned navigator, had a heck of a time using the EZ Guide last week. We enjoy taking motor trips together, do so frequently, and have excellent navigator-driver communication. I can't recall the last time we lost our bearings when she was using conventional maps or even AAA Triptiks. Instructions for navigating Amarillo are especially poor. And even having run much of the same route with my son last summer, I wasn't much help.
  
  By way of practical advice, I strongly urge anyone planning to use the EZ Guide to take Mr. McClanahan up on his offer and obtain updates before setting out. We found several motels he mentions in the book out of business. In this regard, the user should take special care to avoid using the Guide to project an evening's final destination -- in our case there was nowhere to stay when we did, and had to press on for a larger city.
  
  Finally, I would also suggest taking McClanahan's caveats about restaurants and motels he mentions in the Guide seriously. Even in the context of the faded and funky world of Old 66, his comments on some of the places he more-or-less recommends are somewhat optimistic. Unfortunately, this may have more to do with the declining health of commerce along the route than a divergence of opinion on what constitutes a good meal or a nice place to crash for the night.
  
  
  
  

• Don't do Route 66 without it!

  
  By A2OA6RRCVZDHMV on 2006-10-05
  An invaluable tool for travelling Route 66 from beginning to end, as important as your vehicle. This book will keep you on track, informed, and make things "EZ" for you. I just used this book on a two-week trip (Sept 2006), and couldn't imagine doing it without this guide. (Although Illinois is very well signed and easy to follow on it's own.)
  
  Get this, as well as the "Route 66 Adventure Handbook", and you'll be armed with all you need for a fun and complete trip down The Mother Road. I can't recommend these books strongly enough!
  
  I can't, however, recommend the "Route 66 Lodging/Dining Guide", as it was a real let-down for us. Incomplete in some sections, useless in others. (the recommended "Lincoln Motel" in Chandler OK was a filthy dump!) Just find your lodging & dining as you go along the route, and don't be afraid to try the various offerings along the way. You might be pleasantly surprised! (Ask to see rooms before you check in, though.)
  
  Oh, and be sure to check the EZ66 author's updates before leaving! (He offers up to date info that didn't make it into the book.)
  
  

• An Excellent Source

  
  By A8VUU99EPTK0A on 2006-11-14
  I used this book on a recent motorcycle trip on Route 66. Most route books are written to take you westbound from Chicago but this one can be used for traveling either direction. The spiral binding along with the overview and detail strip maps make the route especially easy to follow, even on sections where there are many turns, such as in Missouri. The details allow the traveler to find even difficult places on abandoned sections of road, such as the "sidewalk highway" in Oklahoma and "John's Modern Cabins" in Missouri. For those traveling with children the book even contains "scavenger hunts" and other games to keep them interested. Highly recommended... if you plan to travel the "Mother Road" or just want to dream about it get this book!
  
  

• FINALLY A GREAT GUIDE

  
  By AI4I2U23XPN3Q on 2006-03-21
  In many places Route 66 is not marked or easy to find, so if you're going to take a Route 66 trip, you'll want the best guide. The EZ66 Guide is it. I've seen most of the maps and guides for Route 66 and this is by far, the best!! It is easy to use going west or east, it has spiral binding which makes it easy to keep open to any page while you're driving along and it shows you some of the older stretches of the route too. We don't have young kids, but the games look fun... O.K. we played a few!! The author's wonderful artwork is an added plus!!
  
  
• Comprehensive and User-Friendly
  By A17BI37AQ1QWGE on 2006-08-10
  This book has all that I want to undertake a 2-3 week drive along the entire length of Route 66. The maps are comprehensive without overburdening the traveller with too much detail. There are alternative routes suggested and the major roads are clearly indicated if you have to catch up time or move around an accident site or similar long-delay issue. There are restaurant reviews and accommodations suggestions. Must-see locales are clearly indicated and there are many common-sense points made as well. I like the book-size format rather than the large fold-out map. We are really lookinfg forward to doing Route 66 and expect that EZ66 will be the bible on the seat for our vacation.
  
  
• Route 66; EZ66 Guide For Travlers
  By A326OGUL8S7KAG on 2006-02-26
  If you ever want to travel RT 66 other than the sections under the Interstates, buy this book. The maps are simple yet concise and a joy to use. Enough Rt 66 sights are mentioned and pinpointed to keep you busy for as long as you want to spend enjoying them.
  EZ66 Guide is simply great.
  
  
• U. S. Travelers
  By A39AAKA57OUUC9 on 2006-02-12
  FINALLY! A Route 66 guide that is easy to follow going both directions. We used it on our latest trip and it was a breeze. Congratulations to the author.
  
  
• Finally: THE guide for RT66
  By A8P20AAFSFVFD on 2007-04-10
  I've used several Route 66 map guides and this is the best. The spiral binding makes it easy to hold in one hand and reference while driving and its offering of driving instructions both east-bound and west-bound makes it particularly user-friendly.
  
  I also find that McClanahan mentions what I would consider, having driven almost the whole route, to be the highpoints.
  
  The inclusion of various older routings of 66 (many of which are only sporatically drivable) along with notes on the condition of pavement (or lack thereof) are useful when weighing whether one's vehicle should be used in the attempt and whether one should subject one's travel companions to it.
  
  I do hope McClanahan issues updated versions every few years to keep up with demolitions, new openings, and other changes in the various roadside businesses.
  
  
• Top Route 66 Road Guide
  By A22PEU9OUP9IFP on 2006-02-16
  This is the guide we have been waiting for. It's easy to use. It gives us information about landmarks and it has fun games for kids. Of all the maps and guides for this road, it's the best!
  
  
• My Trip
  By A1VGWNWQFE4PD9 on 2007-01-09
  I plan on taking a trip along the whole stretch of Route 66 in my 1962 corvette.This book seems to have alot of information in it with places to see and things to do. And it has maps and directions. I think this will be a very useful book. Anyone planning on driving Route 66, I recommend this book.
  
  John
  
  
• Great Route 66 Book
  By A2NX4I2JPG3LM0 on 2007-01-10
  I have bought this book for my dad. He is really into Route 66, and loved this book. I have also looked at it and was convinced that no one could think of traveling Route 66 with out this book. If you are thinking of traveling out west expecially on route 66 this is a great book for you.
  
  
• EZ Route 66
  By A3EORY7Q7LXESS on 2007-01-15
  Route 66 guide was easy to follow and easy to read. This is very important when trying to drive and get instructions from a passenger. I will be traveling Route 66 this summer and I will be using this guide as my sourse.
  
  
• Another Great book on Rt# 66
  By A32H3PODBJP110 on 2007-04-10
  I purchased this book as well as the Motorcycle Guide to Historic Route 66. Both of these books are excellent and Not only have great directions, enabling me to ride as much of the old road as possible, but they both have great historic and interesting site reviews to enhance the trip.
  
  
• Very easy and fun to use guide!
  By AJQS780605RY7 on 2007-02-19
  The title says it all. This book is SO easy and fun to use while you are traveling the Mother Road! McClanahan did very thorough research into the historical significance of many key sites, and also threw in many additional fun facts and side trips! His maps are accurate and easy to follow. He even offers fun family car games to use to entertain each other while making the long drive. He marks every original feature, business, and attraction that the original route offers so that true 66'ers will receive a complete experience.
  
  
• Indispensible
  By AU7B8R4MASUKS on 2007-05-26
  In spite of a few printing errors this is an indispensible guide if you're serious about driving the Mother Road. It has all the stretches of road still drivable even if some are dead ends. It also has lots of tips about what to look out for, so many in fact we'll have come back to the ones we didn't have time for. Together with the "Here It Is" mapset it gets you all the kicks you could want on Route 66.
  
  
• useful
  By A3NL0INEJRJZ9X on 2007-09-19
  This book has a great deal of useful tips and facts, very interesting. I do find it a little confusing in spots. I am going east so I have to start at the back of the book and go forward. I don't know how it could have been done better but I do find it confusing at times. One spot in particular is thru NM with the jumping from page to page.
  All in all I have found it useful for helping to map my trip.
  
  
• fluff
  By A1N6XG4UE8UN5K on 2008-02-08
  I was very disappointed with this book. I purchased this because my husband and I were driving from SF to Chicago and taking the old route 66. This book really did not have a lot of useful information...just weird random tidbits that weren't even interesting. The maps were confusing and drawn in a way that was cartoonish and distracting. I guess when it comes to travel guides, I prefer informative to a weak attempt at entertaining. You can find and download better information online just doing google searches.
  
  
• Well done
  By A287LXD0P9Y2AE on 2007-03-08
  This has good info, and with the spiral binding it is easy to use and read
  
  
• EZ66 Guide
  By A2NY1KUT118M2G on 2007-06-09
  This is the perfect guide for me. It will help me drive the route 66 next spring. It is all inclusive and has handy tips.
  
  
• The Best Book on the Mother Road
  By A3GD3OOH997YE8 on 2007-06-27
  We used this book to navigate our trip from Tulsa, OK to Santa Monica, CA on Route 66. Very helpful in locating the "Mother Road" and avoiding gravel and dirt. Made our trip "the trip of a lifetime". Couldn't keep from looking for the giant alerts and the sidetrips were wonderful. McClanahan is a genius for Route 66 travel knowledge. The information on the little towns we passed through was great. A must read and reference for anyone taking a trip on Route 66!
  
  
• ROUTE 66:EZ GUIDE FOR TRAVELERS
  By A31KOVM161BCH3 on 2007-10-29
  My wife and I bought the book in in early October of this year. We then took the old route from Brookfield Illinois to the Texas/New Mexico border and just came back home. The book was right on target. In fact, we would have been lost with all the twists and turns around the major cities,i.e., St. Louis, Oklalhoma City, etc. A must have book if you want to see 95% of the still existing route along the backcountry.
  
  
• Route 66; EZ 66 Guide for Travellers
  By A11CRN4K84O7RO on 2007-03-19
  The book was not ery helpful. No color pictures really let it down. It was a little hard to follow.
  
  
• Route 66 EZ66 Guide is a must...
  By A3QWMJ28PFFEEY on 2007-05-21
  Purchased with the COLLECTOR'S EDITION: Route 66: Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion, and the Here It Is! The Route 66 Map Series, the guide alone would almost be enough. I have the entire route mapped on Microsoft Streets and Trips 2006 with GPS from Eastern Start to West End. Our laptop is mounted on a special fold-back pivot arm that lets the computer swing/lock between driver and passenger in our motor home. I was using the Roadside Companion from the Library (had to return before I was finished) to plan most of the route, but much more information was desired. The EZ66 Guide had all the additional information I needed to complete the planned trip. I have all the routes and historic locations with notes flaged on the MS Strts&Trps computer/GPS map, along the entire multi-routes marked. And the visibility of a 15" LCD Laptop monitor with GPS to guide us on all the exisiting, drivable "OLD Route 66" even with the many route changes made between the 1926 starting of construction and the present. However, it is still best to have the Roadside Companion and maps!
  
  
• Glad We Bought It
  By A1IWB16GU10RM3 on 2007-06-10
  My wife and I are so glad we bought the Route 66: EZ66 Gude for Travelers and the book will come in very handy when we began our journey of the Mother Road.
  
  
• Route 66 EZ Guide
  By A3A4J0D3567XAT on 2007-07-06
  We are 1/2 way through our trip on old route 66. We would have been lost in the first 20 miles if we hadn't purchased this fantastic guide. It gives turn by turn instructions and road side history to look for. We were on the interstate very little because we had this helpful book to lead the way. Enjoy the Ride!
  
  
• Chicago to LA
  By A10GMAD9FAZ02Y on 2007-07-11
  We have just returned to the UK after driving Route 66 from Chicago to LA. This book is the Route 66 Bible as far as we are concerned. The directions it gives avoid as much of the Interstates as possible & guided us through loads of interesting places with turn by turn instructions. It told us about the history of Route 66 & loads of interesting things to look out for along the way. My wife navigated the whole route with the help of this brilliant book, we could not have seen all of the things we did see without it.
  
  
• It will be the bible for our trip on route66 !
  By A3D6Z8NB0UHEDQ on 2007-08-23
  that is easy to follow going both directions. The maps are simple yet concise and a joy to use. This is the guide we have been waiting for.
  
  
• On Our Way to Route 66
  By A3EDO7O266Z48 on 2007-11-02
  Haven't gone through the entire book. Seems complicated to follow at times but will spend more time on it before leaving on our monthly trip from Connecticut to Chicago and then follow the old Route 66 to Phoenix -- that's as far as we're going unless we do day trips. Looks like a lot to see and perhaps a month won't be long enough.
  
  
• The best guide for Route 66
  By A3IIMHYIT96M97 on 2007-11-05
  Just recently drove Route 66 from Oklahoma to Arizona/California border and used this book exclusively. Maps are easy to read and understand and the directions given are outstanding. Looking forward to using it again in the near future. Highly recommend this guide if you plan to travel any part of Route 66!
  
  

• Here It Is! The Route 66 Map Series
• Route 66 Adventure Handbook: Updated and Expanded Third Edition (Route 66 Series)
• Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition
• Route 66: Traveler's Guide and Roadside Companion
• Motorcycle Guide to Route 66