MTFCA Forum

In August I will be driving from Long Beach CA to Michigan in my 23 Touring with a trailer. For the most part I will be traveling along Route 66. I would appreciate any information about how to avoid the drive through Oatman in Arizona, Best way around St. Louis, any info in good inexpensive campsites or motels. Are there are any club along Route 66. Any info is appreciated. Thanks Tim O'Gorman Long Beach Model T Club.

If you come thru west TN you are welcome to camp here

I gather that your car lacks a Ruckstell, prompting you to avoid Oatman Grade. You can do it via AZ95 and AZ68, the long way around. It's been a long time since I traveled old 66, but as I recall it was a good road east from Kingman until you get to Ash Fork. From there, on into New Mexico, you're pretty much stuck with I-40. I am no fan of using an interstate for Model T travel, and I would figure a long alternate route skipping the interstate in eastern Arizona and western New Mexico.

I'm happy to report that old 66 survives nearly all the way across Missouri in the form of state and county roads. An exception is Bicycle Route 66 west of Doolittle and Newburg, which takes you around the inconveniently placed Gasconade River. I went "around" Saint Louis by going directly through it, via US50/MO100/Manchester Avenue to the downtown area, where you make your way to Washington Avenue and cross the Mississippi by way of Eads Bridge, avoiding any need for interstate driving. Getting through East Saint Louis IL is pretty straightforward with some simple map reading. From East Saint Louis you can take US50 east, then jog north to US40 which will take you into Indiana.

If you can take the time, I highly recommend going north through Indiana by way of Auburn. For anybody with an interest in old cars, a stop at the ACD headquarters there is a must.

Best wishes on your trip to Michigan. In many places I changed my phone to bicycle and found great roads to travel on in a T. If and when you get to a real bicycle trail, turn the phone off for a few miles and then turn it on again. You will get to drive through a lot of neat small towns.

We have been in Michigan and traveled the entire length of 66 in 2018-19 in correct fashion (old roads in a 1950 Ford F1).
There are "official" Route 66 books that will detail the route more than I have time to explain here, including motels.
Since the Chain of Rocks bridge of Route 66 is closed, go around St, Louis any way you wish but you will miss going up in the arch.

We recently took a trip to Indiana and used Google maps to get prices for motels that were up ahead, finding one for $50. It was so horrid in many ways that we got our money back and stayed elsewhere.

We did enjoy the:
Route 66 Motel in Springfield, Illinois
Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri
Motel Safari in Tucumcari, New Mexico
Flamingo Inn in Elk City, Oklahoma
El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Arizona

Greetings, if you get to the ACD there's the NATMUS directly behind it . However on your way to Auburn IN. try to stop at the Early Ford V8 Museum, While you're close don't forget MTFCA in Richmond absolutely fantastic. Depending on where in MI. you are going, in Hickory Corners is The Gilmore, we were just there and it's a worthwhile looksee. Travel Blessings, Wingnut

Hello Tim, what an adventure! If possible, continue to post your progress on this forum. Many will be willing to help you along the way, (if needed). I would time your drive through St Louis late morning or early afternoon, on a weekend even better. If I'm available, I would be happy to join you in my T during your pass through stl. I drive my T all around stl and I know the areas to avoid. One T can annoy some drivers, but two makes it a parade.

I suppose I should mention accommodations for Model T travel. In that department it's definitely different strokes for different folks. On some of my trips I've indulged in the luxury of a motel once or twice due to weather or the desire to have folks in the next county not smell me coming. But that has not been my usual style. Most nights I would find an out-of-the-way spot to bed down. In a city it was often on the remote fringe of a large parking lot. In the country or near a small town I would find a spot near the road but out of sight behind trees or tall crops. Yes, I know some folks think of sleeping on the ground as a great hardship. Nope. I've been doing it since 1946 that I remember, and maybe when I was so young that I don't. Using a sleeping bag on a foam mat on a canvas tarp has not kept me awake. In a pinch involving rain during the night I have even slept in the car. A tarp over the runabout turned it into a tent where I stayed dry. Of course, sleeping in a Model T depends on the layout of its interior, but I can tell you it didn't keep me awake.

On the fringe of a large parking lot in Springfield, IL. Starting up in the morning.



Off a country road near Crawfordsville, IN.



Runabout tent on a rainy night in Auburn, IN.

We have done many long distance trips and almost never get a room as its too expensive for the time spent. An often overlooked place to stop is a church parking lot.

Avoid Sitgreaves Pass????
That's no fun!
Just hitch up some of those wild donkeys and have them pull you up the grade... you'd be surprised what you can get them to do with a bag of carrots!

Church parking lots are a great suggestion...been there before. I used to park in community parks in my youth, but, with todays night crawlers, cops and ordinances, those days are long gone.

I'm envious of your trip...I would love to do it in a T. My next plan though is to do it in a 78 VW camper bus I'm restoring.
I have done 66 or, portions of, a couple dozen times, and see something new each trip. Unfortunately, some things that existed in my youth no longer exist as things are gradually disappearing.

Good luck & have fun and post up pics!!!!

Don't know why I am confessing this here, but it was brought up. Twice i slept in a church parking lot. The first time, i did not intend to go asleep, was listening to music and was awakened by the cops. So I drove off. the second time I slept in a church parking lot was because i ran out of gas and the gas stations were closed. So I was unable to leave that city. I was awakened by noises and blue flashing lights. I stayed low and did not peek my head up but listened to the cops talking about an accident that had to be within a hundred feet. These were 30-40 years ago and I do not recommend doing that.

On our return from the route 66 trip we took a nap in the back of the truck at night time somewhere in TX with the stars over our head.