EZ UPDATES

For readers of the EZ 66 Guide for Travelers, I have provided free online updates to help keep your Route 66 experience as current as possible. As you might imagine, Route 66 is constantly undergoing changes, some good, others not so. Businesses open and close, roads are re-routed and street names change.

Please check back here just before your trip for the latest info. Entries are dated as to when they were added.

If you wish to purchase your own copy of the EZ Guide, please go here.

EZ 66 readers have been helpful in keeping me keep the guidebook updated in between my own road trips, so if you discover something that needs to be addressed while on your journey, please let me know!

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WEATHER ALERT MONDAY EVENING 5-6-24 on May 06, 2024 at 12:52:26 pm [Print]
Conditions for tornadoes and severe weather are rising for Oklahoma this evening.

This is the sort of post I hate to make. I don't want to scare travelers. Hopefully this will all "blow over" with no damage. But with what happened in Oklahoma the last outbreak, it's best to be careful.

They will likely be upgrading the tornado threat for much of Oklahoma to the maximum soon. Even the current level of 8 out of 10 is bad enough.
This is a serious threat. Also hail, wind and rain.

You want to be settled for the evening by around 5 pm depending on where you plan to stop in OK. The threat begins later as you move east across OK into KS and MO. if you are in an RV be sure your RV park has a shelter. This is not the night to boondock or park in a Walmart.

If I was traveling east today I'd consider stopping at Amarillo (or Shamrock). Westbound, possibly Springfield Missouri.

Download a weather app, enable alerts, and be safe.

( After tonight there is NO tornado risk for the rest of the week)
BTW...I hear there's been SNOW at Grand Canyon.

Joliet Illinois detour on May 05, 2024 at 1:07:12 pm [Print]
The Ruby street drawbridge on the north side of Joliet is CLOSED for repairs for at least 60 days.

Detours will be sign posted.

St Louis area weekend updates on May 03, 2024 at 4:22:53 pm [Print]
Please go to EZ 66 Guide on facebook for two temp updates concerning I-270 (near the chain of rocks bridge) and I-55 near St louis. There is full info and links to the official sites there.

If for some reason you can't/don't do Facebook, here's an official illinois link: http://gettingaroundillinois.com/

Miami Oklahoma flooding on Apr 29, 2024 at 9:09:02 pm [Print]
Hwy 125 (part of this is earlier 66 to the sidewalk highway) will close south of Miami due to flooding.
Unknown time and duration

LUPTON AZ TRAIN WRECK on Apr 26, 2024 at 10:43:31 pm [Print]
I-40 AND 66 ARE OPEN AGAIN IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AT THE AZ/NM STATE LINE

SPRING WEATHER on Apr 26, 2024 at 3:08:06 pm [Print]

keep informed on the weather with the app of your choice.

Spring brings severe weather to 66 from Illinois west thru Texas. BUT ALSO SNOW IN NORTHERN AZ

Bug Ranch on Apr 25, 2024 at 12:47:27 pm [Print]
Bug Ranch will be moving to the RV park just west of the Big Texan in Amarillo on I-40. More later.

McCOOK ILLINOIS DETOUR on Apr 20, 2024 at 11:32:12 pm [Print]
Currently, East Ave, the north-south street that connects 55th St to Joliet Rd is closed. From McCook, continue on 55th St, past East Ave, westbound all the way to La Grange Rd (US 45) and turn LEFT, then rejoin Joliet Rd west. Eastbound reverse.

WELLSTON OKLAHOMA DETOUR coming this summer (timing yet unknown) on Apr 19, 2024 at 10:43:02 pm [Print]
We don't have many details yet, but sometime this summer (2024) 66 will be CLOSED just east of Wellston while the I-44/Turner T-Pike overpass is replaced. This closure could last up to a year!

There will be a marked DETOUR using Hwy 177 (just west of Warwick), US 62, and Hwy 102 to bypass this closure and reach the far west side of Wellston. This PAVED detour will add about 30 miles to your trip.

UPDATE: There will be a newly-paved local detour of only 5 miles! It will involve a stoplight-controlled narrow bridge over I-44, so it might not be suitable for RVs. More info later.


AVOID trying to dodge this closure by taking I-44/Turner T-Pike between Chandler and Luther. Likely you will encounter heavy traffic and slow downs at the I-44 construction zone. You won't be able to skip the detour by exiting at Wellston either. You would miss Seaba Station, Butcher BBQ, downtown Wellston, the restored Captain Creek Bridge, restored Threatt Station, etc.

PLEASE consider doubling back from Hwy 102 or the local detour on the west side of Wellston, to use 66B and OK 66 to loop thru town. Its a good drive (and takes you close to Butcher BBQ on the east side of town).

More details as they become known.

Arizona road conditions on Apr 06, 2024 at 12:46:08 pm [Print]
Check ahead on http://az511.gov

For current closures and conditions