The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership is developing an app that will offer turn-by-turn directions on Route 66 and themed itineraries. The group stated the app should be ready for release by May — near the start of travel season.
From the news release this week:
The GPS-based app has several purposes, including:
• Helping people navigate Route 66 across the country, finding important waypoints in the process
• Enhancing economic development along Route 66 by promoting sites, attractions and events found there
• Educating travelers about the history of Route 66
Using GPS technology to provide turn-by-turn, real-time directions, the app will also provide several themed travel itineraries. The itineraries will include geographically organized information, categorized by each of the eight states located along the famous roadway.
Route 66 Road Ahead has worked with Illinois State University Arts and Technology students since fall 2017 to develop the app.
They are working with the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association to develop an “American Indian and Route 66” itinerary of recommended key destinations, locations, and annual activities and events.
Also under development is a “Negro Motorist Green Book” itinerary. The Road Ahead’s Green Book Task Force
already has access to these sites on a database provided by the National Parks Service. The Green Book itinerary is designed to help people travel to still-existing sites and raise awareness of this aspect of Route 66 history.
Other itineraries being considered are an RV travel aid and a directory of recommended hotel and motels.
The app, once it’s online, won’t be offered at the exclusion of other resources. The news release states:
The app will be part of a set of traveler resources made accessible to the public on the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership’s website at www.rt66roadahead.com including: Jerry McClanahan’s “Route 66 EZ Guide,” the Route 66 Ultimate Guide navigation app developed by Scott McCoy, Route 66 Navigation created by Marian Pavel, River Pilot’s Garmin-based Route 66 GPS Attractions Guide and more.
(Image of a hand above a smartphone by Japanexperterna.se via Flickr)
Re: New App. Try to imagine with-in the span of one (long) lifetime the change in our world. From a 9′ roadway in OK and open air autos to air conditioning and satellite radio. Sometimes I think I’d trade for at least a week or two. I do remember highways before the interstate highway system. Burma Shave signs, roadside rest stops, waking up a gas station owner in the middle of the night for gas and breakdowns with lots of honest help with little fear of assault. I also remember the ‘whites only’ signs in the south. I wouldn’t trade for that.