USBR 66 runs along or parallel to former segments of
US 66 for most of its route and also incorporates part of
Bicycle Route 66, an
Adventure Cycling Route Network corridor. At full length, the route is planned to run from
Los Angeles to
Chicago.
California segment The route begins at the
Santa Monica Pier in
Santa Monica, California. It travels through
Los Angeles and the
Inland Empire on local streets and part of the
Pacific Electric Trail before turning north to follow
Interstate 215 and
Interstate 15 towards the
San Bernardino Mountains. USBR 66 follows Interstate 15 through
Cajon Pass and into the high desert, turning east onto
Interstate 40 in
Barstow, California. It then follows the National Trails Highway to the
Arizona state line southeast of
Needles, where USBR 66 terminates.
Oklahoma–Missouri segment Oklahoma The western end of the route begins at the
Texas state line at
Texola, Oklahoma. It generally follows the historic alignment of US 66 to
Oklahoma City with a notable diversion west of the city. Between Oklahoma City and Kansas the route trends northeast through
Tulsa. It continues northeast through the
Muscogee Nation and
Cherokee Nation Indian reservations. The northeastern end is at the
Kansas border near
Miami, Oklahoma and
Baxter Springs, Kansas.
Kansas The route begins at the
Oklahoma state line south along
US 69 Alternate south of
Baxter Springs. It proceeds north along US 69 Alternate through downtown Baxter Springs before diverting to Willow Avenue to follow the old alignment of US 66. It turns east onto
K-66 at
Riverton and crosses the
Spring River. In
Galena, USBR 66 leaves K-66 and continues northeasterly on Front Street into Missouri.
Missouri USBR 66 follows Highway 66 to
Joplin, Missouri. It terminates at the
Chain of Rocks Bridge, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that crosses the
Mississippi River into
Illinois and carried automobiles as part of US 66. ==History==