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The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip

From flashy neon to roadside kitsch, here’s everything you need to know about the Mother Road, complete with interactive maps.

Last updated October 11, 2021

Route 66 is the quintessential embodiment of the road and all its greatest promises: freedom and serendipity, kitsch and living history, and a case study of the very particular way Americans have moved and multiplied. You can certainly travel eastward on Route 66 (in fact, we highly recommend it), but there’s no denying the symbolic strength of at least one westward journey along its patchwork of asphalt.

Everything you need to know about Route 66

Route 66 map.

• Our favorite attractions

Route 66 history

Order Roadtrippers' Route 66 book

Our brand new Route 66 book will help you find every classic, quirky, and fun stop along the Mother Road.

Ready to get started? Don’t leave home without your trusty Route 66 map . It’s a good idea to bring a paper map of Route 66 as back-up in case you don’t have cell reception. But the Roadtrippers trip planner is going to be your best friend along the journey, with pre-made maps and guides ready to help make your trip a success.

Route 66 attractions

Here’s some of our favorite Route 66 attractions. Make sure you don’t miss them on your next trip down the Mother Road.

Gateway Arch

Gateway Arch National Park is so much more than just the iconic arch. There’s also a free museum with exhibits detailing America’s westward expansion and the building of the Gateway Arch, which is a good place to start if you’re waiting for your ride to the top (or if you’re scared of heights but still want the arch experience). A trip to the top of the Eero Saarinen-designed monument—the world’s tallest arch and the tallest man-made monument in the U.S.—offers great views of both sides of the Mississippi.

Blue Whale of Catoosa

The Blue Whale of Cartoosa is one of the most popular roadside attractions along Route 66. It was built by Hugh Davis in the early 1970s as a surprise anniversary gift for his wife Zelta, who loved whales and collected whale figurines. Take time to wander around the remnants of this famed roadside wonder, and have a snack at one of the picnic tables.

Cadillac Ranch

Ten Cadillacs stand along Interstate 40 , buried in the dirt at the same angles as the Great Pyramids of Giza. Visitors are encouraged to bring a can of spray paint and add their own mark to this unique roadside art installation. Spray painting the Cadillacs is a rite of passage for any true roadtripper, and the installation has gone through quite a few makeovers throughout the years. 

Oatman, Arizona

You’d be hard-pressed to find a ghost town more real—or more alive—than Oatman . Located at the edge of Arizona on Route 66 and perched 2,700 feet above sea level in the Black Mountains, Oatman is a strange place run by wild burros.

Santa Monica Pier

Whether you call it the starting or ending point of the Mother Road, the Santa Monica Pier is the perfect spot to stretch your legs or snap photos of the ocean before embarking on a 2,000-mile trip east. Sure it’s touristy, but that shouldn’t stop you from taking a ride on the 1922 carousel or grabbing something sweet from the soda fountain. From the roller coaster and Ferris wheel to the arcade and the sign noting that it is the official end of Route 66, there’s tons of fun to be had here.

Although it only existed as a unified, legally codified road for 59 years—between 1926 and 1985—Route 66 became a great symbolic trailway of human civilization. It will live forever as a route whose traffic reshaped the world of its time, transporting generations of adventurers, migrants, grifters, and dreamers toward untold opportunities.

Route 66 gave rise to new towns, new industries, and a new vernacular architecture. A great deal of it was lost when most cross-country travel migrated to the interstates, but today, a thriving community of people who live along the road—travelers, well-wishers, and preservationists—share news and stories, raise money to protect landmarks, maintain museums, and otherwise work hard to protect its legacy. The route’s future, thanks to roadtrippers like you, looks bright. 

Although it only existed as a unified, legally codified road for 59 years—between 1926 and 1985—Route 66 became a great symbolic trailway of human civilization.

The Mother Road has been firmly embedded in the American mythos for decades. In the 1940s, Bob Troup pounded out “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66,” a catchy and enduring standard that has been covered by dozens of artists, from Nat King Cole to The Cramps. In the 1960s, CBS notched a major hit with Route 66, a series whose plot mostly amounted to two handsome guys rambling around the country in a Corvette roadster. Very few of the show’s episodes were actually set in towns anywhere near the road it was named for, making it clear that Route 66 had already become shorthand for the adventuresome American spirit, and for the open road itself. And since the Mother Road disappeared from official maps and its signage was removed in 1985, its mystique has only grown.

Route 66 by state

It’s time to hit the road, so hop in!

Use this guide for either westbound (Chicago to Santa Monica) or eastbound (Santa Monica to Chicago) travel along Route 66. For simplicity, this page is organized from east to west, as that’s the most popular way to experience the route. Should you venture from California to Illinois, just start by reading the section on California and work your way up the page.

Route 66 Illinois

Chicago, Illinois, is the eastern terminus of the Mother Road—depending on which way you travel, you will either start or end your trip across from Grant Park and Lake Michigan. After leaving the Windy City, the road takes you southwest through rural Midwestern towns full of classic motel neon, vintage filling stations, roadside giants, and historic bridges until you hit the Mississippi River and East St. Louis. 

The stretch of Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis is home to aluminum-and-chrome diners, historic, family-owned cafes, bizarre attractions, and other reminders of the route’s charming past. You’ll also see plenty of cornfields and flat prairie land between the bustling cities and sleepy towns along this first leg. 

There are nearly 300 miles of Route 66 in Illinois. The state is also home to many of the country’s most famous Muffler Men , those fiberglass titans of retro roadside kitsch. A lot of the old route has been gobbled up by modern highways, in particular I-55, but there’s still plenty of neon, fiberglass, and chrome to keep any roadtripper happy. Traditionally, travelers begin their journey southwest near the shores of Lake Michigan, not spending too much time in Chicago. After all, the Mother Road is calling.

Route 66 Missouri

Many miles of Missouri’s Route 66 have been replaced over the years by larger highways, so what remains of the original road is a patchwork, especially in and around St. Louis. The Show-Me State contains several abandoned stretches of the Mother Road, but it’s still possible to travel on quite a bit of the original route. More than 300 miles of road takes you southwest from St. Louis to Joplin, a stretch packed with fantastic diners, classic roadside attractions, and classic photo ops. 

Few cities are lucky enough to have an architectural icon like the Gateway Arch overlooking the mighty Mississippi River, but there’s so much more to St. Louis. The city has a booming craft brewery scene, a rich history, and top-notch cultural institutions. Whether you’re eating at an old-school soda fountain or getting lost in a phantasmagorical wonderland, St. Louis is an excellent weekend destination.

The stretch of Route 66 from St. Louis to Tulsa is considered by some travelers to be the heart of Route 66. It’s where east meets west, linking up the Midwest with the West Coast. Much of this stretch is on I-44, which means lots of exits and county roads, but the scenery is often beautiful.

Springfield is known both as the “Queen City of the Ozarks” and the “Birthplace of Route 66.” Located in south-central Missouri at a strategic crossroads, Springfield was a railroad hub, home to a bloody Civil War battle, and played an important role in the birth of the Mother Road. Route 66 was aligned through the city in 1926, realigned in 1936, and funneled travelers to the many motels and businesses located along the way until I-44 bypassed the city in 1958.

Route 66 Kansas

The Kansas section of Route 66 is short but sweet, and manages to pack in several must-see stops in a little under 14 miles (13.2 to be exact). This small stretch passes through three towns—Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs—and can be driven in as little as 30 minutes. Kansas is the only state on your journey where the Mother Road isn’t interrupted by the interstate. Don’t miss the only remaining Marsh Arch Rainbow Bridge, several museums, and other small businesses—on Kansas’ stretch of Route 66, you’ll find quality over quantity.

Galena is one of the most well-preserved towns along Route 66. Home to the Kan-O-Tex gasoline station from Disney’s Cars , the Murals of Galena , and a 1952 Will Rogers Marker, Galena was once a successful mining town. The town was hit hard by the Depression and violent miner strikes. Later, when the town was bypassed by I-44, tourists stopped visiting, the mines closed down, and the population dropped. Today, several historic buildings around town offer a peek into Galena’s rocky past.

Route 66 Oklahoma

Oklahoma takes pride in, and embraces, most of its nearly 400 miles of Route 66. There are more driveable portions of the old Mother Road in Oklahoma than in any other state, and plenty of reasons to stop the car along the way. From Quapaw to Texola, this stretch is home to the Blue Whale of Catoosa , Art Deco gems of Tulsa, and two excellent museums filled with Route 66 history. Don’t forget to stop into the Sandhills Curiosity Shoppe in Erick and say hi to Harley Russell —if you’re lucky, he might just serenade you with a round of “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,” or hand you a guitar so you can play along. 

In addition to Tulsa’s massive Golden Driller statue and the Tumbleweed Grill and Country Store , this stretch is home to some absolutely amazing retro Route 66 hotels (even if you aren’t staying, pull over for the vintage signage). A few of the more famous ones include the Desert Hills Motel in Tulsa, the Skyliner Motel in Stroud , and the Lincoln Motel in Chandler .

Take a moment to explore Stroud, a small town that is known as “Oklahoma’s Winery and Grape Capital.” Here you can also find unpaved segments of the original road, built in 1915 and incorporated into Route 66 in the 1920s. Don’t miss the dirt section of the original Ozark Trail road and stop for a photo—and a BLT—at the iconic Rock Cafe .

Oklahoma City is the state’s capital and the largest city you’ll pass through on Route 66 in Oklahoma. OKC is home to many museums, memorials, and motels, in addition to a few stops worth a detour from the main route.

Route 66 Texas

The Lone Star State has about 180 miles of old Route 66 road still remaining. It closely parallels Interstate 40, so it’s easy to hop on and off stretches of the Mother Road. The billboards along I-40 may not tell you this, but we will: Some of the very best roadside attractions in the U.S. are right here in the panhandle of Texas.

The town of Vega sits right on historic Route 66 and has several landmarks worth stopping for. Also worth checking out are Dot’s Mini Museum , Rooster’s Mexican Restaurant & Cantina , the Hickory Inn Cafe , Bonanza Motel , Vega Motel (built in 1947), and a restored Magnolia service station . As one of the sunniest places in the U.S., Vega is sometimes referred to as the “Solar Capital of Texas.”

Route 66 New Mexico

New Mexico is known as the Land of Enchantment, and for good reason. There is certainly something enchanting about the Southwest. Maybe it’s the combination of hot springs, forests, desert, and mountains, or the area’s rich history and strong, visceral ties to the past. Towns such as Santa Fe and Taos are full of art galleries, boutiques, innovative architecture , museums, great restaurants, and more. There are some gorgeous side trips you can enjoy, including the High Road to Taos or a drive down the Turquoise Trail , a scenic byway that connects Santa Fe to Albuquerque. The trail commemorates the state’s mining history as it passes through the stone-and-ore-laden mountains and former boom towns. 

Albuquerque is a high desert city with an artsy vibe. Admire the Pueblo architecture, explore Old Town, pop into the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center , and learn about the desert at the ABQ BioPark Botanic Garden .

The Laguna Pueblo is located 45 minutes west of Albuquerque, right on Route 66. When you pass the whitewashed St. Joseph church, you’ll know that you’ve arrived at the pueblo, which spans four counties and comprises six villages. Part of the pueblo dates back to the 1400s, but people have been settled in the area since at least the 1300s, and tribes have passed through since 3000 B.C. The Pueblo of Laguna is especially fun to visit during feast days: March 19, July 25 to 26, August 10, August 15, September 8, September 19, September 25, and October 17.

Gallup is the largest city between Albuquerque and Flagstaff along Route 66, and it’s full of motels, dining options, and classic neon signage. Don’t miss the Muffler Man cowboy located just off the route near downtown. If you’re staying overnight, you can’t get much better than the old Hollywood El Rancho Hotel and Motel . Gallup, which lies in the middle of a Navajo Reservation, is also home to an abundance of Native American crafts, artwork, and history.

Route 66 Arizona

You’ll know you’re crossing into Arizona when you spot the large, bright white Teepee Trading Post advertising “jewelry, pottery, kachinas, and southwest souvenirs.” The teepee-shaped souvenir shop is set against a striking backdrop of dramatic red rock cliffs and it’s a great place to pull over, grab a drink, use the restroom, and load up on souvenirs. With the exception of the Navajo Nation, most of Arizona does not observe Daylight Saving Time so be sure to confirm the time as you cross the Arizona/New Mexico border.

Sedona is one of those places you just have to experience in person—even the most spectacular photos don’t fully do it justice. Surrounded by majestic red rock canyons and pine forests, this small desert town is known for its vibrant art scene and mysterious healing forces. Yes, you read that right—Sedona is supposedly a hotbed of cosmic activity, sitting atop several energy vortexes that are easily accessible through hikes and tours. With its artsy vibe and comfortable climate, Sedona is also home to cute shops and restaurants, galleries, and lots of aging hippies. 

Words (and even pictures) simply cannot do Grand Canyon National Park justice—it’s one of those truly epic places you just have to see in person to believe. Officially designated as a national park in 1919, the Grand Canyon sees more than five million visitors annually. The massive canyon was formed by erosion from the Colorado River after the plateau was lifted due to seismic activity, revealing rock that’s more than a billion years old. Whether you take in the sweeping views from the top or hike into its depths, you’ll quickly discover why it’s one of the most iconic national parks in the U.S.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a ghost town more real—or more alive—than Oatman. Located at the edge of Arizona on Route 66 and perched 2,700 feet above sea level in the Black Mountains, Oatman is a strange place run by wild burros .

Route 66 California

The California section of Route 66 will give you a proper taste of the Golden State’s diverse scenery, from tiny desert ghost towns to the urban sprawl of Los Angeles. This stretch is also packed with iconic roadside attractions. Take your time and meander through the glass forest at Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch or get your photo taken next to the freshly restored neon sign at Roy’s Motel and Cafe . Before you know it, you’ll be finishing this epic journey at the end of the Santa Monica pier , where the West Coast meets the Pacific Ocean.

You’ll know you’re at the end of your journey once you arrive at the Pacific Ocean. But to reach the official end point of Route 66—and take a photo of the iconic “End of the trail” sign—you’ll have to ditch the car and walk to the end of the Santa Monica Pier. The coastal city of Santa Monica is also home to the original Muscle Beach outdoor gym and the pier’s Pacific Park amusement park. 

Congratulations! You have reached the end of the Mother Road—and by now you know it’s not the destination that matters, it’s the journey. But whether the Santa Monica Pier is your ending or starting point, take some time to celebrate and reflect. With more than 2,000 miles of classic neon, motels, larger-than-life roadside attractions, museums, diners, and countless colorful characters, it should be obvious why the allure of Route 66 is as strong as ever. The road may look different today than it did decades ago—or even yesterday—but that’s all part of the fun.

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How should you pack for route 66.

An over-packed car can quickly turn into a disorganized mess, and you’re likely to forget about half the stuff you brought if they’re not easy to access. With that in mind, focus on accessibility and multi-functional items. 

A small overnight bag should contain everything you need after a long day of driving—think sleepwear, toiletries, and a good book. 

Your car should be packed according to what you’ll need first. Items specific to a destination further down the road, or gear for weather that might occur later in your trip, should be packed beneath items you’ll need regularly or right away.

Where does Route 66 start and end?

Route 66 starts in downtown Chicago and ends at the Santa Monica pier in California. Throughout the journey from Chicago to Santa Monica, you’ll discover sections where the original route diverges, seemingly shooting off in two directions and yet nowhere at once. It is a prime lesson in the art of the road trip: A sudden change in direction, an abrupt end to the pavement, and a few wrong turns are all welcome parts of the adventure rather than an inconvenience.

How long does it take to drive Route 66?

Typically, travelers will plan no less than two weeks for the entire Mother Road road trip. In that amount of time, you’ll be able to visit the major sites. But if you want to savor the entire experience—strolling historic downtowns, sipping a root beer float at a soda fountain, and sleeping at a retro motel with a blinking neon sign—you could spend up to a month or longer.

What is the best way to travel Route 66?

Will you go from Chicago to Los Angeles or vice versa? Travelers often chose the east-to-west direction as that’s the route originally taken by pioneers escaping the Dust Bowl in the 1920s. But you can’t go wrong either way.

How long does it take to drive the Route 66?

What is the best time to do route 66.

The best time to take a road trip on Route 66 is from late April to early October. Be prepared for remnants of ice and snow during the early spring and thunderstorms in late spring and early summer. During July and August—peak travel months—expect sometimes sweltering temperatures, over-crowded attractions, and higher rates for lodging. 

Come late October and into November, you might see snowfall on parts of the route. Winter is considered the off-season, and some places may be closed until spring, so it’s always best to call ahead if you’re venturing out onto Route 66 between late November and early April. Whatever time you travel, expect variations in climate as you’ll be traversing through many different states and terrains.

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Route 66 road trip planner: The best stops along the way

Editor's Note

They call it the Mother Road, a term coined by author John Steinbeck because it carried Dust Bowl refugees west across America. Even though Route 66 no longer exists on America's highway maps, a drive across the country on the stretches that remain is one of the great American road trips .

Passing through eight states between Chicago and Los Angeles , Route 66 covers nearly 2,500 miles across a broad swath of the Midwest, Great Plains, Southwest and West. Over time, most of the route was replaced by interstates, particularly Interstate 40, and finding the original road requires a series of zigzags and detours.

For that reason, most people choose just one section, leaving plenty of time for stops along the way, or base themselves out of one of the larger towns on the route and explore in either direction.

Here, from east to west, are some of the best places to celebrate the nostalgia of the Mother Road.

Chicago, Hinsdale and Joliet, Illinois

The symbolic start of Route 66 is Buckingham Fountain in Chicago's Grant Park, but it's not really a road trip until you're headed southwest out of the city.

A perfect jumping-off point for your trip is the Route 66 Welcome Center at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, with its excellent exhibit on the Muffler Men, huge fiberglass statues that were used to advertise car repair shops.

Restaurants still maintaining Route 66's traditions of roadside hospitality include the Rich & Creamy ice cream stand, Joliet Kicks on Route 66 and Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, specializing in fried chicken served under the slogan, "Get Your Chicks on Route 66."

For the ultimate all-American feast, Al's Steak House has been serving up prime cuts to weary road trippers for 60 years. As you head farther southwest on what today is Highway 55, stop for photos at the perfectly preserved Ambler's Texaco Gas Station in Dwight, where the gas pumps are painted gleaming red.

Where to stay

Between them, Chicago and Joliet have every brand of loyalty program hotel for every budget. The history of a different kind of travel is the theme at the Canopy by Hilton Chicago Central Loop located in the former headquarters of the Chicago and North Western railway, with landmark Union Station just down the street. Opened in fall 2023, the hotel is a stylish addition to downtown, its decor paying homage to the bygone glamour of cross-country train travel. The hotel's brand-new rooftop restaurant, Seville, is a destination unto itself, serving creative cocktails, small plates and traditional Spanish dishes like paella. Rooms start at $240 or 65,000 points per night.

Related: The 17 best Chicago hotels

A relative newcomer to Joliet, the Candlewood Suites Joliet Southwest offers spacious rooms and an indoor pool, and is pet-friendly. Rooms start at $113 or 21,000 IHG One Rewards points per night.

Also boasting an expansive indoor pool, Marriott's TownePlace Suites Joliet South features large, well-outfitted rooms that give you plenty of room to spread out and relax after a long drive. Rooms start at $134 or 12,800 Bonvoy points per night.

Pontiac, Illinois

Pontiac's pride in its Mother Road heritage can be seen in its 23 colorful outdoor murals and its two museums dedicated to America's love affair with the automobile. The Pontiac-Oakland Museum and Resource Center displays a rotating collection of rare Oakland and Pontiac models, while the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum showcases vintage ads, signs and a classic Volkswagen hippie bus housed in an old fire station.

Litchfield, Illinois

This one is a quick stop, but you don't want to miss the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center (yes, another one!) with its collection of nostalgic paraphernalia.

Nearby, the uber-retro Ariston Cafe is one of the oldest continuously operating Route 66 establishments, serving up a melting pot of American, Southern, Greek and Italian fare since 1924.

Springfield, Missouri

Crossing into Missouri, don't miss Chain of Rocks Bridge, now open to pedestrian and bicycle traffic only, famed for its dramatic dogleg bend midspan.

Springfield's vintage Route 66 establishments are preserved along two downtown streets: St. Louis Street, east of downtown, and the Chestnut Expressway on the west side. The Route 66 Car Museum is the big attraction here, thanks to its collection of more than 70 rare and collectible vintage cars.

One of Springfield's most recognizable historic buildings is the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Mosque. This flamboyantly Arabesque old theater was built in 1923 and is still owned by the Shriners, who use it as an auditorium and concert hall. Nearby, a plaque tells the story of Wild Bill Hickok's murder of fellow gambler Dave Tutt, supposedly because Tutt flaunted a watch he'd won off Hickok.

Bonvoy members will be happy to find the SpringHill Suites Springfield North (from $136 or 26,000 points) a sleek addition to the portfolio, with extra-spacious rooms big enough to accommodate cribs, rollaways and trundle beds, and outfitted with microwaves and minifridges.

Die-hard Route 66 fans often choose the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven (from $129 or 20,000 points per night), while Hilton Honors members will like the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Springfield (from $380 or 145,000 Hilton Honors points per night), revamped top to bottom with earth-toned furnishings and a midcentury modern vibe.

Galena and Riverton, Kansas

The Kansas section of Route 66 is just 13.2 miles long, but it includes a couple of key stops. These include the town of Galena, a must for the old Kan-O-Tex gas station that now houses Cars on the Route, a tribute to Pixar's animated movie "Cars."

Housed inside the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas train depot, Galena Mining & Historical Museum is filled with vintage furnishings, tools and historical records documenting life in a mining boomtown.

Just west in Riverton, stop for lunch or snacks at the Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store, a road trip staple since the 1920s. This deli serves up classic sandwiches, and the owner, who happens to be president of the Kansas Route 66 Association, displays his memorabilia.

Less well known, but beloved by locals, is the white-painted Rainbow Bridge that arches over Brush Creek approximately 2 miles west of Riverton.

Clinton, Oklahoma

Oklahoma has more original and still-driveable miles of Route 66 than any other state and takes great pride in this heritage. This includes the key role Route 66 played in the 1930s Dust Bowl migration.

Nowhere is this pride more on display than in the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. The museum has used its significant state and local funding to pull together a comprehensive collection that even includes the chance to sit in a re-created 1950s diner.

Those who've traveled this route before will mourn the loss of the classic Trade Winds Inn, which until recently sat across the street from the museum and was a favorite of Elvis Presley, who stayed there four times. Clinton also has an indoor water park known as the Water-Zoo that makes a perfect road trip break for tired kids.

Points-friendly lodging options in Clinton include the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Clinton Historic Route 66 , with its expansive outdoor pool (from $96 or 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points per night) and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Clinton (from $110 or 18,000 IHG One Rewards points per night).

Tulsa, Stroud and Chandler, Oklahoma

Tulsa is the food capital of the Route 66 road trip, boasting a number of eateries with some variation on a Mother Road theme, chief among them El Rancho Grande, which has been serving up Mexican food for more than 60 years under a photogenic neon sign. Looking exactly as a vintage Mother Road diner should, Tally's is a must for breakfast all day long.

You'll find something tasty for everyone at Mother Road Market, where you can choose from Chicken & the Wolf, Bodhi's Bowl and even Brazilian food at Doctor Kustom, then eat on a family-friendly outdoor patio complete with Route 66-themed murals and a minigolf course.

Don't leave without checking out the eclectic shops at Mother Road Market, where you'll find books, toys and inspired souvenirs. Make a final stop at the Desert Hills Motel to snap a photo of its beloved neon sign.

Departing Tulsa to the west, the first landmark to watch for is Rock Creek Bridge. At just 12 feet wide, it provides a vivid sense of just how narrow highways like Route 66 were back in the early days of the Model T. You'll find another great example of Route 66 neon in Stroud, where the Skyliner Motel beckons visitors with a towering red arrow.

Now, back to the movie "Cars." The Rock Cafe just west of Stroud — which is made from local stone quarried in the 1920s — is a must-stop for fans because of its association with director John Lasseter. He visited numerous times as he wrote and directed the movie, leaving behind signed posters, napkins and graffiti.

Chandler is home to the Route 66 Interpretive Center, which is a bit of a departure from other Mother Road museums for its emphasis on education.

Related reading: The best American road trips to take with your family this summer

McLean, Texas

Stretching across the pancake-flat plains of the Texas panhandle for almost 200 miles, Route 66 in Texas has largely been directly supplanted by Interstate 40, with old Mother Road businesses left behind on the various towns' business loops.

The first of these, from east to west, is the old ranching town of McLean. It wasn't bypassed by the interstate until the early 1980s and has made impressive efforts to preserve its historic structures.

Stop for a photo op with the giant neon Texas sign and another at the perfectly preserved Phillips 66 station, where the pumps still list a price of 19 cents a gallon.

Well worth a stop is the Devil's Rope Museum. It's dedicated to barbed wire, called the "devil's rope" by cowboys, and holds one of the entire Mother Road's best collections of Route 66 memorabilia and souvenirs.

Amarillo and Cadillac Ranch, Texas

The beef industry still reigns supreme in Amarillo, which handles 2 million head of cattle a year, providing plenty of that old Wild West vibe, despite its booming population. Route 66 follows Sixth Street through what is now called the Old Jacinto District, so head there to browse boot, saddle and Western shops and antiques stores.

Back on I-40, you can't miss the giant steer head marking the Big Texan Steak Ranch, which was located on Route 66 when it opened in 1960. Families will like the old false-front Wild West-themed building, kitschy decor and the enormous portions at reasonable prices.

However, the Amarillo area's most photographed road-themed attraction is Cadillac Ranch, just off I-40 and about 10 miles west of town. Here, 10 rusting Cadillacs are buried nose down in the dirt, their finned backsides rising toward the sky and demonstrating iconic American midcentury design in order from 1949 to 1964.

Cadillac Ranch was created by a collective of San Francisco-based artists in 1974 at the behest of eccentric millionaire Stanley Marsh III, who moved them in the late 1990s to put them farther outside the city's sprawl. Since Marsh's death in 2014, the installation's future has been less secure, but filmmakers use the day-glo-painted cars so frequently for advertisements and photo shoots that the installation seems likely to survive awhile longer.

The Big Texan (from $76) offers rooms as well as meals, and a stay here will be more than memorable with choices including authentic covered wagons and vintage Airstreams.

You'll also find options for almost every loyalty point program; choose from the Hilton Garden Inn Amarillo (rooms from $87 or 24,000 Hilton Honors points per night), Marriott's Residence Inn Amarillo (rooms from $149 or 20,500 Bonvoy points per night) and many more.

Tucumcari, New Mexico

Tucumcari arguably has more time capsule photo ops than perhaps anywhere else on Route 66, thanks to the abundance of cool vintage signs lining aptly named Route 66 Boulevard. Many adorn classic motor lodges and diners, including Del's Restaurant, which features a giant cow on its sign.

The other thing you'll notice is the murals — nearly 100 of them — which stretch down side streets and adorn shops, restaurants and grocery stores. Make sure to see the Mother Road-themed mural at the corner of Second Street and Tucumcari Boulevard and also seek out the Magnolia gas station decorated with Route 66 signs and memorabilia.

In your sign-spotting, you probably noticed the photogenic monikers of Tucumcari's many 1940s-style motor lodges, among them the Blue Swallow Motel (rooms from $134 a night) and the Historic Route 66 Motel , which has taken midcentury chic to the max, outfitting its street-side patio with "Jetsons"-style chairs. Rooms, which start at just $76 a night, have refrigerators, microwaves and comfortable armchairs; some come with sleeper sofas to expand the number of beds.

The brand-new Fairfield Inn & Suites Tucumcari, a great option for Bonvoy members, combines modern amenities with midcentury modern decor perfectly in keeping with Route 66 nostalgia. Rooms start at $119 or 40,000 Bonvoy points per night.

Santa Rosa, New Mexico

Known for its preservation of retro signs and buildings, Santa Rosa is also home to the Route 66 Auto Museum, which you can't miss thanks to the bright yellow car perched atop a pole high in the air.

In addition to classic cars dating back to the earliest days of the automobile, the museum has an excellent collection of vintage gas pumps that say Route 66 better than anything else. Santa Rosa's other claim to fame, the Blue Hole, is an astoundingly deep spring-fed lake popular with scuba divers.

The Hampton Inn Santa Rosa , right on Route 66, is a favorite low-category property for Hilton Honors members looking to stretch points, with rooms starting at 20,000 points a night.

Like all La Quinta Inns, the La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Santa Rosa is popular with dog-owning Wyndham members for its pet-friendly policies; rooms start at $124 a night.

Related reading: 6 tips for surviving a road trip with a large family

Williams, Arizona

"Last town bypassed by I-40," reads the mural on the wall as you drive down Williams' main street. It's no surprise that Williams celebrates its dual identity as both a shoot-'em-up Western town and a nostalgic 1950s cruising strip.

Retro-chic photo ops are aplenty here, including the sky-blue sign for the Arizona 9 Motor Hotel and the neon cow beckoning diners to Rod's Steakhouse. The Coca-Cola-red car on the roof of Cruiser's 66 Cafe is visible for blocks.

Just an hour away from Grand Canyon National Park , Williams makes a perfect home base from which to explore. The Grand Canyon Railway provides "door to door" service, bringing travelers directly to Grand Canyon Village while entertaining them on the way with a staged "shootout" and close-up wildlife viewing.

In Williams, IHG members will find Holiday Inn Express & Suites Williams (rooms from $132 or 24,000 IHG points per night); Choice Hotels members can opt for either Quality Inn Near Grand Canyon or Comfort Inn Near Grand Canyon (both from $90 or 20,000 Choice points per night).

Wyndham Rewards members will be thrilled with the wide selection, which includes La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Williams-Grand Canyon Area ($97 or 30,000 points per night), Ramada by Wyndham Williams ($60 or 15,000 points per night) and Howard Johnson by Wyndham Williams ($56 or 15,000 points per night).

For something different and more adventurous, stay at the brand-new Backland Luxury Camping , a luxury glamping resort just 20 minutes outside Williams, which is spread over 160 thickly forested acres and features an on-site spa and restaurant. Tents come in four variations and start at $395 a night.

Related reading: Visiting the Grand Canyon with a family: Where to camp, stay and play

Seligman and Hackberry, Arizona

Filled with a string of vintage cafes, stores and gas stations, now colorfully painted and festooned in antiques rescued from the surrounding desert, Seligman is one big photo op — and what a photo op it is. From here, Route 66 diverted from I-40 through Hackberry, where the Hackberry General Store has the gritty Mother Road vibe so many of the more cleaned-up museums lack.

Kingman and Oatman, Arizona

A key stop on the Route 66 pilgrimage, Kingman houses the unusually comprehensive Arizona Route 66 Museum. In the Powerhouse Visitor Center, it traces the history of the westward route back to when it was an Indian trail, wagon train route and railroad line before it carried road trippers. Exhibits include a covered wagon and a characteristic Dust Bowl truck, as well as brightly painted 1950s roadsters.

The sharp jog north to visit the old mining town of Oatman is well worth the detour to see a town with a main street that appears to be frozen in time. Its sidewalks are still made of wood, and burros still wander among the old storefronts.

Barstow, California

Several quirky landmarks pay tribute to Barstow's former importance as a rail hub — including a McDonald's made from old railroad cars. However, Barstow's big lure for Route 66 fans is the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, located in the faded glory of the Casa del Desierto, a Fred Harvey hotel.

Outside Barstow in the Mojave National Preserve, the Kelso Depot has become a visitors center, bookstore and museum, with its former baggage room ticket office and dormitory rooms refurbished to their 1930s glory. The Desert Light Gallery has natural history and art exhibits.

Barstow is a common overnight spot for drivers on the way to San Francisco or Los Angeles, as well as the desert national parks of Zion, Bryce and Grand Canyon.

You'll find numerous points-friendly lodging options, including Hampton Inn & Suites Barstow (from $299 or 50,000 Hilton points per night) and the Quality Inn on Historic Route 66 (from $103 or 16,000 Choice Privileges points per night).

Best Western Rewards members have two choices, the Best Western Desert Villa Inn (rooms from $134 or 20,000 points per night) and the more recently debuted Best Western Plus New Barstow Inn & Suites (rooms from $143 or 28,000 points per night).

Westward to the coast

Route 66 was rejiggered so many times as it passed through California that it's not always easy to trace the route or even find the remnants that exist. They're in small zigzag patches, some no longer even connected.

Victorville, California, has one short section, marked by an optimistic over-the-road welcome sign and the California Route 66 Museum. In all-but-abandoned Newberry Springs, the Baghdad Cafe had its 15 minutes of fame thanks to its namesake film, a 1980s art-house favorite.

But if you want a true sense of times long gone, these stretches of Highway 66 are perfect. Here are miles upon miles of lonely emptiness, where tumbleweeds blow across the pockmarked pavement. Motel signs stand abandoned, and vintage gas pumps behind chain-link fences still beg for attention from motorists long gone.

While at this point in the trip most travelers continue on to Los Angeles for the night, you might choose to cap off your trip with a stay at San Bernardino's '50s time-capsule Wigwam Motel (rooms from $109 a night), where the individual stucco structures cluster around a pool under swaying palms.

Related reading: From California to British Columbia: 10 best places for an idyllic West Coast getaway

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The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip Guide

Where to eat, what to see, and where to stay on a perfect Route 66 road trip.

Anne Olivia Bauso is a travel writer and hotel expert based in New York City. She has written hundreds of hotel reviews, from 5-star Ritz-Carlton properties to treehouse eco-resorts in the jungle.

Route 66 doesn't always surface on Google Maps, but it's there. The most celebrated stretch of asphalt in America rolls out from the heart of downtown Chicago and begins its epic journey west toward the Pacific. The so-called "Mother Road" slides through endless farmland, forgotten towns, and the spectacular desert of the American West. The scenery is a thrill, but it's the stops and sights along the way — each seemingly more mind-blowing than the last — that make the Route 66 road trip . There's the infamous 1858 penitentiary from Beat literature and Prison Break , which you can tour the day you set off. A barbed-wire museum? Texas has one, complete with the recreation of a diner serving 20-cent pie. A landmark "soda ranch" is the pick-me-up pit stop you didn't know you needed in the Oklahoma plains. Read on for a state-by-state, Chicago-to-L.A. guide for the ultimate American road trip .

It's day one: You're going to need a good breakfast. Fuel up on monster omelets and bottomless coffee at local favorite Lou Mitchell's (you might just meet fellow Route 66 road-trippers in a neighboring booth). If you want to stretch your legs before the first phase of your journey, Chicago's Millennium Park is an excellent place to do it. From there, it's just one block to the Historic Route 66 Begin sign. Snap a selfie — you're officially on your way. If you couldn't bear the wait times for breakfast in Chicago, Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket is your first stop. The 1930s gas station/lunch counter is now a Route 66 icon for its superlative fried chicken. Look for the restored neon sign — so retro you'll half-expect to see chrome-stripped Bel Airs parked below it.

Channel Kerouac in "On the Road" and go "by the Joliet pen" — the pen being the infamous Old Joliet Prison (also immortalized in "The Blues Brothers" and a particularly harrowing Bob Dylan ballad). Set foot inside the 25-foot-high walls and explore the creepy grounds. Stand up straight — you might reach the knee of the Gemini Giant, a 30-foot Muffler Man statue patrolling the Launching Pad Drive-In , now a restaurant and gift shop. Swing by historic sites dotting the road, like Ambler's Texaco Gas Station and Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup , where you can buy maple candies for the console. For heartier fare, head to the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop in Springfield for beef sandwiches and shakes. If you have it in you, drive on till you see the looming Gateway Arch of St. Louis.

Welcome to St. Louis, the Gateway to the West. Dig into a country-fried steak or a stack of pancakes at Southwest Diner before braving a tram to the arch's peak, touring the 19th-century Anheuser-Busch brewery , or walking high above the Mississippi on the famous Chain of Rocks Bridge, whose span jauntily crooks to the north. Drink up the city life while you can; outside of St. Louis, the drive slips through quaint small towns and rolling green hills. Dip into Meramec Caverns, a dramatic cave complex (and alleged Jesse James hideout) with guided tours. Stay the night in a tidy stone-and-mortar cottage at the 1930s landmark Wagon Wheel Motel .

The nearby Fanning 66 Outpost is a required stopping point for many Route 66 veterans. They're not wrong: The general and farm store has a giant rocking chair perfect for photo ops and popcorn and glass-bottle soda for snack-stocking the car. Veering south of the highway, Mark Twain National Forest is a lovely place for a picnic; its easy Stone Mill Spring hike offers pretty views over the Big Piney River. Dial up the nostalgia factor to an 11 by catching a double feature at the 66 Drive-In , then crash at Boots Court Motel , complete with period furniture and radios piping out big-band music. The unassuming Joplin History & Mineral Museum is an interesting stop, with local discoveries like a wooly mammoth tooth on display and delightfully oddball antiques including old circus funhouse mirrors, "Bonnie and Clyde" memorabilia from their Joplin bolthole, and an entire exhibit of cookie cutters.

Peek inside the Coleman Theater , a Spanish Revival gem from the vaudeville days, and see the ghost of the abandoned Chelsea Motel. At Totem Pole Park , gaze up at the world's largest concrete totem pole. The roadside whimsy continues at the Blue Whale of Catoosa , an adorable whale whose smiling mouth you can walk right through. The Golden Driller statue was plonked at the entrance of Tulsa's Expo Square in the 1960s, where he stands to this day on concrete work boots the size of cars. Tap into Tulsa's amazing barbecue scene at Burn Co , a popular spot in Jenks that grills and smokes its meat in Tulsa-made charcoal ovens, or keep it simple with a patty melt and ice cream float from the Rock Cafe , 50 miles to the west in Stroud. Gearheads and Marvel fans adore Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum , a former gas station now filled from wall to wall with bikes ranging from a 1909 Triumph to a custom-built ride used in Captain America film shoots. Thirsty? Shelves at the landmark Pops in Arcadia hold classic candies and drinks — over 500 varieties of sodas, ginger ales, and root beers — your taste buds have never dreamed of. Right before the Oklahoma-Texas border, stop by eerie little Texola, with a population of 6. Passersby can still see relics of the former farming town, notably a one-cell cinder-block jail all alone in an overgrown field.

The gloriously Art Deco Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe give travelers an old-school Texas welcome. Originally a gas station/diner, the pristine little visitors' center is home to classic Conoco pumps and a booth where Elvis once ate. You probably never thought you'd visit a museum dedicated to barbed wire, but here we are — the Devil's Rope and Route 66 Museum tips its rancher hat to the spiky fencing material, as well as other artifacts from the state's ranching heritage, like the cattle brand used at former President Lyndon B. Johnson's Texas ranch.

Being situated in a remote Panhandle location doesn't stop the tiny town of Groom from having its share of bizarre sights. The largest freestanding cross in the U.S. shoots 190 feet in the air here, while the Britten Leaning Water Tower has been grabbing roadsters' attention for decades. In Amarillo, stroll the city's antique shop-filled Route 66 Historic District and kick back at down-home burger joint Coyote Bluff Cafe . Or, if you're up for a challenge (and the tourists), see if you can put away 72 ounces of steak at The Big Texan Steak Ranch . Starlight Canyon , a bed-and-breakfast with cabins and an Old West vibe, is a nice alternative to Amarillo's endless string of chain motels.

If you miss Cadillac Ranch on your way out of town, did you even drive Route 66? The must-see, kitschy-cool landmark features a group of vintage Caddies buried nose down in the ground, their tail ends poking skyward and covered in graffiti. Celebrate hitting the halfway mark — Chicago is 1,139 miles behind you, L.A. is 1,139 miles ahead — with a slice of pie at the throwback Midpoint Cafe .

In time, the dusty flatlands of the Panhandle give way to the unreal landscape of the American West. Opened the same year (1939) that the "The Wizard of Oz" came out, Blue Swallow Motel is everything Americana lovers could want in a place to stay — expect attached garages next to each room, Frank Sinatra crooning through outdoor speakers, and arguably the best neon sign outside of Las Vegas. What began as an artist's hobby of carving tiny figures has sprouted into the Tinkertown Museum , a rambling warren with detailed Old West dioramas and walls made from concrete and 50,000 glass bottles. Grab a pic in front of the wall of vintage tin signs at 66 Diner in Albuquerque, and you might as well order a Frito pie and banana split while you're there. If you're RV-curious, Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post has 60s-era trailers to sleep in for the night, although traditionalists might continue to El Rancho Hotel and stay in a room where John Wayne once slept.

Route 66 cuts through the stunning red mesas and the eerie moonscape of Petrified Forest National Park . The Rainbow Forest Museum is a starting point for hiking trails to the famous petrified logs. Drive to the Blue Mesa trail for a one-mile loop through hilly badlands. The kitsch flag soars at Wigwam Motel , considered an essential stopover by many road-trippers. The 15 guest rooms here are modeled after teepees (not wigwams), and the 1950s cars parked outside add to the vibe.

Walk the rim at Meteor Crater Natural Landmark and see the chilling prehistoric footprint of an asteroid that smashed into Earth. Of course, all desert marvels seem like a warmup in the face of the mind-bogglingly vast Grand Canyon — detour 60 miles north at Williams, Arizona, to reach the national park's South Rim. Serious planners who book far in advance might score an edge-facing cabin at Bright Angel Lodge & Cabins or a spot in Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. Back on Route 66, glide through a wide-open expanse of prairie and red rock, checking out time-capsule towns such as Seligman, Peach Springs, and Kingman along the way.

The Golden State is the final leg on Route 66's slow unrolling march toward the Pacific. The semi-defunct Roy's Motel and Cafe , located smack dab in the middle of the Mojave Desert, is a fun stop en route to Calico Ghost Town Regional Park . The roadside attraction recreates its California Silver Rush heyday with pioneer-style restaurants, shops, and a narrow-gauge train through the bone-dry terrain. The glass-bottle "forest" Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch is a funky oasis in the dusty wilderness. If you missed the teepee experience at the Wigwam Motel in Arizona, its San Bernardino outpost offers you one more shot.

Not far is the original McDonald's, now a free museum and quirky shrine to the fast-food giant's humble mid-century beginnings. The cheery yellow Cucamonga Service Station serves as a tiny Route 66 museum, its mint-condition Richfield pumps from 1915 still advertising 18-cent gallons of gas. Finally, it's west to Santa Monica Pier — the all-American boardwalk with its endless parade of pedestrians, partiers, and performers — and the official end of Route 66.

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Route 66 - 17 Days

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Sample Itinerary

Chicago is the starting point for most Route 66 tours. Known as the “Windy City,” Chicago is home to one of America’s tallest buildings, legends such as Al Capone and his notorious gang, and countless jazz and blues clubs.

Kick off your Route 66 holiday by grabbing a slice of deep-dish pizza before venturing up the Willis Tower, or take to the streets for your very own walking tour along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Travel through prairies and farmland to reach the iconic Route 66 stop of Springfield – the former home of President Abraham Lincoln.

Cross the mighty Mississippi River and continue to St. Louis, “Gateway to the West.”

Make your way southwest through Route 66 Missouri to the birthplace of the Mother Road, the city of Springfield. Weren’t we just in Springfield? That was back in Illinois!

Continue west along the Mother Road, you’ll pass through Joplin before skimming through a corner of the state of Kansas and into Oklahoma.

Heading into the Texas Panhandle, the prairies of Oklahoma give way to a drier landscape. You’ll pass some awesome Route 66 museums along the way, which are packed with nostalgic Americana, classic cars and more.

On the way from Amarillo to Santa Fe, you’ll have the chance to visit some classic Route 66 holiday attractions. These include Cadillac Ranch, Midpoint Cafe and the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa. You’ll finish the day off in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Santa Fe lies along the path of the original Route 66 route. The Spanish-influenced old town square and Pueblo-style adobe architecture provide a setting that contrasts widely with the cities further east.

Today’s destination is Gallup, but first head south, down to Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, home to a third of the state’s population. Albuquerque is the sprawling heart of New Mexico.

Today takes you to the classic Route 66 stopover town of Flagstaff. Some of Arizona’s most striking Route 66 desert scenery lies between the New Mexico border and Flagstaff. Stop at the Petrified Forest National Park to see the different colours of rock layered on top of each other.

Spend your free day visiting the ultimate symbol of the Desert Southwest; the Grand Canyon. While the Grand Canyon isn’t technically on Route 66, it’s so close to Flagstaff that it would be a crime to pass it by!

Continue your Route 66 adventure to Sin City – Las Vegas via Hoover Dam. The dusty desert surrounds you as you make your way to Las Vegas, whose outline you can see on the horizon for miles as you approach.

The bright lights of Las Vegas offer glitz, glamour, gambling, sparkles and campaign – Las Vegas is like no other city on earth. Spend a full day at leisure exploring the spectacle that is Las Vegas.

Today, depart the man-made oasis of Las Vegas and cross the Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino Mountains en route to the final destination on Route 66: Santa Monica in Los Angeles.

Enjoy a full day at leisure exploring California’s largest city, Los Angeles, the “City of Angels”. There’s something for everyone here, whether it’s hiking in the Hollywood Hills, browsing boutique shops in Beverly Hills, visiting working film and television studios or simply relaxing on Santa Monica beach.

Finish off your sightseeing today before heading to the airport for your flight home.

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Savvy Travel Advice

Guide to Planning a Route 66 Road Trip

Last updated: October 25, 2023 - Written by Jessica Norah 167 Comments

A Route 66 road trip is a driving adventure along what is probably the most famous road in the world. Historic Route 66 spans over 2,400 miles and crosses 8 states, starting in Chicago, Illinois and terminating at the Pacific Coast in Santa Monica, California. Given its “66” designation in 1926, it became a well-traveled highway, bringing together people from all walks of life.

John Steinbeck would refer to Route 66 as “the mother road, the road of flight” for those trying to escape the Dust Bowl and ravages of the Great Depression in the 1930’s. Later it would support a countless number of vacationing families from the Midwest heading to the Grand Canyon or Disneyland. As more Americans took to the highway, a roadside culture would spring up along Route 66—motels, diners, gas stations, tourist attractions—to cater to a population that was increasingly mobile.

Today it is that classic roadside culture and the appeal of the open road that continues to attract tourists. Route 66 has inspired songs, films, TV shows, books, and even a clothing brand. Even though Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985, people from around the world come to drive this mythic highway, stay in vintage motels, gawk at odd roadside attractions, and eat American road food. For some travelers, it is a trip back in time to revisit a road they once traveled on a family holiday, whereas for others a Route 66 road trip is the ultimate symbol of Americana.

Laurence and I drove Route 66 from Los Angeles to Chicago and loved it! We’ll share information on how to plan your own Route 66 road trip, decide when and where to go, and share advice based on our own Route 66 road trip experiences.

Table of Contents:

Basic Information about Route 66

This first section covers the basics of Route 66 including the history of the route, the length of the Route, the current status of the route, the starting and ending points, and the main things you can see and do along Route 66. 

What is Route 66?

Essentially, Route 66 is a historic highway in the United States that ran southwestwardly from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, crossing 8 states and covering over 2,400 miles (3,900 km). From east to west, it runs through parts of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Over the years, the route was continually improved, repaved, changed, and re-routed so there is no one single “Route 66” but a number of alignments. For instance, one early Route 66 alignment in New Mexico went through Santa Fe, but in 1937 Route 66 was re-routed to bypass the state capital so today’s travelers can choose which alignment of Route 66 they would like to follow at such points. 

The route is no longer officially designated or signed as Route 66 (as it was decommissioned in 1985); however, more than 80% of this original route can still be driven today with the help of Route 66 guidebooks and maps. Route 66 has become a symbol of early roadside America, and tourists drive it today for its history, sites, and nostalgia. 

Note that most U.S. states have a Route 66 or Highway 66; however, the “famous” Route 66 refers only to this historic route that ran from the Midwest to California.

The history of Route 66 spans almost 100 years, but here is a brief history. In 1926, the U.S. federal highway system designated the number 66 to the route that ran from Chicago to Santa Monica. The route was simply a series of pre-existing roads and the Route 66 designation was meant to ensure adequate and consistent markings and signage for the route as it crossed state and regional boundaries. The route would be fully paved  by 1938, and Route 66 would become the most traveled route between the Midwest and the West Coast.

Over the years, it would be traversed on foot by those participating in the Bunion Derby , driven in desperation by Dust Bowl migrants headed to California for a better life, hitchhiked by World War II soldiers, and used by thousands upon thousands of vacationing Americans in the 1950s and 1960s on their way to visit wonders like the Grand Canyon and Disneyland.

Along this busy road would spring up motels, diners, gas stations, car repair shops, and all sorts of tourist traps that would become part of a distinctive roadside culture that reached its height during the 1950s and 1960s. Along this route, you could pay to see live rattlesnakes, tour caves and Jesse James hideouts, visit Native American reservations, ride horses, watch a Wild West show, and marvel at giant dinosaur statues. 

Sadly and ironically, it would be the popularity of the road that led to its eventual demise and the rise of the current federal interstate system. Interstates are designed to get people from Point A to Point B as quickly and efficiently as possible, which means bypassing towns when possible, having a minimum speed, and having minimal exit points. As interstates such as I-40 were constructed that bypassed many of the small towns and cities that had grown up alongside Route 66, the small businesses along most of this route suffered considerably (as they did all over the country).

In 1985, Route 66 was officially decommissioned as a route and the route signage was removed. Today, a number of advocacy, tourism, and preservation groups seek to protect the history, remaining pavement, and local businesses along this historic route. Efforts by advocacy groups, government funding, and portrayal in films, such as Cars , have helped to increase tourism along the route.

One of the big efforts was the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program created by an act of Congress in 1999 that is administered by the National Parks Service. For the last several years, bills have been introduced to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, such a designation would provide more preservation protection and opportunities for funding and resouces.

However, despite these efforts, The World Monuments Fund added Route 66 to its Watch List of endangered sites in 2008. The COVID-19 pandemic had a particularly devastating effect on many Route 66 businesses and communities along the route. Current travelers along Route 66 should consider how being good patrons to the small existing businesses along the route can help sustain them for future visitors.

Where Does Route 66 Start? 

Route 66 starts in Chicago, Illinois. In Chicago, the official starting and ending points for Route 66 are a bit confusing as they  changed over time and there are now one-way east bound and westbound lanes making it even more tricky.

For those starting in Chicago, you can start at Jackson Boulevard at Michigan Avenue (the original beginning point in 1926) or Jackson Blvd at Lake Shore Drive (the official beginning point since 1933). These two points are only a couple of blocks apart.

However, the current Route 66 Begin sign (last we knew) is located on E. Adams Street at Michigan Avenue so may want to stop and walk over there before you set off.  For those eastbound drivers ending in Chicago, the Route 66 End Sign is marked at Jackson Blvd and Michigan Avenue.

To take a photo of any of the Route 66 signs, you’ll want to find a place to park and walk to them if you can. The signs are located up tall poles (one next to a bus stop) to prevent vandalism/stealing, but this inconveniently make it more challenging to take photos next to them!

If you do plan on visiting Chicago and spending some time sightseeing before or after your trip, take a look at our guide to spending 2 days in Chicago for some tips on what to see and do in the city.

Where Does Route 66 End? 

The route ends in Santa Monica, California. Although some say Los Angeles, California for simplicity since Los Angeles is a better known city.

Like the starting point, you have more than one official ending point. The original 1926 terminus was at 7th Street and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles and was later moved to the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard in Santa Monica.

Olympic Boulevard is now divided by Interstate 10. For eastbound traffic there is a Chevron gas station located at the intersection of Olympic and Lincoln (no signs). But for westbound traffic, there is both a brown Begin and End sign for Route 66 located at the intersection in front of Mel’s Drive-In (1670 Lincoln Blvd). Mel’s opened in 2018 and is a retro-style modern diner and a good place to stop for a bite to eat.

For a more satisfying end (or beginning) to your Route 66 road trip drive, we also recommend going a bit further to the Santa Monica Pier, the entrance is located at Colorado and Ocean Avenue. Then take a walk to find the 66 to Cali shop where you’ll find the “End of the Trail” Route 66 sign as well as a small Route 66 gift shop kiosk.

What States Does Route 66 Cross?

Route 66 runs through 8 different states within the United States. From east to west, it runs through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

What Can I See Along Route 66?  

Route 66 stretches across 8 states so you will cross through stretches of desert, mountains, farmland, large metropolitan cities, and small towns. You’ll pass a wide variety of landmarks, landscapes, parks, waterways, and cultural attractions along the way.

Cities are certainly important stops on a Route 66 itinerary but it is in the smaller cities and towns, often along their Main Streets, where you find the businesses and people that fit the image many people have of Small Town America.

In many towns, there might be nothing to do expect stroll its Main Street, eat at its diner, and visit an old steam engine. A road trip along Route 66 is not necessarily jam-packed with must-see sights each day, but the drive itself is the experience. Route 66 was developed to be a the way for people to get from Point A to Point B, but today Route 66 is often the destination itself.

Some of the most iconic things to see along the route are the buildings and signage of the numerous roadside cafes, motels, gas stations, and tourist attractions along this route. A large number of the original businesses are no longer operational, but in many places you can still eat in the same diner, sleep in the same motor court, and do a guided tour of the same cave as those who traveled Route 66 in the 1950’s.

Spending time in the car, eating a hamburger and ice cream soda at a classic diner, visiting a fun classic tourist trap attraction, and sleeping in a simple but clean family-run motel are the hallmarks of a Route 66 trip.

Sadly, many of the businesses that sprung up to support the Route 66 traffic are long gone, leaving behind ruined buildings, dark neon signs, crumbling motels, and even isolated ghost towns which have also become noteworthy attractions themselves. Natural wonders such as the Mojave Desert, Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, Meramec Caverns, and the mighty Mississippi River are along this route, and detours can get you to many more natural wonders such as the Grand Canyon.

Other popular attractions include classic cars, old bridges, quirky roadside statues and art installations, restored old gas stations, drive-in movie theaters, painted murals, Old West shows and attractions, old city theaters, and historical railroad attractions.

Giant statue highlights include a giant blue whale, dinosaurs, a soda bottle,  giant cowboys, a large cross, the famous Muffler men, the world’s largest concrete totem pole, and the world’s largest rocking chair. There are also a number of Route 66 museums (most states have at least one) and other specialty museums along the route (focusing on everything from barbed wire to Jesse James to cowboys to motorcycles). 

Of course it is your trip to plan as you wish, and you can also make deviations and detours from Route 66 to visit other attractions off the route that fit your interests, whether it be listening to country music in Branson, Missouri, searching for aliens in Roswell, NM, gawking at the Grand Canyon in Arizona, gambling in Las Vegas , or visiting Disneyland in Anaheim, CA.

If you are planning to include the California coast in your trip, you can check out our Pacific Coast Highway road trip guide  as we drove the Pacific Coast Highway prior to beginning Route 66.

Route 66 Planning Advice

This section answers the most common questions people have about planning a Route 66 road trip, including “How many days does it take to drive Route 66?”, “When is the best time of year to drive Route 66?”, “Where should I stay along Route 66?”, “How do I rent a car for a Route 66 road trip”, and “What should I pack for a Route 66 road trip?”. It also gives advice for developing your own Route 66 itinerary based on your time and interests. 

When is the Best Time of Year to Travel Route 66? 

Most people drive Route 66 between early May and late September, and this is generally considered the best time to travel the route. This is the most traveled time period partly due to convenience (school and work holidays) and partly due to the fact that these months generally present the best weather conditions. You’ll also find most of the attractions open for business during this time period.

One of the challenges (and thrills) with Route 66 given its large expanse is that is crosses deserts, plains, mountains, and grasslands and six climate zones (ranging from desert to Mediterranean to alpine climates). 

I would advise avoiding the winter months from mid-November to mid-February as you’ll likely find cold temperatures along much of the route (yes, it does freeze in places like New Mexico and Texas!), potential mountain road snow closures in the Western States (California, Arizona, New Mexico), and bone-chillingly cold winds in Chicago.

In addition to cold temperatures and potential poor road conditions, many of the smaller Route 66 attractions (and some of the bigger ones) close down in the winter months or have reduced hours making it harder for winter travelers to get the most of their Route 66 experience. 

Some people also advise to avoid the months of July and August not only because of the heat and humidity, but also because they are the busiest months on Route 66 with the biggest crowds, most children, fewest discounts, and highest prices.

We actually did our road trip in July/August and although we did experience high desert temperatures (over 110 F degrees in Needles, CA for example), humidity, and rain during the route, we did not find the tourist sights or roads to be very crowded and did not have trouble finding motels or campground vacancies along the route. Very few people drive the route from one end to the other, and even fewer do it by faithfully sticking to the old route so we very often had the road to ourselves.

The busiest section was probably the section in Arizona between Topock, Arizona and Williams, Arizona so I would expect potential slow traffic and crowds on this section of the route. The larger cities are always busy and expect slower traffic there as well no matter when you are traveling. For those wanting decent weather (hopefully!) but looking to avoid crowds and the high desert temperatures, consider May, early June, September, or early October. 

Obviously, the best time to drive Route 66 is the time you have available, and if you need to set out at a less than opportune time of the year, just be prepared and be flexible. No matter when you plan to set out on Route 66, plan ahead with the expectation that you will experience a range of temperatures and climates.

During your trip, I’d advise checking the weather conditions each day as snow, hail storms, landslides, tornadoes, thunderstorms, flooding, and dust storms are all possible along this route!

Should I Drive Route 66 Westward or Eastward?  

There is of course no correct way to do a road trip, not even an epic one like Route 66. You’ll see essentially the same things no matter which way you go (guides will actually suggest sometimes driving both ways in a town to experience both eastbound and westbound sections of Route 66 if there is a split because of one-way roads).

I would first base this decision on logistics (e.g., where you are based, best flight or car rental deals, weather), practicalities (e.g., weather), and any time-limited sightseeing priorities (e.g., a museum open for only 6 months of the year, a concert in Chicago you want to be at on X day). For example, we drove it eastbound from California to Chicago as we were living near San Francisco and it logistically made the most sense to start there.

However, if you have no logistical issues making you lean one way or the other, I would choose to drive Route 66 westward, from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, CA. This is the traditional way that Route 66 was originally developed and it also follows the westward expansion of the entire country. 

Is Route 66 Signposted?

Not really. There are some Historical Route 66 signs in some states, but not in others. Some towns have taken upon themselves to put up Route 66 signs to help guide drivers. But you can’t depend on signs to follow Route 66.

I will not that in recent years since we’ve returned to Route 66, we have noticed more signs and more cities choosing to rename routes as Historic Route 66 or Highways 66 or similar. However, the signage is still spotty and not good enough to actually use to direct your trip!

How Do I Find and Stay on Route 66?

Bad news is that you can’t just go to Chicago and follow Route 66 signs westward to California. Since the route was decommissioned in 1985, the signs were removed and the route was removed from official maps. The road is also no longer contiguous as parts of the old Route 66 are now closed, deteriorated, or paved over. Some states have kept the 66 designations for parts of the highway, but only as state roads.

Good news is that a s time goes on, more signs are being put up along the route to denote the Historical Route 66 and some maps are including parts of Route 66 as a tourist or scenic highway. However, these sorts of signs and denotations are not consistent along the route, and are sometimes conflicting and confusing, so the best way to find the route and stick to it is with the help of a good guidebook or Route 66 specific map.

We highly recommend the  EZ66 Guide and a good recent USA road atlas . We’d also recommend considering the Here It Is maps as a companion to the EZ66 Guide. See our list of Planning Resources towards the bottom of the post for more information about guidebooks, maps, and resources.

We get asked a lot about paper or digital maps for Route 66 one can use for turn-by-turn navigation. We have seen several and own a couple, but none are really ones we can recommend. The Here It Is maps are great for daily planning but are not to scale driving maps. None of the to-scale maps are detailed enough to actually use on their own and are best used for planning. If you find a great Route 66 map, do let us know!

Most GPS units will not be able to follow Route 66 although we found ours very useful to figure out which road we were on and to navigate to a specific address as needed. So we would recommend having a GPS unit or online maps on your smartphone to aid you as needed. But if you want a no-tech trip, you can certainly do it with the EZ66 Guide and a good road atlas.

Today, it is estimated that over 80% of the original Route 66 in some form or the other is still driveable and with the help of some good Route 66 planning aids, you can easily find and drive it. It is up to you how faithful you want to be in keeping to the original route as most people skip over sections to save time and hop on the Interstate, whereas others try to be as faithful as possible. For instance, there are many times when you can actually see the interstate from historic Route 66 and you are simply traveling alongside it on a slower local road.

Note that a few sections of Route 66 are not in great driving shape, may run onto private land, or may be impassable in bad weather conditions so keep this in mind and just drive safely. Guidebooks will often warn you about these sections and provide helpful advice, but they can’t always know the most up-to-date conditions.

How Much Time Does it Take to Drive Route 66?

This really depends on how much you want to see, how much time you are willing to drive each day, and how faithful you want to be to the historical Route 66. Also you will need to account for any detours you plan to make which can take up a lot of time (e.g., detours to Grand Canyon or Las Vegas, NV).

For those who want to be faithful as possible to the historical Route 66, drive extra alignments, and stop at all the main attractions, you’ll need at least 2 weeks to drive the full Route 66 route (not accounting for any major detours). However, it will be a bit rushed at 2 weeks. Four weeks seems to be the recommended amount of time to drive the route faithfully at a fairly leisurely pace and have time to do all the stops.

If you have less than 2 weeks, I’d highly recommend choosing a section of Route 66 to explore, and you can always come back and drive the rest at another time. So many people drive Route 66 multiple times in their lives as the route seems to have an appeal that pulls you back again since it is always changing.

For those wanting to do the full road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles but are not so concerned about faithfulness to the route and just want to be sure to hit the highlights of Route 66 can do the drive in less time. You can actually get from Chicago to Los Angeles via Interstates along the route with about 48 hours worth of driving or less. That said, you’ll want to make plenty of stops and drive portions of the old Route 66 along the way.

I’d suggest at least 8 days to 10 days to do this sort of trip for those who do not mind some extra Interstate driving. You can see our 8 day Route 66 itinerary designed for those who have 10 days or less. The Interstates can save you a lot of time, but just remember that those driving Route 66 are often searching for an atmosphere that exists away from the Interstates so be sure to include some good stretches of Route 66 to get this experience.

Our summer Route 66 road trip lasted 18 days but we spent 1 night in Page, AZ, 2 nights at the Grand Canyon, and an extra day or so in Albuquerque, NM visiting a friend. So we basically had 14 full days and nights along the route and we drove the route as faithfully as possible, sticking to the existing old sections of Route 66 and not getting onto the Interstate unless there was no alternative.

We stopped at just about all of the notable attractions, visited most of the Route 66 related museums, and made a countless number of stops to take a photo or take a look at vintage signs, motels, abandoned drive-in theaters, etc. along the route.

We also made a few minor side trips along the route. But to accomplish the above, we typically started driving between 8:00am to 9:00am and drove until around nightfall (generally 7:30pm to 8:00pm) every day. We’d stop for all notable (and most minor) stops with typically an hour or less allocated for a lunch stop, but dinner was usually made in the RV before going to bed each night.

It was a great road trip and we saw so much, but we drove a lot most days and never had time to spend more than one night in any place. On days when we wanted to spend a lot of time in one place, we’d make up for it by driving later into the night or getting up earlier the next day. 

So yes it is possible to do a Route 66 road trip in 2 weeks, drive the route faithfully, and visit most of the attractions along the way, but it means a quick pace and long days of driving. For the average traveler with two weeks, I’d recommend slowing down more and either use the Interstate more to save time or skip some sections of the route so you can more fully appreciate the section you are driving.

If you have more than 10 days for your Route 66 trip, check out our suggested 2 week Route 66 itinerary as it provides a day-by-day itinerary for a 14 day trip. If you have more than 14 days, I’d add more stops (reducing teh amount you need to travel each day) or spend extra nights at some of the stops.

I Don’t Have Time for The Full Route, What Section Should I Drive?

Most people who travel on Route 66 do not travel the full route. And even among those who say they’ve traveled the full route between Chicago and Santa Monica, often don’t follow it faithfully, jumping on the Interstate highways to save time between major destinations.

If you have limited time, I would choose a section that fits in with your interests (e.g., vintage motels, Wild West, quirky roadside attractions, railroads) or that fits in with your other travel plans (e.g., a visit to Las Vegas or a family visit in Texas). Below is but a short list of suggestions:

Cowboys & Wild West: There are a lot of Old West oriented stops, and I’d recommend considering the Oklahoma to Arizona section. A must-stop for many is the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. Also in Oklahoma is Will Rogers’ birthplace is in Oologah, Oklahoma, the Will Rogers Memorial is in Claremore, OK, and the annual Will Rogers Memorial Rodeo is held in Vinita, OK each summer.

In Texas, Route 66 drivers may want to pull over for a steak at the Big Texan Steak Ranch and consider visits to the Devil’s Rope Museum in McClean, the American Quarter Horse Association Heritage Center and Museum in Amarillo, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum in Canyon, and the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in Hereford.

The historic Old Town of Albuquerque and Santa Fe are both great places to buy Western wear in New Mexico. In Arizona, you might want to make a pitstop at Wild West Junction in Williams, Arizona and stroll through Oatman, Arizona which was a true Old West mining town and now holds Old West shows in the middle of the street in the summer. If you end up in California, I’d highly recommend a stop at the Calico Ghost Town.

Isolated, Apocalyptic Feel:  I would drive through California’s Mojave Desert as there are several parts where you can get that isolated feel with very few tiny towns here and there. This was the end and most dangerous section for most drivers of historic Route 66 as water was scarce, distances long, and old cars could easily overheat in the desert heat. Some sections of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas can also give you this feeling, such as the section from Amarillo, TX to Albuquerque, NM.

Birthplace & History of Route 66:   I would suggest the Illinois through Oklahoma section. The route obviously begins in Chicago but Springfield, Missouri is considered the official birthplace of Route 66 (there is a plaque in Park Central Square) as this was where the meeting was held where Route 66 was officially designated as such.

Oklahoma also factors heavily into the creation of Route 66. The Father of Route 66, Oklahoma state highway official Cyrus Avery, is the reason that Route 66 had its longest stretch in Oklahoma (there is actually no reason the Route needs to run through Oklahoma at all!). You’ll find a lot of famous Route 66 sites in Oklahoma and you can visit the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City, Oklahoma to learn all about the history of this famous route. 

Cars Film Lovers:  The animated film drew inspiration from locations throughout Route 66. The town Radiator Springs is fictional and likely draws from a combination of towns rather than one specific one, although you’ll hear that many towns were “the town from Cars” whether it be Amboy, CA, Seligman, AZ, Gallup, NM, or Baxter Springs, KS.

The Texas to Arizona section probably most resembles the actual landscape in the film. I would suggest that Arizona best fits their picture of Route 66 based on the film.

None of the places or businesses or characters are real locations but are generally inspired by a combination of places along the route. For example, the Cozy Cone Motel resembles the Wigwam Motels (found in both San Bernadino, CA and Holbrook, AZ) with a name inspired by the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, IL. Sally Carrera, the fictional owner of the Cozy Cone Motel was based on the real-life Dawn Welch, who runs the Rock Cafe in Stroud Oklahoma. Other inspirations for the Cozy Cone Motel come from highway traffic cones and the Blue Swallow motel sign in Albuquerque, NM.

One of a lot of people’s favorite characters from the film was Tow Mater. If you want to see the actual tow truck that inspired Tow Mater, you’ll want to make a stop in Galena, Kansas.

If you are looking for the picturesque waterfall in the film, it sadly does not exist on Route 66 although it may have been inspired by Havasu Falls in Arizona . But visiting this waterfall requires a 3-4 hour detour, a hiking permit, and an overnight hike from Peach Springs, AZ. But you’ll see things that will remind you of the film throughout the route. Stopping at old-fashioned diners, going to some of the car museums (there are several along the route), and seeing a drive-in movie might be some fun stops for Cars fans, depending on your interests.

Old Motels:  You’ll find vintage Route 66 era motels and hotels scattered along the route and you can find them along almost any stretch. If I had to choose one state, I might choose Missouri as you’ll find a lot of notable Route 66 motels, including the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon,  Route 66 Rail Haven in Springfield, and Boots Motel in Carthage.

Another top choice would be New Mexico with classics like the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, Motel Safari in Tucumcari,  Monterey Motel  in Albuquerque,  El Rey Inn in Santa Fe , and   El Rancho Hotel & Motel  in Gallup. Tucumcari, New Mexico was once known as having a motel row with billboards along Route 66 advertising “Tucumcari Tonite”; however, while many of the neon signs have darkened it still has several fantastic old motels. 

If you want to sleep in a wigwam (concrete tee-pee), you’ll want to stop in either Holbrook Arizona or San Bernardino California to stay at the Wigwam Motel !

For those interested in the historic Fred Harvey railroad luxury hotels, a few have been restored as hotels around Route 66 such as the La Posada in Winslow, Arizona, El Tovar in the Grand Canyon, La Fonda in Santa Fe , and the   Castañeda Hotel in Las Vegas, NM.

For more options, see our guide to historic motels and hotels on Route 66 . We list over 50 historic Route 66 era motels and hotels along the route with booking details for each.

Big C ities: Those looking for big city highlights on a Route 66 road trip may be best served by starting in Chicago, Illinois and heading to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This will allow you to explore the Route 66 cities of Chicago, St. Louis, MO, Tulsa, OK, and Oklahoma City. Other places of notable size along this section of the route are Springfield, IL and Springfield, MO. You’ll also get a good sampling of smaller town and rural landscapes along the way.

Avoiding Big Cities:  You’ll notice the size of cities and towns generally decreases pretty rapidly after you leave St. Louis. For those who want to skip big cities, I’d suggest avoiding the Chicago to St. Louis stretch as well as the final stretch as you near Santa Monica and Los Angeles which are the two main areas where traffic can get heavy and slow. Any section you choose in between will have few large cities.

The only other large cities (depending on your definition of large) that you may want to detour around are Tulsa, OK,  Oklahoma City, OK, Albuquerque, NM, Santa Fe, NM and Flagstaff, AZ. Many people driving Route 66 detour around the larger cities and often you can just hop on the interstate to get through them quickly or take a beltway to loop around them.

Best Landscapes: Depends of course on the type of landscapes you want to see, but I would say Arizona as you have the desert, petrified forest, mountains, caverns, and the Painted Desert. The whole stretch from Texas to the Mojave Desert in California has some great desert and Western landscapes. 

Grapes of Wrath fans: This one’s a no-brainer, start in Oklahoma and follow “the mother road” to the California coast tracing the same route as the Joads. If you expect Oklahoma to be a giant brown, dusty prairie, you’ll be in for a surprise (in a good way!). Driving through the Mojave Desert can really help you imagine the challenging journey of those during the Dust Bowl and better understand the meaning of the phrase “California, or Bust!”.

Drive-in Movie Theaters: Most of the operational drive-in theaters along Route 66 are in the earlier part of the route between Illinois and Oklahoma, but a few are still up-and-running across the route along with a number of now abandoned ones.

Here are some that were still showing films at last check: Litchfield Sky View Drive-In in Litchfield, IL, 66 Drive-In in Carthage, MO, 19 Drive-In in Cuba, MO, Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa, OK, Winchester Drive-In in Oklahoma City, OK, Fort Union Drive-in in Las Vegas, NM, and Skyline Drive-in Theater in Barstow, CA.

While not a drive-in theater, The Route 66 Movie Theater in Webb City, MO has been showing films since 1945. There are a number of other small historical independent cinemas and theaters you can find along the route.

Do check ahead before you plan to see a film as drive-in theaters seem to close down (and also open) a lot without much warning. Most drive-in theaters are seasonal with most only open during the spring and summer months. 

Roadside Attractions: There are fun, quirky and downright weird roadside attractions all across Route 66 (and America in general for that matter) and these change as old ones are removed and new ones spring up. Here is a very partial list of some of the more quirky roadside attractions in each state so you can have an idea of which state(s) might be must-see for your Route 66 road trip depending on your interests.

  Illinois has the Muffler Men, Funk’s Grove, Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, a giant Abraham Lincoln on a covered wagon, The Fuller Dome, and the world’s largest ketchup bottle.

Missouri has the world’s largest rocking chair, the Jesse James Wax Museum, Red Oak II (art installations and restored Route 66 era buildings), and Meramec Caverns.

Kansas has the tow truck that inspired the Tow Mater character on Cars . Oklahoma has the world’s largest concrete totem pole, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, a giant oilworker, a round barn, a giant soda bottle, a giant cross, and perhaps the largest Route 66 shield in the world.

Texas has the Cadillac Ranch, VW Slug Bug Ranch, a “leaning” water tower, Big Texan Steak Ranch, a giant cross, and enormous balls of barbed wire at Devil’s Rope Museum.

New Mexico has museums dedicated to dinosaurs, Billy the Kid, and rattlesnakes, a giant roadrunner, the Blue Hole, a musical road, Tinkertown, Tee Pee Curios  and the Continental Divide.

Arizona has a Wigwam Motel, dinosaur sculptures, the Jack Rabbit Trading Post with its giant jackrabbit, giant arrows, a geodesic dome, giant lumberjacks, Grand Canyon Caverns (not the same as the Grand Canyon National Park), frog rock, Giganticus Headicus, a giant meteor crater, wild burros, and lots of petrified wood.

In California, you’ll find shoe trees, the world’s largest thermometer, a giant hula dancer, the Bagdad Cafe of movie fame, a big orange, Calico Ghost town, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, the McDonald’s Museum, and a Wigwam Motel.

Longest Stretch of Uninterrupted Route 66:   Currently the longest stretch of driveable historic Route 66 (over 150 miles) starts around Ash Fork, Arizona and ends in Topock, Arizona. This means that you don’t need to hop on the interstate at all during this drive. This is one of the most driven and busy sections of Route 66.

Grand Canyon and/or Las Vegas Bound : Consider driving the California-Arizona section. Las Vegas is convenient from around Needles, CA and the Grand Canyon is convenient from either Williams, AZ or Flagstaff, AZ. 

Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary Planning Tips

After you have decided when you want to go, how much time you have, and your sightseeing priorities, you can start putting together your Route 66 itinerary. I’d think about how much you want to drive each day and what you think you can feasibly fit into each day to help develop your itinerary and choose places to overnight. 

Historic Route 66 was about 2,448 miles (3940 km) long and today the trip is approximately 2,278 miles (3,665 km) long. So if you have 12 days to drive 2,278 miles of Route 66, you’d need to drive an average of 189 miles (304 km) per day at an average speed of 45 MPH, that would be 4.2 hours of driving each day. If you have 14 days you’d need to drive an average of 163 miles (262 km) per day with about 3 hours and 37 minutes of driving each day.  

We have had a number of people ask us to help give them a suggested itinerary, so here is our suggested 2 week Route 66 itinerary based on our experience and research (you’re very welcome!). You can use this as a basis to plan your own Route 66 itinerary. It provides a day-to-day route, mileage, driving tips, attraction highlights, dining suggestions, and accommodation suggestions.

If you have a shorter about of time, you can check out our more speedy 1 week Route 66 itinerary .

Choosing Transportation for a Route 66 Road Trip?

It wouldn’t be a road trip unless you were driving, so either you’ll need to supply your own vehicle or motorcycle or you’ll need to rent one. If you are planning on renting, you should consider whether you want to stay in lodging along the way, bring camping gear to set up a tent at campsites along the way, or if you want to be able to sleep in your vehicle such as with a campervan or RV.

If you are doing a round-trip journey, you’ll have more options for rentals. But many drivers will want to do a one-way Route 66 road trip that allows them rent a vehicle at one end of the journey (e.g., Chicago) and return it at the other end (e.g., Los Angeles). So you will need to pay attention to companies that offer one-way rentals and any one-way fees that may be charged on rentals.

There are a lot of major rental car rental companies (e.g.,  Enterprise , Budget , Avis , etc.) that have rental offices in both Chicago and Los Angeles and allow one-way rentals. Unless you have a preferred company, we recommend using a rental car comparison website to check around and compare prices . 

Renting hybrid and electric cars is possible. There are electric charging stations along Route 66 but they are limited along some sections, so I’d check for EV charging stations along the route in advance to ensure you don’t run out of charge if driving an all-electric car. You will need to know what type of charge your car needs and what kind of connectors your car will accept when checking for stations. Note that the current costs for renting and insuring electric cars is often much higher than combustion engine cars.

Those wanting to hire either a classic car or newer sports car (e.g., a Ford Mustang or Chevy Corvette) should expect much higher rental rates. Many of the major rental companies offer convertibles and other sports cars, and there are a couple of car rental companies that specialize in classic car rentals like Ride Free .

For RV rentals, there are several companies that allow one-way rentals with offices in both Chicago and Los Angeles which include USA Rentals  and  Cruise America .  We recommend using Motorhome Republic for RV rental as they compare prices across the major RV rental firms in the USA, including Cruise America, Apollo, El Monte RV, and Jucy, to find the best price for you. You can book your RV for the USA through them here .

For those who are doing a round-trip route (returning to where you started), peer-to-peer RV sites, like Outdoorsy , RVShare , or RVEzy may be another option. These sites allow people to rent out their campervans, RVs, motorhomes, travel trailers, etc. to people when they are not being used.

Those looking for a motorcycle rental for Route 66 might want to check out Eagle Rider  and  Ride Free .  

To rent a vehicle or RV in the United States, you typically need to be at least 21 years of age (25 years of age is the minimum at many rental companies) and have a valid driver’s license. If you are not an American citizen you may need an international driving permit or an authorized English translation of your driving credentials. If you are an international driver and have never driven in the U.S., you should check out this article from Laurence about tips for driving in the U.S. for non-American drivers.

Car insurance is mandatory in most of the USA and is necessary if you plan to drive Route 66. Most states require some level of liability insurance coverage and this is usually included as part of the rental car price. For any type of rental, you’ll want to research what insurance coverage is included in the rental and what is recommended. You may have additional coverage for rental cars included as part of your own car insurance (particularly Americans) or as part of your credit card benefits.

When comparing prices, you’ll want to specifically check on any one-way drop-off fees which can add an additional $100 or more to a rental car price. Airport pick-ups and drop-offs can also be more expensive than picking up or dropping off a rental car at other locations.

Note that you should consider if you need a rental car for your entire trip. For Chicago and Los Angeles, you can get around both cities without a car pretty easily. Both cities offer public transit options (buses and trains), taxis, ride sharing services (e.g, Uber and Lyft), suburban trains, sightseeing buses, bike rentals, etc. If you plan to spend much time in either city, you might consider picking up your rental later or dropping it off earlier to save money (rental days and parking fees) and to avoid driving in these cities.

We have done Route 66 both in a campervan rental and with a regular car rental. Our first time we rented a small camervan from JUCY, which specialize in small custom-built campervan hires. Hiring a campervan gave us the option to sleep and eat (there is a small kitchen included!) in the RV, and this helped us save a lot of time and money along the way.

You can read our full review of our JUCY campervan experience . However, this is not currently an option for those driving the full route one-way but may be great for those driving only a western section and can return the van in California or Las Vegas.

Are Escorted or Guided Route 66 Tours Available? 

Yes, indeed, there are several group and guided tours available for those wanting to traverse Route 66 by car, bus, or motorcycle. Some cover the full route and others cover only sections of Route 66.

G roup tours may be a particularly good fit for foreign travelers who don’t speak much English, those who feel uncomfortable traveling independently, those unable to rent a car, or solo travelers wanting company during their trip.

If you are traveling from Europe, you might consider this 17-day guided tour of Route 66 by Titan Travel that includes your flights, transport, accommodation, and a number of entry fees/excursions. Geared to those who want a comfortable journey.

There are also a number of tours listed on TourRadar, including this 14-day tour and this 16-day tour . You can see more Route 66 tour options here .

Those wanting to join a guided bus Route 66 tour might want to check out itineraries from  G Adventures . They don’t offer full Route 66 trips, but drive sections of Route 66 while also visiting places like Los Angeles, the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and Yosemite National Park.

Those wanting to travel on a motorcycle or classic car with a group of other Route 66 travelers should check out Eagle Rider and Ride Free .

Dining along Route 66?

There are ample places to eat along Route 66. You’ll find food options in almost any town along the route. There are lunch options in most towns of any size along the route, but dinner options can be more limited in smaller towns and rural areas.

If you are looking for a list of restaurants along Route 66, we recommend checking out the day-by-day Route 66 dining suggestions sections within our 2-week Route 66 itinerary . It lists a number of recommended places to dine across the full route with a focus on classic diners and restaurants.

Route 66 era diners are still serving up classic American road food such as hamburgers, chili, fried chicken, BBQ pork, milkshakes, and corn dogs. You’ll also find plenty of chain fast food places, independent restaurants, and even fine dining restaurants along the route.

Food options vary depending on the region. Some classics include green chili smothered burritos in New Mexico, steak in Texas, onion burgers in Oklahoma, frozen custard in Missouri, and cozy dogs in Illinois.

Vegetarians, vegans, and those with other kinds of special diets may have limited options in smaller towns along the route. While options have improved in recent years, you may want to keep snacks always on hand in your car to ensure you always have something to eat. 

Most lunch spots require no reservations and most of the casual spots for dinner also do not require reservations unless you have a large group. We rarely made reservations along the route and were very flexible with where we ate.

However, if there is a more special restaurant you want to go to, especially for those in the larger cities, you should check its website to see if reservations are recommended. Some of the popular restaurants in places like Chicago and Los Angeles can book out weeks in advance.

For those who want to cook their own meals, do picnics, or buy snacks, you will find an ample amount of grocery stores along the route. Some common grocery stores along Route 66 include Kroger, Walmart (most Walmart stores have a large grocery section), Albertson’s, Smith’s, Aldi, Safeway, and Whole Foods. In smaller towns, you can try fuel stations, convenience stores, and general stores for pantry staples.

Lodging along Route 66?

You’ll find lots of accommodation options along Route 66 and options that will fit just about any budget. Options include motels, hotels, campsites, RV parks, B&Bs, vacation rentals, hostels, and more.

For many years, the best resource to find hotels and restaurants was the Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide, which listed over 500 restaurants and motels throughout the route. Sadly, it published its final edition in 2015 and the guide is now difficult to find and some of its listings are now outdated.

So we now refer people to check out the day-by-day Route 66 lodging suggestions section within our 2-week Route 66 itinerary . It lists recommended places stay for each day. We also have a dedicated Route 66 hotels and motels guide which offers a list of over 50 classic Route 66 era lodging options.

If you are looking for a printed guidebok to take with you, we recommend the most recent edition of this guidebook which is edited by the  National Historic Route 66 Federation. It isn’t as good or as comprehensive as the Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide but still provides some excellent recommendations.

 One of the joys of a Route 66 road trip for many is staying in some wonderful old vintage motels or motor courts. There are many Route 66 era motels and several newer ones along the route dedicated to serving Route 66 tourists. The options are really varied and you can even sleep in a wigwam (e.g., Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, CA) or stay in a room where a celebrity such as Clark Gable ( Boots Court Motel in Carthage, MO) or Elvis Presley stayed ( Route 66 Rail Haven in Springfield, MO). There are also some stunning historical hotels along the route, some dating back to the last 19th century and early twentieth century.

Even if you are primarily planning to camp or stay in an RV, I’d highly recommend staying at least one or two nights at a vintage motel along the route. Not only is this a great Route 66 experience, but your patronage supports these mostly family-run businesses and helps them keep their neon signs burning! We definitely enjoyed these stays.

Note that many hotels and campgrounds offer discounts for a number of reasons (seniors, U.S. military, AAA members ), so be sure to check to see when booking and bring along proof at check-in (e.g., ID, membership card). Also you may want to sign up for a loyalty or rewards program if you plan to stay in a number of the same types of properties (e.g., Choice Hotels, Hilton, Marriott, KOA RV parks) to receive perks, discounts, and free stays.

Another option for those who want their own place and perhaps want to cook for themselves is to consider staying in vacation rentals along the route. We generally find these to be a better value for those staying for more than a couple of nights at a time. The best places to search for vacation rentals along Route 66 include Booking.com , Vrbo , and Airbnb . Other places to check include The Plum Guide and Marriott Home & Villas .

For those on a tight budget, note that free primitive camping (no hook-ups) is available on many public lands administered by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management) and the USFS (US Forest Service) as well as some other organizations or even private ranches. Some WalMart stores also offer free overnight parking although policies are store-specific and at the discretion of each store manager so you will need to ask.

For all those planning to camp or RV along Route 66, see our camping and RV resource list later in the post for more information and helpful websites.

How Much Should I Plan Ahead?

This really depends on your style of travel, and some people plan nothing ahead and just drive the route and others plan in detail what they are going to see each day. I’d suggest something in between where you do some research and buy a guidebook to figure out what places you’d like to visit and where you generally plan to go along the route. I’m generally a person who plans everything out if I can but I think in keeping with the spirit of Route 66, it is better to take it slow and not have a lot of hard plans if possible.

It is nice to be able to have flexibility in terms of how much time you spend in an area and how far you drive each day as you may end up spending much more time in a place than you expected. For instance, we never planned our lodging more than a day in advance and this worked out well for us and we generally stopped for lunch whenever we got hungry.

We did make a general itinerary before our trip, but we didn’t end up sticking to it on a day-to-day basis as it was hard to anticipate how far we’d get each day and it was good to be able to go off and visit an interesting attraction someone told us about even if it was 30 miles off the route. It is good to be able to have this sort of freedom if you can. If you have fairly limited time for your Route 66 road trip, I’d suggest doing a bit more planning ahead of time to get the most out of your trip so you can use your limited time as wisely as possible.

Even if you want to just get in your car with no plans, there are a few things I’d recommend you do in advance. These include getting any necessary travel documents, renting your car, booking your first night stay, and booking any special motels or events along the route.

If you are not a U.S. citizen or resident, you’ll need a passport and likely a visa to enter the United States. You’ll also want to have proof of exit (e.g., a plane ticket out of the country) as you may be asked to show it at immigration. If you need an International Driving Permit or translation of your driving credentials, I’d order it well in advance.

If you are renting a car or RV, I’d book that in advance to ensure you have one waiting and to get the best rates. If you try doing this once you arrive, you will likely pay more and have limited options.

If there are any popular  Route 66 motels (e.g. WigWam Motel or Blue Swallow) that you really want to stay in, I’d consider booking them in advance to ensure you get to sleep there. Those who have special room requirements (e.g., wheelchair accessible, large family rooms, etc.) should also consider booking rooms in advance.

If you are heading to the Grand Canyon National Park or another national park along your trip, I’d book lodging there well in advance. These are regularly fully booked, especially in the summer months. 

Also if there are any special events or festivals you want to attend during your trip, I’d check to see if you need to buy tickets in advance. For example, if you want to go to a popular concert, baseball game, or festival, you may need to pre-book tickets to ensure you are able to attend.

How much money to budget for Route 66 road trip?

The amount of money to budget for your Route 66 trip is really going to depend on where you are coming from, how many days you plan to be on the route, how you plan to travel along the route (e.g., sports car staying in hotels, campervan stopping at campsites), how many attractions you plan to visit, and your travel style.

The great thing is that a lot of the expenses you’ll hopefully know well before you leave home, including any flights, insurance, car rental expenses, and any needed travel documents for traveling and driving in the USA (e.g., visa, passport, vaccination certificate, driving certificates). So if you are unsure of these costs, I’d price them in advance as these can be a significant portion of your budget, especially if you are an international traveler, and will depend a lot on where you are coming from.

Now, the rest of your costs will come along the trip itself and will include things like lodging, fuel, food, attraction entry fees, tours, and souvenirs. I would say a budget of between $200 to $300 per day for 2 people traveling together and sharing a room is a reasonable Route 66 budget.

For a couple traveling together on a small budget, I would say a budget of $100 to $150 per day would probably be about the lowest budget I would recommend. This would entail camping or staying in hostels or budget motels, eating at fast food restaurants or diners or cooking for one’s self, and a limited amount of spending on things like attractions and souvenirs. If you have a small budget, I’d definitely try to plan ahead to ensure you can stick to it and I’d consider camping to save on both lodging and food costs. So maybe with a campervan, an average day would be $25 for camping fees, $20 meals (groceries for picnics and cooked meals), $55 fuel, and $20 attractions.

A lot of our readers who have contacted us often have a Route 66 budget of between $200 and $250 per day for 2 persons and this will give you a lot more flexibility. This would allow for budget to mid-range lodging, diner meals, and stopping at one or two attractions each day. So maybe an average day would be $100 for lodging, $60 meals, $50 fuel, and $20 attractions.

A daily budget of over $300 for 2 persons per day will give you even more flexibility. This would allow for mid-range to luxury lodging, restaurant meals, and multiple attractions per day. So maybe an average day would be $200 for lodging, $100 meals, $50 fuel, and $50 attractions.

If you already have an idea of your budget, you can work backward to find your daily budget. Let’s say you have $6500 saved for your trip. Your plane tickets, car rental, and travel insurance cost you $2500. That gives you $4000 for the rest of your expenses like lodging, meals, attractions, gas, attractions, tours, shopping, etc. If you are planning to spend 2 weeks driving Route 66, that gives you an average budget of $285 per day.

Some costs will be flexible and you can determine how important various elements of your trip are to you. Even with the same budget, you can prioritize the elements most important to you and try to save on the others. For instance, if lodging and attraction are most important to you, you can save money by looking for inexpensive meals. Whereas another person with the same budget might like to have a nice sit-down meal with drinks every night but care less about lodging and attractions.

If you have a budget you need to stick to during your trip, I’d recommend checking prices and booking what you can ahead for things like lodging so you know those costs in advance. If you want to stick to say a $100 average daily lodging budget, then booking ahead can ensure you can do that. If you wait until the last minute, you may end up paying more than planned. For instance, for lodging, we book all our own via Booking.com and generally book places with free cancellation (by a certain date) and then can keep track of it all in one place.

One price you are not going to have much control over is fuel costs. Once you know what kind of car you’ll be driving, I’d recommend using AAA Gas Prices and Gasbuddy to search for current and average fuel prices as well as doing gas trip calculator costs to get an idea of that expense for your budget. Fuel prices will vary by state. Electric cars will save you money in energy costs but they often cost more to rent and insure.

If you track your daily expenses during your trip and find you are spending more than expected, you can spend less on things like food or attractions later in the trip for example.

You’ll likely need to spend more on lodging and food in places like Chicago, Santa Fe, and Los Angeles, but you can save money in the smaller towns and cities along the way. So keep in mind while you may have a budget of $100 per night on lodging, it is likely you will be paying a bit more in the bigger cities but can find lower prices in the smaller cities and towns along the route to keep to an average of $100 per night.

How Safe is Traveling Route 66? 

We felt safe during our trip and did not have any incidents; however, crime does happen along the route and you should be cautious, especially if you are traveling by yourself. Crime rates vary considerably along the route from big cities like Los Angeles and Chicago where there is higher rates of crime to small little towns in Oklahoma or Arizona where crime is relatively rare.

Most crime, especially violent crime, happens late at night or early in the morning. So completing your sightseeing by dinner time (most things are closed by then anyway) and heading off to your accommodation for the night may make you feel safer, especially if you are new to traveling in the United States.

The most common problem is probably theft (of valuables and cars) you should follow all the practical travel safety guidelines as you would elsewhere. Keep your valuables hidden, car and hotel doors locked, and be cautious about opening motel or hotel doors to people you don’t know. Travel insurance for any expensive valuables may be a good idea if traveling with items that would be costly for you to replace.

If you are wearing a purse, I’d wear a cross body one that is difficult for someone to snatch and being hands-free makes them less likely to be sat down and left behind. Those with wallets may want to keep them in their front pants pockets (rather than back ones) or inside shirt pockets to make them more secure. You might also consider a hidden travel safety garment such as a hidden pocket to store extra money, IDs, and valuables.

Have copies of important travel documents, phone numbers, IDs, credit cards, vaccination certificates, and insurance information stored in a separate place (in physical and/or digital formats) in case of theft. If someone stole your purse, phone, luggage, and/or car, would you still have access to your IDs and money?

Keep your cell phones charged and carry a spare battery or charger. Always have a bit of cash on you ($20 to $100) but don’t carry large amounts of cash in case you are robbed.

Travelers should always let family or friends know about your trip and it is a good idea to share you itinerary with at least one person, especially if traveling solo. Some people, especially women, also like to carry pepper spray .

If you are camping, I’d stay at proper campsites with staff on-site and avoid camping off by yourself out of sight of others. If staying in budget motels, hostels, or rented rooms (e.g., Airbnb ), I’d be sure to read reviews and check on the area a bit (especially in larger cities) to try to avoid high crime areas. It can also help to make sure you have your lodging booked ahead at least a day or two in advance so you are never scrambling to find lodging late at night.

For digital safety, you should consider using a travel router and/or a VPN to help protect you when using public and hotel Internet. If you are using unsecured public WiFi, it is recommended that you don’t log-in to any data-sensitive sites (e.g., banks, emails, workplace accounts) or share any personal information.

Hopefully, you will not need medical care on your trip, but the United States does have world-class health care facilities. However, health care in the United States is notoriously expensive compared to most other countries. Make sure you have your health insurance information with you. If you are traveling from outside of the USA, be sure that you have travel insurance or medical insurance that covers medical care in the United States. A medical emergency could cost you tens of thousands of dollars without insurance.

We did not have any safety-related issues during our trip but I think you should definitely watch out for yourself like you would anywhere else and if you are new to these areas, it is always good to be a little extra cautious.

Can I Bring my Pets along Route 66?

Yes, of course, you can bring along your pets. The better question of course is to decide if you should bring along pets. It can be great to have the companionship of your dog on a trip but it also will limit where you can go and how much time you can spend exploring attractions along the route. 

Many museums, attractions, restaurants, and hotels along Route 66 do not allow dogs (except ADA service dogs) or other pets. You can of course find many places you can go with your dog and several motel and hotel chains are pet friendly (e.g., Motel 6, Courtyard by Marriott) but it does limit your options. Most RV sites and campgrounds allow dogs so traveling with an RV can be a good option for pet owners.

Most motels and hotels have policies where you are not allowed to leave you pet unattended in the room which means one person should always stay with the pet. You should also of course not leave your pets unattended in a vehicle and in many U.S. states it is illegal to leave pets unattended in cars, especially in hot temperatures. It can be very hot (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit) when driving the sections in the West, especially in the summer months, and these temperatures can be dangerous to pets, especially larger dogs. 

So I would balance your sightseeing priorities, the wellbeing of your pet, and the practicalities of traveling with your dog. We actually have driven parts of Route 66 with pets, once with 1 cat in a car and once with  2 cats in a campervan. It definitely limited our sightseeing, meant more picnics and drive-through food than long sit-down meals, and limited our hotel choices. Although we love our cats, we were definitely were able to travel more freely in the times we did not have the cats with us.

How Accessible is Route 66? 

If you (or your travel companion) are traveling in a wheelchair or have limited mobility, there are of course some things that will be more difficult and some places you will not be able to visit or stay. However, the great news is that a large number of the attractions can be seen from the road and you don’t even need to get out of the car to see most of Route 66’s roadside attractions, historic buildings, neon signs, etc.

I would make a list of the top places you want to see and then look up accessibility information to get an idea of what you will and will not be able to visit and see. For example the Meramec Caverns cave tour is not currently wheelchair accessible but the majority of the National Route 66 Museum complex is wheelchair accessible. Santa Monica has free all-terrain and beach wheelchairs available to rent that visitors can use to explore the area and beaches.

We would recommend that those with limited mobility, especially those with a wheelchair, book their accommodation in advance to be sure to get accessible rooms as options can be limited in the smaller towns and cities. Many motels and hotels along the route have wheelchair-accessible rooms available and most can be booked online, but you may want to call the property directly if you have any questions about any accessibility features.

Many of the historical hotels cannot accommodate wheelchairs due to the nature of the property (stairs, no elevator), but many of the vintage motor court motels are ground level with no steps although not all have fully accessible rooms.

We provide accessibility information (as provided by the property) for each of the lodging options included in our Route 66 hotels and motels guide . This might be a good place to start for those looking for wheelchair-accessible lodging, particularly those interested in staying in historic motels and hotels along the route.

Route 66 Road Trip Supplies?

Everybody has a set of different things that they may want to take with them on a road trip, but t hings that I would recommend bringing with you or purchasing at the beginning of your road trip are a Route 66 guidebook or two, a road atlas or set of maps, a camera, rain protection, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a reusable water bottle, snacks, a car rubbish bag, car safety and maintenance kit, and a basic First Aid kit.

Be sure to bring plenty of protection from the sun and to keep your water bottles filled on your trip to protect against dehydration. Wear sunscreen daily even if you plan to stay in the vehicle most of the day as you can still get sun damage from UVA rays !

Note that there may be periods of a few hours, especially in the Mojave desert, where access to basic essentials are limited so keep water and snacks in the car. Tap water is generally safe throughout the United States so you can drink water directly from the sink taps or water fountains, but do not obviously drink untreated water from rivers, lakes, unknown wells, or other such sources.

I’d also recommend bringing along a travel journal to jot down notes and record your road trip adventures, and perhaps a deck of cards or road-friendly games to play as you’ll be spending a lot of time in the car. If traveling with kids, you’ll definitely want to make sure they have some things to entertain them.

I would keep U.S. dollars on you at all times as some smaller businesses along Route 66 will only accept cash, especially for small transactions. Donations for entry to free attractions are often only accepted in cash as well. For street parking along the road trip, it is a good idea to always have some coins with you for street parking to pay the parking meters. Although more and more allow you to pay via credit cards or parking apps.

Also, just note that if you are traveling from outside the U.S., your credit and debit cards may not work in automated machines such as at gas stations, many of which will require a debit or credit card with a U.S. billing address. Normally you can get around this by paying a person inside, but at night you typically can only pay outside at the gas pump by card.

For the vehicle, make sure you have a good spare tire (and way to change it), a GPS (optional but recommended), and a good road atlas or set of maps for each state. Remember that Route 66 is probably not going to be marked on your maps or GPS, so you’ll still need to use a guidebook or maps to help direct you. 

If you will be driving a rental car or RV, make sure you know how everything works (e.g., headlights, turning signals, heater) before you go and ask who you should contact in cases of a flat tire, accident, or mechanical failures. 

I also recommend putting together a collection of Route 66 inspired music whether in digital, CD, MP3, or other format for your road trip. Just make sure the music will play without an Internet connection. See recommended songs and music compilations in the next section that can help you start to build the ultimate soundtrack for your Route 66 road trip! 

Quick list of some items you may want to pack along for your Route 66 road trip:

• Sunscreen . We recommend getting something with an SPF of at least 30, but really the higher the better. We personally use and like Neutrogena sunscreens and La Roche Posay sunscreens the best.
• Sun protection such as hats, sunglasses and clothing, particularly if traveling in the summer.
• Insect repellent may be useful but depends on when and where you go. We weren’t bothered by insects much, but recommended for those who plan to do a fair amount of hiking in summer, especially in areas near bodies of water or forested areas. Just make sure it protects against the kind of insects likely encountered in those areas (e.g., ticks, mosquitoes, etc.).
• Rain protection , such as an umbrella, reusable poncho, or rain jacket. For those traveling and rented a vehicle with limited space, a reusable poncho or travel umbrella might work best.
• Reusable water bottle . We recommend a reusable water bottle for each person on the road trip so that you always have water with you. Coffee and tea lovers may also want a travel thermos like this one .
• Snacks as it can be a bit of a drive between restaurants in some places. We recommend things like granola bars, trail mix , nuts, pretzels, jerky, dried fruit, etc. that will still be good if it sits all day in a hot car.
• Picnic gear . Those planning on taking along sandwiches, having picnics, and keeping soda cold will want to pack a cooler . You’ll also want to take along some eating utensils, plates, drinking glasses, napkins, etc. You might also consider a cute shopping tote that doubles as a picnic basket. Picnics can be a great way to save money on your travels, especially for families.
• Rubbish bag or bin for car . It is good to have a designated place to keep trash in car until you can find an appropriate place to properly dispose of it. You might want to have a second one for recycling.
• Face coverings and hand sanitizer gel . Hand sanitizer gel with at least 60% alcohol is recommended to be effective against COVID-19 and similar viruses. Great to sanitize hands and other surfaces when water and soap are not available.
• Travel wipes . We recommend keeping a pack of travel wipes or mini towels in the car to wipe hands and clean up spills. Great for messy kids.
• Travel journal , such as this one or this one , to jot down memories and notes about your experiences.
• Games and toys . Keep entertained with car games, cards, word searches, sketching books, coloring books, and quiz games. There are plenty of car games and travel sized activities for both children and adults.
• Windshield shade . If traveling in the summer, we recommend a car windshield shield that helps keep the car shaded and cooler. A lifesaver if you have leather seats. Most of these are lightweight and fold up easily.
• Car power inverter . Need to charge electronic devices such as laptops, camera batteries, or tablets on the road? Consider a power inverter for cars and RVs; we used this one on our road trip. They plug into the cigarette lighters and allow you to charge devices with both AC electrical plugs and USBs in the car.
• Travel adapters . If traveling from outside of the USA, you’ll likely need a travel adapter to plug in your electronic devices. We recommend getting a couple of universal adapters, we use these ones . Be sure to only bring electronics that will work with 110V.
• Route 66 guidebooks and navigational books. We used and can recommend the latest editions of the EZ66 Guide and Adventure Handbook . See our Route 66 Trip Planning Materials section for more information and recommendations.
• GPS or Maps Data . We had a   GPS navigation unit for the car. Many rental cars come with these or you can add one onto most rentals. You can also use your phone if you’ll have data instead and access a maps system such as Google Maps. Just make sure whatever you have will work without Internet access.
• USA road atlas . We always like having a set of physical maps on hand and recommend a good USA road atlas – we personally like the spiral-bound ones from Rand McNally or AAA best for the United States. Michelin and National Geographic also make good maps and atlases. Individual state maps of the 8 states also work.
• Multi-tool . Multi-tools often contain things like screwdrivers, tweezers, pliers, scissors, knives, bottle openers, nail files, and carabiners which often come in handy for fixing and opening things. Laurence always travels with a Leatherman tool . They are great to have with you on your travels, just be aware that these often can’t be taken onto airplanes and will need to be packed in your checked luggage.
• Basic car safety and maintenance supplies . A spare tire and good car safety kit that includes things like reflective signals, safety vest, jumper cables, and flashlight, gloves, and basic medica supplies. If renting a car or RV, these will likely come with it.
• First Aid medical supplies kit . It is good to have basic medical supplies in the car such as bandages, gauze, pain relievers, antiseptic, tweezers, and medical tape. You can buy a pre-made travel kit or make your own. These items may come as part of a roadside safety kit as well.
• Route 66 music , such as this Route 66 inspired song collection , which is available in a variety of formats including CD, MP3, or streaming.

You can also see the majority of the products we recommend for a Route 66 trip above in a complete list on Amazon here  for reference.

Inspiration for your Route 66 Road Trip

Here are some of my recommendations for media that contains cultural references to the famous Route 66. These are great for getting you excited prior to your road trip or can make for great reading, watching, and listening materials during the road trip. Also great for those who are not planning to drive Route 66, but interested in learning more about it. Those marked with asterisks are my favorites.

Route 66 Novels

• Grapes of Wrath (novel) * – The 1939 Pulitzer-prize winning novel by John Steinbeck that traces the journey of the Joad family during the Great Depression as they travel west along Route 66. The most famous and greatest literary work that concerns Route 66, and this is where Steinbeck refers to Route 66 as the “Mother Road”. Not light reading but this American classic is highly recommended reading for anyone!
• On the Road (book) * – A 1957 novel by Jack Kerouac about a man from Sal Paradise who travels by road around the United States and meets members of the Beat Generation. The book is based on Kerouac owns years of traveling the U.S. While only a small part of it takes place on Route 66, it does provide a good snapshot into the postwar Beat Generation and is a classic American road trip novel. 

Route 66 Films

• Grapes of Wrath (film) *- A 1940 film adaptation of Steinbeck’s novel directed by John Ford. A great film; however, it removes characters from the novel and is a more optimistic and less controversial depiction compared to the novel.
• On the Road (film) – A 2012 film adaption of Jack Kerouac’s novel. Not the best reviewed film, but there is a lot of time spent on the road. Note there is quite a bit of nudity and sexual and drug-related content.  
• Cars (animated film) * This 2006 animated film by Pixar and Disney, tells the story of a popular race car who unexpectedly ends up stranded in the small town of Radiator Springs located along historic Route 66. The family-friendly film makes clear and constant references to Route 66, its history and its decline due to the U.S. federal interstate system, as well as references to specific people and places along the route. Fun to watch both before and after your road trip, as you notice so many more things after your trip.
• Easy Rider (film) – The famous 1969 biker film that has Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper traveling through parts of the American Southwest and South by motorcycle. Only parts of it take place on Route 66, but great for those hoping to see Route 66 by motorcycle.
• Thelma & Louise (film) – A 1991 crime film about two women who set out on a 2-day road trip that ends with deadly consequences. Again, only parts actually take place on Route 66, This is the film that really introduced Brad Pitt to the world.
• Little Miss Sunshine (film) * – A 2006 American comedy/drama film about a dysfunctional family who drives their 7-year-old daughter Olive from Albuquerque, NM to Redondo Beach, CA for a beauty pageant in an antique Volkswagen bus.
• Bagdad Cafe (film) * – A 1987 West German film about a woman running an isolated run-down cafe and motel in the California desert frequented by truck drivers and drifters. A bit odd and slow to get going but we enjoyed it. The filming location can still be visited in Newberry Springs, CA which is located on Route 66.
• Paris, Texas (film) – A 1984 French-German film about a man who has been wandering the the desert and comes back to reunite with his brother and son. He and his son then travel in the American Southwest to find this wife. This film is loosely related to Route 66.
• Wild Hogs (film) – A 2007 comedy starring John Travolta, Tim Allen, Martin Lawrence and William H. Macy who are middle-aged friends from Cincinnati, Ohio who decide to drive their Harleys to California in search of a little adventure. The Film includes some scenes shot along Route 66, particularly in New Mexico.

Route 66 TV Series

• Route 66 (TV series) – American TV show of the early 1960’s follows the travels of two men as they drive around the United States. This show popularized the idea of driving Route 66 in a Chevrolet Corvette (Chevrolet was a sponsor of the show). Oddly, very little of the actual show takes place or was filmed on location along Route 66 although it provides an interesting look at America in the 1960’s nonetheless.
• Bagdad Cafe (TV Series) – A 1990s short-lived TV sitcom based on the film of the same name, starring actresses Whoopi Goldberg and Jean Stapleton. 

Route 66 Music

• (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 (song) * – This rhythm and blues song written in 1946 by Bobby Troup popularized the highway and is by far the most popular song about the highway. First recorded by Nat King Cole, it has been sung by everyone from Jerry Lee Lewis to the Rolling Stones. This is the one must-have song for your Route 66 road trip sound track!

Route 66 – Songs From The Mother Road (music collection) – A audio CD of Route 66 related song sung by the Road Crew.

• The Songs Of Route 66: Music From The All-American Highway (music collection)
• More Song s of Route 66: Roadside Attractions  (music collection) 
• Even More Songs Of Route 66: From Here To There (music collection)

Route 66 Photos

• There are lots of photos taken from Route 66, both recent and vintage, that you can scroll with a simple online search. For some of our photos, see our Route 66 photos gallery . If you are looking for prints or canvases of a specific attraction or place along Route 66, just let us know and we can see if we have it!

Route 66 Road Trip Planning Materials

This section covers helpful suggested resources to help in planning and enhancing your Route 66 trip, including Route 66 guidebooks, maps, and useful websites. 

Route 66 Planning Books & Maps

I’d recommend that all travelers invest in at least one guidebook to help point out and give some background on interesting highlights and attractions along the route. Also since historic Route 66 is not well-marked and is not denoted on a regular map, you’ll also want a guide to help keep you on the route.

Paper maps and road atlases may seem dated to many young travelers, but I would highly recommend having them available even if you plan to primarily navigate using a GPS or maps app on your smartphone. Given that things change regularly (probably daily) on Route 66, try to buy the most up-to-date guides and maps available. It can be quite disappointing to turn up to eat at a historic restaurant to find out it closed 5 years ago or find your chosen route blocked by a missing bridge.

Some books are best to read before your journey. I personally bought a copy of Route 66: The Mother Road  prior to our journey and found it a great book to read or skim through for history, funny and touching travel stories, profiles of people who work along Route 66, etc. It also provides some good tips and points you to many highlights, but I found it better for background reading than actual trip planning.

Other books are worth taking with you on your trip. Before our trip, we purchased the EZ66 Guide for Travelers , the Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide , the Route 66 Adventure Handbook , and the Here It Is Route 66 maps. We also took along and picked up an assortment of national, state, and regional maps during our journey. See our suggestions below, ones we personally own and used are marked with an asterisk.

Pre-Trip Planning / Armchair Travels:

Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition by Michael Wallis* – This book gives a good overview of Route 66’s history as well as personal stories and attraction highlights. Highly recommended for a pre-road trip read for those interested in the history of Route 66 and the people who worked (and are still working) along it. 

The Illustrated Route 66 Historical Atlas by Jim Hinckley – A illustrated guide to Route 66 that includes lots of historical information, photos, and maps. This is a great read for those looking for pre-planning information or those just wanting to learn more about the route, but probably not the best day-to-day guide during the trip. Jim Hinckley is an expert on the road and has written a number of Route 66 books and reference guides about Route 66, including this great encyclopedia reference about the route.

On the Road Route 66 Guides & Resources: 

• Our 2 Week Route 66 Itinerary   – We recommend checking out our free suggested Route 66 itinerary to use both in pre-planning and during your road trip. It provides a suggested route split over 14 days, attraction highlights, and suggested places to eat and drink along the route each day. We recommend it be used in conjunction with the EZ66 Guide (to keep you on Route 66), good maps or an USA atlas, and an attraction guide (such as the Route 66 Adventure Handbook to give you more context and more attraction suggestions).
• EZ66 Guide for Travelers by Jerry McClanahan* – This guide helps you easily find the route and stay on it almost turn-by-turn during the full 2,400 mile journey. It was our day-to-day bible to our journey when we were driving Route 66. The guide also lists attraction highlights, historic details, and provides general maps. You can even visit Jerry in his art studio in Chandler, OK and get your guide signed by the author like we did. Highly recommended for anyone wanting turn-by-turn sort of advice on driving Route 66 and those wanting to be as faithful to staying on the route as possible. Be sure to get the latest edition!
• Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide by the National Historic Route 66 Federation* – An objective guide of over 500 places to eat, drink, and sleep along Route 66. We found this very useful when looking for places to eat or stay along the route, it is also great for locating historic, unique, and atmospheric options along the route. Highly recommended and proceeds go to supporting the National Historic Route 66 Federation preservation efforts. NOTE: Sadly the 17th edition in 2015 was its final edition, and it is has recently become difficult to find a copy of this guide. 
• Route 66 Adventure Handbook by Drew Knowles* – This book provides a good guide to driving Route 66 (although not a turn-by-turn guide) and an excellent overview of all the roadside attractions along Route 66 as well as some advice on motels and dining options. The highlights for us were the lists of attractions along the route as well as additional side trips that one could take near the route which are not often included in other guides and were helpful when we were spending more time in a location. This book also provides a unique section teaching you how to identify old sections of Route 66. Recommended for almost anyone interested in attractions along the route, both Route 66 specific and those a bit further afield. Be sure to get the latest edition.
• Route 66: Guided Tour Book by David Knudson – This is one of the newest guides to Route 66 and was edited by the National Historic Route 66 Federation. We haven’t used this one but the guide is meant to provide attractions and activity recommendations along the route and to be used in conjunction with the EZ66 Guide for Travelers. It also is meant to fill in more dining and lodging recommendations with the discontinuation of the Dining & Lodging guide; however, those listings are not as comprehensive as they were in that guide.

Here It Is! The Route 66 Map Series * – A set of 8 hand-drawn maps of each state along Route 66 that provide both eastbound and westbound directions driving directions and the most popular attractions are listed on the map. We found the maps useful to get a sense of each state, the ordering of the towns and attractions, and for knowing the exit numbers. However we found the driving directions in the EZ66 Guide for Travelers easier to follow. Not essential but very useful. Be sure to get the latest edition!

• A USA Road Atlas *- There are many road atlases available, just make sure that you buy one that goes into sufficient detail, covers all the states, and has been recently updated. I can personally recommend the Rand McNally road atlas for road travel in the United States and I have also used ones by AAA. If you don’t get a road atlas, I’d recommend picking up state maps as you go along (often you can get pick these for free or low cost at visitor centers or buy one at gas stations and convenience stores). 
• A motorcycle-focused guide to Route 66 – I can’t personally recommend any of them but bikers may want to consider one of several motorcycle-focused guides to Route 66. This one appears to be comprehensive and recently updated. Note that many of these have not been updated so be sure to check the date of publication and read recent reviews.

Helpful Route 66 Road Trip Planning Websites

Here are some Route 66 related websites that may be helpful to planning your Route 66 trip.

National Route 66 Websites:

• National Historic Route 66 Federation – National non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Route 66, check it out for latest information, preservation news, and a good Route 66 online store:   https://www.national66.org
• National Park Service, Route 66 – Great information on history of Route 66, some maps and itinerary ideas, and great website resources:  https://www.nps.gov/subjects/travelroute66/index.htm
• Route 66 News – Provides helpful information and recent news related to Route 66: https://www.route66news.com/
• Updates for those using the EZ66 Guide for Travelers:  http://mcjerry66.com/

Route 66 Itinerary Suggestions:

• 2 week Route 66 Itinerary – If you have more than 10 days for Route 66, this detailed day-by-day itinerary can help you plan your route, stops, dining, and lodging.
• 1 week Route 66 itinerary – If you have 10 days or less, this itinerary can help you plan your day by day trip along Route 66.

Route 66 Camping and RV Resources: 

• Partial listing of campgrounds and RV parks along (or near) Route 66:  https://www.route66news.com/campgrounds/
• Our Route 66 itinerary includes camping recommendations for each day of the suggested itinerary route
• Database and map of U.S. public campgrounds: http://www.uscampgrounds.info/
• List of RV parks throughout the U.S.:  http://www.rvparksusa.com/
• Listings of private campgrounds and RV parks in U.S.:  https://gocampingamerica.com/
• Check out All Stays for helpful website and phone apps that help locate RV parks, hotels, RV dump sites, free places to camp, rest areas, WalMarts that allow overnight parking, and more:  https://www.allstays.com/

State Specific Route 66 Websites:

• Route 66 Association of Illinois:  https://www.il66assoc.org/
• Route 66 Association of Missouri:  https://www.missouri66.org/
• Kansas Historic Route 66 Association:  http://kshistoricroute66.com/
• Oklahoma Route 66 Association:  https://www.oklahomaroute66.com/
• Texas Route 66 Association https://www.rt66oftexas.com/
• New Mexico Route 66 Association:  https://www.rt66nm.org/
• Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona:  https://www.historic66az.com/
• California Historic Route 66 Association:  https://www.route66ca.org/

We hope you have found this guide to a Route 66 road trip helpful! Is a Route 66 road trip on your bucketlist? If you’ve driven any part of Route 66, feel free to share any tips or advice you have from your own trip! As always, all questions and comments are welcome. 

**Disclosure: During our first Route 66 road trip, we drove Route 66 during a RV trip in partnership with JUCY who covered most of the costs associated with our awesome campervan rental; however, all thoughts and opinions are our own. Food, lodging, fuel, and other trip costs were paid for by us.  Subsequent trips were fully funded by us.**

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Art Simmons Post author

January 18, 2024 at 11:12 pm

Wow, an amazing free resource for anyone traveling Route 66 – we are using it right now and just want to give you a big thanks. Your travel blogs are amazing.

Jessica & Laurence Norah Post author

January 24, 2024 at 1:18 pm

You are very welcome and just let us know if you have any questions. Wishing you a wonderful trip down Route 66!!

Best, Jessica

India Post author

October 1, 2023 at 1:10 am

Excellent blog post; very thorough. In a Jucy van, we travelled all around New Zealand—the coolest means of transportation ever! I also enjoyed the brief portion of Route 66 from Los Angeles to Vegas.

October 3, 2023 at 11:23 am

Glad you enjoyed our post and that you got to drive a little bit of Route 66 between Arizona and California on your way from Las Vegas.

It was fun to drive Route 66 a Jucy campervan then, but sadly they closed their operations in the USA in 2021 due to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are looking to do something similar, there are a lot of options you can check out on Motorhome Republic for campervans and RVs of various sizes from several companies.

But glad that you got to travel with a Jucy van in New Zealand – sounds like you had a great time. I think they are still going strong in both New Zealand and Australia.

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and hoping that someday you get to do the full Route 66 trip!

tena mason Post author

August 5, 2023 at 9:41 am

this was the most amazing and comprehensive guide to route 66! i see no need to do any further research beyond your page, and the guidebooks you suggest. my hubs and i are celebrating our 25th anniversary, and are driving from kansas to seattle (seeing amazing things on the way), taking the pacific coast highway from washington to santa monica, then driving route 66 home, ending back up in kansas (with a slight detour east and south to galena to see tow mater). thank you thank you thank you for your time and attention that you put into this!!!!

August 5, 2023 at 3:24 pm

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment – we love to hear that you have found our Route 66 guide and tips helpful! I am sure you also saw our 2 week itinerary and motel suggestions in some of our other posts on Route 66 but if not, you might find those helpful as well. Combining the Pacific Coast Highway and Route 66 is a great road trip, we’ve done that when we used to live in the SF Bay area, it’s a great trip.

Wishing you a wonderful trip and just let us know if you have any questions as you drive Route 66 and the PCH!

tena Post author

August 11, 2023 at 3:24 pm

Oh yeah, i’ve scoped it out and have a detailed day-to-day plan. I wish we were leaving now instead of April, but we’re making a HUGE circle. Route 66 to Santa Monica, then the PCH to Washington, then back across the northern US to yellowstone and mount rushmore then back home. So it will take 8 months of planning!!

Anyway, your detailed itinerary has been incredible, as are the resources you suggested. I’ll keep you posted when the trip happens.

As an aside, it looks like Elmer’s bottle ranch is open again!

August 12, 2023 at 7:23 pm

Sounds like a wonderful trip and if you have any further questions as you plan, just ask!

And great to hear that Elmer’s Bottle Ranch continues to be open to the public (its future has been a bit unclear after Elmer’s death in 2019).

Bet, Jessica

Kathryn Post author

July 25, 2023 at 3:18 am

Thanks for this amazing guide – it will be our constant companion as we plan our trip along Route 66 for the fall. If I only get one of the Route 66 guidebooks, which would you recommend?

July 27, 2023 at 8:12 am

Hi Kathryn,

So if you are only wanting one guidebook, and you want it primarily to stay on Route 66 and discover the highlights, I would recommend the EZ66 book by Jerry McClanahan. Just be sure to get the latest edition, currently the 5th edition. You can order it online before you go or you should be able to find it in Route 66 gift shops along the route.

For a guidebook more focused on specific attractions, I’d also recommend the Adventure Handbook . It has been updated and the sixth edition will be released in August 2023, so that would work well for your trip if you are not leaving until the fall.

Hope that helps and just let us know if you have any more questions as you plan your Route 66 trip!

Robert Smiler Post author

July 21, 2023 at 9:52 am

That was a very funny VW micro-bus photo. Robert Smiler

July 26, 2023 at 2:10 pm

Glad you enjoyed our photos and particularly the one of us in the VW bus in the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, CA. It is a great museum to visit and support if you have the time!

Cynthia A Neal Post author

July 1, 2023 at 10:59 am

Hi We are taking the Route 66 from CA we are stopping by in in TN to see Fam😊🇺🇸 can’t wait 🦋 Is your guid in print ?

July 1, 2023 at 11:04 am

Hi Cynthia,

Sounds like a great road trip and family visit! So we just offer our Route 66 guide free online to our readers and it is not available as a printed guide. So we’d recommend using it as an online resource as then you also have all the links.

But if you do want to print the article in a printer-friendly format (with all ads and images removed) or save them as a clickable PDF, you just need to subscribe or be already subscribed to our monthly travel newsletter (it is free and easy to subscribe). Once you subscribe, you should get a confirmation email from us. Check your email and click the link to confirm the subscription within the email. Once you have confirmed your subscription, you just need to go to the article you want to print, click on the print icon (at the side or at the end of the article) and put in your name and then the email address you used to subscribe.

However, just note we don’t really recommend printing them unless you really need them as many of our guides are over 100 pages printed. You will also not be able to use the many links or referred websites if printed. If you wait to print it until close to your trip, you’d have a more recent version.

Hope that helps and if you have any questions as you plan your Route 66 trip, feel free to ask!

Jim B Post author

May 16, 2023 at 7:11 pm

What a great read and amazingly informative. Driving Route 66 has always been a bucket list of mine and reading this probably just made it going to happen sooner than later. I will definitely be using a lot of your helpful information when planning our trip. Well done, very well written and thank you for some added inspiration for getting the great road trip started! – Jim

May 18, 2023 at 9:42 am

So glad to hear this and that our guide has been both informational and inspirational for planning your own Route 66 road trip. I hope that you have a wonderful trip and just let us know if you have any questions as you do your trip planning!

Cheryl Post author

March 30, 2023 at 9:18 am

Jessica, First, I love your name, it’s my daughter’s name also. I am retiring at age 62 in May still young and healthy enough to travel. Hubs and I are going to travel Route 66 in July, of course just when you suggested is not the best time to go, but we’re doing it! Your information has been by far the best I’ve read so far…I can’t thank you enough. We are so looking forward to this trip and reading your info has made me even more excited. Thank you for this and we’ll let you know how it goes!

March 30, 2023 at 9:41 am

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and we love hearing that our information has been helpful. It sounds like you will have a great great start to your retirement and wishing you a wonderful trip in July.

July may not be the most ideal time to go but as long as you are prepared and plan ahead, you should be fine. It is just knowing and making the best of it, being prepared for some crowds and heat, etc. But one great thing about the summer is that everything should be open along the route and there is often a lot going on. I would just note that the pandemic has left some changes and closures that may not be reflected in all of our info.

If you have any questions as you plan your Route 66 road trip for this summer, just let us know. And we’d of course love to know how your trip goes and if you have any tips/advice to share based on your own travels.

Best, Jessica & Laurence

Sris Post author

February 23, 2023 at 1:39 am

If you travel route 66, I definitely recommend spending some time in Joliet! thank you for this article, it really has a lot of information.Thank you for the wonderful blog.

February 25, 2023 at 11:31 pm

Thanks for sharing your recommendation and hope you had a great time on Route 66!

Ron Post author

February 19, 2023 at 9:49 am

Than youk for the inspiration !

“Well it winds from Chicago to L.A. More than two thousand miles all the way Get your kicks on Route 66…”

February 20, 2023 at 8:07 am

Glad you are finding our Route 66 guide inspirational, and do let us know if you have any questions if you are planning your out Route 66 road trip!

Jackie Gilbert Post author

January 20, 2023 at 5:11 pm

I enjoyed your information. We are going to drive the route (leaving March) from Illinois to California. We have a 5th wheel camper and 2 pups. I took many notes and have some comfort now knowing more about the trip. Thanks!!

January 23, 2023 at 7:24 am

Glad that our Route 66 guides and articles have been helpful in planning your upcoming Route 66 trip. I’d probably avoid Chicago and L.A. with a camper and dogs but I think you’ll find lots of places to stay and enjoy throughout the route!

If you have any questions as you continue to plan your trip, just ask!

Jordan Smith Post author

June 28, 2022 at 11:32 am

it’s difficult for me to find the best driving route for me and my friends. This article really helps me.

June 29, 2022 at 8:11 am

Thanks for taking the time to let me know that you have found our Route 66 guide helpful. If you have any questions as you and your friend prepare for your trip, just let us know.

Eric Klassen Post author

June 21, 2022 at 1:08 pm

Did the west half of Rte 66 in 2006… wish I had had the benefit of this great guide back then. It’s nice to go back in time just by looking through your guide and remembering my trip. Thanks for the memories. Best Wishes, Eric

June 22, 2022 at 4:03 am

Glad that you enjoyed reading through our Route 66 road trip guide and that it brought back good memories of your trip 🙂 I hope you get a chance to return and perhaps do the eastern section of Rte 66.

Tom Giles Post author

April 20, 2022 at 7:26 am

Very much enjoyed reading your Route 66 trip. I am preparing for a 6 week adventure from south of Chicago to the West coast. I have been unable to locate any info as for the miles between fuel points, i will be driving my 1930 ford A Roadster on this trip. With the upgraded drive train i can only travel a distance of 250 miles. Any info or advice will be much appreciated. Thank you T Giles

April 20, 2022 at 9:53 am

Glad you are planning a Route 66 trip and how exciting to do it in a 1930 Ford Roadster!

So for the most part, there are regular gas stations along Route 66. The stretches where they are less regular is across the Texas panhandle and California desert stretches. So I would particularly pay attention to the Texas to Barstow stretch. I am guessing it is unlikely you’ll be covering more than 250 miles per day so you shouldn’t really have any issues if you stop for fuel each day. Since the locations of gas stations change over time, I would research this yourself rather than relying on a guide.

But I would maybe plot out your route so that you have a stop planned every 200 miles or so for fuel. If you know your daily route, you can make sure there will be a place approximately every 200 miles where you know you can stop. I’d also plan to get fuel during the day as although most places are open 24/7, there are some places that do close.

You can find gas stations along your route in a number of web and phone apps such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, Waze, and GasBuddy.

When driving, I’d recommend using a gas station app like Gas Buddy. This one not only will show you the nearest gas stations but also help you find the cheapest fuel which is definitely good to know as fuel prices have become so high in recent months.

I’d also recommend keeping a gas can / jerrrycan in your trunk to store some extra fuel. The standard ones hold 5 gallons so you know that you have that as a back up. I suspect with a 1930 Ford that you will also want to be traveling with some extra water. And would want some roadside assistance service or breakdown cover that covers classic cars.

Jack Rittenhouse, the writer of the first guidebook on the route, drove Route 66 in 1946 in a 1939 American Bantam coupe – he notes it 22 horsepower engine could go about 250 miles with its 5 gallon gas tank. Although the guidebook’s actual info for attractions/motels etc. for the most part is outdated, you may find it interesting to read before your trip.

Hope that helps and wishing you a wonderful trip along Route 66!

Mike Sweeney Post author

March 30, 2022 at 11:52 pm

Just got back from a road trip with my 14 year old and we specifically drove from AZ to CA on Route 66 for a good portion. A running history lesson from me to her plus stops at a few towns/attractions made it a memorable trip. The best part was doing this in our EV as an homage to the history of Route 66.. as I explained to her, it’s not the cars, it’s the journey and what you see. Thanks for the work in sharing all this info 🙂

March 31, 2022 at 4:31 am

Glad that you had such a great road trip with your daughter – sounds like a special trip! Hope that the two of you have a chance to drive the rest of Route 66 someday and explore the rest of the route 😉

Mark Borgmann Post author

March 12, 2022 at 8:15 am

Many thanks for all of your Route 66 writings – they’ve been very helpful. Recently I’ve been watching some of the Route 66 episodes on the Roku channel, where they’re being streamed. I just wanted to mention, as I was reading through the “Route 66” TV series reference, that even though much of the series may not have been on Route 66, I’ve found that several of the sites, motels, hotels, casinos, etc that were shown in the series are still in operation today, 60 years later!

March 13, 2022 at 9:53 am

Glad you are finding our Route 66 articles helpful 😉

Yes, the series name of Route 66 is not really that related to the show’s content other than they spend a lot of time traveling around the USA by car, but obviously go all over the country and the specific location changes each episode. It is great to see some of the celebrities of the day pop up as guest stars in that show like Joan Crawford, Robert Redford, Barbara Eden, etc. Glad you are enjoying it and found a place to stream it.

It is interesting to know that many of the places shown in the show from the 1960s are still around today – I always love seeing places that are still operating decades later!

Marina T. Post author

August 18, 2021 at 12:52 am

I can’t express how I love traveling by car! When the wind blows straight to your face and ruins your hair, when you stop on gas stations to get some snacks and take a break, when you sing out loud to your favorite songs and just feel how free you are. We used Route 66 to travel from Santa Fe to California and absolutely fell in love with this trip. Like you travel back in time seeing all these old-designed motels and cafes. If you love traveling by car just like I do, I totally recommend planning your trip through Route 66!

August 20, 2021 at 4:55 am

Glad you enjoyed your time on Route 66 between Santa Fe and California. I hope you get a chance to drive more of the route in the future since it sounds like you really enjoy time on the road! 😉

Marina Post author

June 13, 2021 at 7:38 am

If you travel route 66, I definitely spending some time in Joliet! thank you for this article, it really has a lot of information

June 13, 2021 at 9:09 am

Yes, Joliet is a great place, and a recommended stop along Route 66! We recommend those wanting to skip driving in Chicago to start in Pontiac or Joliet!

If you are planning a Route 66 trip and have any questions, just ask!

Nancy J Mccullough Post author

June 12, 2021 at 2:05 pm

Great read! Is there a print friendly version of this and the recommendations of where to stay. Doing trip starting next week

June 13, 2021 at 7:18 am

Glad you are enjoying our Route 66 blog posts!

To print the article in a printer-friendly format (with all ads and images removed) or save them as a clickable PDF, you just need to subscribe to be subscribed to our monthly travel newsletter (it is free and easy to subscribe). Once you subscribe, you should get a confirmation email from us. Check your email and click the link to confirm the subscription within the email. Once you have confirmed your subscription, you just need to go to the article you want to print, click on the print icon (at the side or at the end of the article) and put in your name and then the email address you used to subscribe.

However, I would not really recommend printing the planning guide, but just using it to aid in planning things before you leave. The one article that might be worth printing is one of the Route 66 itineraries, either our 2 week Route 66 itinerary (if you have 10 days or more) or the 8 day itinerary (if you have 10 days or less). But even with those, they are probably better used for planning and to look at along the trip so you can use the links. Some of our articles are over 100 pages printed!

In terms of recommendations of where to stay, both of our Route 66 itineraries above give lodging recommendations for each night of the day by day itineraries. So that should cover you for most places along the route if you follow either of our itineraries.

If you are interested in classic motels and historical hotels, we have a post on Route 66 motels & historical hotels that should give you plenty of options along the route. These options include places on our itineraries as well as lots of additional towns and cities.

But if you are specifically looking for where to stay along Route 66 in a place not covered in one of the above, feel free to ask!

Hope that helps, and wishing you a safe and fun road trip! Jessica

charly mnartin Post author

June 7, 2021 at 4:21 am

Thanks for such outstanding content on Route 66, thank you very much. have bookmarked the site to read such amazing content in feature as well. Thank you so much for this effort!

June 7, 2021 at 5:09 am

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed our Route 66 planning guide. Just let us know if you have any questions once you decide to plan your trip!

Shonda Post author

April 26, 2021 at 4:27 am

Wow! This is a great source of info for driving Rt 66. We live near Amarillo, TX, so I’m familiar with all the Texas sites. But we’re planning to take my son and nephew on a road trip this summer and we’re including Rt 66 from Amarillo to Springfield. This will be their Senior year and they grew up enthralled with all things Cars related, so I’m looking forward to showing them some of the sites that inspired the movie! Your post has given me ideas for another road trip toward California now!!! But I’ve also got a tip-to-tip (in both directions) road trip planned for Texas next year. You don’t happen to have any posts/guides about that, do you?

April 27, 2021 at 3:12 am

I am sure you and the kids will really love the trip! It’s great that you already live near Route 66 – and there are quite a few related sites near you. The Arizona and Texas stretches are probably the ones most reminiscent of the landscapes in the first film. Kansas is also great as it has the tow truck and Springfield has the Cozy Dog Drive-In, but you’ll see things that will remind you of the film throughout. Stopping at old-fashioned diners, going to some of the car museums, and seeing a drive-in movie might be some fun stops, depending on their interests. Whenever you head the other direction (towards California), I’d definitely recommend a night at one of the two teepee motels 😉

We do have several articles on Texas (mainly the cities) on Finding the Universe (or second travel blog) which you can see here: https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/search/texas . We have actually planned to write a road trip itinerary but haven’t done so yet and also would love to write additional posts on Amarillo, Fort Worth, Big Bend National Park, etc. If you have any questions about any of those places, happy to try to help, but hopefully we’ll have some more Texas related posts up by next year 😉

Wishing you a wonderful trip along that section of Route 66! Jessica

FBS Post author

April 2, 2021 at 4:27 am

Awesome Route 66 blog post. Thank you so much for sharing this insightful piece. It’s been really informative and helpful.

April 3, 2021 at 11:49 am

Thanks FBS for taking the time to leave a comment! Do let us know if you have any questions as you plan your Route 66 road trip.

Caius Wallen Post author

December 10, 2020 at 4:53 am

Great photos and blog

I’m putting together a picture quiz where people have to guess the states of America from a photo, and a google search turned up your image of Route 66 and an oil well for Oklahoma. Can I use it in my free quiz if I give you credit (I can’t pay). I understand that you are a professional, so if not, no worries!

December 10, 2020 at 11:38 am

Glad you enjoyed our Route 66 guide and photos we took along Route 66.

For questions about using/buying photos, please email us directly, thanks!

Bill Westlake Post author

September 18, 2020 at 7:27 am

I am only interested in RT 66 ideas, routing and attractions

September 20, 2020 at 3:58 am

Glad you are interested in driving Route 66 and Route 66 attractions. Just let me know if you have any questions if you are planning an upcoming trip. We have several Route 66 articles across our two travel blogs and more to come which cover all the basics. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask here!

George Chandler Post author

August 26, 2020 at 4:39 pm

Hey there. You guys did a great job on your Rte 66 itinerary. Our family did this trip back in August of 1969. I can remember my Dad driving on the two lane road (66) for many miles. I drive a tour bus thru out Canada and the US and have been doing it for 40 years. Have done many tours from Toronto, Canada to California. I’m planning on doing the Rte 66 from Chicago to LA in 2022. I’m gonna follow your itinerary as much as I can which I plan on doing in 14-15 days. Do you think doing this trip is better in May or September? Also what maps are the best ones to get to follow 66 as much as I can? I have the EZ66 one. Again you two did a great job and thx for doing this so everybody can enjoy The Mother Road. Look forward to your reply.

August 27, 2020 at 4:27 am

So glad you are finding our Route 66 guide and 2 week itinerary helpful in planning your 2022 trip!

In terms of maps, the EZ66 book is the best in terms of directions. It is not so much a map as a turn-by-turn set of directions with accompanying drawn maps and travel tips. This is by far the best resource if you want to stay faithful to the route and is best when you have a co-navigator with you to tell you the turns before they come up. We’d also recommend the Here It Is Map set (great for looking at when setting off each day to get a sense of where the route goes, not for actual navigation) and a good up-to-date USA road atlas.

There are a couple of Route 66 route maps that you can buy, such as this one . I bought this one last year on the route, but can’t really recommend it. It is not very helpful for actual navigating or directions given its lack of detail and scale, but can be useful more for trip planning if you want just a map that shows the route.

The road signage has gotten much better in recent years for the Historic Route 66 route so it is easier to follow than it was just a few years ago, and you can now see parts of the route even on Google Maps and other online and GPS mapping which it did not show before. Signage differs by state.

Hope that helps! Jessica

Alaa Post author

July 24, 2020 at 6:23 am

Reading your BLOG tooks me to mid (2015) when I rode route 66 with a group of friends.. it was an unforgettable 15 days motorcycle trip from Chicago to Santa Monica LA.. all that wonderful memories came back to my mind.. I wished that your blog was there before I started that trip for the huge and rich informations, details and explanations you mentioned.. THANK YOU SO MUCH !!

July 24, 2020 at 8:33 am

Hi Alaa, Glad you enjoyed our blog post and thanks for sharing a bit about your 15-day Route 66 adventure by motorcycle — sounds like a wonderful trip with friends! Best, Jessica

larry charles Post author

July 22, 2020 at 6:57 pm

I enjoy reading your comments on driving the route 66. we live in east tx and planing to take the trip in Sept or october. you gave me a lot of information what to take on the trip.i have a lot information I have received from the chamber commerce for my travel to the west part of the trip from each state. we are taking 3 weeks to do it. we are retired and no hurry to do the trip.as of today we are concern obout the virus that we are having right now and concern obout places to stay and eat that will be open.do you know how things are right now with the business on route 66. could I do this trip on 5000.00 with gas, food, motel and souvenirs.

July 23, 2020 at 5:14 am

Glad you are enjoying our articles on Route 66. Yes, we recommend at least 2 weeks on Route 66 if you are doing the full route and 3 weeks will allow you to do it at a slower pace which is nice, especially if you plan to do it soon.

The COVID-19 situation is different in each state along Route 66 and changes regularly. I would recommend checking the state public health websites for each of the 8 states and many also have specific coronavirus websites for the latest infection rates, measures, and for what is open.

Unfortunately, right now is probably not the best time to travel in certain states, especially Arizona, Texas, and California which have all seen sharp rises in COVID-19 infections and some businesses that had reopened along the route, have now reclosed. I know in California, indoor restaurants, bars, wineries, theme parks, museums, and other attractions are closed throughout the state and a stay at home order is in place. So you may want to watch the situation and consider delaying your trip or changing the itinerary.

But once you are able to do the trip safely, I do think that you could easily travel Route 66 with a budget of $5000 for 2 persons sharing a room for 3 weeks. It just requires some pre-planning and sticking to a budget. Over a 21 day trip that is about $238 per day which should be enough to cover your gas, food, motel, and souvenirs. Your biggest expense will be lodging so I’d try to book that in advance to ensure you stay in budget. If you keep lodging to an average of around $100 per night then that would give you about $140 per day for food, gas, and any souvenirs/incidentals. If you are driving your own car, you probably can calculate your own cost of fuel and can then set your budget accordingly for food and souvenirs.

Hope that helps and wishing you safe travels! Jessica

Mary Post author

June 28, 2020 at 6:11 pm

In Sept 1965 I drove from Detroit to LA mostly on Route 66. I drove by myself in a car with no air conditioning. I had to keep the windows down. My left arm got sunburned. Whenever I stopped at a restaurant or motel someone always said “ you must be driving West”. ? Great article!!!

June 29, 2020 at 8:05 am

Sounds like you had a great Route 66 road trip back in 1965 😉 Thanks for sharing your memories.

I remember a similar road trip as a teen with a friend from Ohio to Georgia in summer without A/C and getting a painful sunburn on half my upper body. Lesson learned to always wear sunscreen!

tracy dines Post author

June 27, 2020 at 11:03 am

i dont have long and would like to see part of rt 66

June 27, 2020 at 11:07 am

It will depend on how many days you have to see Route 66 and what section most interests you? Where do you plan to start? Are you planning to drive or take a tour?

We list some suggestions above for driving certain sections of the route by interest and theme above in the post that might be helpful. But happy to give advice if you want to give us more details about your trip plans and what you are most interested in seeing along Rt 66.

aditii Post author

June 2, 2020 at 12:33 am

Wow…What an excellent post. They are nice article. I was planning a road trip in next months. This is such a comprehensive and super helpful guide. Thanks for sharing your information.

June 2, 2020 at 6:03 am

You’re very welcome and wishing you a wonderful Route 66 road trip!

Emily Rose Post author

April 26, 2020 at 7:39 am

Wow this is by far the best article I’ve come across on Route 66!! I’ve driven most of the route 5 times now but just haven’t done the beginning part from Chicago. I’m looking to go back and do it this summer and your guide is fantastic! Thank you!!!

Xo, Emily Rose

April 26, 2020 at 10:23 am

Glad you enjoyed our guide to planning a Route 66 trip, and hope you get a chance to do the beginning section of Route 66 in Illinois later in the year! Just let us know if you have any questions.

Safe travels, Jessica

Roland Whitney Post author

March 2, 2020 at 3:13 pm

wow, what a great resource. we’re planning on a route 66 trip in my ’79 corvette. now that’s an adventure. thanks for noting all your research.

March 3, 2020 at 3:38 am

Hi Roland, That does sound like a grand adventure! Glad you are finding our blog helpful in planning your Route 66 trip, just let us know if you have any questions. Best, Jessica

Miguel c castro Post author

March 2, 2020 at 4:13 am

Hellow everyone great memories comes to my mind reading all this about 66. Was the year of 1964, while on the army at fort Bliss that we went from El Paso Tex to NY by car. Of course, we used the road in new Mexico to Indiana and from there to the east on hway 70. Well, how long ago was that? I was 18 years old, today I am almost 75. No, I have not forget this adventure as it was my first long road trip I ever had. Recently I went from Benton Il to Kentucky, and you know what? I traveled part of the same original route as the good old days. Who knows? Will I have another chance to go back to it? Maybe time will tell….

March 2, 2020 at 7:58 am

Sounds like you have some very happy memories driving along Route 66 and other American highways. Glad you were able to travel a part of that route again recently, and I hope you get a chance to have another road trip again soon 😉

Mark Post author

February 22, 2020 at 2:00 pm

Hi Jessica Before I ask my question just like to say excellent post lot of reading but worth it ,really envy you and Laurence experience of route 66, myself and my partner have always said we would like to do route 66 for my 60th which is now only 3 years away my question to you is is it still doable and can it be done on a motorcycle , the full route from Los Angeles to Chicago. Fantastic post (big fan) Mark & Charmaine From Birmingham UK

February 23, 2020 at 3:38 am

Hi Mark & Charmaine,

Glad you are finding our Route 66 articles helpful. Yes, Route 66 can be done on a motorcycle and many people do the route, or part of it, by motorcycle.

Route 66 hasn’t been an official highway for a long time, but much of the original road/route still exists. It is believed that over 80% of the original road is still there, although sections have now been paved under as part of the interstate and such. So yes, you can get between Los Angeles and Chicago by taking Rout 66, but there is no way to stay on the original highway the entire time. But most of the time you can and I’d recommend getting the EZ 66 Guide to help as it gives turn by turn directions. Just note that it will be more challenging to follow a guide or map on a motorcycle, so you may want to have a more relaxed plan rather than trying to be exact about following it.

Also if you have the chance to do the route westward from Chicago to Los Angeles (instead of eastward) I’d definitely recommend doing it east to west to follow the original route and development of the road (and westward expansion of people from the midwest to west coast).

Hope that helps, and just let us know if you have further questions as you plan your 60th b-day trip!

Sarah Post author

January 3, 2020 at 5:18 am

Thanks for the amazing post! lost of very helpful information, and it sounds like you had a great time. I’m just starting to put together an itinerary for when we go, but had planned to take about 5 weeks, do you think that is too long? We are going to do all / almost all of the side trips, but do you think we would end up with too much ‘free’ time in smaller stops along the way?

Thanks!! Sarah

January 3, 2020 at 8:17 am

I think 4 weeks is a pretty perfect amount of time for traveling the route slowly, 5 weeks may be too long for some people but it really depends on how much you plan to do and what you like to do. It, of course, will give you lots of time to spend more time in each place, do side trips, and detours.

So it really depends a lot on your interests. For instance, Laurence and I can easily spend a day exploring small towns or doing a hike but for some people, that might be pretty boring. So you know yourself best about how well you enjoy small town and rural attractions. If you enjoy them, there are lot of options along Route 66, but there are also a number of cities (of varying sizes) as well. Our itinerary has a good mix of cities and towns of varying sizes, but since you have more time, you can add more time to the types of places you enjoy most.

I’d definitely turn some of the overnight stops into 2 night stops to give yourself extra time in places to avoid having to move each night. If you enjoy cities, then you could easily spend 3 days or more in both Los Angeles and Chicago so that could be an extra week just there. Then detours to places like the Ozarks, Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas could be another week.

I’d start with our itinerary (the route is pretty set in terms of Route 66) and then add days to overnight stops where you want to spend more time, add overnight stops in places you want to stop but aren’t included on the itinerary (e.g., perhaps you’d like to spend the night also in St. Louis, Santa Fe, and/or Williams), add in the time for detours you want to make, and then see how many extra days those additions will take. That should give you a good idea if the 5 weeks is too much or not for you!

Hope that helps and just let us know if you have more questions as you plan your Route 66 road trip! Jessica

alexandre calixto Post author

December 26, 2019 at 10:50 am

hi thx for post this will try next vacation, but first have to get my visa to USA!

December 26, 2019 at 2:46 pm

Hi Alexandre, Glad you enjoyed the post, and yes getting your visa and travel documents in order is definitely a good first step if you are coming from outside the USA! Good luck, Jessica

DOUGLAS JACK Post author

December 26, 2019 at 4:51 am

Dear Jessica and Laurence, Apologies – I feel a bit silly! Forget my previous comment about the length of Rte 66 (except for the bit about how brilliant your blog is). I have discovered that the driving distances site for the US that I have been using for years has suddenly started to give distances in miles that are actually Kms. All is explained. As an aside, (my having been in Edinburgh all my school and university days), your Edinburgh blog is spot on! Douglas

December 26, 2019 at 7:50 am

Hi Douglas,

Ah, yes, I just replied to your other comment earlier today and I guessed that it might be that you were looking at it in kms instead of miles. We are often doing km to mile translations ourselves so totally understandable, and it makes sense what your distance calculator calculations were so wildly off!

So glad you enjoyed our Edinburgh content as well. Yes, we lived near Edinburgh for about 5 years until just a few months ago actually 😉

Just let us know if you have any questions as you continue to plan your Route 66 trip!

Carl Post author

October 4, 2019 at 8:56 pm

Fantastic information thank you so much for all your time and effort to do this. We are from Australia and planning the 2 week drive in April/May 2020. Is it possible to download your Guide as a PDF so it can be referenced on the iPad during our drive or Heaven forbid printed out on paper ? !

October 5, 2019 at 4:07 am

I am very happy to hear that you are finding our Route 66 articles helpful in planning your trip. We don’t have any of our articles available as a downloadable PDF file or as a printable format at this time. We have had several similar requests for our articles, so we are looking into some solutions so contact us next year and we may have some options.

If you are subscribed to our monthly newsletter or part of our Facebook group , that is a good place to see our announcements and updates. It is something we are hoping to have a solution for by 2020.

Let us know if you have any questions as you plan your road trip!

stu johnson Post author

October 3, 2019 at 4:47 pm

in 1947 my dad moved our family from Michigan to California via US66. I know we did not travel the entire route. I was only 9 years at the time, so I do not remember much it. But the one thing that I have always remembered was spending Christmas in Texas. Later in the early 50’s we drove back to Michigan and came back via US66. My dad was a WWII Marine and was stationed in Camp Pendleton, CA.

October 4, 2019 at 10:41 am

Hi Stu, Yes, a lot of families and military personnel traveled Route 66 around that time and it is great that you have at least some memories from that trip out West. Are you planning to drive Route 66 again yourself now? Best, Jessica

Tom Lombard Post author

October 2, 2019 at 3:06 pm

Beautifully written. Best summary we’ve found. We are retired folks who did the first third of old Route 66 a few years ago and will do the middle third next week. Your summary has helped us prepare. Thanks.

October 4, 2019 at 10:38 am

Hi Tom, So glad to hear that and love that after doing the first third, you are coming back to do the middle third of Route 66 next week. Have a great road trip! Best, Jessica

Dave Loughner Post author

September 4, 2019 at 7:52 pm

Love your itinerary. Is there a paper copy available for purchase? Not a big internet user. Planning on 66 trip next spring.

September 5, 2019 at 2:59 am

Unfortunately, we don’t have any paper copies or books of any of our blog content at this time. We are looking into possible solutions in the future, but right now all our Route 66 content is just on our travel blogs. Feel free to check back with us in the Spring before your road trip.

Bethany Williams Post author

September 1, 2019 at 8:56 am

As everyone has already stated, this blog has been my official guide for planning our trip at the end of the month. It’s exceptional and I couldn’t have imagined planning the journey without constantly referring back to it. My biggest concern for when we go is that we’re going to struggle with the map reading, I’ve purchased the EZ66 guide by Jerry McClanahan as you recommended, however growing up in a generation where we’ve never needed to following road maps and alternatively rely on sat navs/iphones I have a feeling we might struggle. I’ve recently been looking at an app that I can download to my phone (Route 66 Navigation) for £35 with a pre-planned route of historic Route 66. What are your thoughts on this and are there any other apps/downloadable maps for sat navs you’d suggest?

Thanks in advance! 🙂 Bethany

September 1, 2019 at 1:47 pm

Hi Bethany,

So glad to hear that our Route 66 guide has been useful in planning your trip!

We have not personally used the Route 66 Navigation or any other navigation apps (such as the one by River pilot which you can see here ). The app you mention has some pretty mixed reviews online as you can see in the Google App store and such. So I would read over those to decide if that might be a good idea or not for you. Some people have said it was good and others terrible.

We personally used a combo of the EZ66 guide, an actual map, and our GPS. We never ran into any major issues. It is easier if you are going east to west so you don’t need to reverse directions or put extra thought into it. One of us drove and the other would keep track of the EZ66 guide as needed. We’d kept the GPS on to check the road we were on, look for upcoming roads, and navigate to specific places nearby (e.g., restaurant or hotel) or off the route. The map was useful to be able to plan, see the full route for the day, and see what was coming up next.

If you are using the EZ66 guide and/or our detailed day-by-day itinerary, that should also help as you know which town is coming up next and can always navigate to that if you get a little off track or feel you need to use your GPS.

I hope that helps and I think you’ll be OK even if you don’t use the navigation, and getting a little lost is just part of the journey. It is hard to get really lost as you can always use your GPS or phone maps to get you back to the route.

BTW, we’d love to have you come back and post and let us know about your trip and any tips you have from it!

Happy travels, Jessica

Patrick Breheny Post author

September 9, 2019 at 7:05 pm

Hi Bethany My wife and I are currently doing route 66 and we are using the Route 66 Navigation . Once we had the maps downloaded on our phone we could then use them off line. We have found it to be very helpful leading us to attractions and through the towns and cities along the route. We have used this post during our planning of the trip (we are from Ireland) and have found it very helpful. We also refer back to it every evening for advice.

dawn stevens Post author

August 11, 2019 at 8:06 am

Hi I just wanted to say how informational your posts are! I’m planning a road trip for me and my husband May of 2021 ( I knw that’s a ways off) but I like to plan ahead. we will just be doing the Texas to California portion on our 2 weeks We plan on spending more time in California. thanks again for all the very valuable info it will be a life saver….

August 12, 2019 at 2:14 am

Hi Dawn, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let us know that our article has been helpful in planning your Route 66 trip! The Texas to California section is a good section of the route and will allow you to see a lot. We just spent a couple of weeks in California over the summer and there is lots you can do during/after your Route 66 trip. You could consider driving up the Pacific Coast Highway to San Francisco (we have an article on that) after you arrive in LA if you wish. But there are also loads of other places to visit in CA, just let us know if you have any questions. Enjoy! Jessica

Federico Post author

August 4, 2019 at 10:36 am

Hi Jessica & Laurence

After found this blog I haven´t realized that this Route would take that long to see it, because we where planning to see it in the way to LA from Williams in one day. As we already have booked everything there´s nothing that we can do to get more time, so it will be invaluable if you give us advice of what to visit in the way, we love landscapes like the Painted Desert, also authentic places like the Cadillac Ranch, Old CoffeShops, Hotels, with neon signs, etc..

Thanks in advance,

August 5, 2019 at 7:38 am

Hi Federico,

It is too bad you did not read our Route 66 guide before booking your trip. Yes, unfortunately, you are not going to have much time to explore Route 66 as it is about 7 hours of driving (quickest route, not Route 66) to get from Los Angeles, CA to Williams, AZ. You won’t really have time to faithfully follow the route on this trip as it would require a lot more time as we’d recommend at least 3 days for this part of the route.

So I would choose one or two attractions you really want to see on the way between LA and Williams and then you can take time to explore the Route 66 attractions in Williams itself since you’ll have more time to relax and explore there if you are staying overnight. You can check our detailed Route 66 itinerary and see what is between those two cities (look at Days 14, Day 13, Day 12, and part of Day 11). There are loads of places you could stop, but you will have limited time so I’d choose a couple of things you really want to see.

The Painted Desert is located east of Williams and Cadillac Ranch is located in Texas so unless you are continuing along the route you won’t be able to stop there. Are you continuing on to Chicago? If so, you might want to check out this 1 week itinerary that may be useful.

Hope that helps, and wishing you a good trip!

August 6, 2019 at 7:45 am

Hi again Jessica,

Thanks a lot for the advice, because of it we are trying to add one more day, at least, to the circuit.

BTW Awesome blog, it´s very detailed and helpful.

August 7, 2019 at 4:55 am

Enjoy Federico, and just let us know if you have any further questions after looking at the guide and itinerary. Hope you have a great visit to the USA! Best, Jessica

Johnny Post author

August 1, 2019 at 7:23 am

Hey Jessica & Laurence, I’ve just finished reading through your absolutely amazing Route 66 Guide. All I can say is ‘Wow!’ what an amazing thing you did! – and to share it so eloquently, well, you must both be congratulated on it! 🙂 My friend and I were ruminating over a pint a few nights ago (we’re English) when we somehow got onto a conversation that neither of us have been to The States, and how much we would one day love to. Then, in a kinda ‘light bulb’ moment – I asked him whether he’d ever thought about driving Route 66. Well, he had not but now, we both can’t stop thinking about the possibility of doing so! Things in both our lives will have to line up first; a bit like stars in the sky, before this idea can become a reality. But now that the notion of it is fixed in my brain, who knows what the future will bring! Thanks again for making the possibility of it, seem even more real! Kind regards, Johnny

August 1, 2019 at 8:49 am

Hi Johnny, So happy you have found our Route 66 guide to be helpful and inspirational 😉 I hope that you and your friend both get a chance to visit the U.S. some day soon and to do the drive along old Route 66 – I am sure you would enjoy it! Feel free to reach out in the future if you get to the stage of trip planning with any questions. Best, Jessica & Laurence

DaMommas Post author

July 31, 2019 at 9:49 am

Thank you for such a great post! I am considering making the trip next year from Chicago, as I will be turning 66 shortly. Kind of getting my kicks at 66. 🙂 I hadn’t realized the signs were removed when it was decommissioned, very good to know!

August 1, 2019 at 1:47 am

Hi there, Driving Route 66 to celebrate turning 66 sounds like a great idea 😉 Yes, since the original Route 66 signs were official road signs, they had to be taken down as the sections were decommissioned. However, there are now brown historic Route 66 signs along many sections of the route now. But since the route itself is not signed in many places, you’ll want a guide to keep you on the route. Best, Jessica

sal desanto Post author

July 18, 2019 at 7:12 am

HI, I AM A RETIRED TEAMSTER AND HAVE DRIVEN TRACTOR-TRAILERS FOR OVER 30 YRS. I AND MY WIFE HAVE BEEN LOOKING TO TRAVEL 66 FOR A WHILE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFO ON THIS TRIP. NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD FOIND SOMETHING LIKE THIS. WE HAVE LIVED IN VEGAS FOR A FEW YEARS SO WE ARE FAMILAR WITH THE SOUTHWEST. I AM THINKING NEXT YEAR STARTING IN AUGUST BY LEAVING FROM CHI-TOWN. I WILL READ YOUR INFO AND COPY IT FOR REFERENCE TO START WITH. WE WILL FLY INTO CHIGAGO AND RENT A VEHICLE TO DRIVE OUT THEN FLY BACK. WE HAVE DRIVEN ACROSS TWICE BEFORE BUT NOT ON 66. THANK YOU, REGARDS. SALVATORE.

July 18, 2019 at 10:00 am

Hi Sal, Glad you are finding our Route 66 guide helpful in planning your road trip from Chicago. Just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip! Best, Jessica

Tiffany Post author

July 17, 2019 at 3:41 pm

Where did you find the large route 66 sign on the actual highway? Would there be any between Albuquerque and Santa Fe?

July 17, 2019 at 4:55 pm

Hi Tiffany, There are a number of places along Route 66 where people have painted Route 66 shields on the highway but these change over time (wear off, get paved over) and are not official so it is hard to give you a location. I think all the locations in the photos (most are from a few years ago) in our posts come from California and Arizona, which are two states where I think we saw the most shields and also were taken in places where there was no traffic making it safe to photograph them. But we saw them in just about every state, including Kansas! If you drive the route (or a longer stretch of it), you’ll likely run across them in a number of places.

There are almost always shields on the highway at the Midway Point in Adiran TX (near the NM border) which is one of the more popular places to see and be able to photograph them so you are pretty guaranteed to see them there. We recently (a couple weeks ago) saw some Route 66 shields on the road in California near Amboy so I know there are 2 there at the moment in good shape.

I don’t know of any shields on the highway between Albuquerque and Santa Fe. But they have installed a Route 66 neon sign near 6411 Central Ave NW in Albuquerque that is over the highway. It is close to the Western View Steak House and looks great at night when the neon is lit. There is still a number of nice Route 66 era neon signs in Albuquerque.

Hope that helps!

Amara Post author

July 16, 2019 at 5:19 am

It’s really helpful for me to get such information to guide to plan for road trip. i really like to go on rte 66 road trip on highway, it’s really feel so amazing .

July 17, 2019 at 12:20 pm

Hi Amara, Glad you found our Route 66 guide helpful and I do hope you get a chance to take this road trip. Just let us know if you have any questions. Best, Jessica

Herb Shartle Post author

July 6, 2019 at 6:52 pm

Just stayed at the El Vado in Albuquerque on 66 and within walking distance to the old town square. It has been recently renovated and worth the slightly higher cost per night…

July 7, 2019 at 8:10 am

Hi Herb, Glad you had a good stay at El Vado in Albuquerque, we were there last year. The motel was actually closed back in 2008 but the building was restored and reopened in August 2018. It is a hotel plus dining area and shops. You can read more in our guide about Route 66 attractions in Albuquerque . Jessica

Steele Honda Post author

June 20, 2019 at 2:14 pm

Thanks for pointing out that in Arizona, you might want to make a pitstop at Wild West Junction in Williams, Arizona. My husband and I are thinking about taking a road trip down Route 66 this summer. I think it would be fun to stop and see some of the unique things like that pitstop along the way to help make our trip even more fun.

June 21, 2019 at 5:55 am

Hi Steele, Yes, it is a good potential stop for those interested in western and cowboy stops along Route 66. Wishing you and your husband a great road trip! Jessica

Tom & Catherine Post author

March 1, 2019 at 5:36 am

Hi just finished reading all the info on your site and really found it informative. We are getting ready to have a family trip (eight of us) using a crusing van. We plan on renting it from Florida where we will be based from and then doing stops in Nashville and Branson, Mo to see some sites before getting on 66. Since we do not have time to run the whole route our thoughts are to pick it up in Mo…possibly Springfield and then go as far as Arizona since we plan on heading up to Vegas from there. Based on that itinerary how many days would you think we need to be able to travel the route as close to original as possible and still see some of the great sites between those two points? Any thoughts or suggestions by anyone would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Tom & Catherine

March 1, 2019 at 7:18 am

Hi Tom & Catherine,

Yes, if you are visiting Branson Missouri, Springfield, MO is a good place to start your Route 66 journey. This falls in the middle of Day 3 of our suggested 2 week itinerary. Then to detour to Las Vegas and end your Route 66 road trip, I’d recommend either Kingman, AZ (Day 11 of our itinerary) or Needles, CA (day 12 of our itinerary) depending on the time you have.

So for that sort of itinerary and following the route closely (using our suggested itinerary) I’d recommend 8 or 9 days along Route 66 (add extra time if you are making any major detours). Going at a slower pace, 10 days. If limited on time, you can do it in fewer days, you’ll just take highway to speed up between major attractions.

Since you are traveling as a big group, I’d also take into consideration how interested each person is in the Route 66 aspect. If some travelers are less interested than others, then you may want to speed up some sections by taking sections of the highway as some attractions do require some interest in Route 66 to appreciate 😉

Dave K Post author

February 20, 2019 at 8:27 pm

This is an awesome sight, guys! Thank you so much for it. You rock!!!

In 2009, we ventured from Richmond, Virginia & picked up 66 in NE Oklahoma & drove to Santa Rosa on our way to see our kids @ Holloman AFB in Alamogordo, NM. Had a lot of fun with the blue whale and the “Cars” places in Shamrock TX. Enjoyed a night @ the Big Texas Steak Ranch. Stayed at the motel with the fake cowhide bedspread. A real hoot! Have been to the Cadillac Ranch twice; although, I think it is losing its allure.

We now live in Colorado Springs and this past weekend we picked up part of the Santa Fe leg just below Las Vegas, NM (SR 84). We enjoyed the stretch of Historic 66 from Moriarty, NM all the way through Albuquerque finishing at Enchanted Trails RV Park. Took the route up to Santa Fe & had a lovely evening in a bungalow @ El Rey Inn.

I’ve only read your planning guide, but will read the actual 2-wk site in the next few days since we hope to get the rest of NM & AZ in next month. Kinda worried about the weather in early March though. I’ll write more later, but THANKS AGAIN!

February 21, 2019 at 3:54 am

Hi Dave, Glad you have enjoyed your time so far on Route 66 and have found our planning guide useful! El Rey and the Big Texan are both classic places to stay 😉 I am sure you’ll enjoy the rest of NM & AZ – Arizona has a lot of Rte 66 treasures.

The weather can be unpredictable in March but it certainly should not be busy. I’d just check the weather and pack accordingly and take it slow. Let us know if you have any questions once you check out our suggested Route 66 road trip itinerary and look forward to hearing how you enjoy the next part of the route.

Howard Penn Post author

January 26, 2019 at 6:59 pm

I drive from Detroit to Tucson yearly. I’ve been on many parts of 66, I’m always seeing something new. It’s an amazing journey. Take your time and explore!! This is a great website as well. See you on the road!

January 27, 2019 at 4:42 am

Hi Howard, Happy to hear that you have enjoyed driving along parts of Route 66 and hope you get to continue to see more on future trips. Thanks for taking the time to comment and glad to hear you enjoyed our road trip planning guide. Best, Jessica

Andrew Post author

January 18, 2019 at 4:20 am

There is an easy way to avoid the heavy one way fees for car rental – do the route in reverse – price for car rental from Chicago to LA I got quoted yesterday £1,500, same company quoted me £480 to go from LA to Chicago. This is because everyone is going from Chicago to LA so they have a load of cars needing to be taken back to Chicago.

January 18, 2019 at 9:02 am

Hi Andrew! Thanks for that great car rental tip for Route 66. I think that if people are flexible in the direction they are going, it is definitely worth checking out the rates going from both direction to see which is lowest! Best, Jessica

Susana Post author

November 18, 2018 at 12:33 am

This website is really amazing! The details are awesome!

I have been dreaming this trip for more than 20 years and it’s still hard to believe I will make it next year May/2019 with your help. Unfortunately I only have two weeks… but I am not discouraged! Flying Dubai-Chicago and then Los Angeles-Dubai so really travelling from far to travel the Mother Road.

Anyway, thank you for getting your kicks in the Route 66 and share it with us!

Going to check your suggestions for renting the car! 🙂

November 18, 2018 at 7:12 am

So happy that you found our Route 66 information helpful and I hope it will help you plan your upcoming road trip in May!

2 weeks is a great amount of time and should allow you to see the full route and most of its highlights. For a day-to-day guide is our 2 week Route 66 itinerary .

For the rental car, just be sure to check to see if there are extra one-way fees sine you will be renting in one city and dropping off in another. Also check to see if you will need an International Drivers License or not, always a good idea, and you’ll need to apply for that in advance from your home country.

Just let us know if you have any questions as you plan your Mother Road road trip!

Monika Vaičiūnaitė Post author

August 25, 2018 at 5:26 am

Hey, Jessica and Laurence,

I have been looking for a way to plan Route 66 trip for a long time. I believe your post is the best thing on the internet!

I am planing the trip with my dad (as this father-daughter thing) but as we are from Europe it’s hard to understand the way road trips work in America. This was exceptionally helpful. We are hoping to experience the classic feel of America through the whole country (with us renting a Mustang and listening to classic rock 🙂 ).

Though I do have one question. I understand that the financial part of the trip is very personal depending of what we’ll see, eat and where we’ll sleep, but excluding the plane tickets and the car rental, what would be the approximate amount of money spent on this kind of trip (as we have no understanding of prices in America). Or a better question- what would be the best way to calculate the vacation budget? if you have any tips, that would be greatly appreciated!

August 25, 2018 at 2:33 pm

So happy you are finding our Route 66 road trip guide so helpful in planning your father-daughter road trip!

Yes, the cost will be very depending on the types of places you want to stay, eat, and visit. Also on how long your trip lasts (e.g. a 12 day trip is going to cost a lot more than a 20 day trip). The things you’ll want to factor for are your car rental, fuel, food, entrance fees/tours/activities, and lodging. Also souvenirs if you plan to do some shopping.

Note that if you want to drive a Mustang, the rental car price for that type of car will be 2 to 3 times that of a regular car and you’ll have limited rental options. If you are traveling on a budget, you might want to consider a regular compact or economy car.

Prices will depend on where you are along the route (Los Angeles and Chicago have much higher average lodging prices than say OKlahoma or Kansas) and fuel is normally much more expensive in California than in other states. It will also depend on what type of lodging and restaurants you like. But you can stay in 1 room (2 people) at budget to lower mid-range motels, inns, and hotels along the route, on an average, for USD $70 to $90/night along many parts of the route. If you are not sharing 1 room and need 2 rooms, I’d say USD $125 to $180 per night. You’ll need to increase that price if you want to stay at nicer hotels.

For food, you can get free breakfast at many motels and hotels (check when booking), and easily eat for around $15/person for lunch and $20/person for dinner (no alcoholic drinks) at diners, fast food places, delis, and cafes. Even less if you want to and you can of course also make sandwiches, cook your own meals, etc. to save money. But of course if want to eat at nicer restaurants, you’ll need to increase that budget. Restaurants in cities like Chicago, Santa Fe, and Santa Monica can be very expensive.

Fuel prices fluctuate a lot so I’d check the prices ahead of your trip, such as here or here .

Here is a post about costs of travel in the USA that might help.

But the best way is to just start looking at the kind of lodging and restaurants you want to eat at. I’d go through and check some of the lodging prices and menu prices for some of the places listed on our Route 66 itinerary to get a better idea. You can often save money and better stick to a budget by booking your lodging in advance.

Hope that helps give you an idea, and please feel free to ask any further questions as you continue to plan your road trip!

Leo Post author

July 25, 2018 at 1:52 pm

Hey guys, great guide, you did cover everything anyone needs to make this trip. I do have one request though…can you please make some comments about fuel availability? Perhaps there are stretches that may be better to drive them with a full tank, or maybe there are sections with not much gas stations (or non at all). And what about tolls? Did you find Toll by Plate booths all the way? Did you pay cash? How did you deal with this? Is there an estimate amount of money spent on tolls that you can share? Thanks a lot!

July 25, 2018 at 3:22 pm

Glad you are finding our Route 66 road trip guide helpful in planning your trip!

It is probably always a good idea to keep your tank at the 1/4 mark or above when driving Route 66 as it can be a fairly long drive to the next gas station along some stretches of the route. The route becomes more rural with fewer towns as you get further west, but there is almost always a gas station within a 30 to 60 minute drive. The only stretch though that would be a real concern is the Mojave Desert stretch in California as it is the most desolate stretch with the fewest services. To get a better idea of the route, you can check out our suggested 2 week Route 66 itinerary as it will give you an idea of the number of towns/cities along each stretch.

BTW, as mentioned in the article if you do NOT have an American credit card with an American address, you may not be able to get fuel at automatic stations without an attendant. Many require you to put in the zip code attached to the credit card. So if that is the case, I’d be sure to always fill up during the day at stations with an attendant or store attached in case you need to go inside to pay.

Sounds like you have traveled in a state (Florida maybe?) where there are a lot of road tolls and the tolls-by-plate system is in place. As far as I know and can remember, there are no road tolls along Route 66. However, you may encounter them as you drive around to explore the larger cities along the route like Chicago and Los Angeles. But you are unlikely to encounter many, if any, road tolls and I don’t think this is something you really need to factor into your budget. If you do encounter tolls, you can pay cash.

Hope this helps! Jessica

Goncalo P Post author

July 5, 2018 at 7:31 am

Hi Jessica & Laurence,

Nice blog about Route 66 experience. I am planning to do it in soon…

How much does it cost to rent a car (pick Up Chicago and Drop at LA) for 15 days ? All companies apllies the “one way drop off” fee, and i Can´t find any economy/medium car (2 people) for less than 1500 USD ! Can you please give some tips.

Thanks, Goncalo

July 5, 2018 at 7:58 am

Hi Goncalo,

Glad you are finding our Route 66 planning guide helpful, and excited to hear that you are planning to do the route this summer.

There are a lot of major rental car companies that have offices in both Chicago and Los Angeles and allow one-way rentals, but as you are finding, most charge a hefty one-way rental fee. Rental car prices depend a lot on time of year as well.

Here are some tips for finding the lowest price car rental for Route 66:

• We like to use Priceline to compare rental car prices as it compares across a number of companies. However, you still need to be careful about one-way fees as they come back with the one-way fees after booking (if they apply) and then you can cancel the booking or not.
• We normally find in the U.S. that Enterprise or Budget has the lowest rates for regular cars. When you book directly, it should show you all one-way fees.
• Summer and holidays are going to be the busiest time for rentals and the most expensive time. This probably doesn’t help as it sounds like you are planning to travel in summer, but you can often save money traveling off-season and avoiding holidays.
• Check prices outside of airports as rental car agencies usually charge more when located at an airport and may charge additional fees. It may be less expensive to take a taxi or bus into the nearest city for a less expensive rental. Enterprise will pick you up and often has a number of offices outside of airports to keep costs down.
• If the above don’t work, you can also try checking prices for cities located nearby Chicago and LA. For instance instead of Chicago, see if you get cheaper prices by picking up in Evanston or Joliet, or dropping off in Long Beach. This may be less convenient though so you’d need to factor that in as well.

Hope this helps and let us know if you have further questions as you plan your Route 66 road trip!

Shawn Post author

June 29, 2018 at 11:49 pm

Wow, this is amazing!! Great practical advice in your planning guide and a very useable detailed Rte 66 itinerary. 100X better than any of the other travel websites out there and 10X than any of the actual guidebooks I have checked. We will be using this to guide our Route 66 road trip next month, we are only doing about 1/2 of the route this time but know we’ll be back next year to do the rest and using your wonderful guide. Thank you for taking the time to put this excellent resource together for the benefit of the rest of us!!

July 14, 2018 at 8:00 pm

Hi Shawn, Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, and we are very happy that you are finding our planning guide and itinerary helpful in planning your Route 66 road trip! We do put a lot of time and effort into our travel blog and always love to hear when we have helped someone. Do let us know if you have any questions as you plan your trip, and feel free to report back on your own Route 66 trip! Best, Jessica

Perri Wilson Post author

June 29, 2018 at 6:11 pm

I wanted to thank you for all the information in your blog. We are planning a Coast to Coast trip next year following I-40 from Barstow to the east coast (not sure where) then on to the Florida Keys. it’ll be 5 motorcycles with chase truck for most of the trip, so I’m looking to use US66 to keep us off the highways to probably western Missouri. I plan on checking out your itinerary, mainly to see if there were parts of the road that were not motorcycle friendly – too deteriorated parts of the road. And I have followed a couple of your links to guides on Amazon. The book – The Route 66 Party Guide sounds like it’ll be just the guide to have. Thanks again for a wonderful afternoon of road trip research!

July 1, 2018 at 1:27 am

Hi Perri, So glad your found our Route 66 guide and the itinerary will also likely come in handy for the sections you want to drive.

Sadly, the specific motorcycle guides have come and gone and for whatever reason don’t seem to come out in regular new editions but the Party Guide is still the most popular for bikers. Based on our experience, motorcycles can still follow most of the ~ 80% of the road still available and you are typically only a few miles from the Interstate if you do decide a road is a bit too rough. I would probably also recommend the latest version of the EZ 66 Guide as Jerry typically has the latest road information (he does the route in a car each year but many motorcyclists use his guide as well) and you can visit his website to learn more about road closures, floods, detours, etc. that have occurred since the latest book.

If you are looking for a historic route to the east coast you might consider U.S. Route 30 which today still closely follows the Lincoln Highway – it was the first transcontinental road for automobiles in the U.S (in 1913!). It stretches from California to New York, and from 66 could connect from say Illinois (it goes through Joliet, IL). I have driven only sections, so can’t stay anything for motorcycles or traffic, but it may be one route to consider.

The Keys are fantastic and a great way to end such an epic cross-country road trip! So many great towns and cities you can visit on the way south as well. Feel free to reach out if you want any recommendations as you continue your planning!

Rachel Green Post author

June 18, 2018 at 10:14 pm

My great-grandfather used to tell my father his stories of Route 66, about the experienced he had with his friends. These fun stories have created curiosity in my mind that even I want to experience Rte 66 once in my life at least. I really liked how you explained everything in such detail you made me remember all those stories I heard when I was a kid.

June 19, 2018 at 12:50 pm

Hi Rachel, Thanks for your comment and I hope you have a chance to do a Route 66 road trip some day and see some of the things that your great-grandfather spoke about to your father! Best, Jessica

David Post author

June 17, 2018 at 11:44 pm

Before undertaking Route 66 I started researching online. There was a lot of information out there, much of it not very helpful so the first task was to work out which sites provided information and suggestions which were relevant to the trip I wanted to do. Yours was the best by what Australians would call “a country mile”: helpful, well written and current with no hint of partisanship (apart from the JUCY sponsorship which you declared quite openly).

Armed with the information from your site, I was able to target my further research without wasting time and effort. In the end, I opted for three weeks on the Route (not including my 3 and 1/2 days in Chicago – a city full of pleasant surprises) and my last day in LA before flying back to Australia. Apart from two nights in Santa Fe, every night was in a different place because if I was to complete the trip in the three weeks I’d allowed myself, there wasn’t time to dilly-dally too long. I chose to follow the actual Route as far as possible and if where there was more than one alignment, I would always take the older alignment if it was available and driveable.

I think your advice to not over-plan the trip is critical. This is not characteristic of my holiday planning, but in the end, I just decidedt to go with the Road and stop at the end of the day. Sure, there was so much more I could have spent time seeing, but I’ll be back another day. For those contemplating Route 66, heed the advice of the Travel Cats and buy a copy of ‘EZ66’ (or something equally as comprehensive) but make sure you get the latest edition. I know Jerry McClanahan is intending to update that publication but I doubt that will be on the bookshelves for another year at least). The ‘Here it is’ maps were invaluable, as was Drew Knowles ‘Route 66 Adventure Handbook’. Yes, you need lots of information and you’re constantly cross-referencing, but it’s worth the effort.

So many sights, experiences and now memories. I loved it and am so glad I had the opportunity to experience Route 66 first-hand. The fact that you’re on this web site is a great start to your own journey – travel safely. And a very big ‘thank you’ to Jessica and Laurence for their invaluable help.

June 25, 2018 at 12:58 am

Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and share about your Route 66 road trip experience after the trip!

Sounds like you had a great Route 66 trip – 3 weeks allows you to really explore and see a lot. We are also happy to hear you used our Route 66 articles to help plan your road trip and sightsee along the way! We spent a lot of time on those posts and are always very happy to know that they have helped other travelers 😉

Happy travels! Jessica

Joanne Cameron Post author

May 1, 2018 at 6:19 pm

WOW!!!!! This was such a great sight to get to know the Route 66 and all that it has to offer. Our family, when we were kids, and there were 5 of us and our parents drove from NJ to CA back in the 60’s in a Rambler and remember the old road that we drove and the newer highways that offered a faster pace. Thank goodness my dad stopped at some of the Historical towns and sights. My 66th Birthday is this May and thought I would make that trip. Looking so forward to it. Thank you for all your great info. :}

May 2, 2018 at 12:00 pm

Hi Joanne, Glad you have fond memories of being in the car with your family along Route 66 back in the 1960’s 😉 I am so happy you are enjoyed our Route 66 guide and happy that you are planning a Route 66 trip for May. Hopefully our guide and our Route 66 itinerary will help you plan your trip, but do let us know if you have any questions as we are happy to help! Best, Jessica

JD Byous Post author

May 1, 2018 at 10:31 am

Love your articles… especially this one. As a child my family traveled Route 66 each year to visit family in Eastern Oklahoma. Your excellent writing and photos bring back many good memories. JD Byous

May 1, 2018 at 1:23 pm

Hi JD, So glad you enjoyed our Route 66 travel guide and I am glad it brought back some good memories for you. I hope you get a chance to travel the road again in the future 😉 Best, Jessica

Karen Taylor Post author

January 18, 2018 at 2:49 pm

Hi, We are thinking of traveling Route 66 next year, just read your blog, very informative and helpful, thank you!

I was wondering about safety on the route? My other worry was breaking down but you have already covered that. One part of me loves the thought of being on the open road of the route, the other worries about the dangers you could encounter? Standing out as obvious tourists with regards to robberies etc?

January 19, 2018 at 6:18 am

I am glad that you found our Route 66 article helpful!

Yes, there are many ways to be prepared for car related issues or accidents such as having proper insurance, subscribing to a roadside assistance program, making sure you have the proper gear in your car (e.g., extra tire, extra headlight bulbs, safety vest), etc.

The safety question is a good one and I will add some of this information to the main article for future readers who may also have concerns.

In terms of safety, I think you’d want to basically do what you’d do in any other area of the USA or really any country. Crime rates vary considerably along the route from big cities like LA, Chicago and Albuquerque where there is higher crime to small little towns in Oklahoma or Arizona that may experience almost no crime. A lot of crime, especially violent crime, happens late at night or early in the morning so completing your sightseeing by dinner time (most things are closed by then anyway) and heading off to your accommodation for the night may make you feel safer. We felt very safe on our trip, particularly during the day but I has also been to many of the states before and had lived in both CA and NM.

I think the biggest concerns are probably theft (of valuables and car) and here is some of our general safety advice we give to people when traveling (applies to Route 66 or really anywhere!). Keep your valuables hidden, car and hotel doors locked, and be cautious about opening motel or hotel doors to people you don’t know. If you are wearing a purse, I’d wear a cross body one that is difficult for someone to snatch. Have copies of important phone numbers, IDs and credit cards stored in a separate place (physical and/or online) in case your purse and/or phone are stolen. Keep your cell phones charged and carry a spare battery or charger. Always have a bit of cash on you ($20 to $50) but don’t carry large amounts of cash in case you are robbed. Let other people not on your trip know your general plans. Some people also like to carry pepper spray.

If you are camping, I’d stay at proper campsites with staff on-site and avoid camping off by yourself out of sight of others. If staying in budget motels or rented rooms (e.g., Airbnb ), I’d be sure to read reviews and check on the area a bit (especially in larger cities) to try to avoid high crime areas. It can also help to make sure you have your lodging booked ahead at least a day or two in advance so you are never scrambling to find lodging late at night. We did not have any safety related issues during our trip but I think you should definitely watch out for yourself like you would anywhere else and if you are new to these areas, it is always good to be a little extra cautious.

Hope this helps, and wishing you a wonderful (and safe) Route 66 road trip if you do decide to do it!!

Aaron C. Post author

October 3, 2017 at 10:55 am

Excellent article! I like how thorough and detailed it is. One thing that scares me with long road trips like this is car trouble. Something as little as a flat tire or bad fuel injector can throw off the entire trip. Thanks for writing.

October 4, 2017 at 9:41 am

Hi Aaron, Thanks, glad you enjoyed our Route 66 road trip article and thanks for taking the time to comment. Yes, a long road trip can be a bit scary as things can go wrong with your car. In fact, we just had a flat tire and problems with our clutch on a road trip in the past couple of weeks. But there are ways that you can be prepared for some issues such as having insurance, subscribing to a roadside assistance program, making sure you have the proper gear in your car (e.g., extra tire, extra headlight bulbs, safety vest), etc.. Even though we’ve had significant car problems this trip, it has not ruined our trip at all as we had roadside assistance and were able to always get issues sorted same day or next day. But definitely something you should think about, especially if going to less populated areas where you may not be close to service stations. Best, Jessica

Blaine Tamayo Post author

September 14, 2017 at 6:52 am

This article really helps! Thank you for sharing this guide on planning a roadtrip on Route 66.

September 14, 2017 at 12:28 pm

Hi Blaine, You’re very welcome, glad you found our Route 66 planning guide helpful! We had a wonderful time traveling Route 66 and wishing you a similarly wonderful Route 66 road trip! Best, Jessica

Louise Post author

August 24, 2017 at 9:24 am

I enjoyed reading about your thoughts and experiences on Route 66. We’re a Kiwi and Japanese couple who just came from a our own Route 66 odyssey–well, half of it. Now that our kids are self sufficient, we took the time to do a couple’s trip. Due to work schedules, we only had 10 days to get over there from Tokyo and back again, so we did half the route, from Chicago to Adrian, TX. We look forward to doing the other half in a year or two, hopefully by Harley next time. (My husband is a biker. I am the decorative partner who rides on the back.) All the best to you guys and your cats–we have three of our own. Three kids, three cats.

August 24, 2017 at 9:38 am

Hi Louise, Glad you enjoyed reading our guide to Route 66, and it sounds like you had a great trip if you plan to return to do the rest of the route. Yes, and congrats on doing exactly half of it as Adrian, Texas (to those readers who don’t know) is considered the exact midpoint of Route 66 😉 The second half is quite different to the first and very scenic, especially from New Mexico to the California desert. Wishing the best to you as well and hope you get a chance to return in the next few years! Best, Jessica

Vickie Good Post author

June 3, 2017 at 7:09 pm

Thanks for the great information, I want to buy a gas card for a friend who is driving the complete route this month. What national brand companies are most prevalent along the route. Thanks!

June 5, 2017 at 12:35 am

Hi Vickie, Along Route 66 there are a lot of different gas station brands (Exxon, BP, Philips, 7-Eleven, Texaco, Shell, Chevron, Sinclair, Speedway, Marathon…not to mention the giant gas station brands of WalMart & Costco) as it spans over 8 states and there are a lot of regional and local gas stations. In some places you just don’t have much choice (many towns just have one or two stations). The vast majority allow you to pay with a credit or debit card, so I would suggest instead of a gas card for a specific company getting at pre-paid credit or debit card for your friend to be able to use to purchase fuel as well as other essentials along the route (food, supplies). For instance there are pre-paid VISA gift cards that you can use anywhere that VISA is accepted (VISA and Mastercard are accepted just about everywhere credit cards are in the USA). You can purchase these cards online or via certain stores (I think stores like WalMart carry them). Hope that helps! Best, Jessica

April Yap Post author

November 9, 2016 at 3:47 am

I like the photos and the adventure of your Route 66 trip!

travelcats Post author

November 11, 2016 at 5:00 am

Hi April, Thanks, Route 66 was a great road trip, probably our favorite of the many road trips we have taken so far! ~ Jessica

Lori E Post author

October 4, 2016 at 7:47 pm

As a blogger who is, at the moment, not blogging much anymore due to lack of time, I appreciate the enormous amount of work you have put into this post.! Well done. I will heading from Vegas to Santa Fe in a couple weeks and really enjoyed your experience. We are just going to cruise along and see what we can see. Of utmost importance to us is good food and interesting sites. You have given me a lot to look into. I absolutely love your photograph of the street in Calico. I would frame that and hang it on my wall. It is great art!

October 4, 2016 at 11:23 pm

Hi Lori, I am glad you found our article helpful and I hope you have a great trip along that section of Route 66. There are some great places to visit in Arizona and New Mexico along Route 66. I am a big fan of New Mexican food and highly recommend trying lots of New Mexican dishes and green chile burgers. Be sure to check out MeowWolf in Santa Fe if you haven’t been there; we just went last week and loved it. Thanks, glad you like our Calico ghost town photos (definitely worth a visit!). Any of our photos are available to our readers for printing, just email us for details. Have a great road trip! Best, Jessica

Jenny Post author

August 7, 2016 at 12:03 pm

We are planning to drive out to CA, to see our children. We are making this an adventure and of course, must drive on Route 66! You have provided great information! Thank you so much!

August 8, 2016 at 5:10 am

Hi Jenny, Glad you found the Route 66 information helpful. Sounds like you have a fun trip planned and glad you get to incorporate Route 66! Thanks for taking the time to comment 🙂 Happy travels, Jessica

Mark Anderson Post author

March 11, 2016 at 1:53 am

A fantastic and comprehensive article. Any advice on driving and navigating the big cities for a United Kingdom driver like me who drives on the left hand side of the road with steering wheel on right side of car. Would definitely consider driving Route 66 with my wife and three kids.

March 13, 2016 at 9:30 am

Hi Mark! Thanks so much, we are glad you found the article to be comprehensive! Yes, it can be a great family trip, even if you just choose to do a portion of Route 66. My husband is British so I definitely understand your question as we are currently living in Scotland. Here is a link to an article on tips for driving in the USA and another helpful articles that were specifically written for the British driver’s first time driving in the U.S. that outlines many of the main driving differences, laws, and things to consider: UK beginner driving tips for USA ,

Note that there are differences in traffic laws by state (speed limits, whether U-turns are legal, fines for cell phone use) but most traffic laws are similar across the states and similar to those in the UK. Many of the traffic signs will be familiar or make sense to you. It will take you a bit of time to adjust to driving on the opposite side of the road and the opposite side of the car and I would suggest picking up your rental car in a smaller town or city to give you more time to practice driving in an easier place rather than picking it up in a congested city like Chicago, L.A., or San Francisco which can be stressful places to drive even for native drivers. Or pick it up at a major city’s airport and directly head to a smaller town or suburbs for a couple days of driving and exploring before tackling the big cities. After a couple days of driving people often start feeling more comfortable.

Also most American rentals are automatic which my husband actually now prefers as he found it much easier not having to worrying about changing gears all the time. But if you are used to a Standard/manual car, you may want to request one of them so at least that would be the same. Note that Americans use miles for distance and gallons for fuel/gas.

A great thing right now is that fuel prices in the U.S. are much lower than in the UK! Please let me know if you have any specific questions about traffic laws or planning a Route 66 road trip after checking out those links and we are happy to answer them. Happy travels! ~ Jessica

Joy Macarthur Post author

February 27, 2016 at 9:33 pm

Hi, I have just read you blog .. It’s amazing with so much information … Thank you so much! We have 2 guide books now, The Adventure Handbook and Tom Snyder Route 66..which I am in the process of reading cover to cover..But now we think we might buy the Ez66 book as well .. We are planning our trip ,well we have booked our trip for mid June of this year .. We are hoping to buy a bike and ride 66 but we have limited room …..We would like to get the dining and food one but we might have to just go with what we find along the way .. We haven’t got anything planned .. But do know we will probably do 320 to 400 km a day on our trip.. I have written everything down so thank you so much ..by the way we are from New Zealand – Joy

February 28, 2016 at 4:11 am

Hi Joy, I am glad that you found our Route 66 post useful and I hope it helps you plan your upcoming Route 66 road trip! I would strongly recommend the Route 66 EZ66 Guide in addition to The Adventure Handbook you already own. If you have limited room, I would choose these two plus a good road map/atlas over both the Snyder guide (it is less up-to-date) and the Dining & Food guide. There are some recommendations for food in the other guides, they are just more limited. Another idea is to purchase the Route 66 Dining/Lodging guide and just write down or photocopy some of your favorites to take with you or make any special motel reservations in advance as we did find the guide’s recommendations to be quite useful, especially for food. There are some motorcycle guides to Route 66 out there as well, I included a link to them in the post, but the issue with most of these is that they are not that regularly updated so you are probably best to stick with the other guides. As you keep planning, I’d also love to hear more about where you choose to rent your motorcycle and general issues around that to help future readers finding this post, since our experience was in a car/RV. Happy travels! ~ Jessica

Leigh Blochlinger Post author

February 20, 2016 at 1:01 pm

Hi! We are from South Africa….having been planning a trip to the US since 2012! needed to wait for our youngest Grandson to reach “Disney” height…the year has arrived! So seven of us are booked to leave Johannesburg for Orlando on 7th December! We have planned to spend spend a week in Orlando and then hiring two RV’s to drive through to Las Vegas….preferably using Route 66. Little concerned re: your comments about travelling in December…unfortunately, we do not have much choice as in SA December is the longest vacation time for all major professions and schools! So….what is your advice?

February 20, 2016 at 1:27 pm

Hi Leigh, I am very excited for you and your family’s USA road trip! I would not be too concerned about driving in December but I would be prepared for cold temperatures and possible poor road conditions, especially in the mountain areas of both New Mexico and Arizona. You may need to make detours if the weather is bad (especially if driving larger RVs) and some places may be closed or have limited winter hours; however the great news is that there won’t be a lot of other travelers on the Route, you won’t have to deal with the really hot weather in the desert, and it is easy to get road updates online or by phone. If you are detouring to the Grand Canyon I would make RV spot reservations at least 3 months in advance as it is busy all year. So obviously you can’t drive the full Route 66 route given your trip stopping and ending points, but if driving from Orlando I would suggest starting Route 66 around Oklahoma City, OK, and then driving westward through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and then leaving Route 66 to go north to Las Vegas around the Arizona/California border. If you are driving Route 66, Las Vegas is convenient from around Needles, California and the Grand Canyon is convenient from either Williams, AZ or Flagstaff, AZ. I would definitely get one of the recommended books to help guide your Route 66 drive. Also I am not sure how much time you have, but it is a very long drive from Orlando to Las Vegas, and taking Route 66 will only make it slower. If you need to shave time off of your trip, I’d recommend booking a domestic flight from Orlando to a more convenient location (e.g., Los Angeles, CA; Tulsa, OK, Albuquerque, NM, or Oklahoma, City, OK) to drive a section of Route 66 to Las Vegas. Hope this helps and let me know if you have any further questions, also check back for further Route 66 posts coming up this year before your trip. Happy travels! ~ Jessica

Stephen Garone Post author

January 12, 2016 at 11:20 am

That’s a terrific article. I’ve always wanted to drive this route. You’ve given me new inspiration!

January 12, 2016 at 6:55 pm

Hi Stephen, thanks! Yes, Route 66 is a great route to drive in the U.S. The country is just great for road trips in general and Laurence and I are actually back in the U.S. right now doing another road trip in the southeast part of the country. ~ Jessica

Corinne Post author

January 2, 2016 at 11:34 pm

Jessica, What an excellent post, and of course I always drool over your’s and Laurence’s images! I’ve driven much of Route 66, but never altogether. It’s a must-do for sure!

January 4, 2016 at 9:33 am

Hi Corinne! Yes, I think driving the full route at once can really be a different and great experience, as you are not really focused on a destination, just on things along the route. But I think most people don’t have the time to drive Route 66 from end to end and driving a section can still be a great experience. ~ Jessica

budget jan Post author

January 2, 2016 at 3:52 pm

An excellent resource for Route 66. We’ve yet to explore the States and I think that driving this route would be a good way to start. This post can be our guide and inspiration. Thanks for including so many details and suggestions. The photo of yourself leaning against the coke machine – I remember those coke machines being in use when I was a kid in Australia.

January 4, 2016 at 9:18 am

Hi Jan, glad you found the guide to be useful & inspirational:) Route 66 is a fun place to see all sorts of American things you remember from your childhood and that of your parents:) I think Route 66 is a great way to see part of the U.S.! More posts on Route 66 to come over the next few months so check back and Laurence is also doing an 8-post series of photo essays (one for each state) over at htttp://www.findingtheuniverse.com – we just took so many photos from our trip!

Roshan Post author

December 31, 2015 at 11:52 pm

Great blog post- very detailed. We went around New Zealand in a Jucy van- best mode of transport ever! Also loved the little bit of Route 66 we got to see from LA to Vegas.

January 4, 2016 at 9:13 am

Hi Roshan, thanks glad you found the post helpful! Yes, JUCY is much better known in Australian and New Zealand but the company is starting to become better known on the West Coast of the U.S. — it is hard not to notice the bright green and purple vans! Glad you got to see a bit of Route 66 on your L.A. to Las Vegas trip:)

Kathryn Hastedt Post author

September 9, 2020 at 8:07 am

My husband and I did the Historic Route 66 mid August. Your guide was a huge help. My husband was impressed that each night our accommodations were right close to the route. That was thanks to your 2 week planner. We also made sure we didn’t miss any attractions. It was an awesome trip!!

September 10, 2020 at 7:52 am

So glad to hear that you had a great Route 66 trip and that you found our guides helpful! So happy to hear you had such an awesome road trip. We love to hear that our blog has been helpful to people in their travels 😉

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

1 Week on Route 66: The Ultimate USA Road Trip Itinerary

Last updated: December 15, 2023 . Written by Laurence Norah - 21 Comments

If you’re looking to take a road trip in the USA, perhaps the most iconic of all is Route 66. Spanning over 2,400 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, this driving route will take you through a broad span of America, from big cities through to vast desert landscapes.

We’ve driven the entirety of Route 66, and we’ve already put together a detailed guide to planning a Route 66 trip and guide to all the best places to stay on Route 66 .

We also have a detailed two week Route 66 itinerary with day by day higlights for the Route. However, we know that not everyone necessarily has as much time to take two or three weeks driving Route 66, and we wanted to put together a shorter Route 66 road trip itinerary for you.

The itinerary that we have put together for this post is for 8 days and 7 nights, from Chicago to LA (or the other way round). This is one way.

Before we launch into this classic USA road trip itinerary, we just want to clarify a few things about driving Route 66 in a shorter amount of time.

To do the route in this amount of time will require spending some time on the interstate rather than following the original route faithfully. Specifically, you will spend a fair amount of time on I-40, which was the road that replaced the original Route 66 for the stretch from Oklahoma City to Los Angeles.

In many places, the I-40 runs right next to the original route, or even over the top of it, so the overall experience is not too dissimilar – it will just be faster and a little less authentic.

If you want to absolutely faithfully follow the original Route 66 route you will want to spend a bit more time. It would be very challenging to follow the original route in a compressed time frame as the speed limits are slower, and it passes through a lot of smaller towns which will also slow you down.

If you want to follow Route 66 as accurately as is possible today, then we’d suggest you need a minimum of two weeks for that trip, and you should check out our two week Route 66 itinerary .

Of course, it is also possible to drive the route in a shorter amount of time by spending even more time on the interstate and less time on old Route itself. We think this negates the point somewhat (and we’re not sure at what point it stops being a true Route 66 road trip), but we also appreciate not everyone has huge amounts of time!

The total drive time from Chicago to LA on the interstate is 30 hours. If you mostly stuck to the interstate, and just did a few sections of Route 66, you could get from Chicago to LA in three to five days if you really rushed it.

However, we’d really recommend trying to find more time, and taking at least 8 days to do the route, as we have laid out here. If you have the luxury of more time, then you can follow our two week itinerary, which can also be done at a more leisurely pace of three week or more!

That’s enough preparation. Let’s take a look at our one week itinerary for what might be the most famous road trip in the USA, and probably even the world – Route 66!

A Classic USA Road Trip Itinerary – 1 Week on Route 66

Day 1: chicago – st. louis.

Route 66 officially starts in Chicago. As with many roads, Route 66 changed over the years, and there are a number of different versions of the road, which are referred to as alignments.

Chicago is no different, and there are in fact two official starting locations. The first dates from 1926, and is on Jackson Boulevard at Michigan Avenue. The second is from Jackson Boulevard on Lake Shore Drive, and dates from 1933.

To be honest, the locations are pretty close to each other, and other than a small sign that you might miss if you weren’t looking for it, aren’t that exciting. There aren’t a lot of other Route 66 attractions in the city, however it is of course still very much worth visiting.

If you have time before (or after, depending which direction you are driving) your Route 66 trip, s ee our guide for spending 2 days in Chicago for some tips on what to see and do in the city.

Anyway, back to Route 66. It’s time to head out of the city – you’ve got over 2,000 miles to drive!

Our first highlight on the route that you’ll want to stop for a photo of is the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, IL. Route 66 was home to a whole range of quirky, oddball attractions, and you’ll be seeing a lot more of these as you go.

The Gemini Giant is one of the original Muffler Men . These were large statues of men created in the 1960’s as advertising props – often the man, who who be around 20 feet tall, would be depicted holding whatever the store in question was advertising. These ranged from hotdogs to car mufflers.

The Gemini Giant is outfitted as a giant astronaut holding a rocket, and was used to advertise the “Launching Pad” restaurant. It can still be seen today outside the restaurant (currently closed), and is a great first start for your Route 66 quirky objects collection.

Further on from Wilmington you’ll come to Pontiac, where a stop at the Route 66 Half of Fame and Museum is a must. Most states on the route have their own Route 66 museum (we stopped at all of them!), and we highly recommend stopping at at least one or two of them.

We think this first one is a logical start to get yourself acquainted with the Route, and the journey you have ahead of you.

From Pontiac, head on to Springfield IL, where you’ll have the option for the first classic Route 66 food stop. As you would imagine, a road trip like Route 66 inspired a whole host of dining options, many of which have been going strong for decades.

The first dish we suggest you try are the Cozy Dogs (their name for a corn dog) at the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield. This has been a Route 66 staple since 1949, with the same family running it throughout.

If you’re not from the US you might not be familiar with what a corn dog is – it’s essentially a hot dog sausage covered in cornmeal batter and then deep fried. A word of warning about Route 66 – the meals along the route tend to be of the fast food variety, so if you want to try the classics, don’t expect to be doing a great deal of healthy eating!

From Springfield, continue on until you reach Staunton, where we suggest you visit Henry’s Rabbit Ranch . This is the home of Rich Henry, who has created a unique Route 66 attraction which is home to a variety of lovely live rabbits that you can meet, a number of old VW vehicles, as well as other Route 66 memorabilia.

We definitely recommend stopping in here and picking up a souvenir or buying a soft drink to support this Route 66 location.

If you still have time on your first day, you might also want to visit the Pink Elephant Antiques Mall in Livingstone, before ending your first day’s journey in St. Louis. Here you’ll find a range of Route 66 era signs and statues, which include a UFO and a giant pink Elephant.

Finally, you’ll finish the first day of your Route 66 adventure in the city of St. Louis.

St. Louis is a major city with a number of attractions – the most famous of which is the Gateway Arch . This is a 630 ft high monument which is also the tallest arch in the world. Complete in 1963, the Arch would have been seen by Route 66 drivers towards the end of the Route’s heyday.

The Arch is a fitting Route 66 symbol, as it is a monument to the westward expansion of United States – an expansion in which Route 66 played a major role for half a century. Today, the Gateway Arch is a National Park. You can ride to the top in a tram for wonderful views across the city.

Our last Route 66 stop for the day is another food highlight – Ted Drewes Frozen Custard . As the name suggests, this seasonal attraction serves up frozen custard, which is a bit like ice cream.

They are also famous for their “concretes”, which are malts or shakes which are so thick they are served upside down! Ted Drewes Frozen Custard have been serving Route 66 travellers since 1930. There are a number of locations, but the Chippewa Street location is on Route 66.

With that, you are done with your first day on Route 66! Time to relax for the evening before continuing with your next day. We have a few recommended locations for you to spend the night.

Where to stay in St. Louis

St. Louis is a large city with a great many accommodation options. There aren’t any of the classic Route 66 motels that you’ll find in some of the stops further along the route, but there are a few locations we can recommend.

• The Holiday Inn St Louis SW Route 66 – This is a well-reviewed chain hotel that includes a free continental breakfast and has a Route 66 theme. This would be our main pick for a Route 66 hotel in St. Louis.
• The Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch – This 3-star hotel includes a terrace with a view of the Gateway Arch and stays include breakfast.
• Four Seasons – If you are looking for 5-star luxury option in St. Louis, we suggest that the Four Seasons is your best option.
• Hampton Inn St. Louis at the Arch – This is a great option for a good-value hotel which is within walking distance of many of the city’s top attractions. You can see the Gateway Arch from the hotel and breakfast is included.

For more options, see our guide to the best Route 66 era motels and hotels along the route.

Day 2: St Louis – Carthage

The second day of your Route 66 adventure across the USA is going to take you right across Missouri from St. Louis to Carthage. There are a lot of attractions along the way, and it’s going to be a minimum of four hours drive, so we’d suggest picking a few of the following for your day.

One of the most famous stops on this part of Route 66, and the first one we recommend you stop at yourself, is Meramec Caverns . This is a 400 million year old 4.6 mile long cavern system near the towns of Sullivan and Stanton.

Meramec Caverns has long been a Route 66 attraction, and it was made particularly famous by the advertising that was painted all over barns and other buildings along the Route advertising it. A few of these original advertisements can still be seen, and they are now Route 66 attractions in their own right.

The cave can be visited by guided tour, and it’s still one of the most popular attractions in the state. Tours run throughout the day, departing every 20-30 minutes, and last for approximately eighty minutes.

Whilst you could get a coffee at Meramec Caverns, we would instead suggest you continue on the route until you get to Cuba. This is home to a number of Route 66 attractions, including the Wagon Wheel motel , which is the oldest continuously operating motel on the Route. They have coffee and soda available in their gift shop.

Other attractions in Cuba include a series of lovely murals, a restored 1932 Phillips 66 gas station and an operating drive-in theatre.

A little further along the route and you will come to Fanning, home to a giant rocking chair, which is worth a photo stop. The Rocking Chair is outside the Fanning 66 outpost, where you can pick up Route 66 memorabilia and souvenirs.

The next stop on your second day on Route 66 is the town of Rolla. Here you’ll find a variety of attractions, including the Mule Trading Post , which has been in business on the Route since 1957. Other highlights of Rolla include a scale model of Stonehenge and the Totem Pole Trading Post.

From Rolla there are a number of towns and Route 66-era attractions, from the 1923 bridge at Devil’s Elbow to the Munger Moss Motel at Lebanon. Time will likely be against you by this point however, so we’d suggest pressing on, with just a quick stop at those attractions you are interested in.

If you want to, a stop at the Route 66 Welcome Centre near Conway makes for a good break point, it has maps, information and exhibits about the Route, as well as restrooms and its own neon sign.

Otherwise, head on for Springfield. Springfield is a fairly large city, and multiple alignments of Route 66 ran through the town over the years. As you would imagine therefore, there are numerous locations where you will find Route 66 attractions, including the Route 66 Car Museum . There are also old gas stations, neon signs, and a number of old Route 66 motels.

Finally, head on to Carthage, where we suggest you spend your second night on Route 66.

Where to Stay in Carthage

• Boots Court – Lovingly restored to its 1940’s glory, this motor court would make a fantastic and authentic stopping point for your second night on Route 66. The motel is an Art Deco-Steamline Modern motel, and celebrities including Clark Gable have stayed here. We highly recommend this location, but you’ll want to book well in advance as there are only a handful of rooms.
• Best Budget Inn – This is a great budget option with good reviews. It’s no frills, and dates from 1955, although restoration work has taken place to bring it up to date.
• Shiloah Manor B&B – If you would like a romantic B&B option in Carthage, this is the option we suggest
• Quality Inn & Suites – Another great budget option with an indoor pool, fitness center, and included breakfast.

Day 3: Carthage – Clinton

We suggest you start the third day of your Route 66 itinerary by visiting Red Oak 2 . This is about a four mile backtrack, so if you have time on Day 2 you could also fit it in then.

Red Oak 2 is partly an art installation and partly a community where you will find a variety of old buildings from the surrounding area which have been relocated and restored. You are free to explore and look around here at the various building and art installations, but please do be respectful as people live and work here.

From Red Oak 2, head on to the town of Galena. On the way, you will pass through Joplin, which has a number of Route 66 era motels, signs, and stores.

The main attraction in Galena is the “Cars on the Route” gas station, a restored gas and service station which is home to the tow-truck which served as the inspiration for the character “Mater” in the Pixar Cars movies.

Note, the movies draw inspiration from many parts of the route, and there are many claims to connections, but the tow truck has been confirmed!

Galena is also your first stop in Kansas. Kansas only has 13 miles of Route 66, making this the shortest stretch of Route 66 in any of the eight states that the original Route passed through. The major town that the route passes through in Kansas is Baxter Springs, where you’ll find a Route 66 visitor centre.

This is in a restored Phillips 66 station and is worth stopping at. Kansas is also home to Riverton General Store, which dates from 1925, and which is a good place to stop for a snack or drink.

From Baxter Springs we suggest rejoining Interstate 44 where you’ll head down into your fourth state of the Route – Oklahoma!

There are a number of great stops in Oklahoma, but as we don’t have an infinite amount of time, we suggest you head straight down to the Giant Blue Whale in Catoosa. This is one of the more recognisable and photographed stops in Oklahoma, and consists of a large blue whale which was once part of a larger attraction.

Now it’s largely used as a swimming area and photo stop.

From Catoosa you’ll head into Tulsa, where there are a number of attractions and photo stops, including Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza. This has a number of Route 66 related installations, including flags of all the Route 66 states and various bronze statues including a car driven by Will Rogers.

If you are hungry, Tulsa is home to a variety of eateries, including Hank’s Hamburgers, which has been serving burgers and malts since 1949. Another favourite is Ike’s Chili, which has been in existence since 1908!

If you want to photograph some murals, head on to Sapulpa, about 20 minutes from Tulsa, where you’ll find a number of old murals, some of which date from Route 66 times. The Sapulpa Historical Museum is also excellent.

From Sapulpa, continue on to Chandler. Chandler is home to a variety of attractions, including the Route 66 Interpretative Centre and the Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History . However, our suggestion is to make a beeline for McJerry’s Route 66 Gallery .

This is owned and run by Jerry McClanahan, a local artist and lover of Route 66, who is also the author of the fantastic EZ 66 Guide . This is without doubt the best and most accurate printed guide for travellers looking to follow Route 66 as faithfully as possible, and is the book we used on our Route 66 journey.

If Jerry is in, you can meet him, peruse and buy some of his artworks, and talk about all things Route 66 related. We loved meeting Jerry when we drove the Route, and the artwork we bought from him is a lovely memento of our trip. He also kindly signed our EZ66 Guide!

Next, head on to the town of Arcadia. Here you’ll find the Round Barn , an unusual farming structure which dates from 1898, as well as the POPS soda store . This is a newer Route 66 attraction which has a huge soda bottle outside the front, and all kinds of soda for sale inside. You can also eat here.

Finally, head on to Clinton, where we recommend you spend your third night on Route 66.

Where to stay in Clinton

Clinton does not have any classic Route 66 locations that are a must-stay, but there are a good range of motels and hotels to choose from.

• La Quinta Inn & Suites Clinton Historic Route 66 – This is a well-rated 3-star chain property. Breakfast included.
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites  – Another well-reviewed 3-star property.
• Super 8 Motel – This is a well-rated budget option.
• Trade Winds Motel – Whilst this is the most authentic Route 66 option, with celebrities like Elvis Presley said to have stayed here on several occasions, reviews are mixed, so you might want to inspect the room before staying.

Day 4: Clinton – Tucumcari

Today you’re going to drive into New Mexico, your fifth state on Route 66, and you’ll be overnighting in the town with some of the most famous Route 66 motels that are still in operation.

First though, we suggest you start be exploring what Clinton has to offer, in case you didn’t have a chance on your previous day. Clinton is home to the Clinton Route 66 Museum as well as the Mohawk Lodge Indian Store.

In operation since the 1940’s, this store is a good option if you’re looking for Native American goods and history.

Now it’s time to hit the road, and continue blazing your trail west.

Your first stop today is going to be at Elk City, home to the National Route 66 Museum Complex . This is an excellent Route 66 museum, and one we can highly recommend visiting.

Now, as you continue west, it’s time to leave Oklahoma behind and enter your fifth state of Route 66 – Texas!

As you drive west, you’re going to notice that the landscape starts to change. Towns are going to feel further apart, and the greenery of the eastern states will be replaced by more arid, desert-like landscapes.

This section of the route from Texas through to the edge of California is one of my favourite parts of the drive, with those big wide open skies that make for a fantastic road trip experience.

There are a number of stops along this stretch of the route that are worth stopping at. The town of Shamrock is home to a lump of the actual Blarney Stone (the rest of the stone can be found at Blarney Castle in Ireland).

It’s said that if you kiss the stone you will be given the “gift of the gab”, or in other words, the ability to smooth talk your way through any situation.

Shamrock is also home to the Pioneer West Museum, and a restored Magnolia Gas Station, which are within a block of the Blarney Stone.

From Shamrock, you’ll want to head to the town of McLean, which is home to the Texas Route 66 Museum and Devil’s Rope Museum . This is one of my favourite quirky museums on Route 66, and it’s dedicated to “Devil’s Rope” – more commonly known as barbed wire.

As the name suggests, there’s also a section of the museum dedicated to Route 66 and other local history artifacts.

From McLean, continue heading west until you get to the city of Amarillo. This has a number of historic buildings along the Route 66-Sixth street historic district, and is also well known for two other attractions.

The first of these is an art installation called Cadillac Ranch. This dates from 1974, so is a post-Route 66 attraction, but the colourful upended cadillacs buried in the dirt here make for a fun photo opportunity.

The other must-see attraction is the Big Texan Steak Ranch .

By this point in your drive, you’ll likely be familiar with the Big Texan Steak Ranch, as there are advertising billboards promising you a free 72oz steak stretching for hundreds of miles along the Route in both directions. Of course, there is some fine print – you have to eat the entire steak meal in under an hour to get it for free!

We didn’t tackle the challenge, but we have eaten at the Big Texan twice, and we think it’s an experience everyone needs to have. It also has a great history, and was originally located on Route 66, although it was moved to a more prime location off I-40 in the 1970s.

After Amarillo, continue along the I-40 until you get to Vega, where we recommend a short stop to visit Dot’s Mini Museum. Again, this is one of those quirky Route 66 attractions which is a bit odd, but worth a short stop.

It’s essentially one person’s collection of random things throughout the years. It’s free to visit, but donations are appreciated and be respectful as this is on someone’s private property.

Rejoin the I-40 for a short journey until you get to the town of Adrian. Adrian is famous with Route 66 travellers as it is the self-proclaimed midpoint of the Route. You’re half way there!

Ok, so Route 66 changed its exact route many times over the years, meaning it’s quite tricky to pin down an exact midpoint, as this would have changed over the years.

Still, it is definitely thought to be in the region between Vega and Adrian, and there’s a nice sign in Adrian at the Midpoint Cafe, so this works for us. It’s a great photo opportunity, and you can also grab food or pick up souvenirs here.

From Adrian, you’re going to carry on the I-40, leave Texas, and enter your sixth Route 66 state of your road trip – New Mexico!

Our last stop for the day is Tucumcari. In the heyday of Route 66, Tucumcari was one of the most popular towns to overnight in, and today it is home to more surviving Route 66 era motels than anywhere else on the Route.

There are also some great eating options in Tucumcari, including Kix on 66 (great for breakfasts and diner food in general), Watson’s BBQ, Del’s Restaurant (a Route 66 classic since 1956) and La Cita, which serves Mexican food.

Other highlights of your time in Tucumcari will include the plethora of neon signs that light up the streets at night (it’s worth taking a walk or drive down the main street to see them all). We can also advise making time to visit Tee-Pee curios, a souvenir shop found inside a giant concrete Tee Pee, as well as the local  Route 66 Museum .

Where to Stay in Tucumcari

We really recommend booking in advance to make sure you get the motel you want in Tucumcari. Whilst you should be able to find a room (there are over 1,000 rooms in the town), the more popular motels do tend to sell out quite far in advance.

If you have a particular property you want to stay in, you should definitely book it.

• Blue Swallow Motel – Opened in 1939 this family-owned motel is one of the most iconic motels on Route 66. We stayed here on our second visit to Tucumcari and absolutely loved the vintage 1940’s/1950’s themed rooms, and the gorgeous neon sign. Note that this sells out well in advance, so definitely book early.
• Historic Route 66 Motel – This was the first motel we stayed at in Tucumcari. It’s a recently updated 1963 Route 66 motor court motel which offers aviation themed decor. There’s also a coffee shop on site.
• Motel Safari – This is another Route 66 era motor court, and even if you don’t stay here, you should come take a look at their classic neon sign in the evening. This one dates from 1959 and offers retro decor with modern furnishings.
• Road Runner Lodge – a classic well reviewed motel with a 1960s theme that extends to its own 1960s radio station! Ensuite rooms are air conditioned and there’s free private parking on site.
• Desert Inn – This is a more modern and well-reviewed 3 star motel which includes features like a hot tub, a fitness center, and free continental breakfast.

Day 5:  Tucumcari – Gallup

Today you’re going to drive right across the rest of the state of New Mexico, which has fantastic landscapes and miles and miles of beautiful open road to enjoy. You’re going to see a lot today, including the only place where Route 66 crosses itself! Let’s get started with Day 5 of our Route 66 itinerary.

Once you’ve finished exploring everything you want to see in Tucumcari, continue heading west. From Tucumcari to Santa Rosa, you will primarily pass a number of what are now largely ghost towns, many of which have abandoned Route 66 era buildings.

We suggest however that you press on until Santa Rosa, where you will find the Route 66 Auto Museum . From here, continue on towards Albuquerque. We can recommend a stop at the Flying C Ranch . This is a large rest stop with a variety of services, owned by the Bowlin family who have been providing services to travellers in this region for over 100 years.

A similar resting point can be found in Clines Corners, where Roy Cline opened a rest stop in 1937 to serve Route 66 travellers.

After this, you’re going to find yourself arriving into Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city. This is home to the annual Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta , and there are also many Route 66 sights to be found here.

These include murals, diners, shops and signs. In fact, there are so many Route 66 attractions in Albuquerque that we wrote a whole guide to Route 66 in Albuquerque .

We’ve visited this city a number of times, and Jess used to live here, so we’ve also put together a guide to things to do in Albuquerque  and where to eat in Albuquerque .

Back to Route 66. Albuquerque was the location of a number of Route 66 alignments, and in fact, two of these alignments actually cross each other in the city. So you can stand at the crossroads of Route 66 and Route 66! This is found at the intersection of 4th Street and Central Avenue in downtown.

If you are hungry at this point, there are some great Route 66 themed and Route 66 era dining options. Some of our favourites include Lindy’s (dating from 1929), the Dog House drive-in (a long time Route 66 favourite) and the 66 Diner .

The latter only dates from 1987, but is found in a former 1940’s gas station and is fully Route 66 themed!

Continuing on from Albuquerque, we can recommend a stop at Rio Puerco, where you can see and walk across a 1933 bridge which would have been part of Route 66. Just near here is the Route 66 Casino , which is a themed casino you might enjoy stopping at if you’re feeling lucky!

From here you will pass a number of towns which were popular Route 66 stops, but have since faded somewhat. One that is definitely worth a stop is Cubero, where you might want to visit the Villa de Cubero trading post. This sells a variety of supplies, snacks and souvenirs and it’s believed that Ernest Hemingway stayed the night here.

The next major town along is Grants, which is home to a number of Route 66 era motels and signs, as well as a mining museum. However, time is likely to be against you by this point, so we advise pressing on towards the Continental Divide.

The Continental Divide marks the point where water  drains into either the Pacific or Atlantic Oceans. Once you cross the continental divide going west, you are on the side where rainwater will run into the Pacific ocean.

It’s a fun location for a photo opportunity, and there are some signs explaining the geography as well.

Finally, the last stretch of driving will bring you to the town of Gallup, close to the border of Arizona, and where we suggest you spend your fifth night on Route 66.

Where to Stay in Gallup

There’s a variety of accommodation options in Gallup.

• El Rancho Hotel & Motel – Dating back to 1937, this is a Route 66 landmark which has played host to numerous celebrities. This would be our pick for authentic Route 66 accommodation in Gallup.
• Sands Motel – a basic but classic Route 66 motel with a well known sign.
• Hilton Garden Inn Gallup – A good mid-range option in Gallup. There’s a restaurant on site, an indoor pool and a fitness centre.
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites East – This is a well-reviewed hotel that includes breakfast. There’s also a pool.
• Econo Lodge Gallup – At the budget end of the scale, this is a well-rated motel with all the basic amenities you should need.

Day 6: Gallup – Seligman

Today you’re going to be entering your seventh state on the Route, as well as having the opportunity to drive the longest surviving stretch of Route 66.

Arizona is very much associated with Route 66, and there’s a lot to see in the state relating to the mother road. In fact, if you were only to drive one stretch of Route 66, we’d suggest Arizona would be the state to visit.

The first stop on your adventure in Arizona will be the Petrified Forest National Park , where you can also see the Painted Desert. The Petrified Forest is home to a large number of fossilised trees, and the colourful landscapes of the painted desert make it a worthy detour for photos.

The Petrified Forest was a popular stop for Route 66 drivers, and an original section of the Route used to run through the park. Whilst this no longer exists, there is a rusting old car here that makes for a nice photo opportunity.

There are of course hiking trails and other wilderness activities available here, but given your limited time, we suggest you just drive through the park, pick a couple highlights from the visitor map, and then head on into Holbrook.

Holbrook has a number of fun and quirky Route 66 attractions. If you’re looking for souvenirs, you might consider either the Rainbow Rock Stop or Stewart’s Petrified Wood Shop. These two locations are also home to various giant statues.

You may also want to drive by Holbrook’s famous Wigwam Motel . Here you’ll find large concrete teepee’s that have been operating as a motel since 1950.

From Holbrook, you will continue west until you come to two of the Route’s more famous trading posts. The first of these is the Geronimo Trading Post, which is home to what is claimed to be the world’s largest petrified log. It is certainly very big!

The next stop is one of the most iconic signs on Route 66 – the “Here it is!” sign at the Jack Rabbit  Trading Post. This was well known in the Route 66 era as there were many signs along the highway in both directions promising a wonderful experience to anyone who stopped by. Many of these signs still exist along the route.

We definitely recommend stopping here for a photo of the sign, and dropping in to buy something to support the trading post as well.

Your next stop is going to be the town of Winslow. This was made famous by the Eagles, whose 1972 song “Take it Easy” features the lyrics “I’m a standin’ on a corner in Winslow, Arizona”.

The town has very much embraced this song, and there are multiple references to it throughout the town. The most obvious of these is at the corner (of course!) of Kinsley & Second Streets, where you’ll find a mural depicting events in the song, as well as a statue and sign.

There’s a lot more to see in Winslow from Route 66, including old gas stations, signs, motels, and cafes. If you are hungry, we can recommend a stop at the 1955 Route 66 era roadside diner, the Falcon Restaurant & Lounge, at 1113 E. 3rd Street.

After Winslow you will pass the remains of two former Route 66 attractions, Twin Arrows and Two Guns. These were famous stops for travellers on the Route, but they have long been abandoned and left to decay with no much left today.

You will then come to Flagstaff, the largest city on the Route today. This was home to multiple variants of the Route 66 route, and there are numerous reminders of Route 66 throughout the city. We would suggest a visit to the historic 19th century downtown area would be a good option in Flagstaff.

Food wise, there are a number of Route 66 era dining options, including Miz Zip’s, the Grand Canyon Cafe, and Galaxy Diner.

From Flagstaff, you will head on to Williams. If you are planning a detour to the Grand Canyon (we suggest adding a day or two to your itinerary if so), Williams is where you will do this, as the south entrance to the park is only about a 70 minute drive from Williams.

Williams was the last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by the Interstate, and there are a number of Route 66 era businesses still in operation that you can visit. The Route 66 Gas Station Museum is also well worth a visit.

After Williams, you will pass Ash Fork, home to the Ash Fork Route 66 Museum , which you can stop at if you have time.

Just after Ash Fork you will find exit 139 of the I-40, which leads you onto the longest surviving stretch of Route 66. This is 159 miles long, and is very much worth the drive – it’s one of our favourite stretches of the whole route.

This stretch is also where you could detour to do the epic Havasu Falls hike . You’ll want to plan ahead for that, and expect to spend at least two nights / three days doing it.

Finally, the sixth day of your Route 66 itinerary will have you arriving into the town of Seligman, where we suggest you spend the night. Seligman has many historical buildings, and has fully embraced Route 66, with lots of shops, cafes, and quirky stores to visit.

For food, there are a number of good options. If you arrive late, the Black Cat Bar is likely your best option for late night snacks, as it is one of the few places open after 9pm. Another great Route 66 option is Delgadillo’s Snow Cap which opened in 1953.

Where to stay in Seligman

Seligman has some fantastic authentic Route 66 era motels to choose from. Here are our picks for your stay.

• Deluxe Inn – Found next door to the popular Roadkill Cafe, this is a well-rated and good-value motor court motel which dates from the 1930’s.
• Stagecoach 66 Motel – Featuring themed rooms, this 1960’s era motel (originally called the Bill Mar Den Motel) offers basic accommodation for a good price.
• Supai Motel – Dating from 1952, this is a well-reviewed vintage Route 66 era motel. Continental breakfast is included.
• Historic Route 66 Motel – Another vintage motel with themed rooms found next to the Roadkill Cafe. This 1950’s era motel doesn’t take online reservation s-  Call +1 928-422-3204 for a room.

Day 7: Seligman – San Bernardino

Your last full day on Route 66 has you entering the final state of your road trip, and almost completing the route. If you are pressed for time, you could actually drive the remainder of the route today, but we think there’s a lot to see today, so finishing on the eighth day is a better option.

From Seligman, we suggest continuing along on the longest stretch of Route 66, which you will follow all the way to Topock, near Needles. Whilst this will be slower than the Interstate, this is by far one of the best preserved and most impressive stretches of old Route 66 you can drive today, and we think it is worth taking a bit of time to enjoy it.

There are a number of highlights along the way which are worth a stop. First of these is the town of Truxton, where there are a number of Route 66 buildings, as well as what was once the Frontier Motel and restaurant.

The next stop is the city of Kingman, home to the Arizona Route 66 Museum . There are also other buildings and Route 66 signs. We can also recommend Mr D’z Route 66 Diner in Kingman if you need a refreshment stop. This dates from 1938.

The next section of Route 66 is particularly scenic, with the road winding over the hills. Sitgreaves Pass is a good spot for a photo opportunity (there’s a pull out at the top of the pass), and you can reflect as to how tricky this winding stretch of the route must have been for drivers in times gone by.

Oatman is the next stop on your itinerary. This former gold mining town is famous for it’s daily wild west shows, as well as the live burros which wander the streets.

Whilst these attractions didn’t exist during the Route 66 times, they certainly are in keeping with the sort of thing Route 66 travellers would have expected to see along the Route, and it’s worth stopping off to explore for a little while here.

From Oatman you will continue on to Topock, the last town in Arizona. Here you’ll cross the Colorado River and enter California!

The first city you’ll come to in California is Needles. This is famous as being one of the hottest places in the USA, and when we visited it was 110 degrees F. Needles has some nice murals as well as a number of vintage motels and signs.

From Needles, you’re going to be driving through the incredible landscape of the Mojave Desert.

Travelling today in our vehicles with air conditioning and comfortable suspension, it is hard to imagine how difficult this part of the Route must have been in cars that were often well past their prime, and which had already made a valiant effort to get this far.

If you have the time, you will definitely want to detour off the I-40 at Exit 115 to follow the original Route 66 through some of the old towns that have long been forgotten by the majority of passing motorists. These include Chambles, Amboy, and Bagdad.

Amboy is home to Roy’s Motel and Cafe . This was an iconic Route 66 stopping point where there’s a giant and often photographed sign. The location dates from 1938, and today there is a gas station, a gift shop and some cold snacks and coffee. The motel is no longer operational.

There’s nothing really left of Bagdad any more, although there was once a popular cafe here known as the Bagdad Cafe. The next town along, Ludlow, has a cafe, gas station and motel.

Back on the I-40 and you’ll pass Newberry Springs which also has a number of attractions, including the location of the new Bagdad Cafe. This is a popular stopping point as it’s the filming location for a 1987 German film called Bagdad Cafe.

The next major stopping point is the city of Barstow. This is the home of the  Route 66 Mother Road Museum . There are also a number of vintage motels, Route 66 era signs and businesses.

From San Bernadino you will pass through a number of towns that have surviving Route 66 businesses, although you will likely be running out of time by this point. We’d suggest, if you have time, that a stop at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville would be worth it.

Finally, your seventh day of Route 66 adventure will bring you to San Bernardino, where you will spend the final night of your grand USA road trip. This is a city in its own right which marks the beginning of the Greater LA region. It’s also famous as being the location of the world’s first McDonald’s restaurant, which is now a museum .

Where to stay in San Bernardino, CA

• Wigwam Motel – Dating from 1949, this is one of the two Wigwam Motels that are still available on Route 66. The TeePees here are also concrete, but they come with private bathrooms and are comfortable if basic.
• Homewood Suites – This is a good mid-range option that features comfortable rooms, many of which have kitchens and sitting areas. Breakfast is included, and there’s an outdoor swimming pool.
• Hampton Inn & Suites – This is a chain hotel with favourable reviews. Rooms are comfortable, and some have refrigerators and microwaves. Breakfast is included and there’s also a pool.
• Econo Lodge – If you’re looking for a budget option, this is a basic motel. Recent reviews have been mixed.

Day 8: San Bernardino – Los Angeles

It’s your last day of your Route 66 adventure! To be honest, this will be quite a short day, as the idea is that you will be able to return your vehicle if you have hired one, and catch a flight home. Or take time to explore Los Angeles or continue your road trip adventure – maybe along the Pacific Coast Highway ?

The main highlight of today is reaching the end of the road. Much like the beginning of Route 66, we have to admit that this is somewhat underwhelming. The original end of Route 66 was at 7th and Broadway in downtown LA. This was then moved to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards in Santa Monica.

As neither of these locations has anything exactly going for it that marks the end of such an epic adventure, the Route 66 Alliance decided that a more fitting end to the Route would be Santa Monica pier, where you basically can’t drive any further.

As such, there’s an “End of the Trail” sign on Santa Monica pier, and this is where we suggest you drive to complete the route. The sign also has a gift shop, and you can stop off here for a photo and to buy souvenirs. The nearby beach is also lovely, and you’ll find the grave stone for Will Rogers nearby.

Map of Route 66 Itinerary

You made it! To help you visualise the route, we’ve put all the major highlights mentioned above from road trip itinerary into a map, which you can also see on Google Maps here .

Route 66 Itinerary Overview

Here’s a quick overview of this 1 week Route 66 itinerary for reference.

• Day 1: Chicago – St. Louis
• Day 2: St Louis – Carthage
• Day 3: Carthage – Clinton
• Day 4: Clinton – Tucumcari
• Day 5:  Tucumcari – Gallup
• Day 6: Gallup – Seligman
• Day 7: Seligman – San Bernardino
• Day 8: San Bernardino – Los Angeles

Practicalities for Driving Route 66

We have a complete planning guide for Route 66 , which we suggest you read through before tackling the Route, as it is very comprehensive. However, we also wanted to share some quick tips for your trip as part of this itinerary.

Some of the sections below include tips for useful products you might need for driving the route, including guidebooks and maps. We’ve put these, plus some more recommendations, all together in one list to make it easier. You can see that by clicking here .

Booking Accommodation on Route 66

For each day of this Route 66 itinerary we have suggested accommodation options. We definitely recommend booking in advance if you can for your trip, especially if there are specific properties you want to stay at.

Whilst there are generally plenty of options, the more iconic motels can book out far in advance, especially in the busier summer months. If you’re interested in staying in an iconic motel or hotel from the heyday of the Route, check out our guide to all the historic Route 66 motels and hotels along the route that you can still stay in.

We’ve also provided links to how to book each hotel. While many of this properties are on booking sites like Booking.com , the smaller motels may not be, so you might have to either contact them directly by phone or e-mail.

Don’t forget to also check out other booking sites, including AirBnB, as well as some of our favourite alternatives to AirBnB .

Car and RV Rental on Route 66

Route 66 is a road trip, so naturally you are going to need a car if you plan to drive! If you are from the USA, you might already have your own car of course. Just bear in mind that this is a one way road trip, and so you will have to drive back to wherever you have originally started from.

If you’d prefer not to do that, or are travelling from outside the USA, then you have a number of options for renting a vehicle for Route 66, which I’ll go through below.

Renting a vehicle in the USA is similar to rental in other countries. Most rental firms will require you to be at least 21 years of age, and there is often an additional fee if the driver is under 25. You will likely need a driving license printed in Latin characters, ideally English, however different rental companies will have different conditions.

If this is your first time driving in the USA, we highly recommend taking some time to read our guide to driving in the USA , which has lots of tips to help you plan.

Route 66 Car Rental

First of all, you can rent a normal car in a size to suit. Just be aware that if you plan on doing a one way rental (picking the car up in one place and dropping it off somewhere else), car rental companies will charge an additional fee.

For one way rentals in the USA, we often find Enterprise to be the best value. You can check prices with them here .

Of course, there are lots of other options. If you want to compare prices on car rentals across a range of providers, then we use and recommend Rentalcars.com . Just be aware that when comparing prices using a comparison service, they sometimes forget to add the one-way fee.

Naturally, we appreciate that as Route 66 is an iconic USA road trip, you may want to drive it in an iconic vehicle such as a Chevrolet Corvette or Ford Mustang. These will usually carry a price premium.

Whilst some of the major car rental firms will have these vehicles as an option, you may also want to look at car rental companies that specialize in classic car rentals such as Ride Free .

Route 66 Motorbike Rental

If you want to ride a motorbike, this is also an option for Route 66 of course! We’d advise looking at specialist Route 66 rental companies like   Eagle Rider  and  Ride Free .

Route 66 RV Rental

Finally, Route 66 can also be done in an RV, also known as a campervan. Again, you will want to hire from a firm that allows for one way rentals, and which has offices in both Chicago and LA.

Our recommendation is to compare prices across a range of providers using a company like Motorhome Republic , so you can find the right vehicle and price for your. You can see their US listings here .

Taking a Tour of Route 66

If you love the idea of Route 66, but don’t love the idea of planning everything,  you might consider a tour instead.

Most tours take around two weeks to do the route. Check out these options:

• A 16 day tour from Chicago to LA
• Another 16 day tour from Chicago to LA

There are other tours which are guided, although these usually only follow a part of the Route, or include a part of Route 66 in a much larger tour. You can see more Route 66 tour options here .

Safety on Route 66

We didn’t have any problems travelling Route 66, however you should always be vigilant when travelling and practice basic safety precautions like keeping your valuables out of sight.

The larger cities in the USA certainly have their crime problems, as with anywhere in the world, whilst you will find that smaller towns tend to have low crime rates.

How to Find Route 66

Route 66 is a bit of a strange one, because it doesn’t exist anymore as a single road. So whilst some sections of the route do have markers and signs, you can’t follow these reliably and expect to get from Chicago to Los Angeles!

Our suggestion for our itinerary is to take each day as it comes, to pick the attractions each day that you want to see, and to navigate between them using good navigation software like Google Maps, or a dedicated GPS unit. Also recommend having a good USA Atlas like this in the car.

If you want to really follow the Route faithfully, at least in part, then we highly recommend picking up a copy of the EZ66 Guide for Travelers . This is the best Route 66 book available as a navigation aid, and is one we strongly recommend for all Route 66 adventurers!

Money on Route 66

Being in the USA, the currency along Route 66 is obviously the US dollar. The majority of shops and businesses along the route accepted credit cards in our experience, however there is a small minority where cash is preferred or are cash only, so we recommend travelling with some USD cash as well.

There are ATM’s along the route in the major towns and cities, but not always in the smaller towns, so we suggest getting some dollar bills before you start.

Power on Route 66

The USA uses a 120 Volt electrical system. If you’re coming from abroad you need to check if your equipment supports this standard.

In our experience, most laptops and phone chargers will work (the adapter will have 100 – 240V marked on it), however high powered items like hair dryers, hair straighteners, and travel kettles will not.

Whilst voltage convertors are available, these tend to be heavy. So our advice would be just to get a dual voltage travel version of any item you particularly need, such as this hair dryer or these hair straighteners . Alternatively, you can pick up a cheap version of whatever it is you need in the country from somewhere like Walmart.

Plugs in the USA are for the most part a narrow two pin plug. If you’re coming from outside the USA where your equipment uses a different plug, you’ll need a travel adapter like this . See more on travel adapters and how to choose one for your trip in our guide to the best travel adapters .

We also advise travelling with a power strip. On Route 66 especially, the older motels don’t have many outlets. Something like this  would be good.

Route 66 Road Trip Music

Putting together a classic Route 66 soundtrack before you go is a fun way to prepare for your trip. Naturally, you’ll want to include one of the versions of “ Getting your Kicks on Route 66 “, we suggest the version by Asleep at the Wheel is a good option. We also think “ Take it Easy ” by the Eagles should make it onto your list!

Most rentals these days support either Bluetooth or USB connectivity, so you could load a playlist onto your device or a USB stick before you go, so you’re fully prepared!

Useful Route 66 Books

There are a number of books and maps which have been published to help you plan your Route 66 trip, many of which we bought prior to our adventure. From these, we recommend the following as the most useful for your trip.

• EZ66 Guide for Travelers by Jerry McClanahan – This is a turn-by-turn guide to the route and attraction highlights of Route 66. If you only buy one book for your Route 66 trip, you have to make it this one. We used this throughout our whole trip, and it was invaluable.
• Route 66 Adventure Handbook by Drew Knowles – Whilst not turn by turn, this is still an excellent guide to the Route, and it also provides a good overview of the majority of the roadside attractions along Route 66. It also has some motel and dining options.
• Here It Is! The Route 66 Map Series – This set of 8 hand-drawn maps (one for each state) provides both eastbound and westbound directions driving directions. In addition, the most popular attractions are listed on the map. To be honest, we found the EZ66 guide easier to follow, but we do like the maps as a memento of our adventure.

Further Reading for your Route 66 USA Road Trip

Well, we’re at the end of our Route 66 USA Road Trip itinerary! We hope you found this guide useful. Before you head onto the Route, we wanted to share some more resources that you might find useful when planning this trip.

• Our detailed guide to planning a Route 66 road trip
• As well as this one-week itinerary, we also have a detailed and comprehensive two week Route 66 itinerary . We suggest reading that too, even for a shorter trip as it has even more lodging, dining and attraction recommendations along the way!
• Speaking of lodging recommendations, check out our guide to all the best hotels and motels on Route 66 .
• If you’re looking for more photos to inspire you, we have a photo series from every state we visited on Route 66! You can see those here: Illinois Route 66 highlights ,  Missouri Route 66 highlights , Kansas Route 66 highlights , Oklahoma Route 66 highlights , Texas Route 66 highlights , New Mexico Route 66 highlights ,  Arizona Route 66 highlights and California Route 66 highlights
• As this is a road trip, you might find our guide to driving in the USA useful
• If you’re looking to put a budget together for Route 66, our guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA should help
• Route 66 is one of our favourite road trips . However, we also have guides to some other road trips in the USA, including a California road trip , a Pacific Coast Highway road trip , a Deep South road trip and a western USA road trip
• We also have lots more content on travelling in the USA , from city guides to travel tips. See our guides to spending 2 days in Chicago , Things to do in Savannah ,  Things to do in Charleston ,  Things to do in Albuquerque ,  Visiting New Orleans During Mardi Gras ,  Things to do in Cambria  and  Things to do in Santa Fe  to get started!

And that’s it! As always, if you have any feedback or questions about this post and taking a Route 66 road trip, just let us know in the comments below!

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There are 21 comments on this post

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Brandi says

7th February 2024 at 4:23 am

Love and appreciate this! My husband and I would love to be able to make this trip the right way but currently won’t have more than 9 days to do it in. This will help! We’re from the Tulsa, OK Area, so we’ll probably just head West from home. I also wanted to let you know that the bronze sculpture/statue, “East Meets West” in Tulsa, depicts Cyrus Avery, “The Father of Route 66” and his family in the car. Thanks for sharing!

Laurence Norah says

7th February 2024 at 3:08 pm

Hi Brandi – it’s our pleasure! We hope you have an amazing time on Route 66 and thanks for the info on the Tulsa statue 🙂 Safe travels!

Chongli Tang Bangs says

7th November 2022 at 10:19 am

Thanks so much for the in-depth wonderful article you turned out he re . God Bless You

7th November 2022 at 10:43 am

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!

Paul Dawson says

17th September 2022 at 4:51 pm

I’ve just done the entire trip, using this site as a principal guide. It was very useful. I hope the following serves some purpose.

1. The guide advocates using freeways to break the back of the mileage, and leaving time to explore the various attractions en route. We decided we would rather spend more time on 66 and less time on freeways and at the attractions.

2. Despite the slower speeds and longer mileage, we found we could cover the distances between the suggested stops easily enough in a day. Logistical issues meant that we did not always stay at the locations in the guide, but we got to Santa Monica without difficulty in the specified 8 days.

3. There were 4 of us, driving (i) a 1964 Triumph TR4 and (ii) a rented Nissan Rogue. Obviously we rotated cars and driving duties amongst ourselves and the general view was that the open-topped TR4 gave a much better sense of “being there” than the SUV. With hindsight, perhaps our rental car should also have been open-topped, but see the points 4 and 5.

4. En route to Clinton, OK, I developed serious eye-watering in the TR4. I am sure this was an allergic reaction to the local pollen. It recurred in shorter and less serious forms on a couple of later occasions. The enclosed space of the SUV was a great help in mitigating this.

5. We had not been too diligent about baggage. The TR4 could not take any and the rear seats of the SUV had to be folded down to accommodate it all. A rented convertible would obviously have much smaller baggage capacity.

6. I might repeat this at some point in the future, in which case I shall drive Santa Monica-Chicago. For a first-timer though, I would suggest driving westbound. The reason is a little subtle. From Chicago, the early part of the drive is soutwards and the changing latitudes mean changing landscapes. Across Arizona and California, the latitude is pretty constant and so is the landscape – basically desert full of sage brush. Someone starting in California might find the unchanging early landscape boring and give up. This would be a pity.

7. My final point is that four people in two cars was an excelent arrangement, although it doubled the transport costs. By regular switching, we developed strong bonding between the various pairs in the two cars. The group of 4 was together at meals and at the overnight stops. I would worry that four people in a single car all day long would begin to get on each other’s nerves.

19th September 2022 at 4:39 pm

Thank you so much for sharing this detailed feedback from your Route 66 experience. We’re sure it will help others, and we’re happy to hear our content helped with your trip as well!

Safe travels 🙂

Donna Harwood says

2nd April 2022 at 9:27 pm

Hi there and thanks so much for this great info. By any chance, do you have an easy way to ‘flip’ this trip? We are going to fly from Chicago to Los Angeles, rent a car and drive back to Chicago. I’m trying to juxtapose the trip but am confusing the heck out of myself! Great, great info. Thanks! Donna

3rd April 2022 at 10:31 am

So we have done the trip from LA to Chicago and appreciate your confusion. We don’t have an easy way to flip this itinerary unfortunately, other than working backwards through the content and creating your own trip. We do highly recommend the EZ66 Guide for Travelers by Jerry McClanahan, which does offer directions for going either way and is most useful.

Have a great trip, let me know if you have any other questions we can hopefully help more with!

25th June 2020 at 4:11 am

Im planning to leave from San Diego on the 12th of july and go for about 10 days. What is the best route you recommend to cover as much as possible? Route? Etc?

25th June 2020 at 9:55 am

This is a tricky question to answer as this will vary depending on your interests. Personally I love the wide open spaces and landscapes of the west, so would take more time over that stretch of the route. However, if you prefer to visit the small towns and attractions along the way, you may prefer a different focus. My suggestion would be to take a look at our longer 2 week Route 66 itinerary here , and then put together a route that combines your favourite parts of the two 🙂

Have a great trip!

Anthony says

21st January 2020 at 12:16 am

Hi Laurence and Jessica.

Thank you for this great guide. My wife and I plan to do this exact route in March for my 50th birthday trip. Just a quick question what time did you guys typically head out in the morning and approximately what time did you reach each destination in the evening.

21st January 2020 at 9:25 am

Hi Anthony,

Our pleasure! When we travel we try to leave our accommodation by 9am, and we usually prefer not to drive late into the evening where possible (driving at night means we can’t see the sights!), so normally aim to arrive between 5 and 7 if possible. Of course, this will vary depending on what we’re seeing in the day, but that’s the goal, and how we structure our itineraries.

Let me know if I can be of any more help, and have a great time on the Mother Road,

26th January 2020 at 2:15 am

Excellent, thank you..

Mnandi says

9th November 2019 at 11:36 am

Thank you so much for this amazingly helpful article. I’m form South Africa and my husband and I decided we want to visit the US next year and it’s been on our bucket lists to drive route 66. We only get 15 days off of work each year and the flights to and back from the US will probably be 2 days. Therefore the 2 week trip would not have worked for us, so THANK YOU for this.

I was wondering if you can give us some sort of budget. Especially in terms of accommodation, food, activities and fuel for the 8 days.

Thank you so much Kind regards

10th November 2019 at 12:08 pm

Our pleasure! So it’s hard to give a precise budget because everyone has a different travel style. What I would suggest is you take a look at our guide to how much it costs to travel in the USA , which should answer all your questions 🙂

Have an amazing trip!

Jax Welborn says

18th April 2019 at 9:57 pm

Wonderful write up/itinerary. Some how I was tagged on this tweet but my place is not mentioned or even my wonderful city, Waynesville, Missouri. Please stop by if you are on the Mother Road in Missouri again.

Safe travels.

Jax Welborn PicsbyJax LLC Route 66 Community Art Gallery Get Your Pics on Route 66 Souvenir Shop

19th April 2019 at 11:47 am

Thanks Jax! We did pass through and Waynesville is mentioned in our 2 week itinerary, but we unfortunately didn’t have time to stop and see your shop. Next time we will be sure to stop by though!

4th April 2019 at 7:22 pm

Can u do a detailed itinerary from Tulsa Oklahoma we’re looking at a week of driving tk u Cindi

4th April 2019 at 7:55 pm

Our suggestion would be to look at our 2 week itinerary, which covers the section you are interested in over about a week:

https://independenttravelcats.com/2-week-route-66-itinerary-ultimate-american-road-trip/

28th March 2019 at 12:33 am

Your blog looks interesting I was looking for something or someone that was writing about Rome and Paris on a train and I saw you guys but then I saw this Route 66 thing and because I live in Arizona and love to go to Flagstaff, I looked at your route 66 articles. This is the best town to visit in Arizona. I thought I’d see what you had to say about it and gosh I think you guys really missed the mark on Flagstaff you need to come back and spend some time in Flagstaff. You have no idea what a cool town it is and how many really really good food spots there are.

28th March 2019 at 12:39 pm

Thanks for your comment. We definitely would like to come back to Flagstaff to spend a bit more time to see what is on offer. Unfortunately, on a 1 week Route 66 itinerary, there isn’t a great deal of time to explore along the route in great depth. We did cover Flagstaff a bit more in our two week Route 66 itinerary , as in that post we include it as a stopover, and with two weeks there is a bit more time to see more.

Thanks for your comment and stopping by!

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The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip Guide

Introduction.

Welcome to the ultimate guide for planning the iconic Route 66 road trip! Known as the “Main Street of America,” Route 66 is a historic highway that stretches over 2,400 miles across eight states, from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. This legendary road trip offers a nostalgic journey through the heart of America, allowing travelers to experience the rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture of the country.

Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply in search of a classic American road trip adventure, Route 66 has something to offer everyone. From retro diners and quirky roadside attractions to breathtaking national parks and charming small towns, each stop along the route promises unique experiences and unforgettable memories.

In this guide, we’ll take you on a virtual tour of Route 66, highlighting the must-visit attractions, best places to stay and dine, and provide practical tips to make your road trip a memorable one. So, grab your keys, buckle up, and get ready to embark on the journey of a lifetime!

Before we dive into the details, let’s talk about planning your Route 66 road trip. It’s essential to have a well-organized itinerary to make the most of your adventure. Consider the duration of your trip, the time of year you plan to travel, and the attractions you don’t want to miss along the way.

Whether you have a week or several weeks to spare, allocating time for each state and its attractions will help you create a realistic schedule. However, remember to leave some room for spontaneity and unexpected discoveries along the way.

Next, let’s discuss the best time to travel on Route 66. While the highway is accessible throughout the year, certain seasons offer unique advantages. The climate, events, and availability of accommodations vary across the different states, so it’s worth considering these factors when planning your trip.

Planning the Route 66 Road Trip

Planning a Route 66 road trip requires careful consideration and preparation to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey. Here are some essential steps to help you plan your adventure:

• Decide on the duration: Determine how much time you have available for your road trip. Route 66 can be completed in about two weeks, but if you have more time, you can explore at a more leisurely pace.
• Choose the direction: Decide whether you want to start in Chicago and head west to Santa Monica or do the trip in reverse. Consider factors like weather, time of year, and your preferences.
• Research the attractions: Route 66 is famous for its nostalgic roadside attractions, historical landmarks, and natural wonders. Research and make a list of the must-visit sights along the way.
• Create an itinerary: Based on the attractions you want to visit and the duration of your trip, create a detailed itinerary. Allocate enough time for each stop, including travel time between destinations.
• Book accommodations: Route 66 offers a range of accommodation options, including motels, hotels, and campgrounds. Book your accommodations in advance, especially during peak travel seasons.
• Prepare your vehicle: Ensure your vehicle is in good condition for the long journey. Get a maintenance check, change the oil, check the tires, and pack essential tools and spare parts.
• Check travel documents: Make sure you have a valid driver’s license and any necessary travel documents if you’re an international traveler. Carry copies of important documents like insurance and registration.
• Pack essentials: Pack clothing suitable for different weather conditions, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent, a first aid kit, and a good road map or GPS device.
• Set a budget: Plan your budget for accommodations, meals, fuel, attractions, and souvenirs. Keep in mind that some attractions may have entry fees, so factor those into your budget.

By following these planning steps, you’ll be well-prepared for your Route 66 road trip. Remember to be flexible and allow for detours or spontaneous adventures along the way. Now that you have your plan in place, let’s talk about the best time to travel on Route 66.

Best Time to Travel on Route 66

The best time to travel on Route 66 largely depends on your preferences and the experiences you want to have along the way. Each season offers its own advantages and considerations. Here’s a breakdown of the seasons and what you can expect:

• Spring (March – May): Spring is a popular time to travel on Route 66. The weather is generally mild, and the landscapes come alive with blooming flowers and lush greenery. However, keep in mind that some areas may experience unpredictable weather, including rain showers.
• Summer (June – August): Summer is the peak tourist season on Route 66. The weather is typically warm, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploring attractions. However, popular destinations can be crowded, and accommodations may be more expensive. Be prepared for high temperatures in states like Arizona and New Mexico.
• Fall (September – November): Fall is another excellent time to travel on Route 66. The weather begins to cool down, and the landscapes are painted with vibrant colors as the leaves change. The crowds start to thin out, making it easier to secure accommodations and enjoy the attractions.
• Winter (December – February): Winter is the off-peak season on Route 66. The weather can be cold, especially in the northern states like Illinois and Missouri. However, if you’re seeking a quieter and more budget-friendly trip, this could be the perfect time. Just be aware of possible road closures or challenging driving conditions due to snowfall in some areas.

It’s important to note that some attractions along Route 66 may have specific operating seasons and hours. Before your trip, check the availability and opening times of attractions you’re interested in. Additionally, consider any special events or festivals happening along the route, as these can enhance your experience and provide unique cultural insights.

Ultimately, the best time to travel on Route 66 depends on your personal preferences and priorities. Whether you prefer the bustling energy of summer or the peaceful solitude of winter, you’re bound to find something special at any time of the year.

Now that you have an idea of when to embark on your Route 66 adventure, let’s begin exploring the starting point of this iconic road trip: Chicago, Illinois.

Starting Point: Chicago, Illinois

Your Route 66 road trip begins in the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois. Known for its stunning architecture, cultural attractions, and deep-dish pizza, Chicago sets the stage for an unforgettable journey along the historic highway.

Before hitting the road, take some time to explore the iconic landmarks and attractions that the Windy City has to offer. Marvel at the breathtaking views from the Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower or take a stroll along the picturesque Navy Pier. Visit world-class museums like the Art Institute of Chicago or the Field Museum to delve into art, history, and culture.

Food lovers won’t want to miss a chance to indulge in Chicago’s famous deep-dish pizza. Grab a slice at renowned pizzerias like Lou Malnati’s or Giordano’s for an authentic and delicious Chicago-style experience.

When you’re ready to start your journey on Route 66, head south on Adams Street and follow the signs for Historic Route 66. As you leave the city behind, you will pass through quaint suburbs and begin your adventure along the open road.

One notable stop just outside of Chicago is the Berwyn Route 66 Museum, where you can learn about the history and significance of Route 66. The museum showcases vintage artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia that transport you back to the heyday of this iconic highway.

As you continue your drive, you’ll encounter classic Route 66 attractions like the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, a towering figure holding a rocket, and the historic Polk-a-Dot Drive-In in Braidwood, where you can enjoy a nostalgic burger and shake.

After leaving Illinois, your Route 66 journey will take you through a total of eight states, each offering its own unique attractions and experiences. From the rolling hills of Missouri to the stunning landscapes of New Mexico and Arizona, you’re in for a diverse and captivating road trip.

While Chicago is usually the starting point for many Route 66 travelers, you also have the option to begin the road trip from Santa Monica and head east. This gives you the opportunity to experience the journey in reverse and enjoy the excitement of reaching Chicago as your final destination.

Whichever direction you choose, starting your Route 66 road trip in Chicago is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in the vibrant energy of the city and set off on an adventure filled with history, culture, and unforgettable experiences.

Now, let’s continue our exploration of Route 66 as we dive into the attractions you’ll encounter in Illinois.

Illinois Attractions on Route 66

As you cruise through the state of Illinois on your Route 66 road trip, you’ll encounter a variety of attractions that showcase the rich history and charm of this iconic highway. Here are some must-visit stops along the Illinois stretch of Route 66:

• Route 66 Start Sign: Located on Adams Street in downtown Chicago, the Route 66 Start Sign marks the beginning of your journey. Snap a photo at this iconic sign to commemorate the start of your adventure.
• Berwyn Route 66 Museum: Just outside of Chicago, the Berwyn Route 66 Museum is a fantastic place to learn about the history and culture of Route 66. Explore exhibits filled with vintage artifacts and photographs, and gain insights into the significance of this iconic road.
• The Gemini Giant: Make a quick stop in Wilmington to admire the towering Gemini Giant, a fiberglass statute of an astronaut holding a rocket. This classic example of roadside Americana is perfect for a unique photo opportunity.
• Pontiac: The town of Pontiac is home to several Route 66 attractions, including the Pontiac Oakland Automobile Museum and the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum. Explore the rich automotive history of the area and immerse yourself in the nostalgia of the Mother Road.
• Pink Elephant Antique Mall: Don’t miss the chance to visit the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston. This quirky attraction features a giant pink elephant statue and offers a treasure trove of antiques, collectibles, and vintage items to browse and discover.
• Old Chain of Rocks Bridge: As you approach the Illinois-Missouri border, you’ll cross the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. This historic bridge, which spans the Mississippi River, offers stunning views and is a favorite spot for cyclists, pedestrians, and photographers.

These are just a few of the many attractions you’ll encounter in Illinois along your Route 66 journey. As you travel through the state, keep an eye out for charming small towns, classic diners, and unique roadside curiosities that embody the spirit of the Mother Road.

As you leave Illinois and venture into Missouri, get ready for a whole new set of attractions and experiences. From the iconic Gateway Arch in St. Louis to the Route 66 State Park, each destination along the way offers a taste of history and adventure.

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in Illinois, let’s continue our virtual road trip as we make our way through the next state on Route 66: Missouri.

Missouri Attractions on Route 66

As you journey through Missouri on Route 66, you’ll discover a rich tapestry of attractions that showcase the state’s history, natural beauty, and vibrant culture. Here are some must-visit stops along the Missouri stretch of Route 66:

• Gateway Arch: While not directly on Route 66, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis is a must-see landmark and worth a slight detour. Take a tram ride to the top of this iconic stainless steel arch for breathtaking views of the city and the Mississippi River.
• Katz’s Delicatessen: Indulge in delicious comfort food at Katz’s Delicatessen in St. Louis. This family-owned deli has been serving up mouthwatering sandwiches and homemade desserts since 1902 and is a local favorite.
• Meramec Caverns: Explore the fascinating underground wonders of Meramec Caverns in Stanton. Take a guided tour through this extensive limestone cave system, marveling at the stunning formations and learning about the cave’s storied past.
• Munger Moss Motel: Experience a vintage stay at the Munger Moss Motel in Lebanon. This classic Route 66 motel has been welcoming travelers since 1946 and offers a glimpse into the past with its retro charm and nostalgic atmosphere.
• Red Cedar Inn: Discover a hidden gem in Pacific at the Red Cedar Inn. This historic restaurant and bed and breakfast exudes timeless charm and serves delectable American fare. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a relaxing meal or spend the night.
• 66 Drive-In Theatre: Catch a movie under the stars at the 66 Drive-In Theatre in Carthage. This iconic outdoor theater embraces the spirit of the Mother Road and offers a unique cinematic experience.

As you travel through Missouri, be sure to soak in the picturesque landscapes, rolling hills, and charming small towns that dot the Route 66 corridor. You’ll have the opportunity to indulge in classic American cuisine, browse interesting shops, and immerse yourself in the nostalgia of the historic highway.

Missouri is also home to the old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which you may have crossed from Illinois. This unique bridge spans the Mississippi River and offers unparalleled views and a chance to walk in the footsteps of Route 66 travelers from decades past.

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in Missouri, let’s continue our virtual road trip as we make our way through the next state on Route 66: Kansas.

Kansas Attractions on Route 66

As you venture into Kansas on your Route 66 road trip, you will discover a variety of attractions that highlight the state’s unique history and charm. Here are some must-visit stops along the Kansas stretch of Route 66:

• Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum: Start your Kansas Route 66 journey in Baxter Springs with a visit to the Heritage Center and Museum. Learn about the town’s rich heritage, mining history, and its role as a prominent stop along the Mother Road.
• Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store: Step back in time at the Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store in Riverton. This preserved and restored general store is a treasure trove of vintage items and Route 66 memorabilia.
• Rainbow Bridge: Marvel at the historic Rainbow Bridge in Riverton, one of the few remaining Marsh Arch bridges on Route 66. This scenic bridge is a testament to the engineering marvels of the early 20th century and provides a picturesque backdrop for photos.
• Cars on the Route: Visit Galena, where you’ll find Cars on the Route, a charming restoration of an old Kan-O-Tex service station. This spot was the inspiration for the character Fillmore in the Disney-Pixar film “Cars.”
• Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Station: Take a photo stop at the Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Station, an iconic example of a historic service station along Route 66. This restored landmark showcases the architectural style prevalent during the golden era of road trips.

While Kansas has a shorter stretch of Route 66 compared to other states, it offers a unique glimpse into the history and charm of this iconic highway. As you drive through the rolling prairies and small towns of Kansas, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the nostalgia of the Mother Road and appreciate the beauty of the surrounding landscapes.

Be sure to interact with the locals, visit local diners, and explore the small mom-and-pop shops that line the route. The people and communities along Route 66 are an integral part of the experience, and connecting with them will add an extra layer of authenticity to your journey.

As you leave Kansas and head further west, you’ll soon cross into Oklahoma, where a wealth of attractions and landmarks await you along the Route 66 corridor.

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in Kansas, let’s continue our virtual road trip as we make our way through the next state on Route 66: Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Attractions on Route 66

As you cruise through Oklahoma on your Route 66 road trip, you will encounter a wealth of attractions that showcase the state’s vibrant culture, rich history, and breathtaking landscapes. Here are some must-visit stops along the Oklahoma stretch of Route 66:

• Oklahoma Route 66 Museum: Start your Oklahoma Route 66 journey in Clinton with a visit to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. Explore the exhibits, artifacts, and interactive displays that tell the story of the Mother Road and its impact on the state.
• Lucille’s Service Station: Pay a visit to Lucille’s Service Station in Hydro, an iconic Route 66 landmark. This restored filling station-turned-museum is dedicated to the memory of Lucille Hamons, a beloved figure and “Mother of the Mother Road.”
• Catoosa Blue Whale: Take a quick detour to Catoosa to see the famous Blue Whale, a Route 66 roadside attraction that has become an icon of the Mother Road. This unique structure offers a fun photo opportunity and a glimpse into the whimsical side of Route 66.
• Round Barn of Arcadia: Discover one of Route 66’s architectural wonders at the Round Barn of Arcadia. This National Register of Historic Places landmark is a beautifully restored round barn that now serves as a community center and museum.
• Pops: Make a refreshing stop at Pops in Arcadia, a unique soda pop haven with over 700 varieties of beverages. Enjoy a delicious meal at the restaurant and browse the vast selection of soda pops before continuing your journey.
• The Coleman Theater: Step back in time at the beautifully restored Coleman Theater in Miami. This stunning Spanish Colonial Revival-style theater offers guided tours, showcasing its luxurious interiors and hosting various performances throughout the year.

Oklahoma’s stretch of Route 66 is filled with iconic landmarks, nostalgic attractions, and the warm hospitality of its residents. As you drive through the state, you’ll also have the opportunity to explore charming small towns, dine at authentic diners, and soak in the stunning landscapes that make Oklahoma a memorable destination along the Mother Road.

Don’t forget to try some regional specialties while in Oklahoma, such as barbecue, chicken-fried steak, or a slice of homemade pie. The local cuisine is as rich and diverse as the history and culture along Route 66.

As you continue westward, you’ll soon cross into Texas, where the adventure on Route 66 continues with its own set of unique attractions and experiences.

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in Oklahoma, let’s continue our virtual road trip as we make our way through the next state on Route 66: Texas.

Texas Attractions on Route 66

As you cross into Texas on your Route 66 road trip, you’ll find a variety of attractions that highlight the Lone Star State’s unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Here are some must-visit stops along the Texas stretch of Route 66:

• Cadillac Ranch: Make a stop near Amarillo to witness the famous Cadillac Ranch, an art installation that features ten brightly painted, half-buried Cadillac cars. This unique roadside attraction is a favorite among Route 66 travelers.
• Palo Duro Canyon State Park: Experience the breathtaking beauty of Palo Duro Canyon State Park near Amarillo, often referred to as the “Grand Canyon of Texas.” Hike, bike, or drive through the scenic park to admire the stunning landscapes and panoramic views.
• The Big Texan Steak Ranch: Get your taste buds ready for a challenge at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo. This legendary restaurant is famous for its 72-ounce steak challenge, but also offers a wide range of delicious Texas-style dishes for everyone.
• Wigwam Village Motel: Stay in a unique teepee-shaped motel at the Wigwam Village in Rialto. This historic motel, one of the few remaining in the Wigwam Village chain, offers a nostalgic experience and a glimpse into the past.
• MidPoint Cafe: Stop by the MidPoint Cafe in Adrian, considered to be the halfway point on Route 66 between Chicago and Los Angeles. Enjoy a meal or indulge in a slice of the famous “Ugly Crust” pie as you take in the nostalgia of this classic roadside diner.

As you drive through Texas, you’ll also be treated to the state’s vast and diverse landscapes, ranging from towering mesas to wide-open plains. Take your time to appreciate the beauty of the Lone Star State and embrace the warm hospitality of its residents.

Don’t forget to enjoy some traditional Texas cuisine during your journey, such as Texas-style barbecue, Tex-Mex dishes, or a hearty plate of chicken-fried steak. The food culture in Texas is as vibrant and diverse as the attractions along Route 66.

As you continue westward, you’ll soon enter New Mexico, where a new set of attractions and experiences await on the next leg of your Route 66 adventure.

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in Texas, let’s continue our virtual road trip as we make our way through the next state on Route 66: New Mexico.

New Mexico Attractions on Route 66

As you reach New Mexico on your Route 66 road trip, you’ll discover a vibrant mix of cultural heritage, stunning landscapes, and historic attractions. Here are some must-visit stops along the New Mexico stretch of Route 66:

• Blue Hole: Take a refreshing break at the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, a natural swimming hole with crystal-clear blue water. Dive into the cool waters or simply relax by the shore of this unique geological marvel.
• Santa Fe: Make a detour to Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. Explore the city’s rich history, visit art galleries, and indulge in the vibrant culinary scene. Don’t miss the opportunity to explore the beautiful Santa Fe Plaza and immerse yourself in the city’s distinctive Southwestern charm.
• Albuquerque: Discover the cultural hub of Albuquerque, where you can explore the historic Old Town and experience the city’s fascinating blend of Native American, Spanish, and American cultures. Take a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway for panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscapes.
• Acoma Pueblo: Visit Acoma Pueblo, also known as “Sky City,” and discover the oldest continuously inhabited community in North America. Take a guided tour of the pueblo and learn about the rich history, traditions, and artistry of the Acoma people.
• Route 66 Auto Museum: Spend some time at the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, where you can admire a wonderful collection of classic and vintage cars. From hot rods to classic convertibles, this museum showcases the history and allure of automobiles along Route 66.

As you drive through New Mexico, you’ll witness the stunning desert landscapes, mesas, and wide open spaces that make this state truly unique. Take in the vastness of the scenery and appreciate the untouched beauty of the Southwest.

New Mexico is also renowned for its vibrant arts and crafts scene. Explore local galleries and shops along the route to admire and purchase beautiful Native American jewelry, pottery, and artwork. The state’s rich cultural heritage is seamlessly integrated into the fabric of Route 66.

As you continue your journey westward, you’ll soon enter Arizona, where the natural wonders and iconic attractions of the Grand Canyon State await.

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in New Mexico, let’s continue our virtual road trip as we head towards the next state on Route 66: Arizona.

Arizona Attractions on Route 66

As you make your way through Arizona on your Route 66 road trip, you’ll encounter a treasure trove of iconic attractions, breathtaking landscapes, and charming towns. Here are some must-visit stops along the Arizona stretch of Route 66:

• Grand Canyon: Take the opportunity to visit one of the world’s natural wonders, the Grand Canyon National Park. Marvel at the vastness of the canyon, walk along the rim, and take in the awe-inspiring panoramic views. Plan ahead and consider spending a night at one of the park’s lodges to fully immerse yourself in this magnificent spectacle.
• Petrified Forest National Park: Discover the natural wonders of Petrified Forest National Park, where ancient trees turned to stone millions of years ago. Take a hike along the trails and witness the beautifully preserved petrified logs and vibrant colored badlands.
• Standin’ on a Corner Park: Pay a visit to Standin’ on a Corner Park in Winslow, made famous by the Eagles’ hit song, “Take It Easy.” This quirky park is a tribute to the iconic song and offers a unique photo opportunity with a bronze statue of a musician.
• Wigwam Motel: Spend a night in one of the legendary Wigwam Motels in Holbrook. These unique accommodations, shaped like teepees, were once a popular choice among Route 66 travelers. Experience the nostalgia of the Mother Road by staying in these iconic roadside lodgings.
• Oatman: Step back in time in the town of Oatman, where wild burros freely roam the streets and old Western buildings transport you to the days of the gold rush. Enjoy the lively atmosphere, shop for souvenirs, and witness live gunfight reenactments.

As you drive through Arizona, the landscapes will amaze you with their diversity, from the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon to the arid desert vistas dotted with iconic Saguaro cacti. Take the time to stop at scenic overlooks, venture on short hikes, and capture the natural beauty of the state with your camera.

Arizona also offers a wealth of Native American history and culture. Explore historic sites and museums that showcase the rich heritage of the Navajo, Hopi, and other tribes. Immerse yourself in the art, traditions, and stories of the Southwest’s indigenous peoples.

Next up, you’ll reach the final state on your Route 66 journey: California. Get ready to experience the last leg of this iconic road trip and discover the cultural delights and scenic wonders that the Golden State has to offer.

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in Arizona, let’s continue our virtual road trip as we head towards the final state on Route 66: California.

California Attractions on Route 66

As you embark on the final leg of your Route 66 road trip in California, you’ll encounter a plethora of iconic attractions, breathtaking scenery, and vibrant cities. Here are some must-visit stops along the California stretch of Route 66:

• Santa Monica Pier: Celebrate the end of your journey at the Santa Monica Pier, the official western terminus of Route 66. Take a ride on the Ferris wheel, enjoy the lively atmosphere, and dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean as you bask in the accomplishment of completing this historic road trip.
• Wigwam Motel: Experience the unique accommodations at the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino. Similar to the motels in Holbrook, Arizona, these teepee-shaped lodgings provide a nostalgic and authentic Route 66 experience.
• Route 66 Museum: Explore the Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, which showcases the history, culture, and artifacts of the iconic highway. Learn about the people, events, and innovations that shaped the road’s legacy.
• Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch: Marvel at the whimsical and eclectic Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande. This unique outdoor art installation features a collection of metal sculptures adorned with colorful glass bottles, creating a mesmerizing sight along the Route 66 corridor.
• Historic Seligman Sundries: Stop by Seligman, a town frozen in time, and visit Historic Seligman Sundries, a classic Route 66 souvenir shop. Browse through a wide selection of trinkets, memorabilia, and Route 66-themed merchandise.

As you drive through California, you’ll experience the diverse landscapes of the Golden State, from the stunning coastline to the majestic mountains. Take the opportunity to discover the beauty of Joshua Tree National Park, the dramatic scenery of Mojave National Preserve, or the bustling city vibes in Los Angeles.

California also offers a wealth of culinary delights, so be sure to indulge in local flavors along the way. From fresh seafood in coastal towns to vibrant food scenes in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, your taste buds will be delighted throughout your journey.

As you conclude your Route 66 adventure, take a moment to reflect on the memories, experiences, and stories you’ve gathered along this historic road trip. Congratulations on completing the iconic journey from Chicago to Santa Monica!

Now that you’ve explored the attractions in California, it’s time to wrap up your virtual road trip and savor the memories of this unforgettable Route 66 adventure.

Ending Point: Santa Monica, California

Congratulations! You’ve reached the final destination of your epic Route 66 road trip: Santa Monica, California. As the western terminus of the Mother Road, Santa Monica is the perfect place to conclude your unforgettable journey. Here’s what you can look forward to experiencing in this vibrant coastal city:

Santa Monica Pier: Your road trip culminates at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, where you can immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere and soak in the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Take a ride on the Ferris wheel, test your skills at the carnival games, or stroll along the lively boardwalk filled with street performers, shops, and restaurants.

Third Street Promenade: Just steps away from the pier, Third Street Promenade awaits with its vibrant ambiance and fantastic shopping opportunities. Explore a wide variety of stores, boutiques, and specialty shops, and enjoy live street performances from local artists.

Main Street: Delve into the vibrant neighborhood of Main Street, known for its unique shops, trendy cafes, and excellent dining options. Take a leisurely stroll and soak in the relaxed beach town vibe that Santa Monica is famous for.

Santa Monica State Beach: Take some time to unwind and relax on Santa Monica State Beach, where soft sand, rolling waves, and coastal breezes invite you to breathe in the ocean air and bask in the Southern California sunshine.

Bergamot Station Arts Center: For art enthusiasts, a visit to Bergamot Station Arts Center is a must. This former railroad station is now home to a variety of galleries and art spaces, featuring works from local and international artists.

Santa Monica Mountains: If you have extra time, explore the nearby Santa Monica Mountains. Go for a hike, enjoy a scenic drive, or picnic amidst picturesque landscapes with stunning views of the city and coastline.

After completing the historic Route 66 journey from Chicago to Santa Monica, take a moment to reflect on the incredible experiences, breathtaking landscapes, and rich history you’ve encountered throughout this iconic road trip. Capture the memories and cherish the stories that will be shared for years to come.

As you conclude your adventure in Santa Monica, take the time to appreciate the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing the cross-country journey on Route 66. Whether you’re ready to continue exploring California or planning your next travel endeavor, remember that the spirit of adventure and discovery is always within reach.

Thank you for joining us on this virtual road trip along the Main Street of America. We hope this guide has inspired you and provided valuable insights for planning your own memorable Route 66 adventure.

Safe travels and happy trails!

Accommodations on Route 66

When embarking on a Route 66 road trip, finding the perfect accommodations can greatly enhance your overall experience. Along the iconic highway, you’ll find a diverse range of lodging options that cater to various preferences and budgets. Here are some accommodation choices you can consider along the Route 66 journey:

Classic Motels: Route 66 is synonymous with classic motels, many of which have been preserved and restored to capture the spirit of the road’s golden era. These motels often feature retro decor, neon signs, and provide a nostalgic ambiance that takes you back in time. Staying in these motels can be a delightful throwback experience that adds authenticity to your Route 66 adventure.

Boutique Hotels: For travelers seeking charm and character, boutique hotels along Route 66 offer a unique sense of style and personalized service. These smaller-sized accommodations often feature distinctive decor, thoughtful amenities, and a more intimate atmosphere. Boutique hotels can provide a cozy and memorable stay during your journey.

Bed and Breakfasts: If you desire a more intimate and cozy experience, consider staying at a bed and breakfast along route 66. These charming establishments often offer comfortable rooms, homemade breakfasts, and the opportunity to connect with local hosts and fellow travelers. Bed and breakfast accommodations can provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere after a long day on the road.

Chain Hotels: Along the route, you’ll also find well-known chain hotels that offer reliability, comfortable amenities, and familiar settings. If you prefer the consistency and convenience of chain hotels, you can find them in various cities and towns along Route 66, providing familiar comforts during your journey.

Campgrounds and RV Parks: For those who enjoy the great outdoors, camping along Route 66 can be a fantastic option. Many campgrounds and RV parks are scattered along the way, allowing you to set up camp and enjoy the serene beauty of nature. Be sure to check ahead for availability and amenities, as well as any necessary reservations.

Regardless of the accommodation type you choose, it’s advisable to make reservations in advance, especially during peak travel seasons when popular destinations can be crowded. Plan your journey and map out your stops ahead of time to ensure availability and secure your preferred accommodations.

Remember that part of the charm of Route 66 is immersing yourself in the culture and history of the road. So, when choosing accommodations, consider opting for those that align with the nostalgic vibe of the journey. Whether you stay in a retro motel, a cozy bed and breakfast, or a unique boutique establishment, your choice of accommodation can add a distinct flavor to your Route 66 experience.

Now that you have an idea of the diverse accommodation options along Route 66, you can plan your overnight stays accordingly and make the most of this unforgettable road trip.

Dining Options on Route 66

One of the most memorable aspects of a Route 66 road trip is the opportunity to savor the diverse culinary delights along the way. As you travel through the various states and towns, you’ll encounter a wide range of dining options that reflect the rich food culture of America. Here are some dining experiences to consider while traveling on Route 66:

Classic Diners: Route 66 is synonymous with classic diners that embody the spirit of the open road. Step into these nostalgic establishments, often adorned with retro decor and neon signs, and indulge in all-American comfort foods like burgers, milkshakes, and homemade pies. These diners offer a taste of the past and the chance to experience the quintessential roadside dining experience.

Local Eateries: Along Route 66, you’ll encounter a plethora of family-owned restaurants, cafes, and hole-in-the-wall establishments that showcase regional flavors and culinary traditions. From Tex-Mex in Texas to traditional barbecue joints in Kansas City, each state offers its own unique culinary treasures. Don’t be afraid to seek out these local gems and try the specialties that have been passed down through generations.

Ethnic Cuisine: Route 66 is a melting pot of cultures, and this diversity is reflected in the array of international cuisine available along the way. Enjoy a plate of authentic Mexican tacos in New Mexico, savor some mouthwatering Italian pasta in Chicago, or indulge in savory barbecue in Kansas City. From Asian fusion to Greek delicacies, you’ll find options to satisfy every craving.

Farmers Markets and Roadside Produce Stands: For a taste of local, fresh produce, make a stop at farmers markets and roadside stands that dot the Route 66 landscape. Discover regional fruits, vegetables, and artisanal products, and even pick up some items for a picnic or to enjoy during your drive.

Street Food and Food Trucks: As you explore the cities and towns along Route 66, keep an eye out for street food vendors and food trucks that offer a variety of quick and delicious eats. Sample gourmet hot dogs, tacos, barbecue, or fusion cuisine from these mobile culinary delights. It’s a convenient and flavorful way to experience a wide range of flavors.

When dining along Route 66, remember to savor not just the food, but also the unique dining atmospheres and the chance to connect with locals and other travelers. Engage in conversations, share stories, and embrace the hospitality that Route 66 is famous for.

While planning your Route 66 road trip, research local recommendations and seek out iconic dining establishments that have become landmarks along the highway. Whether it’s a famous steakhouse, a beloved pie shop, or a legendary barbecue joint, these culinary landmarks add an extra layer of authenticity and flavor to your journey.

Now that you’re familiar with the dining options along Route 66, get ready to embark on a gastronomic adventure that will leave your taste buds satisfied and your memories enriched.

Roadside Attractions and Photo Ops

One of the most exciting aspects of a Route 66 road trip is the abundance of quirky and iconic roadside attractions that are scattered along the highway. These unique attractions offer opportunities for memorable photo ops and add an extra dose of fun and whimsy to your journey. Here are some must-visit roadside attractions on Route 66:

• Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, Texas): Don’t miss the chance to visit Cadillac Ranch, an iconic art installation comprising of ten half-buried Cadillacs planted nose-first into the ground. Take some spray paint and leave your mark on these colorful, graffiti-covered cars.
• Blue Whale (Catoosa, Oklahoma): Stop by the Blue Whale, a beloved roadside attraction that dates back to the 1970s. This whimsical structure offers a unique photo opportunity as you stand beside the massive blue whale emerging from a small pond.
• Standin’ on a Corner Park (Winslow, Arizona): Pay homage to the Eagles’ hit song “Take It Easy” at Standin’ on a Corner Park. Capture a photo beside the life-sized bronze statue that immortalizes the famous line from the song.
• Giant Route 66 Shield (Tulsa, Oklahoma): Pose in front of the giant Route 66 shield located in Tulsa. This vibrant and oversized symbol of the Mother Road serves as an excellent backdrop for a fun and memorable photo.
• Munger Moss Motel Sign (Lebanon, Missouri): Take a snapshot with the iconic Munger Moss Motel sign, a Route 66 institution that has welcomed travelers with its neon glow since 1946. This vintage sign is a true symbol of the road’s heritage.

As you drive along Route 66, keep an eye out for other unique and photo-worthy sights such as vintage gas stations, classic cars parked along the road, retro diners, and quirky roadside sculptures. These unexpected treasures can make spontaneous photo ops and memories that will last a lifetime.

Remember to exercise caution and observe any rules or guidelines when visiting these attractions. While they are often open to the public, it’s important to respect the sites and practice responsible tourism.

Sharing your Route 66 adventure through photographs is a wonderful way to convey the essence and excitement of the journey with friends and family. Capture the charm of the historic road, the beauty of the landscapes, and the spirit of the communities you encounter.

Now that you’re equipped with knowledge about some of the memorable roadside attractions on Route 66, get ready to strike a pose and create lasting memories during your epic road trip.

Tips for an Epic Route 66 Road Trip

A Route 66 road trip is a bucket-list adventure that promises unforgettable memories and experiences. To make the most of your journey, consider these tips for an epic Route 66 road trip:

• Plan your route: While spontaneity adds to the charm of the road trip, having a general plan and itinerary will help you make the most of your time on Route 66. Research attractions, accommodations, and dining options beforehand, and allocate enough time for each stop.
• Allow for flexibility: While planning is important, also allow room for unplanned detours and spontaneous discoveries. Some of the best memories on Route 66 come from unexpected experiences.
• Travel light: Pack essentials but be mindful of limited trunk space. Leave room for souvenirs and treasures you pick up along the way. Consider versatile clothing options suitable for different weather conditions and comfortable footwear for exploring attractions.
• Bring a good camera or smartphone: Route 66 is filled with picturesque landscapes, unique roadside attractions, and charming towns. Capture the beauty and fun of your journey by bringing a quality camera or smartphone with ample storage space for photos and videos.
• Embrace the local culture: Route 66 is more than just a road trip—it’s an opportunity to immerse yourself in the diverse cultures and communities that line the highway. Interact with locals, support local businesses, and be respectful of the cultural heritage you encounter.
• Try regional cuisine: Indulge in the culinary delights along Route 66 by trying the local specialties and iconic dishes. From classic American diners to ethnic restaurants, allow your taste buds to savor the flavors of each state you pass through.
• Take breaks and enjoy the journey: Route 66 is not just about reaching the destination—it’s about enjoying the journey itself. Take breaks to stretch your legs, explore small towns, and appreciate the beauty of the landscapes. Enjoy the ride and embrace the sense of adventure.
• Be mindful of the weather: Check the weather forecast for each area you’ll be passing through. Be prepared for different climates and pack accordingly. Keep in mind that extreme weather, such as storms or heatwaves, can affect road conditions and local attractions.
• Connect with fellow travelers: Route 66 attracts travelers from all over the world, creating a vibrant and friendly community on the road. Connect with other road trippers at events, landmarks, or through online forums. Share stories, tips, and recommendations with fellow adventurers.
• Enjoy the nostalgia: Route 66 is a road trip through history, so take the time to appreciate the nostalgic charm of the classic roadside attractions, vintage motels, and neon signs that line the route. Immerse yourself in the spirit of the road and cherish the journey.

By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to embark on an epic Route 66 road trip. Remember, the key is to embrace the adventure, soak in the sights, and create lasting memories along this iconic highway.

Now that you’re equipped with knowledge and inspiration, get ready to hit the road and embark on an unforgettable Route 66 experience. Safe travels and enjoy the ride!

Congratulations on completing this comprehensive guide to an epic Route 66 road trip! As you now know, Route 66 is much more than just a highway—it’s a journey through history, culture, and stunning landscapes that capture the spirit of America. From the iconic starting point in Chicago, Illinois, to the breathtaking final destination of Santa Monica, California, Route 66 offers an experience like no other.

Throughout this guide, we’ve explored the planning process, the best times to travel, attractions in each state, accommodations, dining options, and tips for a memorable road trip. By following these insights and recommendations, you’ll be well-equipped to embark on the adventure of a lifetime along the Main Street of America.

From retro diners and roadside attractions to scenic vistas and iconic landmarks, Route 66 presents an opportunity to immerse yourself in the history, culture, and hospitality that make the United States so unique. Along the way, embrace the unexpected, connect with fellow travelers, and create lasting memories that will be cherished for years to come.

As you embark on your own Route 66 journey, remember to stay flexible, take breaks to explore the small towns and hidden gems, and bask in the nostalgia of the Mother Road. Capture the beauty through your camera lens, indulge in regional cuisine, and connect with the communities that call Route 66 home.

Whether you have a week or several weeks to spare, a Route 66 road trip promises an adventure filled with vibrant culture, breathtaking landscapes, and a sense of discovery that can only be found on the open road. So, gather your travel companions, pack your bags, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey along the legendary Route 66.

Safe travels and enjoy the ride. As they say, it’s not the destination, but the journey that matters most. Have a fantastic time exploring the Main Street of America!

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The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary

A route 66 road trip is on everybody’s bucket list, right? Well, here’s the ultimate travel companion for the Mother Road. You’re welcome!

Old Route 66 is by far one of the most famous roads in the United States. Stretching diagonally from Chicago, Illinois, all the way to Los Angeles, California, this 2,400-mile route is affectionately known as the Mother Road. The classic route 66 road trip takes around 30 hours of driving and it runs through eight states including California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Along the way, you’ll pass by historic towns full of kitschy Americana and iconic roadside attractions. 

When it was first constructed in 1926, it was the first transcontinental railway of its kind. It quickly became an important thoroughfare for everyone from long-haul truckers to vacationing families. Many family-owned, mom-and-pop businesses popped up along the main routes and its byways and it was known as a “road of dreams” for many Americans. Although its glory days may be over, this doesn’t mean that a good old-fashioned Route 66 road trip isn’t one of the best ways to explore the diverse landscape of America!

The road is long and full of adventure !

It’s time to hit the road again, and this time it’s the big one! Perhaps you’re just doing a short stretch of the famous Mother Road? Or maybe you’re in it for the whole shebang? Either way, we salute you. Route 66 is legendary and those who travel on it are heroes. But heroes deserve a little fun along the way, right? At Let’s Roam , fun is our middle name. In fact, it’s our first and last names too. That’s why we offer oodles of scavenger hunts in hundreds of cities! And there’s more. If you fancy something spooky, take a look at our haunted tours . Feeling artsy? Our art walks will give you that fuzzy feeling of culture. Wherever your road leads you, take the Let’s Roam app along for the ride.

The Logistics

Planning a trip on Route 66 may seem very overwhelming at first. Are you going to drive the entire thing? Where will you stop along the way? How long will it take you? These questions are likely to be floating around in your mind. The great thing though is that there’s no right or wrong way to explore this fabled route. You can spend two weeks or two months depending on where you stop and how long you decide to stay there. Some people who are short on time prefer to rush through the entire 2,400-mile route while others do it section by section and visit as many towns and roadside attractions as possible as they go. The choice is yours!

How you “do” Route 66 depends a lot on what you want to do and why you want to do it. For example, is your goal to cover the entire route within a certain period of time? If so, what types of places do you want to stop at along the way? Or do you want to spend your time visiting the small towns and the quirky attractions as you go? Once you have a rough idea about these questions, you can begin filling in the blanks on the others. 

Below we have provided an example itinerary for covering Route 66. This is based on having access to your own vehicle whether it be privately owned or rented. If you live far from Route 66 itself, you’ll also have to factor in travel time to get there. You also need to decide if you want to drive your own car to your starting point or fly there and rent a car. If you plan on flying in from one place and out of another, it’s also important to check on the extra fees associated with one-way rental cars as this can often add hundreds of dollars to the total price of renting a car. 

The other option that you may want to consider is taking one of the Amtrak trains that ply along the tracks. This is a great way to travel as you can sit back and relax as you watch the world go by. Unfortunately, this does limit where you can stop and since the trains often experience delays, you may find it difficult if you have a tight schedule. 

Making a Plan

Depending on how you like to travel, you can plan as little or as much of the trip in advance as you want. While some people like to have a detailed itinerary put together before they leave the house, others prefer to fly by the seat of their pants and decide where to stay as they go. There are pros and cons to both ways and our best advice is to do both. 

You can start the journey with the first few stops planned and see how that goes. If you like having a structured schedule, you can continue planning the next few stops as well. We recommend giving yourself a little wiggle room in the schedule in case anything goes wrong or you discover someplace where you want to stop. If this happens and you don’t have the time to spare, don’t panic. You can often take the Interstate highway instead of Route 66 which shaves off a lot of time since it bypasses busy towns and cities. 

If you’re traveling during the busy summer months, you may also want to book some of the accommodation in advance to ensure that you have a bed to sleep in at night.

Expert tip : When you’re deciding on the amount of time and stops that you’ll take, try to plan on spending four to five hours at the most each day driving. Any longer than this can get tiresome as the days go by and you may end up feeling too exhausted to enjoy the trip.

The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip

This itinerary starts in Chicago and finishes at Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. Depending on how much time you have to dedicate to your road trip, you can start or end the trip wherever you want. 

Day 1: Chicago to Springfield, Illinois

The official starting point of Historic Route 66, Chicago is one of the country’s most dynamic cities. From the iconic skyline to the idyllic Riverwalk, Chicago is heaven for culture vultures. One of the most popular things to do during a visit’s to take a ride on one of the tour boats that take visitors along the river. During the ride, you’ll learn a lot about the history of the city and see some of its most well-known buildings. 

Other great things to do in Chicago include heading up to the viewing deck of the Willis Tower, exploring the Pullman Historic District, finding Nemo at Shedd Aquarium, and catching a ball game with one of the many professional sports teams based there. 

A bit confusingly, there are two different starting points to choose from. The first one is Jackson Blvd at Michigan Avenue, the original 1926 starting point. Otherwise, you can go to Jackson Blvd at Lake Shore Drive which has been the new starting point since 1933. The places are located just a few blocks from one another so it’s unlikely to make a big impact on the amount of time it takes you to get out of the city so choose whichever one works best for you!

As you’re driving along Ogden Avenue, make sure to keep an eye out for the Castle Car Wash. Built in the year 1925 as a filling station, this castle-like structure was later turned into a car wash. This is one of the first Route 66 sites that you’ll see and there are plenty more to come! 

Once you leave Chicago, you’ll head to the town of Joliet. This charming town epitomizes what many people think when they hear Route 66. This is where you’ll find the Route 66 Welcome Center and Gift Shop as well as many Route 66-era businesses and signs. There is also the beautifully restored Rialto Square Theater, a 1926 vaudeville theater that offers tours and hosts performances. 

As you head towards your next destination, you’ll also want to be on the outlook for enormous “Muffler men” statues. These large fiberglass structures were made in the 1960s as advertisements and although most of them are long gone, there are a few still visible today. The first one you’ll see is “Gemini Giant” in Wilmington.

Home to the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum, Pontiac is proud of its Route 66 heritage. It’s worth taking a quick stop here to see not only the Route 66 Museum but also the handful of other interesting little museums such as the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and Resource Center. There is also a colorful collection of 20 outdoor painted murals that highlight the city’s history. 

Anyone who is a fan of US history should make a stop in Lincoln. This was the first town named after Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln once practiced law here and you can find many sites related to him including the Lincoln Heritage Museum, a giant statue of Lincoln, and the Postville Courthouse State Historic Site. 

Springfield will be the last stop on Day 1. It’s the state capital of Illinois and you can find the beautiful Old State Capitol Building, a Greek Revival masterpiece that offers tours where you can learn more about Illinois history. 

If you have time, you can also visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Lincoln Home National Historic Site where Lincoln and his family lived from 1844 until 1861. There is also a wildlife sanctuary lying just outside of town where you can stretch your legs for a bit before jumping back in the car to continue your way on Route 66!

Day 2: Springfield, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri

Once you leave Springfield, it’s time to start heading west toward Missouri. Before you hit the state line, you may want to make a quick detour to check out the Chain of Rocks Bridge which carried traffic over the Mississippi River for decades until it was finally closed to cars. It’s currently open to bikers and pedestrians and it provides an interesting perspective of this fabled river.

You can make a quick stop for lunch in St. Louis or spend a day or two exploring the many sites of the city. Here, you can take a ride up to the top of its famous archway that looms high above the downtown, go for a stroll through Forest Park, catch a Cardinals game at Busch Stadium, or pay homage to Anheuser-Busch by taking a brewery tour or having a quick beer at their onsite beer garden. If you didn’t get your fill of presidential history yet, you could also check out White Haven, the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site.

Regardless of how long you decide to stay, one thing that you shouldn’t miss on the way out of town is the Meramec Caverns, the largest commercial cave in the entire state of Missouri. You can take a tour of this massive cave system and gape in wonder as the guide leads you past impressive rock formations. The caves are located about an hour southwest of St. Louis and are an easy addition to a Route 66 itinerary.

Day 3: Missouri to the Kansas border

Once you leave the caverns, you can continue on Route 66 to the city of Cuba. The town is nicknamed the “Route 66 Mural City” thanks to its vibrant murals that take visitors through the city’s long history. After grabbing a hearty breakfast at Shelly’s Route 66 Cafe, it’s time to start making your way toward Kansas.

As you pass through the tiny city of Rolla which lies about halfway between St. Louis and Springfield, you may want to stop at the Totem Pole Trading Post which has been selling souvenirs and snacks since 1933. If you can’t find anything you like there, head over to the Mule Trading Post which has been operating since 1957. 

Once you finally get to Springfield, you may want to spend some time wandering around. The city is full of retro neon signs and billboards and you certainly don’t want to miss the 1926 Gilloz Theater with its beautiful art deco interior and facade.

As you finish the day just across the state line in Kansas, it’s a good idea to stop by either ‘Cars on the Route’ in Galena, or ‘Angel’s on the Route’ in Baxter Springs. Both were once Kan-O-Tex service stations which served as roadside diners, gas stations, and souvenir shops when Route 66 was at its peak. Route 66 only goes through about 13 miles of the state so you can either choose to spend the night here or push into Oklahoma.

Day 4: Kansas to Tulsa, Oklahoma

Straddling the Midwest and the South, Oklahoma has a unique charm to it. Route 66 covers about 400 miles of the state so you have plenty of opportunity to discover what happens when Midwestern politeness and Southern charm collide. Oklahoma is also home to the “Father of Route 66” Cyrus Avery who created the route and helped turn it into the economic and cultural lifeline that it eventually became. 

If you’re a fan of old Wild West movies, you’ll want to make a stop in Claremore, which was home to legendary actor Will Rogers. There are many sites dedicated to his memory where you can learn more about “Oklahoma’s favorite son”.

As you make your way toward Tulsa, make sure to keep an eye out for the iconic Blue Whale of Catoosa. This massive waterfront structure is one of the most recognizable sites on Route 66. Built in the early 1970s by Hugh Davis as a surprise anniversary present for his wife, the whale and surrounding pond quickly became a favorite roadside attraction along Route 66 and soon grew into a major landmark as more and more attractions were added to the area. 

After visiting the whale, you can grab some lunch at Clanton’s Cafe . Opened in 1927, it’s now the oldest family-owned restaurant on Route 66 and serves up American food like hamburgers, sandwiches, and hand-cut fries. You can also find plenty of memorability focusing on the history of Oklahoma. 

Tulsa is a surprisingly cool and quirky city with a walkable downtown area and beautiful parks lying just outside of the city. The city center has a slew of great bars serving locally-brewed craft beers and there’s a surprisingly large variety of restaurants that you can choose from. This is a great place to get your fill of some of your favorite foods from around the world as the options may be pretty limited for the next few days. 

Day 5: Tulsa to Oklahoma City

Get up bright and early for the drive to Sapulpa. Although the driving time is relatively short today, you’ll want plenty of time to make a few stops along the way. We highly recommend checking out the historical Frankoma Pottery which has been selling handmade pottery since 1933. This is a great souvenir to remember your epic trip and honestly, when are you going to find yourself in this part of the country again?

You should also stop by the Rock Creek Bridge and the former Teepee Drive-in Theater located on the outskirts of Tulsa. Opened in 1950, this single-screen drive-in theater once had space for more than 400 cars across seven acres of land. It eventually closed its “doors” in 1999 after providing a fun, family-friendly way to spend the evening for nearly 50 years. After decades of lying vacant, rumor has it that the theater will be opening again in the spring of 2023 so make sure that you check their website before you hit the road to see what the newest developments are. You may even want to adjust your trip plans slightly so that you can catch a movie at a historic Route 66 drive-in theater!

As you head past Sapulpa towards Oklahoma City, you’ll also pass the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum in Warwick. This former 1921 gas station has been transformed into a motorcycle museum and it’s a great way to spend a few hours for anyone who is a big fan of motorcycles. As you go by Arcadia, you can also stop by the Oklahoma County 66 Auto Trim and Mini Museum where you can find replicas of classic Route 66 attractions including the Catoosa Blue Whale that you just passed the day before and the Wigwam Motel. 

Make sure to leave enough time to also make a quick stop at POPS 66 Soda Ranch. You can’t miss this ultra-modern diner and gas station. Just look for the 66-foot-tall soda bottle standing in front of it. Inside, you can find what feels like every single different soda on the planet including mainstream brands as well as regional favorites. There are more than 700 varieties of bottled sodas so you’re bound to find something that appeals to you.

Day 6: Oklahoma City to Amarillo, Texas 

It’s time for another early start so that you can explore a bit of Oklahoma City before hitting the road again. As the capital of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City features many grandiose government buildings in its grid-like downtown section and the cool and quirky Bricktown Entertainment District which offers a plethora of bars and restaurants. It was the original downtown area when OKC was an important commercial hub at the start of the 20th century. 

Make sure to leave time to visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, dedicated to the Oklahoma City bombing that left 168 adults and children dead. The museum offers a haunting minute-by-minute account of the day’s events and the aftermath, including a “reenactment” of the bombing itself as experienced by survivors. Although it’s not related to Route 66, this is one of the must-sees on the trip and it’s a good way to pay tribute to the many people that lost their lives here. 

Another great stop is the Myriad Botanical Gardens. Located right in the heart of downtown OKC, these 145-acre gardens provide a nice escape from the concrete and stone of the city. They are also just a short walk away from the memorial so you can easily fit them both in before heading to your next destination. 

Oklahoma City is also home to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Founded in 1955, this museum has been attracting visitors for well over 50 years and is dedicated to preserving the unique heritage of the American West. Inside, you’ll find hundreds of exhibits where you can learn more about the Wild West and there’s even a recreation of an old western town. There are more than 28,000 pieces of Western and American Indian art and artifacts in their collection as well as the world’s largest collection of American rodeo artifacts such as photos, saddlery, trophies, and barbed wire. 

After you have seen everything you wanted in OKC, it’s time to start heading toward Texas. Try to time your drive so that you’ll be passing through El Reno for lunch. This small city is famous for its All-American diners and Route 66 eateries. Here, you can try the original fried onion burger which made its debut during the Great Depression or stop by Robert’s Grill, one of the oldest burger joints in the country that opened its doors nearly a century ago. 

If you want to pick up a few more souvenirs, you may also want to stop at the Mohawk Lodge Indian Store in Clinton. Opened in the late 1800s, it sells some of the most authentic Native American Goods in the United States. 

As you drive the final stretch towards Amarillo, stop by Elk City to see the National Route 66 Museum Complex. This is the most comprehensive of the Route 66 museums and you can learn about the Mother Road’s history, route, and roadside attractions. This will be the final stop in Oklahoma before heading into Texas.

Once you cross the state line, keep your eyes out for Shamrock’s Tower Station and the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock. This complex was originally built in 1936 and features beautiful Art Deco detailing anchored by two towers. Designed to accommodate a service station, cafe, and retail store, this was the first commercial building on Route 66 in Shamrock and it was regarded as one of the most interesting and creative structures along the road. Although there were a few cosmetic alterations to the buildings over time, it has been lovingly restored to their original appearance and currently looks much the same as they did in the mid-20th century. 

Lying in the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo features a charming little historic district full of art deco and Spanish Revival buildings where you can grab a delicious dinner or browse in some of the shops. The district covers 13 blocks and was developed in the early 20th century as a streetcar suburb. There are many historic service stations nestled in between buildings dating back from the 1920s and 1940s that offer many opportunities for photographs. 

 If you have a lot of time and want to get in some exercise, you can use the city as a gateway to the Palo Duro Canyon State Park. This large park features 80-foot cliffs and plenty of hiking trails that give you the chance to see a little more of the area’s nature. There are also a handful of museums in the city that are interesting to check out.

One of the must-visit attractions here is the Cadillac Ranch. Created by a group of hippies and funded by a local millionaire, this “ranch” features half-buried Cadillacs brightly painted. Although most of the car fixtures are long gone, it’s interesting to see how historic cars can be repurposed in a very unusual way. 

Day 7: Amarillo, Texas to Tucumcari, New Mexico

Grab a filling breakfast in Amarillo before heading back out to Route 66. Today, you’ll make your way to the city of Vega which offers the restored 1920s Magnolia Gas Station and Dot’s Mini Museum where you can see a few interesting personal artifacts of Route 66. From here, you’ll cross the border into New Mexico, fittingly known as the Land of Enchantment. 

The next stop will be the town of Tucumcari, a tiny town with a ton of historic Route 66 motels. The town was founded in 1901 and despite being home to just 5,000 people, it’s the largest city between Albuquerque and Amarillo. Most of the motels still have their retro neon signs including some of the route’s most famous motels such as the Blue Swallow Motel, Motel Safari, and Pow Wow Inn. If you want to keep the nostalgia going, you should also stop by The Odeon, a 1930s Art Deco theater, to see if anything is playing while you’re in town!

Day 8: Tucumcari, New Mexico to Albuquerque, New Mexico

After getting a good night’s sleep at one of the iconic Route 66 motels, it’s time to jump back in the car and make your way to Santa Rosa where you can grab brunch at the Route 66 Restaurant. From here, you can head along the pre-1937 Route 66 route that goes through Santa Fe. This allows you to see the scenic area of Romeroville. This tiny town was started by an enterprising young man named Trinidad Romero when he built a mansion here in 1880. This town would eventually become the intersection of the Ozark Trail Highway and the Santa Fe Trail. Although it was once an important terminus, today, there are just a handful of buildings left and it’s effectively one of the many ghost towns along this fabled route.

As you head through Santa Fe, you can stop to see some of the city’s many art galleries, museums, or street art. This is the state capital of New Mexico and one of the most vibrant and diverse parts of the state. It was established in 1607, making it one of the oldest state capitals in the country and if you’re flexible with time, it’s a great place to spend a few hours or even days if you need a bit of a break from sitting in the car day after day. 

After you have finished up in Santa Fe, it’s time to continue toward Albuquerque. This is the longest section of Route 66 and along the way, you’ll pass some great historic sites including Albuquerque’s Old Town, the Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque Museum, and Tingly Beach. If you make it in time, you can also stop and see a movie or show at the historic KiMo theater, built in 1927.

Day 9: Albuquerque to Holbrook, Arizona

As you leave Albuquerque, make sure to stop by Acoma Pueblo, the oldest inhabited community in North America. The Acoma Pueblo tribe has been living here since 1150 and it offers a fascinating look back at the early history of the southwestern United States. The views here are spectacular and it’s a great place to watch the sunrise if you can get up early enough. 

From Pueblo, you can head towards Cubero where you can visit the Villa de Cubero Trading Post and stock up on groceries and snacks for today’s drive. The final stop before you leave New Mexico will be Gallup. This interesting little town has some very interesting historic sites including the Rex Museum that once served as a hotel and brothel at the turn of the 20th century, El Morro Theater, the old McKinley County Courthouse, and the El Rancho Hotel.

From Gallup, make your way toward Lupton, Arizona. Along the way, you can stop at the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park. This park features Native American ruins and petroglyphs as well as miles of hiking trails and, of course, lots of petrified wood.

Finish the day in Holbrook, home to many historic buildings including the alarmingly named Bucket of Blood Saloon and the former Navajo County Courthouse. Make sure to spend the night at the famous Wigwam Motel where you can stay in one of the concrete teepees that have been providing shelter to guests since 1950. This is part of a chain of motels and if you love the experience, you can stay at its sister property in San Bernardino!

Day 10: Holbrook to Flagstaff, Arizona

Time to get up nice and early again to make your way to Flagstaff. Part Route 66 town, part college town, Flagstaff is a charming little place that offers some fantastic Route 66 motels, complete with towering signs showcasing their incredibly low room rates from the distant past. The main street is lined with cobblestones and independently owned restaurants and shops and this is one of the best places along the entire route to get your fill of different cuisines so make sure that you come hungry! 

Day 11: Flagstaff to Kingman, Arizona

After a fun night out in Flagstaff, it’s time to hit the road and start heading west toward Williams. This small town is a popular place to stop for breakfast before making a detour to the Grand Canyon National Park. Although the Grand Canyon isn’t right on Route 66, this is an excursion that is definitely worth your time. Located a few hours’ drive from Flagstaff, the Grand Canyon is one of the biggest and deepest canyons in the world and needs no introduction.

If you choose to go to the Grand Canyon, you may want to spend an extra night in Williams or Seligman which will give you a bit more time to explore. Otherwise, you can stop in Williams for a few hours to explore the charming historical district complete with the historic Frey Marcos hotel and Sultana Theater. 

From Williams, it’s time to push on to Seligman. Depending on the timing, this is a great place to stop for lunch or dinner at Angel’s Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In. This drive-in has been around since 1953 and serves up mouthwatering burgers, fish tacos, and milkshakes along with a side of slapstick humor. After eating, drive towards Kingman. If you make it in time and still want to see more museums, you can check out the Historic Route 66 Museum. 

Day 12: Kingman to Needles, California

Once you leave Kingman, there will be another long section of Route 66. Here, the route has lots of switchbacks as it winds its way toward California. It goes through old mining towns and abandoned ghost towns until you finally reach Oatman. This former gold mining town from the 1920s has found a new lease on life as a tourist attraction and offers visitors live Old West shows plus a wide array of other attractions where you can easily spend a few hours.

After leaving Kingman, you can wave goodbye to Arizona as you make your way into California. One of the best places to stop for Route 66 nostalgia is Needles. Here, there are many Route 66-era businesses including vintage models, a giant Borax Wagon, and a historic train depot. Before hitting the sack, you can listen to live music or grab some dinner before settling into your motel.

Day 13: Needles to Barstow, California

Up and early! Today is the last full day on the road and there are some exciting detours you can take before making your way to LA! One of our favorites is a trip through Joshua Tree National Park where you can see the park’s namesake tree and drive around the park on the creatively named Park Boulevard. If you have the time and energy, you can head out on some hiking trails to explore more of this beautiful spot. 

When you leave Joshua Tree, head toward Barstow, another of the idyllic Route 66 towns where you can find the streets lined with neon signs and bright Route 66 murals. You can grab dinner at Rosita’s, one of the best Mexican restaurants around before checking into one of the many historic motels. 

Day 14: Barstow to Los Angeles, California

Congratulations! You have officially reached the end of Route 66, one of the most famous roads in the history of the USA! Today, you have a short drive between Barstow and Los Angeles. Make sure to time your arrival well so that you can avoid the notorious LA traffic. 

As you stare out at the Pacific Ocean, give yourself a pat on the back that you have successfully followed in the footsteps of so many Americans that have made this pilgrimage from Chicago to Los Angeles . From here, you can check out the sites of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, or Downtown LA or you can even continue on your road trip and head to San Diego or Las Vegas. 

Ready to roam?

We hope that this guide has inspired you to hit the road! As always, we would love to hear your suggestions and please let us know if we have forgotten anything. If you need to find more information on these spots, check out our blog posts such as “Road Trip Sing-Along Songs for Every Type of Adventure” or download the Let’s Roam app where you can find a ton of user-generated content about locations across the country. Until then, happy travels!

Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on you! There are so many great places on Route 66 ranging from small towns to big cities that there is something great for everyone!

Route 66 officially begins in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles. Download the Let’s Roam app to learn about the great things to do along the way.

From checking out interesting little gift shops where you can buy Route 66 memorabilia to hiking through Joshua Tree National Park, there are tons of great things to do!

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Travel Guide to Historic Route 66: The Mother Road

Route 66 was one of the United States' first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated to the West.

"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles (3,940 kilometers) from Chicago to Los Angeles. It became the shortest, year-round route between the Midwest and the Pacific Coast, and was also known as " The Main Street of America " and the " Will Rogers Highway ". On that date, only 800 miles of Route 66 were paved, the rest being graded dirt, gravel, bricks, or planks of wood. It took 11 more years before the entire road would be paved.

From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed southwest through Illinois and Missouri, and a small section of southeast Kansas.

From there it turned in a more westward direction through Oklahoma and Texas, with the final stretches in New Mexico and Arizona before its termination point in Los Angeles.

During the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s, the diagonal course of the Route 66 was the primary route for migrating farm workers from the Midwest to California. The migration continued during World War II due to job availability in California.

It linked small, rural towns to larger cities, and markets. The fact that it covered mainly flat areas and featured moderate year-round weather made it an attractive route for traverlers, and truckers. During this time, it also became one of the key routes for moving military equipment across the country.

Due to the efforts of the U.S. Highway 66 Association, Route 66 became the first highway to be completely paved, in 1938. In the 1950s, Route 66 became the main highway for vacationers heading to Los Angeles. The traffic along Route 66 led to the opening of many "mom and pop" restaurants, motels, and service stations along the route to satisfy the needs of traveling motorists.

Alignments of the road changed often over the years, as improved sections of highway were constructed. In the early years many sections connected only one small town to the next, and had no official federal route number. Over time the route was formalized as a Federal Highway numbered as "U.S. 66".

We've had the pleasure of driving in all eight states along Route 66, The Main Street of America !

Included on this website are photographs, personal experiences, commentary and travel recommendations on the various segments of the Mother Road. We hope that this site will help with the planning of your next vacation or holiday, and get Route 66 checked off your bucket list of destinations in 2024!

The Lore of Route 66: The Main Street of America

Route 66 became one of the most famous roads in the United States, outdistancing others such as the Lincoln Highway.

It is popular lore in movies, songs, books like "The Grapes of Wrath", and TV shows.

The legendary highway was known far and wide for its variety of "mom and pop" motels, neon lights, drive-ins, quirky roadside attractions, flat tires, cars with no air conditioning, dangerous curves, steep hills, and narrow lanes.

Today, there are more than 250 buildings, bridges, road alignments and other sites along Route 66 that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The movie "Easy Rider" was filmed at several locations along Route 66. The move "Thelma and Louise" also featured Route 66 references and scenes.

The popularity stuck, and continues to grow today! So ... get out and explore Historic U.S. Route 66!

Route 66 Map from Chicago to Santa Monica

Road Trip Travel Guides for Various States Along Route 66

Planning a road trip on Route 66 in 2024 or for the Centennial in 2026? Here are the travel guides and reviews by state...

List of Route 66 Mileage by State (1926 Alignment)

The demise of route 66.

Route 66 underwent many improvements and realignments during its lifetime.

The passage of the Federal Highway Act of 1956 sounded the death knell for the old road, and gradually segments were replaced with new, safer and faster superhighways.

Its final demise was the completion of the Interstate Highway System. The last town by-passed by the Interstate system was Williams , Arizona, on October 13, 1984.

Subsequently, U.S. Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System on June 27, 1985.

Route 66 was replaced by five Interstates: I-55 southbound from Chicago, I-44 across Missouri and Oklahoma, I-40 in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, I-15 and finally I-10 into Los Angeles.

Route 66 Today

Today, in 2024, several states recognize the historical significance of the road, and have it marked with "66" in the state highway number. "Historic Route 66 Associations" are active in several states.

The road is also a major tourist attraction, so many states openly market attractions and lodging along the old route.

The old road still traverses dozens of small towns with vintage gas stations, quirky tourist attractions, diners, "Mop & Pop" motels, historic sites & museums, stunning vistas, and gift shops.

Touring Route 66 by Auto, Bus, or RV

Different people choose different modes of transportation to tour the Mother Road. While some elect guided bus tours, or drive their own vehicles, others seek new destinations in their RV or motor home.

And for those that don't own an RV yet, companies like Cruise America, El Monte RV Rentals, Road Bear RV Rentals, and Camping World offer a variety of RV sizes and rental plans.

Touring Route 66 by Motorcycle

Get your motor running! Get out on the highway!

Many travelers on Route 66 rent motorcycles to seek new open-air adventures on their USA road trip!

A variety of motorcycle rental plans are available, such as those from Eaglerider Motorcycle Rentals.

Out West, your motorcycle can be picked up at a number of rental locations in Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. If you are starting your Route 66 trip further north, motorcycle pickup locations in Illinois are available.

Model options are plentiful, and cycles from manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson and Indian are available. Trikes can also be rented.

If you don't want to ride independently, choose from one of many guided motorcycle tours. Self-drive tours often include rental of the motorcycle, hotel reservations and detailed tour route information.

Some companies offer one-way rentals, hotel pickups, luggage storage, helmets and other amenities.

Route 66: The Song

The song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" was composed by songwriter Bobby Troup in 1946.

It was first recorded by Nat King Cole, and sung by other singers over the years including Chuck Berry, Perry Como, and the Rolling Stones.

If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the highway that is best. Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. It winds from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all the way. Get your kicks on Route sixty-six. Now you go through Saint Looey Joplin, Missouri, and Oklahoma City is mighty pretty. You see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico, Flagstaff, Arizona. Don't forget Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino. Won't you get hip to this timely tip: when you make that California trip Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

For the Route 66 TV series on CBS, the "Route 66 Theme" song was written by Nelson Riddle.

Route 66: The TV Show

A popular television show during the early 1960s bore the road's name: "Route 66". Starring George Maharis as Buz, and Martin Milner as Tod, the two young adventurers drove the road in their Chevrolet Corvette for 116 episodes.

Despite the name of the series, most episodes did NOT take place on the historic road, but in 25 different U.S. states. The show was filmed mostly on location, and became known for its cinematography. A long list of well-known actors and actresses appeared on the series.

The show ran from October, 1960, through March, 1964, and created a huge following.

The interest in the show continues today by "Baby Boomers" who remember the original showings, and new generations of viewers fascinated by the show who watch it on DVD.

Chicago: The Route Begins

The beginning point for a Route 66 road trip could be either Chicago or Los Angeles, depending on the direction of the trip. Most travelers seem to start their journey on Route 66 in Chicago, and head westbound, the direction taken by those leaving the Dust Bowl and those seeking a new life in the West. That is the direction we take on this website.

Illinois was the first of the eight states through which Route 66 passed to have its segment of U.S. 66 paved, at a time when much of the route across the country was still a gravel or dirt road. Illinois Route 66 took over Illinois State Highway 4, a pre-existing, fully paved two-lane road between Chicago and St. Louis.

The beginning point of Route 66 in Chicago has changed over the years. Today, the starting point is at East Adams Street at South Michigan Avenue, and the end point is at East Jackson at South Michigan. One way streets in the area can be difficult to navigate for first-time Route 66 visitors!

While in Chicago, many Route 66 travelers seek out Grant Park, the Willis Tower, Chicago Architecture River Cruise, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science & Industry, the Magnificent Mile, Lincoln Park Zoo and the lakeshore shopping areas.

Santa Monica: The End of the Trail

The original terminus of U.S. Route 66 was at 7th and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. However, over the years, and decades, Route 66 has had several “official” and “unofficial" ending points.

The route was later extended to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards in Santa Monica, about one mile from the Pacific Ocean. This is often referred to as the official ending point of Route 66.

Route 66 Centennial: 1926-2026

Route 66 was one of the United State's first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west.

"The Mother Road" was commissioned on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.

In 2026, the nation will be celebrating the Route 66 Centennial ... 100 years of the Mother Road serving the traveling public! Many states and organizations are planning special events and tours to highlight the Centennial.

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Home / Moon Route 66 Road Trip

Moon Route 66 Road Trip

Moon Route 66 Road Trip  reveals the ins and outs of this iconic highway, from sweeping prairies and retro roadside pit-stops to the stunning vistas of the Southwest.

Inside this travel guide you’ll find:

• Maps and Driving Tools:  38 easy-to-use maps detail the existing roads that comprise the original Route 66, along with site-to-site mileage, driving times, detailed directions for the entire route, and full-color photos throughout
• Eat, Sleep, Stop and Explore:  With lists of the best hikes, bites, roadside curiosities, and more, you can admire extraordinary landscapes like Acoma Pueblo or Joshua Tree National Park, explore big cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, or wander abandoned ghost towns. Immerse yourself in classic Americana with outsider art and kitsch masterpieces, find the most Instagram-worthy retro motels, and sample the breadth of regional cuisine, from deep dish pizza to carne asada
• Flexible Itineraries:   Moon Route 66 Road Trip  covers Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Drive the entire original Mother Road in two weeks, or follow strategic routes for shorter trips to Chicago, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Santa Fe, and the Grand Canyon, plus side trips to Taos, Las Vegas, Joshua Tree, and Santa Monica
• Expert Perspective:  Jessica Dunham has driven thousands of miles along the famed highway and provides cultural insight, insider tips, and critical history of the route
• Planning Your Trip:  Know when and where to get gas and how to avoid traffic, plus tips for driving in different road and weather conditions and suggestions for international visitors, LGBTQ travelers, seniors, road-trippers with kids, and accessibility

With  Moon Route 66 Road Trip’s  practical tips, detailed itineraries, and tried-and-true expertise, you’re ready to fill up the tank and hit the road.

Buy Moon Route 66 Road Trip

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The ultimate route 66 road trip 1 week itinerary.

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If you are planning on heading out on a Route 66 road trip 1 week trip, this is the article for you. I promise you will not regret this trip as it is one of the best road trips in the US! 

Route 66 is one of those epic bucket list trips that you will honestly remember forever and planning for it can be a bit overwhelming. I am here to help! We did our first Route 66 road trip and honestly had the time of our lives. It is one of our favorite trips to date and we have had quite a few!

We’ll go over the best Route 66 road trip 1 week itinerary, the best part of Route 66, the best Route 66 travel guide, the best Route 66 road trip from California, and the best way to do Route 66.

Driving Route 66 in 1 week will be a bit of a time crunch but if you plan out all your stops ahead of time, you can definitely do it. You’ll likely have to take the highway at times but as often as you can, you should follow the original Route 66 route. It’s not on maps anymore but you can find a great Route 66 turn-by-turn guide here.

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THIS POST IS ALL ABOUT THE ULTIMATE ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP 1 WEEK ITINERARY. 

The ultimate route 66 road trip 1 week itinerary:, california route 66 road trip.

We’re starting the Route 66 road trip 1 week itinerary from California because that’s how we started it. Although it is technically “backward,” it’ll get you all the same places and was just as much fun for us.

If you are making the effort to drive Route 66 you have to make sure to at least start and end at the signs! The End of Route 66 is perfectly on Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles and serves as the perfect backdrop to the start of your epic Route 66 road trip 1-week vacation!

>>  Related Post:  How To Plan A Road Trip With Google Maps For A Stress Free Trip

BEST CALIFORNIA ROUTE 66 STOPS:

Now for the fun part! There are some beautiful miles of Route 66 in California (fun fact I grew up just a block from a section of Route 66) and so much to see and do! These were our favorite stops as we took a whole day to drive through California for Day 1 of our Route 66 road trip!

santa monica pier

We are so happy we started with the Santa Monica Pier, especially at sunrise. It was so quiet and peaceful and GORGEOUS! But really, what better way to start a road trip than with an amusement park with fair food! Be sure to stop and take a photo at the Route 66 End of the Trail Sign and grab a malt at Pier Burger.

>> Find the Best Hotels near Santa Monica Pier  (be sure to check out The Georgian Hotel )

Top Activities in Santa Monica

Wigwam motel.

This isn’t the only Wigwam Motel on Route 66 but having it placed just in the middle of a suburban neighborhood makes it all the much cooler! Each room is its own teepee and you are free to roam about the property and see all the old Route 66 signs and cars even if you don’t stay there.

>> Book your stay at the Wigwam Motel

The first day of a Route 66 road trip, it’s required to have a milkshake at an old school diner. Roy’s Cafe is the perfect stop for that! The milkshake was to die for and all the greasy diner food is perfect after a few hours in the car on the way to Arizona!

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Arizona Route 66 Road Trip

State number two is a GOOD ONE! We love traveling in Arizona and actually extended our 1 week Route 66 road trip by 4 days because we stayed in Arizona for so long! There is plenty to do all over Arizona, but we’ll keep this focused on the best stops along Route 66!

BEST ARIZONA ROUTE 66 STOPS:

Painted desert.

This is an absolute MUST. It is just outside of Phoenix heading towards New Mexico. Only 15 minutes off I-40, there is a free parking lot overlooking an epic view of the Painted Desert. If you are able to go for sunset we highly recommend it. The sunsets in Arizona are already gorgeous but over the Painted Desert, are next level! Bring a picnic dinner and watch the desert change colors before your very eyes.

WINSLOW, ARIZONA

If you have ever heard the Eagles’ song, “Take it Easy,” you make recognize the small town of Winslow, Arizona. The lyrics “standin’ on the corner in Winslow, Arizona” actually brought a lot of attention to this town. They now have a dedicated corner along the main road with signs and statues and paintings. It is the cutest spot and we loved goofing off here for a few hours. There is free parking and plenty of small family restaurants and shops to explore.

METEOR CRATER

If you are looking for something super unique, be sure to check out the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark. It’s just a 20-minute drive off the route and is home to a MASSIVE meteor crater from 50,000 years ago. It honestly looks amazing and the photos are stunning. We would have loved to have visited but didn’t have enough time to make it worth the $20 pp tickets. You’ll need a whole afternoon to enjoy this spot!  

NEW MEXICO ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP

You are flying through the trip now and Route 66 in New Mexico is a good one. The Route is relatively easy to follow and brings you to see some gorgeous views, like seeing Alburquerque from above at night! For your 1 night in New Mexico, we recommend a stay at El Rancho Hotel as a perfect kitschy stay on Route 66!

BEST NEW MEXICO ROUTE 66 STOPS:

Oxbow bluff.

Similar Hat  |  His Warm Jacket  |  Her Quilted Jacket

An unexpected stop for us while in New Mexico but it was perfect for sunrise overlooking Alburquerque. A peaceful spot along an often busy road trip (at least through California & Arizona). This was a perfect spot for some photos or a picnic.

A perfect Route 66 diner, with jukeboxes, counter service, burgers, malts, and old signs everywhere. This is a perfect stop for breakfast, lunch or diner while passing through New Mexico. We especially loved the wall outside the diner with all the old street signs!

GLENRIO GHOST TOWN

A true Route 66 ghost town sits just a few hundred feet from I-40 and has been completely bypassed since the highway went in. Unfortunately, this is not the only ghost town along Route 66, but is extremely easy to get to. It borders New Mexico and Texas and has a post office, two motels, a cafe, and a gas station that are all identifiable and extremely creepy.

TEXAS ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP

Probably our favorite state on Route 66 because there was so much to do, even in such a small part of Texas. And all the people we came across were SO NICE!

BEST TEXAS ROUTE 66 STOPS:

Midpoint cafe.

You made it halfway through Route 66 and it’s time to celebrate! They have a cute midpoint sign and line in the road perfect for a photo op! And of course a diner! Complete with everything you need to take a break from the long long drive you have already done and get ready for the next half.

CADILLAC RANCH

A must visit on your Route 66 road trip 1 week itinerary. This free art installation is located just off I-40 near Amarillo and is unlike anything we have ever seen. You can spray-paint your mark on the cars but no need to bring spray paint, there is SO MUCH laying around there for you to use. Be sure to get there early, before the heat and the crowds.

BIG TEXAN STEAKHOUSE

One of our favorite dining experiences along our Route 66 trip. The Big Texan Steakhouse is BIG and over the top and we loved every second of it. They have a challenge if you can finish a 72 ounce steak in an hour (with all four sides) you get it for free. Definitely not for us, but it is so much fun to watch someone else try on the main stage. We also got a flight of 10 beers for $12 and it was so worth it! They were all so good and unique.

>> The best part? You can book a stay at the big and bold, Big Texan Motel!

CONOCO GAS STATION

It’s a must to find at least one old school gas station along Route 66. This was our favorite of the ones we found because it is in such good condition and art deco architecture is one of my favorites. They have a cafe and gift shop with the sweetest lady running it, so it makes a great stop all around!

18 Best Road Trip Essentials for Adults You Need For Your Next Road Trip

If you are planning your next road trip, be sure to include all these road trip essentials for adults! Whether you are planning a weekend getaway or a cross-country road trip, these

OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP

We think it starts getting pretty quirky here in Oklahoma. Part of the fun of Route 66 is all the super kitschy stops along the way that sometimes, just don’t make any sense. You will start finding a ton of them here in Oklahoma!

BEST OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66 STOPS:

National route 66 museum in elk city.

We actually accidentally stumbled upon this museum when we saw the massive Route 66 sign out front. It was once the largest Route 66 sign in the world and only recently fell to second, but trust me it’s huge. They also have the cutest little model town of what it might have looked like on Route 66 back in the day.

CLASSEN INN SUPERETTE

This super trendy motel has been completely remodeled and is now a popular place to book a night for a Route 66 road trip ! We just stopped by for some photos but the patio looked so cute and I would have loved to stay a night here.

BLUE WHALE OF CATOOSA

If you are looking for the most kitschy Route 66 stop, this is it! Located along the old Route 66, this stop was once a popular swimming hole. Now a great picnic spot and a perfect place to capture some photos of the most obscene sculpture we’ve ever seen.

RIBBON ROAD

Back when Route 66 was actually in use, there were long stretches of nine-foot roadways. That’s so tiny! Lanes today are standard of 12 feet and that’s just one way! This tiny road is fun to drive and quite rough, but we did see some beautiful farmland along the way.

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KANSAS ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP

We didn’t even know Kansas was on the original Route 66 path, but 13 miles of old Route 66 slink through the southeast corner of the state. You have to veer off quite a ways from the main highways here, but it was definitely worth it to be sure we hit every state on the old Route 66.

BEST KANSAS ROUTE 66 STOPS:

Cars on the route.

If you’ve seen Pixar’s Cars, then you will love this stop! The tow truck that was used as the inspiration for Mater the Tow Truck is located here in Kansas. In the photo above, the original tow truck is the one on the right and Disney version is in the middle. They have since added many more features of the Disney movie, including a bit more down the road (see below).

Route 66 Sign in Road

This is walking distance from Cars on the Road and is essentially an extension of that. Luigi and Doc have been added and there is even a map of Route 66 that tons of people have signed! We added our signature, too. And we had to find one Route 66 sign in the roadway and this was a perfectly empty road for that!

MISSOURI ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP

As we were nearing the end of our Route 66 road trip, we spent our second to last night in St. Louis. Since the driving distances were pretty long these days, we only got to stop at the Route 66 stops in St. Louis but we still loved them!

BEST MISSOURI ROUTE 66 STOPS:

Gateway arch national park.

Another National Park to add to the bucket list. This one is so different than all the other national parks but the Gateway Arch is insanely impressive. Plus is overlooks the beautiful Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis. On a warmer day, I would have loved to walked the whole park and had a picnic in the grass.

>> The best way to visit all the US National Parks is with the America the Beautiful Pass

TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD

To be honest, I had never had frozen custard before nor did I really know what it is. It’s thick creamy ice cream, essentially and I am in love. These custards are so thick that you can turn the cup upside down and it won’t fall out! They have a million options and we just asked for recommendations and they were amazing. I remember mine being a berry custard with cookie add-ins.

CRESTWOOD BOWL

This bowling alley is a perfect throwback to a simpler time. I love the neon signs and the old-school bowling shoes. A great place for a break from the car! Just be sure not to come on a Monday at 10:00am, that’s senior bowling league!

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ILLINOIS ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP

You made it to the last state of your Route 66 road trip!! How incredible was the entire route?! Well, we’ll be sure to go out with some good food and a fantastic city that I could spend weeks in. But since we just have a night, here are the best Route 66 Chicago Stops.

BEST ILLINOIS ROUTE 66 STOPS:

Millennial park.

Just past the End of Route 66 Sign is the massive Millennial Park. From ice skating in the winter to outdoor concerts in the summer, this park has everything. We love walking around and admiring the art installations, The Bean being a favorite!

LOU MITCHELL'S

No trip to Chicago is complete without some delicious food. What better way than a Route 66 classic, Lou Mitchell’s. An all-American diner with a bakery and a claim to “the world’s finest coffee.” We didn’t get a chance to eat here, due to 2020 restrictions, but we definitely will be back.

END OF HISTORIC ROUTE 66 SIGN

Let’s finish where we started and find the End of Route 66 Sign. You’ll see these brown signs throughout your road trip but this special one is located on the corner of Jackson Dr. and Michigan Ave.

THIS POST WAS ALL ABOUT THE ULTIMATE ROUTE 66 ROAD TRIP 1 WEEK ITINERARY AND I HOPE IT WAS HELPFUL FOR YOU.

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We’re Alicia & Nate, a couple that traveled full-time for 3 years straight. We are now living in a cozy little apartment in Albania. We have a passion for exploring new places and trying new foods.

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The Best Route 66 Books to Inspire Your Road Trip

If you’re planning a Route 66 road trip and are looking for a guidebook to help determine all your must-see stops, books to entertain your kids along the way, fiction novels that will inspire adventure, or publications that will entertain you throughout your journey, check out these must-read best Route 66 Books.

Browse below to find the best Route 66 guidebooks, literature and fiction novels that take place on Route 66, picture books for the little ones, and journals and activity books to provide a little levity to your car trip.

Route 66 Guidebooks

Route 66 fiction books & literature, route 66 children’s books, route 66 journals & activity books, best route 66 books to plan & inspire your road trip.

These Route 66 guidebooks will help you plan an epic journey on the Mother Road. These road trip planners and travel guides give information, history, and recommendations on Route 66 motels , roadside attractions , must-see stops, classic eateries , and more! Be sure to pick up one (or several) to help plan your adventure, and take them along to help guide your way on The Mother Road!

Route 66: EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers

by Jerry McClanahan and National Historic Route 66 Federation

While Route 66 is still one of the most popular road trip routes in America, it hasn’t actually existed since the 1980s. But, while the official route was decommissioned, much of the road still exists and is still drivable today. This easy-to-follow guide helps drivers find the road with comprehensive maps and directions. It’s a fan-favorite guide for Route 66 road trippers!

Moon Route 66 Road Trip

by Jessica Dunham

The ultimate guidebook for planning your Route 66 road trip. Includes detailed information on roadside attractions, hotels, restaurants, and more. Includes detailed itinerary suggestions, driving directions, and expert perspectives.

Roadtrippers Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica (Great American Road Trips)

by Roadtrippers/Tatiana Parent

Roadtrippers.com is the premiere website and app for planning your road trip route. Their Route 66 guidebook offers an in-depth look at all the stops along the route and can be paired with an app for easy plotting.

The Best Hits on Route 66: 100 Essential Stops on the Mother Road

by Amy Bizzarri

An illustrated list of 100 of the best stops on Route 66. Also check out the specialized itineraries for gear heads, music lovers, families, supernatural lovers, and more.

Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition

by Michael Wallis

Learn more about the  secret corners and hidden towns of this famous road. Michael Wallis visits the places and people that make Route 66 famous in this love letter and memoir.

A Guide Book to Highway 66

by Jack D. Rittenhouse

While this book might not offer much help in planning a modern Route 66 road trip, it will offer a peek into the past. This travel guidebook is an exact facsimile of the first Route 66 guidebook published in 1946.

Eating Up Route 66: Foodways on America’s Mother Road

by T. Lindsay Baker

Take a culinary tour of the Mother Road. The author drove the famous Mother Road and stopped at the diners, supper clubs, and roadside stands along the way. This book offers a history of the famous Route 66 restaurants and recipes from historic eateries on Route 66.

Here We Are . . . on Route 66: A Journey Down America’s Main Street

by Jim Hinckley

Arranged by topics such as Natural Wonders, Roadside Attractions, and Eateries, this book offers a history lesson and photographic archive of each featured stop.

Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Route 66

by Andrew Bender, Cristian Bonetto, Mark Johanson, Hugh McNaughtan, Christopher Pitts, Ryan Ver Berkmoes, and Karla Zimmerman

From one of the biggest names in travel, this book offers, colorful photography, Itineraries and planning advice, and full-color route maps with directions.

Route 66 Travel Guide – 202 Amazing Places

by Mark Watson

This pocket reference to Route 66 features guided maps, stop recommendations, history, and a soundtrack to guide the way. There’s even a travel log for you to record your own adventure.

If you’re looking for more road trip inspiration, these non-fiction and fiction books that take place on Route 66 offer narratives and personal perspectives that will have you clamoring to hit the road. Learn how others have experienced the Main Street of America and prepare to experience it for yourself.

The Grapes of Wrath

by John John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel that tells story of an Oklahoman family who journeys to California in search of a new start amidst the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The story largely takes place on Route 66 and it is here where John Steinbeck coined the now famous moniker “The Mother Road.”

The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito

by Shing Yin Khor

Shing Yin Khor’s graphic novel about Route 66 follows her solo (+ dog) journey on the Mother Road. It explores the American landscape, the iconic sites on the road, and the tensions of an immigrant’s road trip experience.

Miles to Go: An African Family in Search of America along Route 66

by Brennen Matthews

A family from Africa goes in search of authentic America Route 66 from Illinois to California. Along the way they encounter historical landmarks, weird roadside attractions, and an assortment of people, while gaining a unique perspective on American culture.

If you’re traveling Route 66 with kids, these children’s books will keep them entertained and teach them a little more about the journey they are experiencing!

Annie Mouse’s Route 66 Family Vacation

by Anne Maro Slanina and Kelsey Collins

Join the Mouse family on their first family vacation as the travel westward from Illinois to California. This Route 66 book is perfect for kids on a road trip!

ABC, What Do You See? Rolling Along Route 66

by Annette La Fortune Murray and Joyce Harbin Cole

An alphabetic journey on Route 66. From ART in canyons to ZIGZAGGING time zones, this educational children’s book is a fun companion to a road trip.

Some of the best Route 66 books are those you write yourself! These journals and activity books allow you to author your own journey (and have some fun along the way) as you travel the Main Street of America!

Route 66 Journal

Get your kicks with this Route 66 journal. Use this Route 66 travel journal as a planner to plan your Mother Road road trip or as a diary or logbook to record your thoughts, itineraries, and locations on the road. With 120 lined pages, this notebook is the perfect medium to record your bucket list trip across America.

Route 66 Coloring Book

This 24-page coloring book is filled with with fun activities like word searches, crosswords, connect the dots, mazes, secret codes, trivia, and more.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

by Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your Route 66 road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation. The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book features fun and engaging journal prompts. plus 100 activities and games to play in the car, at your hotel, or at stops along your route.

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Last modified: January 20, 2024 Category: Route 66 Inspiration , Route 66 Travel Planning

Route 66 in Springfield, Missouri, The Birthplace of Route 66

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Home » Roadside Attractions Blog » Road Trip Movies & Books » Route 66 Books to Plan & Inspire Your Road Trip

Route 66 Books to Plan & Inspire Your Road Trip

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If you’re planning a Route 66 road trip and are looking for a guidebook to help determine your must-see stops , books to entertain your kids, books that will inspire and inform, or books that will entertain you, check out these must-read Route 66 Books.

Route 66 Guidebooks

Route 66 fiction books & literature, route 66 children’s books, route 66 journals & activity books, pin this list of the best route 66 books to save for your next road trip, best route 66 books to plan & inspire your road trip.

These Route 66 guide books will help you plan an epic journey on the Mother Road. These road trip planners and travel guides give information, history, and recommendations on Route 66 motels , roadside attractions, must-see stops , classic eateries, and more! Be sure to pick up one (or several) to help plan your adventure, and take them along to help guide your way on The Mother Road!

Moon Route 66 Road Trip

by Jessica Dunham

The ultimate guidebook for planning your Route 66 road trip. Includes detailed information on roadside attractions, hotels, restaurants, and more. Includes detailed itinerary suggestions, driving directions, and expert perspectives.

Roadtrippers Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica (Great American Road Trips)

by Roadtrippers/Tatiana Parent

Roadtrippers.com is the premiere website and app for planning your road trip route. Their Route 66 guidebook offers an in depth look at all the stops along the route and can be paired with an app for easy plotting.

The Best Hits on Route 66: 100 Essential Stops on the Mother Road

by Amy Bizzarri

An illustrated list of 100 of the best stops on Route 66. Also check out the specialized itineraries for gear heads, music lovers, families, supernatural lovers, and more.

Route 66: EZ66 GUIDE For Travelers

by Jerry McClanahan and National Historic Route 66 Federation

While Route 66 is still one of the most popular road trip routes in America, it hasn’t actually existed since the 1980s. But, while the official route was decommissioned, much of the road still exists and is still drivable today. This easy to follow guide helps drivers find the road with comprehensive maps and directions. It’s a fan favorite guide for Route 66 road trippers!

Route 66: The Mother Road 75th Anniversary Edition

by Michael Wallis

Learn more about the  secret corners and hidden towns of this famous road. Michael Wallis visits the places and people that make Route 66 famous in this love letter and memoir.

A Guide Book to Highway 66

by Jack D. Rittenhouse

While this book might not offer much help in planning a modern Route 66 road trip, it will offer a peek into the past. This travel guidebook is an exact facsimile of the first Route 66 guidebook published in 1946.

Eating Up Route 66: Foodways on America’s Mother Road

by T. Lindsay Baker

Take a culinary tour of the Mother Road. The author drove the famous Mother Road and stopped at the diners, supper clubs, and roadside stands along the way. This book offers a history of the famous Route 66 restaurants and recipes from historic eateries on Route 66.

Here We Are . . . on Route 66: A Journey Down America’s Main Street

by Jim Hinckley

Arranged by topics such as Natural Wonders, Roadside Attractions, and Eateries, this book offers a history lesson and photographic archive of each featured stop.

Lonely Planet Best Road Trips Route 66

by Andrew Bender, Cristian Bonetto, Mark Johanson, Hugh McNaughtan, Christopher Pitts, Ryan Ver Berkmoes, and Karla Zimmerman

From one of the biggest names in travel, this book offers, colorful photography, Itineraries and planning advice, and full-color route maps with directions.

Route 66 Travel Guide – 202 Amazing Places

by Mark Watson

This pocket reference to Route 66 features guided maps, stop recommendations, history, and a soundtrack to guide the way. There’s even a travel log for you to record your own adventure.

If you’re looking for more road trip inspiration, these books on Route 66, novels, a narratives offer personal perspectives and narratives that will have you clamoring to hit the road. Learn how others have experienced the Main Street of America and prepare to experience it for yourself.

The Grapes of Wrath

by John John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel that tells story of an Oklahoman family who journeys to California in search of a new start amidst the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The story largely takes place on Route 66 and it is here where John Steinbeck coined the now famous moniker “The Mother Road.”

The American Dream?: A Journey on Route 66 Discovering Dinosaur Statues, Muffler Men, and the Perfect Breakfast Burrito

by Shing Yin Khor

Shing Yin Khor’s graphic novel about Route 66 follows her solo (+ dog) journey on the Mother Road. It explores the American landscape, the iconic sites on the road, and the tensions of an immigrant’s road trip experience.

Miles to Go: An African Family in Search of America along Route 66

by Brennen Matthews

A family from Africa goes in search of authentic America Route 66 from Illinois to California. Along the way they encounter historical landmarks, weird roadside attractions, and an assortment of people, while gaining a unique perspective on American culture.

If you’re traveling Route 66 with kids, these children’s books will keep them entertained and teach them a little more about the journey they are experiencing!

Annie Mouse’s Route 66 Family Vacation

by Anne Maro Slanina and Kelsey Collins

Join the Mouse family on their first family vacation as the travel westward from Illinois to California. This Route 66 book is perfect for kids on a road trip!

ABC, What Do You See? Rolling Along Route 66

by Annette La Fortune Murray and Joyce Harbin Cole

An alphabetic journey on Route 66. From ART in canyons to ZIGZAGGING time zones, this educational children’s book is a fun companion to a road trip.

Some of the best Route 66 books are those you write yourself! These journals and activity books allow you to author your own journey (and have some fun along the way) as you travel the Main Street of America!

Route 66 Journal

Get your kicks with this Route 66 journal. Use this Route 66 travel journal as a planner to plan your Mother Road road trip or as a diary or logbook to record your thoughts, itineraries, and locations on the road. With 120 lined pages, this notebook is the perfect medium to record your bucket list trip across America.

Route 66 Coloring Book

This 24-page coloring book is filled with with fun activities like word searches, crosswords, connect the dots, mazes, secret codes, trivia, and more.

The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book

by Valerie Bromann

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your Route 66 road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation. The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book features fun and engaging journal prompts. plus 100 activities and games to play in the car, at your hotel, or at stops along your route.

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Valerie Bromann

Founder & road trip expert.

Valerie Bromann is a a website manager, content creator, and writer from Chicago, Illinois (currently living in Dallas, Texas). As an avid road tripper who has visited hundreds of roadside attractions, Val always pull over for a world’s largest thing. Founder of Silly America and author of The Road Trip Journal & Activity Book , she visits, photographs, and writes about all the weird tourist destinations she visits and offers road trip planning advice and inspiration based on her own travels so you can hit the road for yourself.

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Last modified: November 29, 2023 Category: Road Trip Movies & Books , Route 66 Road Trip Stops

Best Road Trip Cameras to Capture Your Travels in 2024

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Everything You Need to Have and Record an Epic Road Trip!

By valerie bromann.

Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.

The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.

Silly America

Silly America is a roadside attractions blog designed to help travelers find unique stops for their next road trip. The website is a tribute to the great American road trip, devoted to all that is odd in America: roadside attractions, tourist traps, peculiar destinations, bizarre events, road food, fun festivals, and more! It’s a travel website and trip planner for those seeking an offbeat road trip.

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Route 66 Explorer

Visit Chicago, Springfield, St Louis, Oklahoma City, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Winslow, Grand Canyon NP, Las Vegas & Los Angeles.

Home > Find A Road Trip > Route 66 > Route 66 Explorer

Drive the most iconic American road trip... Route 66

This Route 66 road trip is an all-time classic that has been etched into American folklore by those migrating west along “The Mother Road” during the Great Depression of the 1930s.  Route 66 offers over 2300 miles of nostalgic Americana, ever-changing scenery and some of America’s best cities. Starting your road trip in Chicago ,  you’ll cross through eight States as you drive to Route 66’s “End of the Trail” sign in sunny Santa Monica, Los Angeles.

Key road trip highlights:

• Over 2300 miles of nostalgic Americana, ever-changing scenery and some of America’s best cities like Chicago, St.Louis, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
• This is our best-selling Route 66 holiday, as it includes detours away from Route 66 to stay at The Grand Canyon and in Las Vegas.
• This is a 15-night adventure, rather than 14, because that’s the minimum amount of time it takes to do this road trip properly. Some other tour operators rush the start, but we think an extra day away is essential so that your Route 66 adventure is the perfect pace.
• What other route allows you to visit crazy roadside attractions like a giant Blue Whale and the world’s biggest Ketchup bottle, to name just two.
• Spend the last four days relaxing in Las Vegas and Los Angeles at the end of Route 66. Want to stay longer in Vegas or LA? Then just let us know.
• What’s included?  Direct flights with a premier carrier, accommodation, car rental and a detailed road trip pack.

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Our Favourite Hotels

We’ll suggest properties to match your preferred budget, be it low-cost, mid-range or high-end luxury that you’re looking for. We can also mix it up so you’ll experience a range of standards and experiences along your road trip.

Moxy Hotel Downtown

Bright Angel Lodge

Grand Canyon NP

The Hollywood Roosevelt

Los Angeles

Hotel Chaco

Albuquerque

West Hollywood, LA

Bellagio Hotel

The Langham Hotel

Shutters on the Beach

Santa Monica, LA

Road Trip Itinerary

All of our American road trips can be tailored to meet your requirements. Do you have more or less than 15 days for your road trip? No problem, we can bolt on extra nights to allow more time to explore or shorten the number of destinations as required.

Welcome to Chicago, Illinois

You’ll start your Route 66 road trip by spending three nights and two exciting days in Chicago. Many start by enjoying Chicago’s famous pizza or by going to the top of Willis Tower to watch the sunset and get the lay of the land. You’ll collect your wheels when you leave Chicago to begin the drive down Route 66. For now, you’ll be pounding the pavement from one outstanding attraction to another.

Chicago, IL

A full day to explore north of Chicago River

Most visitors to Chicago head straight to the ‘Magnificent Mile’, a vibrant, bustling area which is home to upscale shops, trendy restaurants and posh hotels. Landmarks include the historic Chicago Water Tower, the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower and the 100-story Hancock Center, which has a rooftop observation deck called 360 Chicago. Spend the rest of the day exploring some of the other attractions found north of the Chicago River. These include Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the beaches along Lake Michigan’s shoreline.

A full day to explore south of Chicago River

On your final full day in Chicago, we recommend that you spend time visiting the city’s attractions that are located south of the Chicago River. Some of America’s very best museums are found here, including the Art Institute, the Alder Planetarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History. Be sure to stroll around Millennium Park; you’ll find world-famous outdoor artworks like Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain for those all-important Social Media snaps. Lastly, before leaving town, make sure you spend at least one evening partying at Buddy Guy’s Legends Nightclub.

Collect your car and set off down Route 66

Start your engines; iconic Route 66 awaits. After collecting your road trip wheels, we recommend you head to Jackson Blvd, where you can pass the small Route 66 sign that marks the beginning of your Mother Road adventure. Driving Route 66 through Illinois is super easy, as it’s really well-signposted and surprisingly rural once you’ve left the city of Chicago. Along the way to Springfield, you’ll enjoy highlights such as Route 66 obsessed Pontiac and the historic Standard Oil Gas Station in Odell. Once you arrive in Springfield, history enthusiasts will want to visit Abraham Lincoln’s Tomb, the Lincoln Presidential Museum and the Lincoln Home.

Springfield, IL

Next up, you'll cruise southwest to St Louis

Onto St. Louis today, which sits on the banks of the Mississippi River. Highlights include the Missouri Botanical Gardens, Citygarden and the famous Gateway Arch National Park. If you have time, try to catch a baseball game here at the Cardinals stadium, which is located right in the heart of the city. Remember that you’ll be provided with a detailed Road Trip Pack, which will guide you through all the Route 66 roadside attractions and much more.

St Louis, MO

Visit the iconic Route 66 stop off of Meramec Caverns

Today, you’ll continue southwest through the State of Missouri. En route, we recommend you stop by Meramec Caverns, which are located in the Ozarks region. These vast caverns are an extensive set of limestone caves offering unforgettable underground tours. You’ll finish the day in Springfield, Missouri, which is officially recognised as the birthplace of Route 66.

Springfield, MO

Continue along Route 66 to Tulsa and Oklahoma City

Get an early start and continue along the Mother Road to Tulsa. You’ll pass through Joplin before skimming through a corner of Kansas and into Oklahoma. In Tulsa, we recommend visiting the Philbrook Museum, home to a vast art collection housed in an Italian-style villa surrounded by idyllic gardens. During the afternoon, you’ll continue onto Oklahoma City. Visit the Bricktown District for an evening meal at one of the numerous diners and restaurants. Lastly, before turning in for the evening, consider visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial, which remembers the victims and survivors of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. This perfectly executed dedication is especially moving at night.

Oklahoma City, OK

Your Route 66 holiday reaches Texas today

Spend the morning at the incredible National Cowboy and Western Museum before checking out the real-life cowboys over in Stockyard City. If you still have the energy, then the daring amongst you should check out some of the activities at Riversport Adventure Park. Our amazing Road Trip Pack will show you the way to Amarillo. You’ll pass some fantastic Route 66 museums along the way, packed with nostalgic Americana, classic cars and more. Once you hit Amarillo, there’s only one place for any true road-tripper to go for dinner. The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery (pictured) is simply a must, just make sure you arrive hungry, as the portions are HUGE!

Amarillo, TX

Santa Fe or Albuquerque? The choice his yours...

Today’s drive are packed with classic Route 66 attractions like Cadillac Ranch (pictured), The Midpoint Cafe and the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa. You can then opt to finish the day with an overnight stop in either Albuquerque or Santa Fe. We’ll talk you through the pluses of both options when you request a quote from us. Santa Fe lies on the old or original Route 66 route, offering an upmarket spa town feel. Albuquerque lies on the newer, more direct route and is famous for the Sandia Peak Tramway and “Breaking Bad” filming locations.

Albuquerque, NM

Through Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park

El Morro is a detour worth considering to see ‘inscription rock’, a large sandstone pueblo where travellers since the 17th century have left messages. Later in the day, you’ll pass through two Natural Wonders – Painted Desert (pictured) and Petrified Forest National Park, before getting your head down in the classic Route 66 overnight stop of Winslow in Arizona.

Winslow, AZ

say a big hello to the incredible grand canyon

The awe-inspiring Grand Canyon is located one hour’s drive north of Route 66. The world’s largest and most famous geological wonder is simply staggering. Two billion years in the making, the Colorado River has forged a mile deep, 18 mile wide and 277 mile long slice into the Arizona landscape that will stay with you forever. Before leaving Route 66 however, you’ll get the chance to experience another natural wonder in the form of Meteor Crater. Not as large a hole as the Grand Canyon, but in many ways just as spectacular and intriguing.

From The Grand Canyon to Las Vegas via The Hoover Dam

Again, it’s not strictly on Route 66, but Las Vegas is so close that it would be rude not to pop by and say hello. Along the way, you’ll pass by some iconic Mother Road locations like Seligman and Hackberry General Store. As you get closer to Vegas, you’ll pass over the Hoover Dam before seeing the bright lights of Las Vegas in the distance.

Las Vegas, NV

A second day to enjoy all that Las Vegas offers

If your head hurts after a big night out, then why not chill out by one of the fantastic swimming pools that adorn every hotel. Alternatively, you can explore the legendary ‘Strip’ and book tickets to see an outstanding show. Witness the Bellagio Fountains in full flow, or take a Gondola ride at the Venetian. A visit to The Neon Museum might appeal, where you can experience the Las Vegas magic of a bygone age by touring the Neon Boneyard. Whilst, driving enthusiasts might want to test their skills at Speed Vegas, where you can drive supercars around a thrilling race track. Want more time here? Then just let us know.

Complete your drive down Route 66 to Los Angeles

The iconic Santa Monica Pier signals the final stop of your Route 66 holiday. To celebrate the finale of your journey, we suggest you enjoy a rewarding meal at one of the Pier’s many eateries that overlook the Pacific Ocean and take a picture by “The End of Trail” sign. After lunch, we suggest you take a stroll and explore Santa Monica and neighbouring Venice Beach.

Los Angeles, CA

A full day to spend visiting LA's famous sights

Spend the day relaxing by the pool after your Route 66 adventure, or head out to explore the sites of Los Angeles. There’s plenty to keep you busy. Hollywood is synonymous with glitz and glamour, and it’s the most visited part of the city. The Griffith Observatory is just a short drive northeast of here, perched high on a hill overlooking the urban sprawl. This famous landmark is well worth visiting and offers excellent views of the legendary Hollywood Sign. We could go on, so if you want more time in LA, then just let us know.

Frequently Asked Questions

You’ll find answers to most of your questions right here. If you still need assistance, Feel free to  get in touch , and we’ll be sure to get back to you promptly!

Not a problem. If you are lucky enough to have extra time to explore more places or add more rest days, then just let us know and we’ll adjust your trip to match your preferred timescale.

We strongly advise that you purchase travel insurance for your holiday to cover you against medical expenses, theft and other financial costs. Should you need to cancel before travelling, some insurance policies may pay out for any loss of funds that have been paid to us and which cannot be refunded under our cancellation policy.

Many of our trips have a different end destination than the starting point, so this is not a problem. Please note a fee sometimes applies for one-way rentals between other regions or states, which will be paid to the supplier directly when collecting the vehicle. We’ll endeavour to inform you of this charge within your quote.

No, far from it. We work with a range of properties from 3* to 5*, so we can adapt the trip to match most budgets. We have access to rooms in more than 800 hotels, motels, lodges and B&Bs across North America.

The minimum age to rent a car is 21 in the United States or Canada, although, in addition, any drivers under 25 years of age will generally incur a surcharge.

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Route 66 guide books: which one is best?

There are a number of Route 66 guide books on the market at the moment and they really do vary in both the quality and information that’s in them. So which one is the best?

I actually wrote this post a number of years ago now (on my travel blog) after we came back from our first trip on the road and I’m now updating it completely to be on this site. I’ve personally read and have experience with all of the books on here (unless stated otherwise).

I really believe that having a guide book can help in all parts of your journey on Route 66 from the inspiration section where you’re just dreaming, to planning the trip and eventually being on the road itself.

There is so much to see, so many little details to point out that unless you have a guide or some maps, there’s a real danger that you’ll just drive right on by.  

This article probably contains affiliate links.   This means that if you buy or book after clicking, I may get a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks!

A note from the writer: Hey! I’m Kirsty and I’m a Route 66 enthusiast – I first became obsessed almost 20 years ago and then first visited in 2014. I’ve recently just come back from my last trip too! Comment below if you have any questions about your road trip and I’ll get back to you ASAP – or join me in my free FB group here .

Why use a guide book? Won’t this site, and the internet do?

Ha! As much as I love websites and think that they definitely have a place when planning your Route 66 trip, they aren’t always the be all and end all.

If you’re planning a trip, or if you’re on your Route 66 trip already, there might not be signal when you need it most, your cell phone might run out of charge and that’s where a guide book will come into its own.

A guide book also doesn’t have ads that can distract you, or links to other pages. It’s sole purpose is to bring you into the world of the road and guide you!

And when you’re traveling a historic route like 66 it kinda feels fitting to go back to the analogue ways and do some research the old fashioned way! Do you agree?

The best Route 66 Travel Guide – what’s on offer?

If you’re looking for a guide book for Route 66 I’d encourage you first to have a think about what stage of the trip you’re on.

Dreaming about the trip – you’ll want a great overview of what you can see, something that answers any questions you have and plenty of pictures to inspire you. Older editions will be ok for you at this stage. Planning a trip – you’ll want detailed information about what is in each state and the towns and cities along the road. Maps are a good idea too so you can get familiar with the road. Up to date editions are a priority. Almost ready to go – you might like detailed books with Route 66 attractions info and maps. You probably know the big picture already, you just need a helping hand. Up to date editions are a priority

Right, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the books about Route 66 on the market at the moment:

EZ 66 Guide for Travelers by Jerry McClanahan

Best for – those ready to go

For some this is considered the best Route 66 guide and it’s recommended time and time again.  

My personal view is that it’s great for those who know a bit about the road already and they are ready to go. I don’t think it’s as good as an inspirational guide.

There are only drawings rather than any photos and it’s hard to get a picture of what you’ll see on the road unless you know a little about it before hand.

It’s a user friendly book with easy to read maps that help you keep on the different alignments. It’s also spiral bound which makes it easy to use when you’re on the road. You can keep the book open on the page you need which makes a real difference, especially if you’re using it for the maps.

I love that it has all sorts of ideas for many age ranges in it, including scavenger hunts and ideas to make the Route 66 trip for kids fun.  

If anything I think the style of the book is a little hard to get used to, especially when you’re reading it home rather than on the road, but it doesn’t detract from the excellent content. I think if you use it in conjunction with some other books, or with researching with this website you’ll love it.

I got frustrated because I couldn’t see how this one looks inside on Amazon so hopefully the image will help you decide if it’s for you or not.

Update for 2023 – there’s a new and updated version of this book out now for 2023! The 5th edition is available here .

Buy EZ66 Guide Book on Amazon here

Route 66 Adventure Handbook by Drew Knowles

Best for: all stages

This is my favourite all round book and if you only have the budget for one book this is what I would suggest. (It’s also not as expensive as others which is a bonus)

The Route 66 Adventure Handbook is a great read and is full of interesting bits of history about many of the areas along Route 66.  

I enjoy picking it up, flicking to a different state when I’m in research mode and learning all about what there to see. It helps to get a real overview of the history and what happened in that area. Since my US history knowledge isn’t always great (ahem) it prepared me really well for the trip.

It’s not perfect on the road, especially if you’re travelling solo, because there is so much to read on each page. If you have passengers it’s good to have for them to read as you’re going along.  

It’s a complete guide, with lodging and attraction info, plus maps – again be wary of things changing and go for the most up to date version.  

Unlike the EZ66 book, this one is available on Kindle so perfect if you need to be packing light!

Buy the Route 66 Adventure Handbook on Amazon here

Route 66 – Dining and Lodging Guide

Best for: those ready to go or in late planning stages

From the same publishers as the EZ 66 Guide comes a guidebook about the lodging and dining options available on Route 66.  

I’ll admit that I haven’t seen this one in real life as it doesn’t seem to be available over in the UK. You can get it in the USA but be aware of how old the book is now.

With over 500 establishments reviewed this is really a great source while you’re on the road to discover the best of what’s there.  

While I like to check things out online, this isn’t always an option while out and about so having this book to hand would be great.  It’s especially good if you like to take your time and see where you end up in a day rather than planning too far in advance.

Always look for an up to date version of this book rather than going second hand – things change often on Route 66 so best to get up to date information! Alternatively, use it in conjunction with TripAdvisor or Booking.com reviews.

Buy the Route 66 Dining and Lodging guide on Amazon here

Moon Route 66 Road Trip Guide

Best for: Inspiration and Planning

I was a little unsure about this one but was pleasantly surprised. It has a number of thoughts about smaller towns on the road and some guidance on finding the old Route 66 alignments. It doesn’t have a huge amount of information compared to some other guides but that makes it quite accessible and not overwhelming.

There are a few side trips highlighted too which might be helpful for some who don’t solely want to stay on Route 66.

It’s in colour which is an oddity among these guidebooks so it’s perfect for those wanting a good overview of the route and to get inspired about the trip, yet it’s detailed enough for getting started on planning your trip.

Buy the Moon Route 66 Road Trip book on Amazon here

Lonely Planet Route 66 Road Trips

Best for: Inspiration or very early planning

The Lonely Planet Route 66 book is more of a general guide for the road, but it would be good to read as part of your planning to get a good overview and inspiration.

When you’re looking at the big picture, trying to get an overview of what each state and area has to offer this can be helpful. The sections on Chicago and Los Angeles and other cities on the road are also good – Lonely Planet are excellent with city guides so this isn’t a surprise.

I managed to get this on my kindle which helps when having to pack light. I think having it to flick through for inspiration as a real book is best though.

Aside from the city aspects, this one is definitely lacking in detail about the smaller towns on Route 66, especially since its only about this one road trip. A good starter though and you can find it fairly inexpensive online.

Buy the Lonely Planet Route 66 guide book on Amazon

Best Route 66 Maps

If you like to get your hands on real old fashioned maps when you’re on a road trip then these will be for you.

You might find that the maps in the guide books will suffice alongside a regular map and sat nav but if not take a look at these options.

Remember that since the road isn’t official anymore but only exists as a historic route then regular road atlases will not have the roads you need on them.

Here It Is! The Route 66 Map Series

If you’re looking for a separate map for route 66 rather than from guide books then the ‘Here It Is!’ maps come highly recommended.

These maps are by the same publishers as the EZ66 guide book and actually it’s the same maps as the book so if you already have the book you might not want to duplicate that.  

It’s important to note that the maps are hand drawn and aren’t typical maps, but they are very useful and make a nice memento of the trip afterwards.

Buy the Here It Is Route 66 Map Series on Amazon

Rand McNally Large Scale Road Atlas

I always think having access to a good map is a must for a road trip even with all of the technological advances we have lately. Being able to browse a map for interesting places, side trips and alternative roads is fun! (Just me? Oh well…)

Having a large atlas might not be so easy for those flying to start a route 66 trip, or traveling from the UK like me, but if you’re starting from your home state taking one with you is essential.

I don’t have personal experience with this one but it’s in my basket for our next trip!

Buy the Rand McNally US Road Map on Amazon

Do you have any recommendations for maps and guide books? Please let me know in the comments.

Still got questions? Join our FREE Route 66 community!

Come and join our FREE Facebook group where you can get help with planning your Route 66 road trip of a lifetime!

Links For Your Route 66 trip

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The Route 66 Photo Road Trip: How to Eat, Stay, Play, and Shoot Like a Pro Flexibound – May 15, 2018

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The essential guide to enjoying and photographing the Mother Road

“Rick Sammon has a super power: he makes any photographic technique or concept simple to understand.” ― PhotoFocus.com

From legendary photographer Rick Sammon and his wife, Susan, The Route 66 Photo Road Trip is the perfect companion to enjoying and photographing everything that the country’s most famous highway has to offer, whether you’re hauling professional gear or just your phone!

One of the earliest cross-country routes for the first American motor tourists, Route 66 still teems with nostalgic attractions and natural wonder. The Sammons guide you from Amarillo to Las Vegas, focusing on the thriving and historical southwest segment of the highway featuring classic venues like the 66 Diner and the Hotel Andaluz.

This guide includes recommendations for dining and lodging, lists of attractions, hour- by- hour road itineraries, and essential tips for capturing memorable photographs by day or night, stopped or in a moving car, with a DSLR or an iPhone.

• Print length 224 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Countryman Press
• Publication date May 15, 2018
• Dimensions 6.3 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
• ISBN-10 1682680592
• ISBN-13 978-1682680599
• See all details

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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Countryman Press (May 15, 2018)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Flexibound ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1682680592
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1682680599
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.08 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 0.7 x 8.2 inches
• #347 in General Western US Travel Guides
• #1,105 in Road Travel Reference
• #1,749 in General Travel Reference

About the author

Rick sammon.

Explorer of Life and award-winning photographer Rick Sammon loves his day job. A tireless, prolific and inspirational image-maker, Rick, called by some “The Godfather of Photography,” is one of the most active photographers on the planet – dividing his time between creating images, leading photo workshops, and making personal appearances. Rick’s enthusiasm for digital imaging is contagious. He is a man on a mission – a mission to make digital photography fun, creative, exciting and rewarding for others.

Rick’s latest books are Photo Therapy Motivation and Wisdom – Discovering the Power of Pictures, Creative Visualization for Photographers and Evolution of an Image.

While Rick describes himself as “evolving,” he hesitates to categorize his work. “I’m an A-to-Z type of photographer. I do it all – and I enjoy the freedom of not specializing.”

With nearly 40 years of experience, this self-taught photographer has many accomplishments – and many more anticipated for the road ahead. As Rick suggests, “When you are through changing, you are through.”

Visit with Rick at www.ricksammon.com. Rick can be contacted at [email protected].

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How to Spend 3 Days Traveling Route 66 in Missouri

A lot of people assume you need to travel abroad to have transformative travel experiences, but that’s simply not true. In this guest post, Raimee Iacofano, my former creative director and creator behind RaimeeTravel , shares how a road trip across one of the most underrated American states can show you a whole new world.

This year I had a big goal: to get outside of my international travel bubble and explore more of my home country, the United States ! After years of going abroad every time I had some time off, I wanted to switch things up a bit and prioritize destinations closer to home that weren’t necessarily on my radar.

Thanks to the folks at Visit Missouri , I was able to turn that dream into reality on an extravaganza down the historic Route 66!

This iconic historic highway stretches from Chicago, Illinois , to Santa Monica, California . It gained fame as a major path for travelers, serving as a key route for migration west during the 20th century, and has since become a symbol of American freedom and adventure.

To my surprise, I discovered more than the sprawling highways and flat farmland people tend to think about when it comes to the Midwest (and I’m from Michigan, so I know people don’t typically think of our region as a fun getaway destination!).

On this three-day itinerary, you’ll experience the best things to see and do across Missouri, like massive caves, lush parks, and the kind of quirky road stops I can’t imagine finding anywhere else.

Here’s how to spend three days along Route 66 from St. Louis to Springfield:

Table of Contents

Missouri Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary: Day 1

Missouri route 66 road trip itinerary: day 2, missouri route 66 road trip itinerary: day 3.

National Museum of Transportation This museum has an extensive collection of transportation vehicles, including planes, trains, automobiles, and trolleys. You’ll find the types of retro cars you only really get to see in movies and vintage planes that make you question all laws of physics.

My favorite thing in this museum was the Virgin Hyperloop, which is essentially a tube intended to move cargo at airline speeds but at a fraction of the cost, suspended by magnetic systems in a vacuum tube.

Even though the Hyperloop might not ever actually get made for use by passengers (which is totally fine by me, because it seems slightly terrifying), it’s fascinating to imagine and learn about what the future of transportation could look like.

2933 Barrett Station Rd., St. Louis. Open daily 9am-4pm. Admission is $15 ($6 for kids, $12 for seniors).

On a 45-minute guided tour, you’ll get to explore and learn about millions of years’ worth of dramatic formations. Plus, you’ll also see the caves lit in beautiful colors, during the unique light show and grand finale. It’s the perfect family-friendly activity.

1135 Hwy. W, Sullivan. Tours run 9am-4pm. Admissions is $27 ($14 for kids).

Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que A road trip in Missouri would be incomplete without some barbecue, so you’ll want to take a pit stop at Missouri Hick Bar-B-Que before wrapping up the day. This highly rated restaurant feels like walking into a giant log cabin where all your friends happen to be dining. Get the sample platter to try the mouth-watering mac ‘n’ cheese, pulled pork, ribs, and more.

913 E. Washington Blvd., Cuba. Open daily 11am–9pm.

If you have more time to spend exploring (and eating), some additional stops along this leg of the route include:

• Hi-Pointe Drive-In – This is an iconic spot serving burgers and sandwiches with locally sourced ingredients. You’ll feel like you’re in a 1960s diner. Get the sweet potato tots!
• Egg @ Midtown – Super cute breakfast spot with delicious breakfast tacos, shrimp & grits, and other unique dishes.
• Ted Drewes Frozen Custard – Known for its “concrete” custard, Ted Drewes (various locations) has over 80 years of serving frozen custard. I got the strawberry shortcake, and I’m still thinking about it.
• Big Chief Roadhouse – This historic restaurant dating back to 1929 offers a glimpse into Route 66’s past. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy the delicious, locally sourced, in-house-made American fare while watching sports!

Accommodation: Wagon Wheel Motel After a long day of driving and exploring, Wagon Wheel Motel is a wonderful place to stay before your second day on the road! The Ozark stone buildings with the original wooden doors, windows, and floors from the 1930s have been updated for modern comfort and convenience. You can’t miss the famous Wagon Wheel neon sign as you drive up to check in!

Shelly’s Route 66 Café For some authentic diner vibes and amazing biscuits and gravy, I highly recommend grabbing breakfast at Shelly’s on your way out of town! I have a thing for diner coffee, and Shelly’s did not disappoint. This tiny spot, with its Route 66–themed decor covering every inch of the walls, will make you feel like you’re in on a local secret, and the food will assure you that you are.

402 E. Washington Blvd., Cuba. Open daily 6am–2pm.

Fanning 66 Outpost Missouri has a lot of interesting “claims to fame,” and being home to the world’s largest rocking chair is one of them. Constructed in 2008, it stands at a towering 42 feet and weighs around 27,500 pounds. There’s really no purpose to it other than being a quirky attraction for tourists and travelers passing through the area.

The Fanning 66 Outpost is also a great place to grab some snacks for the rest of your road trip or a souvenir or two. Say hi to the adorable orange tabby cat for me!

5957 State Hwy. ZZ, Cuba. Open daily 8am–5pm.

St. James Winery This is Missouri’s largest and most award-winning wine producer, where you can get a free tasting flight! I opted for the dry red and white tasting and really enjoyed it. The staff here was lovely, and the entire shop was decorated for the holiday season. I actually won a candle in the holiday raffle — and I never win anything!

540 State Rte. B, St James. The tasting room is open daily 8am–6pm.

The family who owns Sybill’s has been in the restaurant business for decades, so it makes sense that all of the upscale New American–style food here is fantastic! We ordered a ton of appetizers, like the fried mushrooms, scallops, and lobster bisque soup, and I’m still thinking about this meal.

1100 N. Jefferson St., St. James. Open daily 11am–9pm.

Rows of barrels filled with every flavor of taffy imaginable, T-shirts with phrases that will make you check three times to make sure you read them right, and a slew of random objects are just a few of the things you’ll find here. Of course, you can’t miss out on grabbing some fudge too. Make sure you take time to explore the entire place!

14400 State Hwy Z, St. Robert. Open daily 8am-9pm.

If you have more time, here are some additional suggested stops for this leg of the journey:

• A Slice of Pie – A classic dessert spot just off the highway with a variety of pies. Get the apple!
• Devil’s Elbow Bridge – A historic bridge on Route 66 known for its scenic beauty and graceful arches over the Big Piney River.
• Frog Rock – A roadside oddity: a large rock painted to resemble a whimsical frog, capturing the playful essence of the highway.
• Route 66 Museum – Showcases the rich history and cultural significance of the iconic highway through exhibits and artifacts.
• Boswell Route 66 Park – A serene park paying homage to Route 66, offering a peaceful retreat and a glimpse into the road’s legacy.
• Redmon’s Candy Factory – A delightful confectionery crafting handmade candies, embodying traditional sweet-making techniques.
• Conway Welcome Center – An inviting stop offering traveler amenities and information, welcoming visitors to the area with warmth and assistance.
• Hubble Space Telescope Replica – A scale model offering insight into the wonders of space exploration and the groundbreaking Hubble Space Telescope’s contributions to science and discovery.

Accommodation: Rail Haven Motel If you’re looking for a place to stay in Springfield, the Historic Best Western Rail Haven is your spot! You’ll find quaint rooms with everything you need and easy access to downtown Springfield, just a five-minute drive away. Plus you’re only a few minutes from Cherry Street, a hotspot for young professionals to shop in the various boutiques and enjoy drinks and food at the Royal and Tie & Timber Beer Co.

Druff’s Diner If you can’t tell yet, Missouri does breakfast incredibly well, and I loved each spot we went to. You’ll find Druff’s in the colorful streets of downtown Springfield. If you need more coffee before you head out to explore, I really loved Mudhouse Coffee right down the street, too!

331 Park Central E., Ste. 101, Springfield. Open daily 8am–4pm.

1634 W. College St., Springfield. Open daily 9am–5pm.

802 Finley Farms Ln., Ozark. Open daily 11am–9pm.

History Museum on the Square In this museum you’ll journey through eight interactive galleries to see how Springfield and the region shaped American history. There are also various permanent and temporary exhibits worth checking out, including exhibitions on Native Americans and the Civil War. There’s also a cool exhibit on a shootout with Wild Bill Hickock that happened right here in Springfield, which is considered the first shootout of the Old West.

154 Park Central Square, Springfield. Open daily 1pm–5pm. Admission is $16 ($13 for seniors, $10 for kids).

Cruising down Route 66 in Missouri was like diving into a time capsule filled with all things awesome about America. Every twist and turn had its own story to tell. Quirky towns with retro diners and flashy signs made me feel like I was living in a classic movie, and the beautiful landscapes and natural wonders left me in awe of what this state truly has to offer. Trips like this remind me that we don’t always have to travel far from home to experience a whole new world!

I think Missouri is a highly underrated state, and this three-day road trip down Route 66 will show you why. If you’re planning to explore more of the United States next year like I am, I promise you Missouri is worth a visit.

Raimee Iacofano of RaimeeTravels is a travel content creator with over 10 years of world travel experience. She lives on finding cheap flights, fantasy novels, and all things film. Hailing from Detroit, Michigan, she now calls Los Angeles home and uses her platform to simplify travel planning, share unique travel tips, and offer invaluable tips to help her audience navigate the globe with savvy and ease.

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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Where It Starts & Ends: 12 Things You Can Still See On Old Route 66

• Lou Mitchell's in Chicago is a classic American diner and the perfect place for travelers wondering where to start a Route 66 road trip.
• The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is easily one of the most iconic landmarks on Route 66 to see.
• Santa Monica Pier is the perfect final stop on Route 66 to celebrate completing a cross-country journey.

Lore and myth have been built around Old Route 66 and the people who traveled it. From quirky diners and kitschy motels to breathtaking natural wonders and landmarks, the stops along Old Route 66 encapsulate that classic Americana culture and invoke a strong sense of nostalgia.

Forever immortalized in movies, songs, and books, Route 66 continues to fascinate travelers from around the globe. It remains one of the most famous road trips in the United States , even though this road was technically decommissioned in the 1980s to make space for America's current interstate system. Luckily, many of the original stops on Route 66 from its heyday can still be visited. For adventures with their hearts set on precisely that, here are some of the things to still see on Route 66.

UPDATE: 2023/12/27 11:45 EST BY NOAH STAATS

Route 66 Remains A Southwest Staple

This article has been refreshed with even more stops along Old Route 66, plus additional information on existing hotels, restaurants, and attractions. Whether road-trippers come in the summer, fall, winter, or spring, there's always something to see here; have fun!

Related: Road Trip Worthy: Explore These Scenic Drives Across The Southwest U.S.

Lou Mitchell's (Chicago, Illinois)

Get comfy at this classic american diner on route 66, serving hearty grub since 1923.

Though there are plenty of historic stops and fun attractions on Route 66 in Illinois , grabbing a meal at Lou Mitchell's is the hearty way to commemorate the journey. Route 66 officially starts in Chicago, and Lou Mitchell's diner has been there from the start, serving classic American diner fare to hungry drivers.

Colloquially known as "the first stop on the Mother Road," starting a journey on Route 66 with a big breakfast at Lou Mitchell's is a rite of passage. Since 1923, Lou Mitchell's has been in business, and the establishment quickly became an iconic Chicago diner for weary travelers looking for a hearty breakfast to start their Route 66 adventure.

• Address: 565 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago, IL 60661
• Hours: Open daily from 6 AM to 2 PM (opens 7 AM on weekends)

Related: 10 Road Trips From Chicago That Will Have You Ready To Hit The Gas

The Gateway Arch (St. Louis, Missouri)

As one of the united states' most iconic landmarks, this arch stands over a midwest gem.

The iconic Gateway Arch in Missouri proudly stands as a monument to America's westward expansion. A feat of engineering, this colossal arch stands at 630 feet, welcoming visitors who are eager to explore the city of St. Louis .

Whether road-trippers are just passing by or riding the tram that takes passengers smoothly up the arch , the Gateway Arch is a classic American landmark that has long greeted those traveling through Route 66.

• Address: Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MO 63102
• Hours: Open daily from 5 AM to 11 PM

Meramec Caverns (Sullivan, Missouri)

See the underground caves under route 66 and learn about geological and native american history.

When passing through Missouri, road-trippers on Route 66 must stop at Meramec Caverns . This impressive series of underground caves is home to out-of-this-world rock formations and underground lakes.

Guided tours provide a fascinating glimpse into the area's geological formation and Native American history.

• Address: 1135 Hwy W, Sullivan, MO 63080
• Hours: Open daily from 9 AM to 4 PM
• Tickets: $27

The Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, Texas)

Super quirky, this is one of the most instagrammable stops on route 66.

Cadillac Ranch is a unique public art installation in Amarillo, Texas, that features 10 Cadillac cars half-submerged in the ground and covered in graffiti. Along with serving as an incredible photo opportunity, this spot on Old Route 66 is a notable example of American pop art and, to this day, continues to be one of the best stops on a Route 66 road trip .

Designed in the 1970s by a group of artists known as the Ant Farm, visitors are encouraged to climb on top of the cars and even add their own graffiti before continuing their journey along Route 66.

• Address: 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124
• Hours: Open 24 hours

Midpoint Café (Adrian, Texas)

Established in 1928, this cafe is route 66's midpoint at 1,139 miles from chicago and los angeles.

The Midpoint Café proudly declares itself as the midpoint of the original Route 66. At precisely 1,139 miles from both Chicago and Los Angeles, this restaurant was open 24 hours a day during the height of travel on Route 66.

Established in 1928, this diner served hungry travelers on Route 66. Its slogan was "When you're here, you're halfway there." Along with serving delicious pies and traditional American comfort food (and being the Old Route 66 halfway point), the Midpoint Café has an antique shop and souvenir store for Route 66 enthusiasts.

• Address: 305 Historic Rte 66, Adrian, TX 79001
• Hours: Open daily from 8 AM to 4 PM

Historic El Rancho Hotel (Gallup, New Mexico)

This famous route 66 hotel welcomed many of hollywood's golden age legends.

Built in 1936, the El Rancho Hotel was the place Hollywood stars stayed while filming on location in Gallup, New Mexico. From John Wayne and Humphrey Bogart to Katherine Hepburn and Joan Crawford, the El Rancho Hotel played host to countless film legends, forever linking it with the history of the Golden Age of cinema.

One of the most famous hotels on Route 66, the accommodation eventually became a popular stop on Old Route 66 for tourists. Its Western-style architecture and old Hollywood charm make it a sought-after lodging choice for travelers seeking a touch of Hollywood glamor mixed with a large dose of Old Western nostalgia.

• Address: 1000 E Hwy 66, Gallup, NM 87301

Painted Desert (Arizona)

Stop off and soak up the otherworldly desert scenery.

Few places on Earth can beat the views found in the Painted Desert , which is probably why this stop just slightly off Route 66 was such a popular spot for road-trippers passing through Arizona.

This mesmerizing landscape, adorned with colorful layered rock formations, showcases nature's breathtaking beauty. The Painted Desert is a photographer's dream and worth the stop on Route 66.

• Address: Painted Desert, AZ, 86031
• Area: 93,500 acres
• Length: 160 miles
• Borders on: Little Colorado and Puerco Rivers

Petrified Forest National Park (Holbrook, Arizona)

Ancient trees, petroglyphs, a ruined village, and epic hikes year-round.

Known as one of Route 66's most natural stops, Petrified Forest National Park is well worth the trip. Here lies the old forest boasting ancient trees, critters, art, and trails to hike throughout the year.

Because Arizona remains fairly stable climate-wise, Petrified Forest National Park is a great year-round destination. It boasts the petroglyphs of Newspaper Rock and the ruined village of Puerco Pueblo. There is the Painted Desert Inn and the Rainbow Forest Museum here as well.

• Established: December 9, 1962
• Hours: Open daily from 8 AM to 6 PM
• Entry Fee: $15-$25

Wigwam Village Motel (Holbrook, Arizona)

There's an authentic native american-style wigwam motel on route 66.

The Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook allows guests to spend the night in cozy teepee-shaped cabins.

Interestingly, it's one of just three Wigwam Villages left in the country, and it is a nostalgic throwback to the whimsical motor courts and unique accommodations that were once synonymous with the Route 66 experience.

• Address: 811 W Hopi Dr, Holbrook, AZ 86025

Debate over the cultural appropriation surrounding these Wigwam Villages exists. However, some of the remaining motels have tried in recent years to educate guests about these villages' history and place in American history as a roadside attraction.

Twin Arrows Trading Post (Flagstaff, Arizona)

A perfect spot to pull off route 66 along flagstaff and winslow.

For those between Flagstaff and Winslow, Arizona, visiting the Twin Arrows Trading Post is worth the trip. This is the perfect place to pull off Route 66 and snap a shot, as there are two massive arrows positioned in the ground (it's one of the many quirky roadside attractions on Route 66!).

What was once a fairly busy area in the Arizona desert, Twin Arrows Trading Post now currently sits pretty quiet, as much of this route does.

• Address: Flagstaff, AZ 86004

There are many other scenic small towns in Arizona worth seeing for those looking to extend their trip or check out a few detours while driving Route 66.

Oatman Ghost Town (Oatman, Arizona)

An old mining town of the wild west where wild burros roam the streets.

Once a bustling mining town, Oatman is now one of the many ghost towns on Route 66 to visit; it's completely frozen in time, providing travelers with a glimpse into the past. The town of Oatman is the real deal; it comes complete with saloons, wooden sidewalks, and Western-themed shops.

Oatman isn't one of the amazing historic ghost towns of the American West with nothing going on, though; visitors can also stop to pet the beloved local burros that roam the streets or enjoy one of the daily gunfight reenactments that pay homage to the long-gone days of the Old Wild West.

• Address: Oatman, AZ, 86433

Related: Quirky & Historic: 10 Route 66 Attractions That Are Worth Pulling Over For

Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica, California)

Amusement park rides, hotels, restaurants, and more await at the end of route 66.

There's no better way to end a journey across Old Route 66 than by gazing into the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Indeed, visiting the Santa Monica Pier is the perfect end for road-trippers to celebrate completing their cross-country journey.

The Santa Monica Pier isn't just the penultimate of California's Route 66 portion; it's an important historic landmark that features a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean, a vibrant amusement park, and numerous restaurants and hotels where travelers can unwind. The ultimate family-friendly stop on Route 66, there are tons of exciting things to do on the Santa Monica Pier for all ages.

• Address: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401

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The road less travelled: don’t miss these quirky stops along the famed Route 66

Americans love the freedom of the open road. On Route 66, the US’s most famous highway, that freedom is celebrated in the form of nostalgia. Here, you’ll find everything from a giant catsup bottle to a museum dedicated to cowboys.

The road dust that clings inside your nostrils is to be expected. It’s arid here along most of the route, and even though the highway is paved along all 3,940km, the road snakes its way through scrubland and brush not well versed at holding in moisture. From Chicago, Illinois, to the Los Angeles beach area of Santa Monica, the “Mother Road”, as John Steinbeck termed it in his 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, has been a symbol of the American spirit since it was officially established in 1926. You can certainly travel eastward, but the quintessential journey is one that heads towards California.

To travel the entirety of the route, spanning eight states, is to experience a big slice of the proverbial American pie. Allow two weeks at minimum, but we recommend adding a week to make the most of the retro-cool attractions you’ll find around every corner. Here’s a snapshot of what Route 66 has to offer.

Illinois to Missouri

After you’ve packed snacks, loaded your playlist and thrown your bags in the “trunk”, start driving south-westward from Chicago. Soon you’ll see that Route 66 signs can be few and far between. That’s because the official road has been gradually replaced by new highways, and was (gasp!) formally decommissioned in 1985. Congress later stepped in to champion the iconic thoroughfare, investing in maintenance and other initiatives to preserve the road. And in 2021 the state of Oklahoma announced that its section of Route 66 was getting 400 new road signs, though many seem to disappear under, shall we say, mysterious circumstances.

In this bit of your itinerary, stop off at Abraham Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield, Illinois. At Oak Ridge Cemetery, a granite obelisk towers over the infantry and cavalry statues that surround it.

Further on, in Collinsville, Illinois, you’ll find a different flavour of sightseeing. Here resides the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle (ketchup, to some). Constructed in 1949, it’s 21 metres of ruby-red tomato sauce. Wear a yellow shirt, so you can be the mustard.

When you’re ready for some shut-eye, pull into the Boots Court Motel in Carthage, Missouri, one of the oldest operating motels along the route. There are 13 guest rooms, certainly nothing fancy, but if you want a brush with a legend, opt for number six or 10, where Clark Gable is said to have laid his head in the 1940s.

Kansas to Oklahoma

Don’t nap now or you’ll miss driving through Kansas, the state with the shortest stretch of Route 66 running just 21km. Stop for a refreshment at the Old Riverton Store, a provisions shop that’s operated since 1925.

Once you hit Tulsa, Oklahoma, head to the arts district downtown to visit the state-of-the-art Bob Dylan Center . Then get back in the saddle, and let that horsepower take you to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City (we’re in cowboy territory, in case you were wondering about the horse puns).

Dedicated to the evocative rabble-rousing heroes of the west, this deep dive into cowboy culture is a must-see along your journey. While you’re in the city, stop in to the First Americans Museum to learn more about the Indigenous Peoples of this area.

Now for something quirky. The giant Blue Whale of Catoosa may be a lesser expression of love than the Venus de Milo, but it is no less impressive or heartfelt in its intention. In Arcadia, Oklahoma, get your camera ready for the Round Barn (exactly what you think it is) and in Foyil have a look around Ed Galloway’s Totem Pole Park , which claims to be home to the world’s largest concrete totem pole.

Horses and horsepower are common themes among the attractions along Route 66 which winds across the US from Chicago, Illinois to the Santa Monica beach area of Los Angeles, California. Photograph: Visit The USA.

Texas to New Mexico

Half-buried cars and spray paint psychedelics will greet you at the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, where onlookers are invited to add their own tags to the automotive canvases; and the Leaning Tower of Texas in Groom offers Route 66’s version of a certain monument in Pisa. Look for the Blue Swallow Motel’s famous neon sign in Tucumcari, New Mexico, for an overnight rest inspired by 1930s Americana, replete with cars of that era parked in the lot.

Arizona to California

In the Arizona town of Oatman, you’ll find yourself stopping for animal crossings – those animals being wild burros that roam the streets like they own them. Sometimes they even lie down in the road if they feel like it, and cones are erected to direct drivers around them. Petrified Forest National Park , also in Arizona, glistens in the sunlight with carmine-coloured rock formations that seem to go on forever. It begs for a photograph or two.

Finally, before you arrive at the end of this storied route, stop at our last recommendation: Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, California. A forest of bottles fitted over tree-shaped sculptures, it is a slice of nature, repurposing and amusement all in one stop.

Just like Route 66.

Start mapping your Route 66 journey and other memorable road trips around the United States.

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