United States · 16 days · 3,940 km · One-way
Route 66 — Chicago to Los Angeles, the Mother Road
The all-American classic. 16 days from Lake Michigan to Santa Monica Pier. Neon-lit motels, diner culture, quirky roadside attractions, desert badlands and the legendary stretch through Texas Panhandle, New Mexico and Arizona. Based on Cruise America's official Mother Road guide.
Highlights
- Chicago start (Buckingham Fountain)
- Springfield, IL (Lincoln Home)
- Saint Louis Gateway Arch
- Meramec Caverns (Missouri)
- Tulsa and Oklahoma City
- Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo
- Painted Desert + Petrified Forest NP
- Grand Canyon (must-do detour)
- Seligman (most authentic stretch)
- Crossing the Colorado at Topock
- Mojave Desert
- Santa Monica Pier (legendary finish)
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1
Chicago → Joliet
Chicago → Joliet · 70 km
Overnight: Joliet KOA
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Day 2
Joliet → Springfield, IL
Joliet → Springfield IL · 290 km
- · Pontiac Route 66 Museum
- · Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Overnight: Springfield KOA
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Day 3
Springfield → St Louis
Springfield IL → St Louis · 160 km
- · Gateway Arch National Park
- · Chain of Rocks Bridge
Overnight: St Louis West KOA
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Day 4
St Louis → Tulsa, OK
St Louis → Tulsa · 640 km
- · Meramec Caverns
- · Devil's Elbow Bridge
- · Blue Whale of Catoosa
Overnight: Tulsa NE KOA
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Day 5
Tulsa → Oklahoma City
Tulsa → Oklahoma City · 170 km
- · Route 66 Museum (Clinton)
- · Round Barn at Arcadia
Overnight: Oklahoma City East KOA
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Day 6
Oklahoma City → Amarillo, TX
Oklahoma City → Amarillo · 420 km
- · Cadillac Ranch (10 buried cars)
- · The Big Texan Steakhouse (72oz steak)
Overnight: Amarillo KOA
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Day 7
Amarillo → Santa Fe, NM
Amarillo → Santa Fe · 460 km
- · Tucumcari (neon motels)
- · Santa Fe historic Plaza
Overnight: Santa Fe Skies RV Park
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Day 8
Santa Fe → Albuquerque → Gallup
Santa Fe → Gallup · 350 km
- · Old Town Albuquerque
- · El Rancho Hotel (Hollywood stars)
Overnight: USA RV Park (Gallup)
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Day 9
Gallup → Holbrook → Petrified Forest
Gallup → Holbrook · 200 km
- · Petrified Forest National Park
- · Painted Desert
- · Wigwam Motel (sleep in a teepee)
Overnight: Holbrook KOA
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Day 10
Holbrook → Flagstaff → Grand Canyon
Holbrook → Grand Canyon Village · 380 km
- · Meteor Crater
- · Grand Canyon South Rim
Overnight: Trailer Village RV Park
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Day 11
Grand Canyon — full day
Grand Canyon Village · 50 km
- · Mather Point at sunrise
- · Hermit Road shuttle
- · Sunset at Yavapai Point
Overnight: Trailer Village RV Park
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Day 12
Grand Canyon → Seligman → Kingman
Grand Canyon Village → Kingman · 320 km
- · Seligman (birthplace of Pixar's Cars)
- · Hackberry General Store
Overnight: Kingman KOA
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Day 13
Kingman → Oatman → Needles, CA
Kingman → Needles · 130 km
- · Oatman (wild burros on Main Street)
- · Crossing the Colorado at Topock
Overnight: Needles KOA
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Day 14
Needles → Barstow (Mojave)
Needles → Barstow · 250 km
- · Bagdad Cafe (Newberry Springs)
- · Calico Ghost Town
Overnight: Barstow Calico KOA
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Day 15
Barstow → San Bernardino → Pasadena
Barstow → Pasadena · 200 km
- · Wigwam Motel (San Bernardino)
- · Old Town Pasadena
Overnight: East Shore RV Park
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Day 16
Pasadena → Santa Monica Pier (finish)
Pasadena → Santa Monica · 50 km
- · Hollywood Boulevard
- · "End of the Trail" sign at Santa Monica
- · RV drop-off