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The Ultimate Route 66 Cross-Country Odyssey
Embark on the definitive American road trip from Chicago to the Pacific. This 14-day journey follows the 'Mother Road' at a relaxed pace, ensuring ample time for quirky roadside attractions, neon-lit diners, and historic museums. You will traverse eight states, shifting from the Midwestern prairies to the high deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, finally reaching the iconic Santa Monica Pier for a classic California su
14days
42stops
2640km
Day 1: Route 66 Begin Sign → Lou Mitchell's → Millennium Park
21min · 8.6km3 stops
Route 66 Begin Sign
09:00 – 11:00
12min · 5.4km
Lou Mitchell's
12:00 – 14:00
9min · 3.2km
Millennium Park
15:00 – 17:00
Day 2: Gemini Giant → Pontiac Route 66 Museum → Cozy Dog Drive In
1h 49min · 167km3 stops
Gemini Giant
09:00 – 11:00
1h 5min · 97km
Pontiac Route 66 Museum
12:00 – 14:00
44min · 70km
Cozy Dog Drive In
15:00 – 17:00
Day 3: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge → Gateway Arch → Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
1h 45min · 186km3 stops
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
09:00 – 11:00
1h 22min · 148km
Gateway Arch
12:00 – 14:00
23min · 38km
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
15:00 – 17:00
Day 4: Meramec Caverns → Devil's Elbow Bridge → Munger Moss Motel
2h 16min · 221km3 stops
Meramec Caverns
09:00 – 11:00
1h 6min · 104km
Devil's Elbow Bridge
12:00 – 14:00
1h 10min · 117km
Munger Moss Motel
15:00 – 17:00
Day 5: Cars on the Route → Rainbow Bridge → Blue Whale of Catoosa
2h 12min · 229km3 stops
Cars on the Route
09:00 – 11:00
2h 3min · 219km
Rainbow Bridge
12:00 – 14:00
9min · 10.0km
Blue Whale of Catoosa
15:00 – 17:00
Day 6: Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios → Pops 66 Soda Ranch → Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
1h 44min · 170km3 stops
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
09:00 – 11:00
20min · 26km
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
12:00 – 14:00
1h 24min · 145km
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
15:00 – 17:00
Day 7: Tower Station and U-Drop Inn → The Big Texan Steak Ranch → Cadillac Ranch
2h 30min · 270km3 stops
Tower Station and U-Drop Inn
09:00 – 11:00
1h 12min · 129km
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
12:00 – 14:00
1h 18min · 142km
Cadillac Ranch
15:00 – 17:00
Day 8: Midpoint Café → Blue Swallow Motel → Santa Fe Plaza
1h 32min · 164km3 stops
Midpoint Café
09:00 – 11:00
36min · 64km
Blue Swallow Motel
12:00 – 14:00
56min · 100km
Santa Fe Plaza
15:00 – 17:00
Day 9: Loretto Chapel → Old Town Albuquerque → 66 Diner
1h 3min · 104km3 stops
Loretto Chapel
09:00 – 11:00
2min · 0.4km
Old Town Albuquerque
12:00 – 14:00
1h 1min · 104km
66 Diner
15:00 – 17:00
Day 10: El Rancho Hotel → Petrified Forest National Park → Wigwam Motel
3h 5min · 338km3 stops
El Rancho Hotel
09:00 – 11:00
2h 1min · 223km
Petrified Forest National Park
12:00 – 14:00
1h 4min · 115km
Wigwam Motel
15:00 – 17:00
Day 11: Standin' on the Corner Park → Meteor Crater Natural Landmark → Lowell Observatory
1h 2min · 93km3 stops
Standin' on the Corner Park
09:00 – 11:00
33min · 52km
Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
12:00 – 14:00
29min · 42km
Lowell Observatory
15:00 – 17:00
Day 12: Delgadillo's Snow Cap → Hackberry General Store → Oatman Ghost Town
2h 9min · 219km3 stops
Delgadillo's Snow Cap
09:00 – 11:00
1h 13min · 123km
Hackberry General Store
12:00 – 14:00
56min · 97km
Oatman Ghost Town
15:00 – 17:00
Day 13: Roy's Motel & Café → Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch → Wigwam Motel No. 7
3h 39min · 334km3 stops
Roy's Motel & Café
09:00 – 11:00
1h 52min · 166km
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
12:00 – 14:00
1h 47min · 168km
Wigwam Motel No. 7
15:00 – 17:00
Day 14: The Original McDonald's Museum → Santa Monica Pier → 66 End of the Trail Sign
1h 33min · 133km3 stops
The Original McDonald's Museum
09:00 – 11:00
12min · 7.1km
Santa Monica Pier
12:00 – 14:00
1h 21min · 126km
66 End of the Trail Sign
15:00 – 17:00
Heads Up
- 1. Book historic motels like the Blue Swallow or Wigwam Villages at least 6-9 months in advance.
- 2. Many classic diners close early; plan your lunch and dinner stops before 7:00 PM in rural areas.
- 3. Expect significant temperature swings between the Chicago lakefront and the Mojave Desert.
- 4. Keep a physical Route 66 map handy as GPS often defaults to faster interstate bypasses.