Historic American Highways Loop
A comprehensive 16-day journey following the legendary Route 66 westward and returning via the historic Lincoln Highway. This route balances iconic Americana, neon nostalgia, and vast prairie landscapes with manageable daily driving distances.
- Gemini Giant
- Gateway Arch National Park
- 66 Drive-In Theatre
- Blue Whale of Catoosa
- Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
- Cadillac Ranch
- Blue Hole
- Old Town Albuquerque
Chicago Beginnings and Illinois Prairies
Route 66 Begin Sign
Route 66 Begin Sign, Chicago, Illinois, US
Gemini Giant
Gemini Giant, Wilmington, Illinois, US
Pontiac City Hall
Pontiac City Hall, Pontiac, Illinois, US
Giant Statues and Gateway Arches
Pink Elephant Antique Mall
Pink Elephant Antique Mall, Livingston, Illinois, US
Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Meramec Caverns
Meramec Caverns, Stanton, Missouri, US
Ozark Hills and Missouri Murals
Cuba Murals
Cuba Murals, Cuba, Missouri, US
66 Drive-In Theatre
66 Drive-In Theatre, Carthage, Missouri, US
Joplin Visitor Center
Joplin Visitor Center, Joplin, Missouri, US
Kansas Corners and Oklahoma Neon
Cars on the Route
Cars on the Route, Galena, Kansas, US
Blue Whale of Catoosa
Blue Whale of Catoosa, Catoosa, Oklahoma, US
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oklahoma City National Memorial, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US
Western Oklahoma and the Texas Border
Lucille's Service Station
Lucille's Service Station, Hydro, Oklahoma, US
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Clinton, Oklahoma, US
Shamrock Visitor Information Center
Shamrock Visitor Information Center, Shamrock, Texas, US
Cadillacs and the Midpoint Mark
Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas, US
Midpoint Café
Midpoint Café, Adrian, Texas, US
Tucumcari Convention Center
Tucumcari Convention Center, Tucumcari, New Mexico, US
New Mexico High Desert and Santa Rosa
Blue Hole
Blue Hole, Santa Rosa, New Mexico, US
Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
Albuquerque and the Continental Divide
Old Town Albuquerque
Old Town Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Continental Divide Marker
Continental Divide Marker, Thoreau, New Mexico, US
Gallup Cultural Center
Gallup Cultural Center, Gallup, New Mexico, US
Painted Deserts and Petrified Forests
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook, Arizona, US
Wigwam Motel
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona, US
Winslow Visitor Center
Winslow Visitor Center, Winslow, Arizona, US
Arizona Canyons and Flagstaff Pines
Meteor Crater Visitor Center
Meteor Crater Visitor Center, Winslow, Arizona, US
Walnut Canyon National Monument
Walnut Canyon National Monument, Flagstaff, Arizona, US
Heritage Square
Heritage Square, Flagstaff, Arizona, US
Turning North to the Lincoln Highway
Wupatki National Monument
Wupatki National Monument, Flagstaff, Arizona, US
Moab Information Center
Moab Information Center, Moab, Utah, US
Rocky Mountain Crossing
Colorado National Monument
Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction, Colorado, US
Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs, Glenwood Springs, Colorado, US
Wyoming High Plains and Lincoln Links
Ames Monument
Ames Monument, Laramie, Wyoming, US
Cheyenne Depot Museum
Cheyenne Depot Museum, Cheyenne, Wyoming, US
Nebraska Prairies and the Platte River
Great Platte River Road Archway
Great Platte River Road Archway, Kearney, Nebraska, US
Lincoln City Hall
Lincoln City Hall, Lincoln, Nebraska, US
Omaha and the Missouri River Crossing
The Durham Museum
The Durham Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, US
Lincoln Highway Bridge
Lincoln Highway Bridge, Tama, Iowa, US
Cedar Rapids Visitor Center
Cedar Rapids Visitor Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, US
The Final Stretch to Chicago
Mississippi River Lookout
Mississippi River Lookout, Clinton, Iowa, US
Grant Park
Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois, US
- Many Route 66 segments are disconnected; follow brown historic markers to stay on the original path.
- Check weather conditions when crossing the Texas Panhandle and Kansas plains for high winds.
- Book vintage motels in advance as popular spots like the Blue Swallow fill up months ahead.
- Day 11: 5h 14m driving — plan rest stops