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The Ultimate Mother Road: Route 66 Cross-Country
Embark on the definitive 15-day American odyssey from Chicago to Santa Monica. This journey captures the spirit of the Mother Road through vintage neon, historic diners, quirky roadside attractions, and the changing landscapes of eight iconic states.
15days
45stops
2976km
Day 1: Lou Mitchell's → Route 66 Begin Sign → Millennium Park
17min · 6.5km3 stops
Lou Mitchell's
09:00 – 11:00
12min · 4.4km
Route 66 Begin Sign
12:00 – 14:00
5min · 2.1km
Millennium Park
15:00 – 17:00
Day 2: Gemini Giant → Route 66 Association Hall of… → Old State Capitol
1h 49min · 167km3 stops
Gemini Giant
09:00 – 11:00
1h 5min · 97km
Route 66 Association Hall of Fame
12:00 – 14:00
44min · 70km
Old State Capitol
15:00 – 17:00
Day 3: Old Chain of Rocks Bridge → Gateway Arch → Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
1h 52min · 191km3 stops
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
09:00 – 11:00
1h 29min · 153km
Gateway Arch
12:00 – 14:00
23min · 38km
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
15:00 – 17:00
Day 4: Meramec Caverns → Cuba Murals → Munger Moss Motel
1h 30min · 137km3 stops
Meramec Caverns
09:00 – 11:00
1h · 95km
Cuba Murals
12:00 – 14:00
30min · 43km
Munger Moss Motel
15:00 – 17:00
Day 5: Cars on the Route → Blue Whale of Catoosa → Cain's Ballroom
3h 28min · 370km3 stops
Cars on the Route
09:00 – 11:00
2h 3min · 219km
Blue Whale of Catoosa
12:00 – 14:00
1h 25min · 151km
Cain's Ballroom
15:00 – 17:00
Day 6: Rock Cafe → Arcadia Round Barn → Pops 66 Soda Ranch
1h 30min · 147km3 stops
Rock Cafe
09:00 – 11:00
48min · 83km
Arcadia Round Barn
12:00 – 14:00
42min · 64km
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
15:00 – 17:00
Day 7: Oklahoma Route 66 Museum → U-Drop Inn → The Big Texan Steak Ranch
2h 51min · 301km3 stops
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
09:00 – 11:00
1h 39min · 173km
U-Drop Inn
12:00 – 14:00
1h 12min · 129km
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
15:00 – 17:00
Day 8: Cadillac Ranch → Midpoint Café → Blue Swallow Motel
52min · 85km3 stops
Cadillac Ranch
09:00 – 11:00
16min · 22km
Midpoint Café
12:00 – 14:00
36min · 64km
Blue Swallow Motel
15:00 – 17:00
Day 9: Santa Rosa Blue Hole → Pecos National Historical Park → Santa Fe Plaza
2h 28min · 251km3 stops
Santa Rosa Blue Hole
09:00 – 11:00
57min · 96km
Pecos National Historical Park
12:00 – 14:00
1h 31min · 155km
Santa Fe Plaza
15:00 – 17:00
Day 10: Madrid Town Center → Sandia Peak Tramway → Old Town Albuquerque
1h 38min · 119km3 stops
Madrid Town Center
09:00 – 11:00
39min · 46km
Sandia Peak Tramway
12:00 – 14:00
59min · 73km
Old Town Albuquerque
15:00 – 17:00
Day 11: El Rancho Hotel → Petrified Forest National Park → Wigwam Motel
3h 42min · 402km3 stops
El Rancho Hotel
09:00 – 11:00
1h 59min · 217km
Petrified Forest National Park
12:00 – 14:00
1h 43min · 185km
Wigwam Motel
15:00 – 17:00
Day 12: Standin' on the Corner Park → Meteor Crater → Lowell Observatory
1h 2min · 93km3 stops
Standin' on the Corner Park
09:00 – 11:00
33min · 52km
Meteor Crater
12:00 – 14:00
29min · 42km
Lowell Observatory
15:00 – 17:00
Day 13: Seligman → Hackberry General Store → Oatman Ghost Town
2h 10min · 219km3 stops
Seligman
09:00 – 11:00
1h 14min · 123km
Hackberry General Store
12:00 – 14:00
56min · 97km
Oatman Ghost Town
15:00 – 17:00
Day 14: Roy's Motel & Café → Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch → California Route 66 Museum
3h 41min · 334km3 stops
Roy's Motel & Café
09:00 – 11:00
1h 53min · 166km
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
12:00 – 14:00
1h 48min · 168km
California Route 66 Museum
15:00 – 17:00
Day 15: Original McDonald's Site → Colorado Street Bridge → Santa Monica Pier
1h 36min · 151km3 stops
Original McDonald's Site
09:00 – 11:00
40min · 64km
Colorado Street Bridge
12:00 – 14:00
56min · 87km
Santa Monica Pier
15:00 – 17:00
Heads Up
- 1. Download offline maps as Route 66 often deviates from modern interstates into areas with spotty cell service.
- 2. Look for the brown 'Historic Route 66' signs to stay on the original alignments rather than I-40.
- 3. Many vintage motels and diners close seasonally or have limited hours; verify local hours in advance.
- 4. Carry extra water and check fuel levels frequently when crossing the Mojave Desert segments in California.