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Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica in 15 Days
A classic 15-day cruise down the Mother Road from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier, threading neon motels, diner counters, painted deserts, and Wild West towns across eight states with time to wander, photograph, and eat well along the way.
15days
56stops
3743km
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 → … → Chain of Rocks Bridge
3h 28min · 339km4 stops
Gemini Giant
09:00-10:48
1h 5min · 97km
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup
11:42-13:30
1h 25min · 148km
Cozy Dog Drive In
14:24-16:12
58min · 94km
Chain of Rocks Bridge
16:12-18:00
Day 3: Gateway Arch → … → Route 66
1h 45min · 133km4 stops
Gateway Arch
09:00-10:48
29min · 23km
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
11:42-13:30
16min · 15km
Meramec Caverns
14:24-16:12
1h · 95km
Route 66
16:12-18:00
Day 4: Munger Moss Motel → Gay Parita Sinclair Station → Route 66 Car Museum
3h 9min · 343km3 stops
Munger Moss Motel
09:00 – 11:00
2h 3min · 223km
Gay Parita Sinclair Station
12:00 – 14:00
1h 6min · 120km
Route 66 Car Museum
15:00 – 17:00
Day 5: Cars on the Route → … → Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
3h 7min · 313km4 stops
Cars on the Route
09:00-10:48
1h 21min · 134km
Blue Whale of Catoosa
11:42-13:30
1h 25min · 151km
Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
14:24-16:12
21min · 29km
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
16:12-18:00
Day 6: Arcadia Round Barn → … → Stockyards City
1h 49min · 179km4 stops
Arcadia Round Barn
09:00-10:48
1h 22min · 143km
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
11:42-13:30
2min · 1.1km
Oklahoma City National Memorial
14:24-16:12
25min · 34km
Stockyards City
16:12-18:00
Day 7: Lucille's Service Station → … → Big Texan Steak Ranch
3h 54min · 426km4 stops
Lucille's Service Station
09:00-10:48
55min · 98km
Leaning Water Tower of Britten
11:42-13:30
2h 11min · 243km
Cadillac Ranch
14:24-16:12
48min · 85km
Big Texan Steak Ranch
16:12-18:00
Day 8: Midpoint Cafe → … → Tucumcari Murals
1h 49min · 186km4 stops
Midpoint Cafe
09:00-10:48
49min · 85km
Russell's Truck and Travel Center Car Museum
11:42-13:30
24min · 41km
Blue Swallow Motel
14:24-16:12
36min · 60km
Tucumcari Murals
16:12-18:00
Day 9: Pecos National Historical Park → Santa Fe Plaza → Loretto Chapel
2h 52min · 295km3 stops
Pecos National Historical Park
09:00 – 11:00
2h 18min · 246km
Santa Fe Plaza
12:00 – 14:00
34min · 50km
Loretto Chapel
15:00 – 17:00
Day 10: Madonna of the Trail → … → Central Avenue Neon
1h 29min · 132km4 stops
Madonna of the Trail
09:00-10:48
1h · 102km
Old Town Albuquerque
11:42-13:30
5min · 2.3km
Sandia Peak Tramway
14:24-16:12
24min · 27km
Central Avenue Neon
16:12-18:00
Day 11: El Rancho Hotel → … → Williams Historic District
4h 9min · 441km4 stops
El Rancho Hotel
09:00-10:48
2h 6min · 226km
Petrified Forest National Park
11:42-13:30
1h 43min · 185km
Wigwam Motel
14:24-16:12
20min · 31km
Williams Historic District
16:12-18:00
Day 12: Mather Point → Bright Angel → Desert View Watchtower
1h 17min · 100km3 stops
Mather Point
09:00 – 11:00
1h 8min · 96km
Bright Angel
12:00 – 14:00
9min · 3.6km
Desert View Watchtower
15:00 – 17:00
Day 13: Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In → … → Powerhouse Route 66 Museum
3h 8min · 294km4 stops
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In
09:00-10:48
2h 9min · 197km
Grand Canyon Caverns
11:42-13:30
25min · 41km
Hackberry General Store
14:24-16:12
34min · 56km
Powerhouse Route 66 Museum
16:12-18:00
Day 14: Oatman Historic Town → … → Route 66 Mother Road Museum
3h 45min · 305km4 stops
Oatman Historic Town
09:00-10:48
50min · 46km
Roy's Motel and Cafe
11:42-13:30
1h 53min · 166km
Bagdad Cafe
14:24-16:12
1h 2min · 92km
Route 66 Mother Road Museum
16:12-18:00
Day 15: Wigwam Motel San Bernardino → … → Route 66 End of the Trail Sign
2h 47min · 248km4 stops
Wigwam Motel San Bernardino
09:00-10:48
1h 14min · 116km
Original McDonald's Site Museum
11:42-13:30
12min · 7.1km
Santa Monica Pier
14:24-16:12
1h 21min · 126km
Route 66 End of the Trail Sign
16:12-18:00
Heads Up
- 1. Fuel up often west of Amarillo; long stretches between stations on old alignments
- 2. Many neon signs and diners shine best after dusk, but avoid long desert drives at night
- 3. Summer heat in the Mojave and Painted Desert is extreme; carry extra water
- 4. Confirm seasonal hours for small museums, trading posts, and Grand Canyon shuttles
- 5. Day 11: 5h 59m driving — plan rest stops