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.
Chicago -> St. Louis -> Springfield MO -> Tulsa -> Oklahoma City -> Amarillo -> Santa Fe -> Albuquerque -> Gallup -> Holbrook -> Williams -> Grand Canyon -> Kingman -> Barstow -> Santa Monica
- Route 66 Begin Sign
- Cozy Dog Drive In
- Gateway Arch
- Gay Parita Sinclair Station
- Blue Whale of Catoosa
- Pops 66 Soda Ranch
- Cadillac Ranch
- Midpoint Cafe
Chicago Beginnings
Route 66 Begin Sign
Route 66 Begin Sign, Chicago, Illinois, US
Lou Mitchell's
Lou Mitchell's, Chicago, Illinois, US
Millennium Park
Millennium Park, Chicago, Illinois, US
Illinois Cornfields and Cozy Dog
Gemini Giant
Gemini Giant, Wilmington, Illinois, US
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup, Shirley, Illinois, US
Cozy Dog Drive In
Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, Illinois, US
Chain of Rocks Bridge
Chain of Rocks Bridge, Madison, Illinois, US
Gateway Arch to the Ozark Edge
Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Meramec Caverns
Meramec Caverns, Stanton, Missouri, US
Route 66 State Park
Route 66 State Park, Eureka, Missouri, US
Ozarks and Neon Across Missouri
Munger Moss Motel
Munger Moss Motel, Lebanon, Missouri, US
Gay Parita Sinclair Station
Gay Parita Sinclair Station, Paris Springs, Missouri, US
Route 66 Car Museum
Route 66 Car Museum, Springfield, Missouri, US
Three States to Tulsa
Cars on the Route
Cars on the Route, Galena, Kansas, US
Blue Whale of Catoosa
Blue Whale of Catoosa, Catoosa, Oklahoma, US
Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
Round Barns and Oklahoma City
Arcadia Round Barn
Arcadia Round Barn, Arcadia, Oklahoma, US
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
Pops 66 Soda Ranch, Arcadia, Oklahoma, US
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oklahoma City National Memorial, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US
Stockyards City
Stockyards City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US
Into the Texas Panhandle
Lucille's Service Station
Lucille's Service Station, Hydro, Oklahoma, US
Leaning Water Tower of Britten
Leaning Water Tower of Britten, Groom, Texas, US
Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas, US
Big Texan Steak Ranch
Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo, Texas, US
Midpoint to New Mexico Skies
Midpoint Cafe
Midpoint Cafe, Adrian, Texas, US
Russell's Truck and Travel Center Car Museum
Russell's Truck and Travel Center Car Museum, Glenrio, New Mexico, US
Blue Swallow Motel
Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico, US
Tucumcari Murals
Tucumcari Murals, Tucumcari, New Mexico, US
Santa Fe Loop on Old 66
Pecos National Historical Park
Pecos National Historical Park, Pecos, New Mexico, US
Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
Loretto Chapel
Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
Albuquerque Neon and Old Town
Madonna of the Trail
Madonna of the Trail, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Old Town Albuquerque
Old Town Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Sandia Peak Tramway
Sandia Peak Tramway, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Central Avenue Neon
Central Avenue Neon, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Trading Posts to Painted Desert
El Rancho Hotel
El Rancho Hotel, Gallup, New Mexico, US
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook, Arizona, US
Wigwam Motel
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona, US
Williams Historic District
Williams Historic District, Williams, Arizona, US
Grand Canyon Day from Williams
Mather Point
Mather Point, Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, US
Bright Angel Trailhead
Bright Angel Trailhead, Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, US
Desert View Watchtower
Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, US
Seligman to Kingman Curves
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In
Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In, Seligman, Arizona, US
Grand Canyon Caverns
Grand Canyon Caverns, Peach Springs, Arizona, US
Hackberry General Store
Hackberry General Store, Hackberry, Arizona, US
Powerhouse Route 66 Museum
Powerhouse Route 66 Museum, Kingman, Arizona, US
Oatman Pass into the Mojave
Oatman Historic Town
Oatman Historic Town, Oatman, Arizona, US
Roy's Motel and Cafe
Roy's Motel and Cafe, Amboy, California, US
Bagdad Cafe
Bagdad Cafe, Newberry Springs, California, US
Route 66 Mother Road Museum
Route 66 Mother Road Museum, Barstow, California, US
Last Miles to Santa Monica Pier
Wigwam Motel San Bernardino
Wigwam Motel San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California, US
Original McDonald's Site Museum
Original McDonald's Site Museum, San Bernardino, California, US
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, US
Route 66 End of the Trail Sign
Route 66 End of the Trail Sign, Santa Monica, California, US
- Fuel up often west of Amarillo; long stretches between stations on old alignments
- Many neon signs and diners shine best after dusk, but avoid long desert drives at night
- Summer heat in the Mojave and Painted Desert is extreme; carry extra water
- Confirm seasonal hours for small museums, trading posts, and Grand Canyon shuttles
- Day 11: 5h 59m driving — plan rest stops