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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

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Chicago · Madison · Eureka · Springfield · Tulsa · Oklahoma City · Amarillo · Tucumcari · Santa Fe · Albuquerque · Williams · Grand Canyon Village · Kingman · Barstow — start in Chicago, end in Santa Monica.

DAY01

Route 66 Begin Sign → Millennium Park

8.6 km · 21m driving · Overnight in Millennium Park
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Route 66 Begin Sign· start
  2. 5.4 km · 12m
  3. 12:00
    Lou Mitchell's
  4. 3.2 km · 9m
  5. 15:00
    Millennium Park· overnight
DAY02

Gemini Giant → Chain of Rocks Bridge

339 km · 3h 28m driving · Overnight in Chain of Rocks Bridge
  1. 09:00
    Gemini Giant· start
  2. 97 km · 1h 5m
  3. 11:42
    Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup
  4. 148 km · 1h 25m
  5. 14:24
    ⭐ Cozy Dog Drive In
  6. 94 km · 58m
  7. 16:12
    Chain of Rocks Bridge· overnight
DAY03

Gateway Arch → Route 66

133 km · 1h 45m driving · Overnight in Route 66
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Gateway Arch· start
  2. 23 km · 29m
  3. 11:42
    Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
  4. 15 km · 16m
  5. 14:24
    Meramec Caverns
  6. 95 km · 1h
  7. 16:12
    Route 66· overnight
DAY04

Munger Moss Motel → Route 66 Car Museum

343 km · 3h 9m driving · Overnight in Route 66 Car Museum
  1. 09:00
    Munger Moss Motel· start
  2. 223 km · 2h 3m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Gay Parita Sinclair Station
  4. 120 km · 1h 6m
  5. 15:00
    Route 66 Car Museum· overnight
DAY05

Cars on the Route → Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios

313 km · 3h 7m driving · Overnight in Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
  1. 09:00
    Cars on the Route· start
  2. 134 km · 1h 21m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Blue Whale of Catoosa
  4. 151 km · 1h 25m
  5. 14:24
    Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza
  6. 29 km · 21m
  7. 16:12
    Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios· overnight
DAY06

Arcadia → Stockyards City

179 km · 1h 49m driving · Overnight in Stockyards City
  1. 09:00
    Arcadia Round Barn· start
  2. 143 km · 1h 22m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Pops 66 Soda Ranch
  4. 1.1 km · 2m
  5. 14:24
    Oklahoma City National Memorial
  6. 34 km · 25m
  7. 16:12
    Stockyards City· overnight
DAY07

Lucille's Service Station → Big Texan Steak Ranch

426 km · 3h 54m driving · Overnight in Big Texan Steak Ranch
  1. 09:00
    Lucille's Service Station· start
  2. 98 km · 55m
  3. 11:42
    Leaning Water Tower of Britten
  4. 243 km · 2h 11m
  5. 14:24
    ⭐ Cadillac Ranch
  6. 85 km · 48m
  7. 16:12
    Big Texan Steak Ranch· overnight
DAY08

Midpoint Cafe → Tucumcari

186 km · 1h 49m driving · Overnight in Tucumcari Murals
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Midpoint Cafe· start
  2. 85 km · 49m
  3. 11:42
    Russell's Truck and Travel Center Car Museum
  4. 41 km · 24m
  5. 14:24
    Blue Swallow Motel
  6. 60 km · 36m
  7. 16:12
    Tucumcari Murals· overnight
DAY09

Pecos → Loretto Chapel

295 km · 2h 52m driving · Overnight in Loretto Chapel
  1. 09:00
    Pecos National Historical Park· start
  2. 246 km · 2h 18m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Fe Plaza
  4. 50 km · 34m
  5. 15:00
    Loretto Chapel· overnight
DAY10

Madonna of the Trail → Central Avenue Neon

132 km · 1h 29m driving · Overnight in Central Avenue Neon
  1. 09:00
    Madonna of the Trail· start
  2. 102 km · 1h
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Old Town Albuquerque
  4. 2.3 km · 5m
  5. 14:24
    Sandia Peak Tramway
  6. 27 km · 24m
  7. 16:12
    Central Avenue Neon· overnight
DAY11

El Rancho Hotel → Williams

441 km · 4h 9m driving · long drive · Overnight in Williams Historic District
  1. 09:00
    El Rancho Hotel· start
  2. 226 km · 2h 6m
  3. 11:42
    ⭐ Petrified Forest National Park
  4. 185 km · 1h 43m
  5. 14:24
    Wigwam Motel
  6. 31 km · 20m
  7. 16:12
    Williams Historic District· overnight
DAY12

Mather Point → Desert View Watchtower

100 km · 1h 17m driving · Overnight in Desert View Watchtower
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Mather Point· start
  2. 96 km · 1h 8m
  3. 12:0014:00
    Bright Angel
  4. 3.6 km · 9m
  5. 15:00
    Desert View Watchtower· overnight
DAY13

Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In → Powerhouse Route 66 Museum

294 km · 3h 8m driving · Overnight in Powerhouse Route 66 Museum
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In· start
  2. 197 km · 2h 9m
  3. 11:42
    Grand Canyon Caverns
  4. 41 km · 25m
  5. 14:24
    Hackberry General Store
  6. 56 km · 34m
  7. 16:12
    Powerhouse Route 66 Museum· overnight
DAY14

Oatman → Route 66 Mother Road Museum

305 km · 3h 45m driving · Overnight in Route 66 Mother Road Museum
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Oatman Historic Town· start
  2. 46 km · 50m
  3. 11:42
    Roy's Motel and Cafe
  4. 166 km · 1h 53m
  5. 14:24
    Bagdad Cafe
  6. 92 km · 1h 2m
  7. 16:12
    Route 66 Mother Road Museum· overnight
DAY15

Wigwam Motel San Bernardino → Route 66 End of the Trail Sign

248 km · 2h 47m driving
  1. 09:00
    Wigwam Motel San Bernardino· start
  2. 116 km · 1h 14m
  3. 11:42
    Original McDonald's Site Museum
  4. 7.1 km · 12m
  5. 14:24
    ⭐ Santa Monica Pier
  6. 126 km · 1h 21m
  7. 16:12
    Route 66 End of the Trail Sign
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Stay in Chicago Loop · Night 1
  2. Stay in Mid-corridor towns (St. Louis, Springfield MO, Tulsa, OKC, Amarillo, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Gallup) · Nights 2-9
  3. Stay in Williams and Grand Canyon area · Nights 10-11
  4. Stay in Kingman to Santa Monica · Nights 12-15
Heads Up
  • Day 11: 5h 59m driving — plan rest stops
  • 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