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Route 66: The Mother Road
Hey! You’re about to tackle the "Mother Road." Since we've got 14 days, we can actually breathe and see the kitschy, neon-soaked soul of Route 66 without rushing. I've mapped this out to keep the driving chunks manageable while hitting the legendary spots from Chicago to the Pacific. A 14-day odyssey through the neon signs, soda shops, and ghost towns that defined the American Dream.
14days
52stops
DAY01
Chicago O'Hare International… → Willis Tower
Overnight in Willis Tower
- 09:00Chicago O'Hare International Airport· start
- 11:00Historic Route 66 Begin Sign
- 13:00Lou Mitchell's
- 16:00Willis Tower· overnight
Accommodation
Downtown Chicago
DAY02
Gemini Giant → Shea’s Gas Station Museum
Overnight in Shea’s Gas Station Museum
- 09:00Gemini Giant· start
- 12:00Pontiac
- 15:00Cozy Dog Drive In
- 17:30Shea’s Gas Station Museum· overnight
DAY03
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge → St. Louis
Overnight in St. Louis
- 10:00Old Chain of Rocks Bridge· start
- 13:00Gateway Arch
- 15:30Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
- 18:00St. Louis· overnight
DAY04
Meramec Caverns → Springfield
Overnight in Springfield, MO
- 09:00Meramec Caverns· start
- 12:11Cuba, Missouri
- 15:21Elbow Inn
- 18:00Springfield, MO· overnight
DAY05
Galena → Tulsa
Overnight in Tulsa
- 09:30Galena· start
- 12:00Blue Whale of Catoosa
- 15:00Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios
- 18:00Tulsa· overnight
DAY06
Arcadia Round Barn → Clinton
Overnight in Clinton
- 09:00Arcadia Round Barn· start
- 12:11Oklahoma City National Memorial
- 15:21Lucile’s Service Station
- 18:00Clinton· overnight
DAY07
U-Drop Inn → The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Overnight in The Big Texan Steak Ranch
- 09:00U-Drop Inn· start
- 12:00Cadillac Ranch
- 15:00Midpoint Café
- 18:00The Big Texan Steak Ranch· overnight
DAY08
Tucumcari → Santa Fe
Overnight in Santa Fe
- 10:00Tucumcari· start
- 14:00Santa Rosa Blue Hole
- 17:00Santa Fe· overnight
DAY09
Meow Wolf → 66 Diner
Overnight in 66 Diner
- 10:00Meow Wolf· start
- 13:00Albuquerque Old Town
- 16:0066 Diner· overnight
Accommodation
Albuquerque
DAY10
El Rancho Hotel → Standin' on the Corner Park
Overnight in Standin' on the Corner Park
- 09:00El Rancho Hotel· start
- 12:00Petrified Forest & Painted Desert
- 15:30Wigwam Motel
- 18:00Standin' on the Corner Park· overnight
DAY11
Walnut Canyon → Grand Canyon South Rim
Overnight in Grand Canyon South Rim
- 09:00Walnut Canyon· start
- 12:00Williams
- 15:00Grand Canyon South Rim· overnight
DAY12
Seligman → Laughlin / Needles
Overnight in Laughlin / Needles
- 09:00Seligman· start
- 12:00Hackberry General Store
- 15:00Oatman
- 18:00Laughlin / Needles· overnight
DAY13
Roy’s Motel & Café → San Bernardino
Overnight in San Bernardino
- 09:00Roy’s Motel & Café· start
- 12:11Bagdad Cafe
- 15:21Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch
- 18:00San Bernardino· overnight
DAY14
Wigwam Motel No. 7 → Los Angeles International Air…
- 10:00Wigwam Motel No. 7· start
- 13:00Santa Monica Pier
- 17:00Los Angeles International Airport
Heads Up
- Day 5: 17h 59m driving — plan rest stops
- Day 6: 49h 24m driving — plan rest stops
- Day 7: 39h 31m driving — plan rest stops
- Day 10: 5h 4m driving — plan rest stops
- Day 11: 19h driving — plan rest stops
- Buy a "Route 66 EZ66 Guide" by Jerry McClanahan. The road is poorly marked in spots, and this book is the gold standard for staying on the historic pavement.
- Day 4: last activity ends 18:30 — aim to wrap by ~18:00 or drop a stop
- Day 6: last activity ends 18:30 — aim to wrap by ~18:00 or drop a stop
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