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The Ultimate Mother Road: Route 66 Across America

Embark on the definitive American road trip from Chicago to the Pacific. This 20-day odyssey traverses eight states, capturing the neon nostalgia, quirky roadside kitsch, and dramatic western landscapes of the historic Mother Road.

20days
60stops
3120km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Chicago · Pontiac · Litchfield · St. Louis · Cuba · Springfield · Catoosa · Arcadia · Elk City · Amarillo · Tucumcari · Santa Fe · Albuquerque · Gallup · Holbrook · Flagstaff · Williams · Oatman · Victorville — 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

The Gemini Giant → Pontiac

167 km · 1h 49m driving · Overnight in Pontiac Murals
  1. 09:00
    The Gemini Giant· start
  2. 97 km · 1h 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Route 66 Association Hall of Fame
  4. 70 km · 44m
  5. 15:00
    Pontiac Murals· overnight
DAY03

Lincoln Home National Histori… → Ariston Café

174 km · 1h 47m driving · Overnight in Ariston Café
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Lincoln Home National Historic Site· start
  2. 169 km · 1h 40m
  3. 12:00
    Cozy Dog Drive In
  4. 4.2 km · 7m
  5. 15:00
    Ariston Café· overnight
DAY04

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge → Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

122 km · 1h 13m driving · Overnight in Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
  1. 09:00
    Old Chain of Rocks Bridge· start
  2. 84 km · 49m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Gateway Arch National Park
  4. 38 km · 24m
  5. 15:00
    Ted Drewes Frozen Custard· overnight
DAY05

Meramec Caverns → Cuba

137 km · 1h 29m driving · Overnight in Cuba Murals
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Meramec Caverns· start
  2. 95 km · 1h
  3. 12:00
    Wagon Wheel Motel
  4. 42 km · 29m
  5. 15:00
    Cuba Murals· overnight
DAY06

Devil's Elbow → Springfield

255 km · 2h 26m driving · Overnight in Springfield Route 66 Park
  1. 09:00
    Devil's Elbow Bridge· start
  2. 77 km · 46m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Gay Parita Sinclair Station
  4. 178 km · 1h 40m
  5. 15:00
    Springfield Route 66 Park· overnight
DAY07

Cars on the Route → Blue Whale of Catoosa

147 km · 1h 32m driving · Overnight in Blue Whale of Catoosa
  1. 09:00
    Cars on the Route· start
  2. 137 km · 1h 23m
  3. 12:00
    Rainbow Bridge
  4. 10 km · 9m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Blue Whale of Catoosa· overnight
DAY08

Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios → Pops 66 Soda Ranch

169 km · 1h 42m driving · Overnight in Pops 66 Soda Ranch
  1. 09:00
    Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios· start
  2. 26 km · 20m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Arcadia Round Barn
  4. 143 km · 1h 22m
  5. 15:00
    Pops 66 Soda Ranch· overnight
DAY09

Oklahoma City → National Route 66 Museum

173 km · 1h 46m driving · Overnight in National Route 66 Museum
  1. 09:00
    Oklahoma City National Memorial· start
  2. 34 km · 25m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
  4. 139 km · 1h 21m
  5. 15:00
    National Route 66 Museum· overnight
DAY10

U-Drop Inn → The Big Texan Steak Ranch

246 km · 2h 19m driving · Overnight in The Big Texan Steak Ranch
  1. 09:00
    U-Drop Inn· start
  2. 83 km · 48m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Cadillac Ranch
  4. 163 km · 1h 31m
  5. 15:00
    The Big Texan Steak Ranch· overnight
DAY11

Midpoint Café → Blue Swallow Motel

121 km · 1h 10m driving · Overnight in Blue Swallow Motel
  1. 09:00
    Midpoint Café· start
  2. 85 km · 49m
  3. 12:00
    Glenrio Ghost Town
  4. 36 km · 21m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Blue Swallow Motel· overnight
DAY12

Blue Hole of Santa Rosa → Canyon Road

271 km · 2h 46m driving · Overnight in Canyon Road
  1. 09:00
    Blue Hole of Santa Rosa· start
  2. 96 km · 57m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Fe Plaza
  4. 176 km · 1h 49m
  5. 15:00
    Canyon Road· overnight
DAY13

Loretto Chapel → Old Town Albuquerque

9 km · 17m driving · Overnight in Old Town Albuquerque
  1. 09:00
    Loretto Chapel· start
  2. 2.1 km · 5m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Meow Wolf Santa Fe
  4. 6.9 km · 12m
  5. 15:00
    Old Town Albuquerque· overnight
DAY14

KiMo Theatre → Richardson's Trading Co

224 km · 2h 11m driving · Overnight in Richardson's Trading Co
  1. 09:00
    KiMo Theatre· start
  2. 2.8 km · 8m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ El Rancho Hotel
  4. 221 km · 2h 3m
  5. 15:00
    Richardson's Trading Co· overnight
DAY15

Petrified Forest National Park → Wigwam Motel

225 km · 2h 25m driving · Overnight in Wigwam Motel
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Petrified Forest National Park· start
  2. 183 km · 1h 44m
  3. 12:00
    Painted Desert Inn
  4. 42 km · 41m
  5. 15:00
    Wigwam Motel· overnight
DAY16

Standin' on the Corner Park → Lowell Observatory

52 km · 34m driving · Overnight in Lowell Observatory
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Standin' on the Corner Park· start
  2. 52 km · 33m
  3. 12:00
    La Posada Hotel
  4. 0.3 km · 1m
  5. 15:00
    Lowell Observatory· overnight
DAY17

Mather Point → Williams

133 km · 1h 42m driving · Overnight in Williams
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Mather Point· start
  2. 129 km · 1h 33m
  3. 12:0014:00
    Bright Angel
  4. 3.7 km · 9m
  5. 15:00
    Williams· overnight
DAY18

Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Ro… → Oatman

165 km · 1h 36m driving · Overnight in Oatman Ghost Town
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Route 66 Gift Shop· start
  2. 68 km · 40m
  3. 12:00
    Hackberry General Store
  4. 97 km · 56m
  5. 15:00
    Oatman Ghost Town· overnight
DAY19

El Garces Train Station → California Route 66 Museum

169 km · 1h 56m driving · Overnight in California Route 66 Museum
  1. 09:00
    El Garces Train Station· start
  2. 37 km · 33m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Roy's Motel & Café
  4. 132 km · 1h 23m
  5. 15:00
    California Route 66 Museum· overnight
DAY20

First Original McDonald's Mus… → Santa Monica

152 km · 1h 38m driving
  1. 09:00
    First Original McDonald's Museum· start
  2. 64 km · 40m
  3. 12:00
    Fair Oaks Pharmacy
  4. 88 km · 58m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Santa Monica Pier
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Stay in St. Louis & Springfield, MO · Nights 4-6
  2. Stay in Santa Fe & Albuquerque · Nights 12-14
  3. Stay in Flagstaff & Williams · Nights 16-17
Heads Up
  • Purchase a detailed Route 66 atlas as GPS often redirects to modern Interstates.
  • Many historic gas stations and diners close early; plan to arrive before 5:00 PM.
  • Book historic motels like the Blue Swallow or Wigwam months in advance.
  • Be prepared for high-altitude desert driving in New Mexico and Arizona.