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.
Chicago -> St. Louis -> Oklahoma City -> Amarillo -> Santa Fe -> Flagstaff -> Santa Monica
- Lou Mitchell's
- Route 66 Association Hall of Fame
- Lincoln Home National Historic Site
- Gateway Arch National Park
- Meramec Caverns
- Gay Parita Sinclair Station
- Blue Whale of Catoosa
- Arcadia Round Barn
Kickoff in the Windy City
Route 66 Begin Sign
Route 66 Begin Sign, Chicago, IL, US
Lou Mitchell's
Lou Mitchell's, Chicago, IL, US
Millennium Park
Millennium Park, Chicago, IL, US
Giants and Hall of Fame
The Gemini Giant
The Gemini Giant, Wilmington, IL, US
Route 66 Association Hall of Fame
Route 66 Association Hall of Fame, Pontiac, IL, US
Pontiac Murals
Pontiac Murals, Pontiac, IL, US
Lincoln and the Wagon Wheel
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield, IL, US
Cozy Dog Drive In
Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, IL, US
Ariston Café
Ariston Café, Litchfield, IL, US
Gateway to the West
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, St. Louis, MO, US
Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis, MO, US
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, St. Louis, MO, US
Caves and Murals of Missouri
Meramec Caverns
Meramec Caverns, Stanton, MO, US
Wagon Wheel Motel
Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, MO, US
Cuba Murals
Cuba Murals, Cuba, MO, US
Birthplace of Route 66
Devil's Elbow Bridge
Devil's Elbow Bridge, Devil's Elbow, MO, US
Gay Parita Sinclair Station
Gay Parita Sinclair Station, Ash Grove, MO, US
Springfield Route 66 Park
Springfield Route 66 Park, Springfield, MO, US
The Kansas Shortcut
Cars on the Route
Cars on the Route, Galena, KS, US
Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge, Baxter Springs, KS, US
Blue Whale of Catoosa
Blue Whale of Catoosa, Catoosa, OK, US
Tulsa Time and Round Barns
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios, Tulsa, OK, US
Arcadia Round Barn
Arcadia Round Barn, Arcadia, OK, US
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
Pops 66 Soda Ranch, Arcadia, OK, US
Oklahoma Plains and Museums
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oklahoma City National Memorial, Oklahoma City, OK, US
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, Clinton, OK, US
National Route 66 Museum
National Route 66 Museum, Elk City, OK, US
Into the Texas Panhandle
U-Drop Inn
U-Drop Inn, Shamrock, TX, US
Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, TX, US
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
The Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo, TX, US
The Midpoint and Neon Lights
Midpoint Café
Midpoint Café, Adrian, TX, US
Glenrio Ghost Town
Glenrio Ghost Town, Glenrio, NM, US
Blue Swallow Motel
Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari, NM, US
Santa Fe Side Trip
Blue Hole of Santa Rosa
Blue Hole of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa, NM, US
Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, NM, US
Canyon Road
Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM, US
High Desert Arts & Culture
Loretto Chapel
Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, NM, US
Meow Wolf Santa Fe
Meow Wolf Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM, US
Old Town Albuquerque
Old Town Albuquerque, Albuquerque, NM, US
Red Rocks and Trading Posts
KiMo Theatre
KiMo Theatre, Albuquerque, NM, US
El Rancho Hotel
El Rancho Hotel, Gallup, NM, US
Richardson's Trading Co
Richardson's Trading Co, Gallup, NM, US
Painted Desert & Wigwams
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook, AZ, US
Painted Desert Inn
Painted Desert Inn, Holbrook, AZ, US
Wigwam Motel
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ, US
Standin' on a Corner
Standin' on the Corner Park
Standin' on the Corner Park, Winslow, AZ, US
La Posada Hotel
La Posada Hotel, Winslow, AZ, US
Lowell Observatory
Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff, AZ, US
Grand Canyon Detour
Mather Point
Mather Point, Grand Canyon Village, AZ, US
Bright Angel Trailhead
Bright Angel Trailhead, Grand Canyon Village, AZ, US
Williams Visitor Center
Williams Visitor Center, Williams, AZ, US
Revival and Burros
Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Route 66 Gift Shop
Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Route 66 Gift Shop, Seligman, AZ, US
Hackberry General Store
Hackberry General Store, Hackberry, AZ, US
Oatman Ghost Town
Oatman Ghost Town, Oatman, AZ, US
Crossing the Mojave
El Garces Train Station
El Garces Train Station, Needles, CA, US
Roy's Motel & Café
Roy's Motel & Café, Amboy, CA, US
California Route 66 Museum
California Route 66 Museum, Victorville, CA, US
The End of the Trail
First Original McDonald's Museum
First Original McDonald's Museum, San Bernardino, CA, US
Fair Oaks Pharmacy
Fair Oaks Pharmacy, South Pasadena, CA, US
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA, US
- 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.