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Main Street of America: Route 66 Full Journey

Embark on the ultimate American road trip, spanning eight states and three time zones. This 14-day journey follows the historic 'Mother Road' from the skyscrapers of Chicago to the Pacific shores of Santa Monica. You will experience a curated collection of neon-lit diners, quirky roadside attractions, and preserved segments of the original highway, all while maintaining a relaxed pace that allows for spontaneous disc

14days
42stops
2941km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Chicago · Springfield · St. Louis · Galena · Arcadia · Shamrock · Adrian · Santa Fe · Albuquerque · Winslow · Williams · Oatman · San Bernardino — start in Chicago, end in Santa Monica.

DAY01

Route 66 Begin Sign → Art Institute of Chicago

7.4 km · 21m driving · Overnight in Art Institute of Chicago
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Route 66 Begin Sign· start
  2. 5.4 km · 12m
  3. 12:00
    Lou Mitchell's
  4. 1.9 km · 9m
  5. 15:00
    Art Institute of Chicago· overnight
DAY02

The Gemini Giant → Cozy Dog Drive In

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

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge → Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

186 km · 1h 46m driving · Overnight in Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Old Chain of Rocks Bridge· start
  2. 148 km · 1h 22m
  3. 12:00
    Gateway Arch National Park
  4. 38 km · 24m
  5. 15:00
    Ted Drewes Frozen Custard· overnight
DAY04

Meramec Caverns → Cars on the Route

453 km · 4h 27m driving · Overnight in Cars on the Route
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Meramec Caverns· start
  2. 104 km · 1h 6m
  3. 12:00
    66 Drive-In Theatre
  4. 349 km · 3h 21m
  5. 15:00
    Cars on the Route· overnight
DAY05

Blue Whale of Catoosa → POPS 66 Soda Ranch

176 km · 1h 45m driving · Overnight in POPS 66 Soda Ranch
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Blue Whale of Catoosa· start
  2. 151 km · 1h 25m
  3. 12:00
    Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66
  4. 26 km · 20m
  5. 15:00
    POPS 66 Soda Ranch· overnight
DAY06

Oklahoma Route 66 Museum → Tower Station and U-Drop Inn…

212 km · 2h 6m driving · Overnight in Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Oklahoma Route 66 Museum· start
  2. 173 km · 1h 39m
  3. 12:00
    Lucille's Service Station
  4. 39 km · 27m
  5. 15:00
    Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe· overnight
DAY07

Cadillac Ranch → Midpoint Café

187 km · 1h 47m driving · Overnight in Midpoint Café
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Cadillac Ranch· start
  2. 163 km · 1h 31m
  3. 12:00
    The Big Texan Steak Ranch
  4. 24 km · 16m
  5. 15:00
    Midpoint Café· overnight
DAY08

Blue Hole → Loretto Chapel

371 km · 3h 37m driving · Overnight in Loretto Chapel
  1. 09:00
    Blue Hole· start
  2. 196 km · 1h 48m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Fe Plaza
  4. 176 km · 1h 49m
  5. 15:00
    Loretto Chapel· overnight
DAY09

KiMo Theatre → Petroglyph National Monument

106 km · 1h 8m driving · Overnight in Petroglyph National Monument
  1. 09:00
    KiMo Theatre· start
  2. 103 km · 1h 1m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ 66 Diner
  4. 2.6 km · 7m
  5. 15:00
    Petroglyph National Monument· overnight
DAY10

Petrified Forest National Park → Standin' on the Corner Park

371 km · 3h 26m driving · Overnight in Standin' on the Corner Park
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Petrified Forest National Park· start
  2. 327 km · 2h 59m
  3. 12:00
    Wigwam Motel
  4. 45 km · 27m
  5. 15:00
    Standin' on the Corner Park· overnight
DAY11

Meteor Crater Interactive Cen… → Historic Downtown Williams

114 km · 1h 20m driving · Overnight in Historic Downtown Williams
  1. 09:00
    Meteor Crater Interactive Center· start
  2. 42 km · 30m
  3. 12:00
    Lowell Observatory
  4. 72 km · 50m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Historic Downtown Williams· overnight
DAY12

Delgadillo's Snow Cap → Oatman

165 km · 1h 36m driving · Overnight in Oatman Historic District
  1. 09:00
    Delgadillo's Snow Cap· start
  2. 68 km · 40m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hackberry General Store
  4. 97 km · 56m
  5. 15:00
    Oatman Historic District· overnight
DAY13

Roy's Motel & Café → Wigwam Motel No. 7

334 km · 3h 39m driving · Overnight in Wigwam Motel No. 7
  1. 09:00
    Roy's Motel & Café· start
  2. 166 km · 1h 52m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
  4. 168 km · 1h 47m
  5. 15:00
    Wigwam Motel No. 7· overnight
DAY14

The Original McDonald's Museum → Santa Monica

92 km · 1h 5m driving
  1. 09:00
    The Original McDonald's Museum· start
  2. 7.1 km · 12m
  3. 12:00
    Colorado Street Bridge
  4. 85 km · 53m
  5. 15:00
    ⭐ Santa Monica Pier
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Stay in Springfield, IL & MO · 2
  2. Stay in Santa Fe, NM · 2
  3. Stay in Williams or Seligman, AZ · 1
Heads Up
  • Purchase a physical Route 66 atlas as GPS can often lead you onto the parallel I-40 instead of the historic segments.
  • Many historic gas stations and diners close early; plan your lunch stops and photo ops before 4:00 PM.
  • Expect significant temperature swings from the humid Midwest to the high deserts of New Mexico and Arizona.
  • Check for local festivals; many Route 66 towns hold classic car shows during the summer months.