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The Mother Road: Chicago to Santa Monica
A nostalgic 14-day journey across eight states following the historic Route 66. Experience the neon signs, classic diners, and quirky roadside Americana that defined 20th-century travel from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast.
14days
42stops
2862km
Day 1: Route 66 Begin Sign → Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket → Old Capitol Plaza
3h 13min · 329km3 stops
Route 66 Begin Sign
09:00 – 11:00
31min · 38km
Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket
12:00 – 14:00
2h 42min · 291km
Old Capitol Plaza
15:00 – 17:00
Day 2: Pink Elephant Antique Mall → Old Chain of Rocks Bridge → Gateway Arch National Park
1h 31min · 153km3 stops
Pink Elephant Antique Mall
09:00 – 11:00
58min · 97km
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
12:00 – 14:00
33min · 56km
Gateway Arch National Park
15:00 – 17:00
Day 3: Meramec Caverns → Cuba Murals → Route 66 Car Museum
1h 36min · 148km3 stops
Meramec Caverns
09:00 – 11:00
1h 6min · 106km
Cuba Murals
12:00 – 14:00
30min · 43km
Route 66 Car Museum
15:00 – 17:00
Day 4: Cars on the Route → Blue Whale of Catoosa → Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
2h 46min · 284km3 stops
Cars on the Route
09:00 – 11:00
1h 21min · 134km
Blue Whale of Catoosa
12:00 – 14:00
1h 25min · 151km
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
15:00 – 17:00
Day 5: Pops 66 Soda Ranch → Oklahoma City National Memori… → Lucille's Service Station
1h 49min · 179km3 stops
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
09:00 – 11:00
1h 24min · 145km
Oklahoma City National Memorial
12:00 – 14:00
25min · 34km
Lucille's Service Station
15:00 – 17:00
Day 6: National Route 66 Museum → U-Drop Inn → The Big Texan Steak Ranch
1h 38min · 166km3 stops
National Route 66 Museum
09:00 – 11:00
50min · 82km
U-Drop Inn
12:00 – 14:00
48min · 83km
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
15:00 – 17:00
Day 7: Cadillac Ranch → Midpoint Cafe → Tucumcari Main Street
52min · 85km3 stops
Cadillac Ranch
09:00 – 11:00
16min · 22km
Midpoint Cafe
12:00 – 14:00
36min · 64km
Tucumcari Main Street
15:00 – 17:00
Day 8: Blue Swallow Motel → Santa Fe Plaza → Old Town Albuquerque
2h 42min · 270km3 stops
Blue Swallow Motel
09:00 – 11:00
4min · 1.8km
Santa Fe Plaza
12:00 – 14:00
2h 38min · 268km
Old Town Albuquerque
15:00 – 17:00
Day 9: El Rancho Hotel → Petrified Forest National Park → Wigwam Motel
3h 42min · 402km3 stops
El Rancho Hotel
09:00 – 11:00
1h 59min · 217km
Petrified Forest National Park
12:00 – 14:00
1h 43min · 185km
Wigwam Motel
15:00 – 17:00
Day 10: Standin' on the Corner Park → Meteor Crater Natural Landmark → Flagstaff
1h 2min · 93km3 stops
Standin' on the Corner Park
09:00 – 11:00
33min · 52km
Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
12:00 – 14:00
29min · 42km
Flagstaff
15:00 – 17:00
Day 11: Delgadillo's Snow Cap → Hackberry General Store → Kingman
2h 7min · 218km3 stops
Delgadillo's Snow Cap
09:00 – 11:00
1h 11min · 121km
Hackberry General Store
12:00 – 14:00
56min · 97km
Kingman
15:00 – 17:00
Day 12: Oatman Highway (Sitgreaves Pa… → Oatman Ghost Town → Needles
50min · 46km3 stops
Oatman Highway (Sitgreaves Pass)
09:00 – 11:00
49min · 46km
Oatman Ghost Town
12:00 – 14:00
1min · 0.2km
Needles
15:00 – 17:00
Day 13: Roy's Motel & Café → Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch → California Route 66 Museum
3h 11min · 300km3 stops
Roy's Motel & Café
09:00 – 11:00
1h 23min · 132km
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
12:00 – 14:00
1h 48min · 168km
California Route 66 Museum
15:00 – 17:00
Day 14: Original McDonald's Site Muse… → Santa Monica Pier → Route 66 End Sign
2h 3min · 187km3 stops
Original McDonald's Site Museum
09:00 – 11:00
40min · 64km
Santa Monica Pier
12:00 – 14:00
1h 23min · 124km
Route 66 End Sign
15:00 – 17:00
Heads Up
- 1. Many historic segments are disconnected; follow the 'Historic Route 66' brown signs rather than just GPS.
- 2. Check seasonal hours for small-town museums and diners, as some operate on limited schedules outside of peak summer.
- 3. Book iconic roadside motels like the Wigwam or Blue Swallow several months in advance for 2026.
- 4. Carry a physical atlas or offline maps as cell service can be spotty in the Mojave Desert and rural Oklahoma.