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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
2860km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Springfield · St. Louis · Springfield · Tulsa · Hydro · Amarillo · Tucumcari · Albuquerque · Holbrook · Flagstaff · Kingman · Needles · Victorville — start in Chicago, end in Santa Monica.

DAY01

Route 66 Begin Sign → Old Capitol Plaza

329 km · 3h 13m driving · Overnight in Old Capitol Plaza
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Route 66 Begin Sign· start
  2. 38 km · 31m
  3. 12:00
    Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket
  4. 291 km · 2h 42m
  5. 15:00
    Old Capitol Plaza· overnight
DAY02

Pink Elephant Antique Mall → Gateway Arch National Park

153 km · 1h 31m driving · Overnight in Gateway Arch National Park
  1. 09:00
    Pink Elephant Antique Mall· start
  2. 97 km · 58m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
  4. 56 km · 33m
  5. 15:00
    Gateway Arch National Park· overnight
DAY03

Meramec Caverns → Route 66 Car Museum

148 km · 1h 36m driving · Overnight in Route 66 Car Museum
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Meramec Caverns· start
  2. 106 km · 1h 6m
  3. 12:00
    Cuba Murals
  4. 43 km · 30m
  5. 15:00
    Route 66 Car Museum· overnight
DAY04

Cars on the Route → Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios

284 km · 2h 46m driving · Overnight in Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
  1. 09:00
    Cars on the Route· start
  2. 134 km · 1h 21m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Blue Whale of Catoosa
  4. 151 km · 1h 25m
  5. 15:00
    Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios· overnight
DAY05

Pops 66 Soda Ranch → Lucille's Service Station

179 km · 1h 49m driving · Overnight in Lucille's Service Station
  1. 09:00
    Pops 66 Soda Ranch· start
  2. 145 km · 1h 24m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Oklahoma City National Memorial
  4. 34 km · 25m
  5. 15:00
    Lucille's Service Station· overnight
DAY06

National Route 66 Museum → The Big Texan Steak Ranch

166 km · 1h 38m driving · Overnight in The Big Texan Steak Ranch
  1. 09:00
    National Route 66 Museum· start
  2. 82 km · 50m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ U-Drop Inn
  4. 83 km · 48m
  5. 15:00
    The Big Texan Steak Ranch· overnight
DAY07

Cadillac Ranch → Tucumcari

85 km · 52m driving · Overnight in Tucumcari Main Street
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Cadillac Ranch· start
  2. 22 km · 16m
  3. 12:00
    Midpoint Cafe
  4. 64 km · 36m
  5. 15:00
    Tucumcari Main Street· overnight
DAY08

Blue Swallow Motel → Old Town Albuquerque

270 km · 2h 42m driving · Overnight in Old Town Albuquerque
  1. 09:00
    Blue Swallow Motel· start
  2. 1.8 km · 4m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Fe Plaza
  4. 268 km · 2h 38m
  5. 15:00
    Old Town Albuquerque· overnight
DAY09

El Rancho Hotel → Wigwam Motel

402 km · 3h 42m driving · Overnight in Wigwam Motel
  1. 09:00
    El Rancho Hotel· start
  2. 217 km · 1h 59m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Petrified Forest National Park
  4. 185 km · 1h 43m
  5. 15:00
    Wigwam Motel· overnight
DAY10

Standin' on the Corner Park → Flagstaff

93 km · 1h 2m driving · Overnight in Flagstaff
  1. 09:00
    Standin' on the Corner Park· start
  2. 52 km · 33m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
  4. 42 km · 29m
  5. 15:00
    Flagstaff· overnight
DAY11

Delgadillo's Snow Cap → Kingman

218 km · 2h 7m driving · Overnight in Kingman
  1. 09:00
    Delgadillo's Snow Cap· start
  2. 121 km · 1h 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Hackberry General Store
  4. 97 km · 56m
  5. 15:00
    Kingman· overnight
DAY12

Oatman → Needles

46 km · 50m driving · Overnight in Needles
  1. 09:00
    Oatman Highway (Sitgreaves Pass)· start
  2. 46 km · 49m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Oatman Ghost Town
  4. 0.2 km · 1m
  5. 15:00
    Needles· overnight
DAY13

Roy's Motel & Café → California Route 66 Museum

300 km · 3h 11m driving · Overnight in California Route 66 Museum
  1. 09:00
    Roy's Motel & Café· start
  2. 132 km · 1h 23m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
  4. 168 km · 1h 48m
  5. 15:00
    California Route 66 Museum· overnight
DAY14

Original McDonald's Site Muse… → Route 66 End Sign

187 km · 2h 3m driving
  1. 09:00
    Original McDonald's Site Museum· start
  2. 64 km · 40m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Monica Pier
  4. 124 km · 1h 23m
  5. 15:00
    Route 66 End Sign
Booking timeline
Book these before you go
  1. Day 1Stay in Springfield · Night 1
  2. Day 2Stay in St. Louis · Night 2
  3. Day 3Stay in Springfield · Night 3
  4. Day 4Stay in Tulsa · Night 4
  5. Day 5Stay in Hydro · Night 5
  6. Day 6Stay in Amarillo · Night 6
  7. Day 7Stay in Tucumcari · Night 7
  8. Day 8Stay in Albuquerque · Night 8
Heads Up
  • Many historic segments are disconnected; follow the 'Historic Route 66' brown signs rather than just GPS.
  • Check seasonal hours for small-town museums and diners, as some operate on limited schedules outside of peak summer.
  • Book iconic roadside motels like the Wigwam or Blue Swallow several months in advance for 2026.
  • Carry a physical atlas or offline maps as cell service can be spotty in the Mojave Desert and rural Oklahoma.