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.
- Route 66 Begin Sign
- Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
- Meramec Caverns
- Blue Whale of Catoosa
- Oklahoma City National Memorial
- U-Drop Inn Visitor Center
- Cadillac Ranch
- Santa Fe Plaza
Chicago Beginnings and Illinois Prairies
Route 66 Begin Sign
Route 66 Begin Sign, Chicago, Illinois, US
Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket
Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, Willowbrook, Illinois, US
Old Capitol Plaza
Old Capitol Plaza, Springfield, Illinois, US
Giant Statues and the Mississippi River
Pink Elephant Antique Mall
Pink Elephant Antique Mall, Livingston, Illinois, US
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Gateway Arch National Park
Gateway Arch National Park, St. Louis, Missouri, US
Ozark Mountains and Meramec Caverns
Meramec Caverns
Meramec Caverns, Stanton, Missouri, US
Cuba Murals
Cuba Murals, Cuba, Missouri, US
Route 66 Car Museum
Route 66 Car Museum, Springfield, Missouri, US
Kansas Corners and Oklahoma Neon
Cars on the Route
Cars on the Route, Galena, Kansas, US
Blue Whale of Catoosa
Blue Whale of Catoosa, Catoosa, Oklahoma, US
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios, Tulsa, Oklahoma, US
The Heart of Oklahoma History
Pops 66 Soda Ranch
Pops 66 Soda Ranch, Arcadia, Oklahoma, US
Oklahoma City National Memorial
Oklahoma City National Memorial, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, US
Lucille's Service Station
Lucille's Service Station, Hydro, Oklahoma, US
Entering the Texas Panhandle
National Route 66 Museum
National Route 66 Museum, Elk City, Oklahoma, US
U-Drop Inn Visitor Center
U-Drop Inn Visitor Center, Shamrock, Texas, US
The Big Texan Steak Ranch
The Big Texan Steak Ranch, Amarillo, Texas, US
Cadillacs and the Midpoint Cafe
Cadillac Ranch
Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas, US
Midpoint Cafe
Midpoint Cafe, Adrian, Texas, US
Tucumcari Main Street
Tucumcari Main Street, Tucumcari, New Mexico, US
High Desert and Santa Fe Detour
Blue Swallow Motel
Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico, US
Santa Fe Plaza
Santa Fe Plaza, Santa Fe, New Mexico, US
Old Town Albuquerque
Old Town Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico, US
Red Rocks and Painted Deserts
El Rancho Hotel
El Rancho Hotel, Gallup, New Mexico, US
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park, Holbrook, Arizona, US
Wigwam Motel
Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona, US
Standing on a Corner in Winslow
Standin' on the Corner Park
Standin' on the Corner Park, Winslow, Arizona, US
Meteor Crater Natural Landmark
Meteor Crater Natural Landmark, Winslow, Arizona, US
Flagstaff Visitor Center
Flagstaff Visitor Center, Flagstaff, Arizona, US
The Longest Remaining Stretch
Delgadillo's Snow Cap
Delgadillo's Snow Cap, Seligman, Arizona, US
Hackberry General Store
Hackberry General Store, Hackberry, Arizona, US
Kingman Visitor Center
Kingman Visitor Center, Kingman, Arizona, US
Wild Burros and Mojave Sands
Oatman Highway (Sitgreaves Pass)
Oatman Highway (Sitgreaves Pass), Oatman, Arizona, US
Oatman Ghost Town
Oatman Ghost Town, Oatman, Arizona, US
Needles Visitor Center
Needles Visitor Center, Needles, California, US
Desert Icons and Bottle Trees
Roy's Motel & Café
Roy's Motel & Café, Amboy, California, US
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch, Oro Grande, California, US
California Route 66 Museum
California Route 66 Museum, Victorville, California, US
The End of the Trail
Original McDonald's Site Museum
Original McDonald's Site Museum, San Bernardino, California, US
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, California, US
Route 66 End Sign
Route 66 End Sign, Santa Monica, California, US
- 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.