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Route 66 · 14 days

A classic Route 66 drive from Chicago to Santa Monica. Expect neon diners, roadside giants, Ozark caverns, Texas canyons, New Mexico pueblos and tramways, Arizona craters and starry skies, and the wild Oatman switchbacks before the Pacific pier.

14days
38stops
3934km

The route

Tap a day or a town

You sleep in Chicago · Springfield · St. Louis · Devil's Elbow · Tulsa · Oklahoma City · Amarillo · Adrian · Albuquerque · Holbrook · Flagstaff · Hackberry · Amboy — start in Chicago, end in Santa Monica.

DAY01

Cloud Gate → Chicago

3.4 km · 20m driving · Overnight in Chicago Riverwalk
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Cloud Gate· start
  2. 1.7 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Lou Mitchell's
  4. 1.7 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Chicago Riverwalk· overnight
DAY02

Gemini Giant → Cozy Dog Drive In

351 km · 3h 42m driving · Overnight in Cozy Dog Drive In
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Gemini Giant· start
  2. 258 km · 2h 43m
  3. 12:00
    Cozy Dog Drive In· overnight
DAY03

Chain of Rocks Bridge → Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

172 km · 1h 51m driving · Overnight in Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
  1. 09:00
    Chain of Rocks Bridge· start
  2. 18 km · 11m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Gateway Arch
  4. 11 km · 10m
  5. 15:00
    Ted Drewes Frozen Custard· overnight
DAY04

Meramec Caverns → Devil's Elbow

211 km · 2h 13m driving · Overnight in Devil's Elbow Bridge
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Meramec Caverns· start
  2. 114 km · 1h 12m
  3. 12:00
    Devil's Elbow Bridge· overnight
DAY05

Rainbow Bridge → Mother Road Market

485 km · 5h 7m driving · long drive · Overnight in Mother Road Market
  1. 09:00
    Rainbow Bridge· start
  2. 158 km · 1h 40m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Blue Whale of Catoosa
  4. 27 km · 17m
  5. 15:00
    Mother Road Market· overnight
DAY06

Arcadia → Bricktown Canal

195 km · 2h 12m driving · Overnight in Bricktown Canal
  1. 09:00
    Arcadia Round Barn· start
  2. 1.5 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ POPS 66
  4. 32 km · 20m
  5. 15:00
    Bricktown Canal· overnight
DAY07

U-Drop Inn → Big Texan Steak Ranch

464 km · 4h 53m driving · Overnight in Big Texan Steak Ranch
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ U-Drop Inn· start
  2. 164 km · 1h 44m
  3. 12:00
    Big Texan Steak Ranch· overnight
DAY08

Palo Duro Canyon → Midpoint Cafe

160 km · 1h 40m driving · Overnight in Midpoint Cafe
  1. 09:00
    Palo Duro Canyon· start
  2. 49 km · 31m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Cadillac Ranch
  4. 75 km · 47m
  5. 15:00
    Midpoint Cafe· overnight
DAY09

Blue Hole → Frontier Restaurant

444 km · 4h 40m driving · Overnight in Frontier Restaurant
  1. 09:00
    Blue Hole· start
  2. 200 km · 2h 6m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Sandia Peak Tramway
  4. 21 km · 13m
  5. 15:00
    Frontier Restaurant· overnight
DAY10

Acoma Sky City → Joe & Aggie's Cafe

397 km · 4h 10m driving · Overnight in Joe & Aggie's Cafe
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Acoma Sky City· start
  2. 242 km · 2h 33m
  3. 12:00
    Painted Desert
  4. 47 km · 29m
  5. 15:00
    Joe & Aggie's Cafe· overnight
DAY11

Meteor Crater → Lowell Observatory

240 km · 2h 33m driving · Overnight in Lowell Observatory
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Meteor Crater· start
  2. 36 km · 23m
  3. 12:00
    Turquoise Room
  4. 108 km · 1h 9m
  5. 15:00
    Lowell Observatory· overnight
DAY12

Delgadillo's Snow Cap → Hackberry

238 km · 2h 31m driving · Overnight in Hackberry General Store
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Delgadillo's Snow Cap· start
  2. 47 km · 30m
  3. 12:00
    Grand Canyon Caverns
  4. 58 km · 37m
  5. 15:00
    Hackberry General Store· overnight
DAY13

Sitgreaves Pass → Roy's Motel and Cafe

247 km · 2h 44m driving · Overnight in Roy's Motel and Cafe
  1. 09:00
    ⭐ Sitgreaves Pass· start
  2. 2.3 km · 10m
  3. 12:00
    Oatman
  4. 162 km · 1h 42m
  5. 15:00
    Roy's Motel and Cafe· overnight
DAY14

Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch → Santa Monica

327 km · 3h 26m driving
  1. 09:00
    Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch· start
  2. 151 km · 1h 35m
  3. 12:00
    ⭐ Santa Monica Pier
Heads Up
  • Day 5: 5h 7m driving — plan rest stops
  • Several original Route 66 segments are narrow or unpaved. Check local road conditions and keep fuel topped up across the Texas, Arizona and Mojave stretches.
  • Oatman's Sitgreaves Pass has tight hairpins without guardrails. Drive it in daylight and avoid it in large RVs.
  • Acoma Sky City is visited by guided tour only, and the Sandia Peak Tramway can close in high wind. Confirm hours before you go.
  • Desert days between Amboy and Barstow have few services, so carry water and expect patchy phone signal.