Last reviewed: · Prices in US Dollars ($ USD) are approximate and for orientation only.
Route at a glance
Follow the historic neon diners, giant roadside murals, Pueblo adobe plazas, and desert canyons along America's most famous highway from Chicago to Santa Monica Pier.
Estimated per-person budget ($2,850 – $4,600) covers mid-range hotels, intercity transport, timed attraction or national park passes ($80 America the Beautiful Pass), and daily dining including state sales tax and tip.
Day-by-day plan
Chicago: Route 66 Begin Sign (Adams & Michigan), River Cruise & Millennium Park
Snap a photo at the official Route 66 Begin sign across from the Art Institute of Chicago and take an architecture river cruise.
Chicago to Springfield, Illinois (200 mi): Pontiac Museum & Lincoln Sites
Stop at the Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac, Cozy Dog Drive In, and Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield.
Springfield to St. Louis, Missouri (100 mi): Chain of Rocks Bridge & Gateway Arch
Walk across the historic 22-degree bend of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi River and ride the tram to the top of the 630-foot Gateway Arch.
St. Louis through the Ozarks to Springfield, Missouri & Tulsa, Oklahoma
Follow scenic Meramec Caverns and rural Missouri alignments to Tulsa's Art Deco downtown and Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios.
Tulsa & Oklahoma City to Clinton, Oklahoma (Route 66 Museum)
Visit Arcadia's Round Barn (1898), Pops 66 Soda Ranch, and the flagship Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton.
Texas Panhandle (Amarillo & Cadillac Ranch) to Tucumcari, New Mexico
See the Conoco Tower Station in Shamrock, spray-paint the half-buried fins at Cadillac Ranch, and photograph the Blue Swallow Motel neon in Tucumcari.
Santa Rosa Blue Hole to Santa Fe, New Mexico (Historic Pre-1937 Loop)
Follow the original 1926 alignment north into Santa Fe (7,199 ft) for the 1610 Palace of the Governors, Canyon Road galleries, and red-and-green-chile New Mexican dining.
Santa Fe, Bandelier / Taos Pueblo & Albuquerque Central Avenue
Explore ancestral Pueblo cliff dwellings or Taos Pueblo (UNESCO) before cruising neon-lit Central Avenue in Albuquerque.
Acoma Sky City, Gallup & Petrified Forest / Painted Desert to Holbrook, Arizona
Drive through Petrified Forest National Park—the only national park containing a preserved segment of Historic Route 66—and see the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook.
Winslow ('Standin' on the Corner'), Meteor Crater & Flagstaff to Grand Canyon South Rim
Stop in Winslow and Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff before watching sunset over the Grand Canyon.
Grand Canyon Full Day & Historic Williams
Hike along the South Rim, visit Desert View Watchtower, and spend the evening among neon signs in Williams.
Seligman (Angel Delgadillo's Barber Shop), Hackberry General Store & Oatman to Kingman/Needles
Drive the longest continuous surviving stretch of original Route 66 (159 miles) past wild burros in the gold-mining town of Oatman.
Mojave Desert (Roy's Motel & Café in Amboy, Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch) to Pasadena
Cross the Mojave National Preserve and Cajon Pass onto Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena.
Hollywood Boulevard & Santa Monica Boulevard to the 'End of the Trail' Sign on Santa Monica Pier
Follow Santa Monica Boulevard to the Pacific Ocean, take your finish-line photo on Santa Monica Pier, and celebrate at sunset.
Transport, driving & pass notes
Designed for the mother road cross-country american odyssey (2,448 miles) travel. Compare train, flight, and road-trip costs in USD ($) using our Amtrak & Rail Pass Calculator, $80 National Parks Pass Calculator, and US Trip Budget Calculator.
What to book ahead
- Apply for your $21 ESTA at esta.cbp.dhs.gov at least 72 hours before departure (or verify visa validity).
- Book Amtrak Acela / Northeast Regional tickets or rental cars 4–8 weeks ahead for the lowest USD ($) rates.
- Reserve timed-entry slots for high-demand sights (Statue of Liberty Crown/Pedestal, Alcatraz, Capitol/White House tours, or Recreation.gov park entries) 30–90 days out.
Ways to adapt this route
- Add 1–2 buffer days if traveling during summer peak or Thanksgiving/Christmas holiday weeks.
- Use our interactive Itinerary Builder to customize stops and print your day-by-day plan.