📍 United States

ROUTE 66: MOTHER ROAD FROM CHICAGO TO PACIFIC DREAMS

Vintage neon blinking above motels, Art Deco towers guarding main streets, endless highway stretching toward sunset. Route 66 lives.

≈ 18
Days
3969
Km
13
Stops
📖 8 min read 🔄 Last updated: 2026-01-17

Start in Chicago on Adams Street, then follow Route 66 through Springfield and its retro addresses. Stop at Tulsa and its Art Deco facades, cross the Texas Panhandle and the spirit of wide spaces, then pass through Tucumcari and its vintage motels. End at Santa Monica, where the ocean signs the end of the American myth.

Your day-by-day itinerary

1
Day

Chicago

route 66 begins on adams street steel canyon

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5 photos
Day 1
🔍

Discover

1
Cloud Gate (Millennium Park) – quick photo-stop
2
Art Institute of Chicago – overview of the collections
3
Navy Pier – evening stroll
🎯

Activities

→
Selfie at the 'Begin Historic Route 66' sign (Adams St & Michigan Ave)
→
Dinner with lake view at Navy Pier (restaurant area)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 325 km
Travel time: 3h20
2
Day

Springfield

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4 photos
Day 2
🔍

Discover

1
Joliet – Rialto Square Theatre (facade and lobby)
2
Wilmington – Gemini Giant site (under restoration, historic point of interest)
3
Dwight – Ambler's Texaco Gas Station (restored station)
4
Pontiac – Route 66 murals and mini car sculptures
+2 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Chicago – breakfast at Lou Mitchell's or Pittsfield Cafe
→
Drive-in movie evening in Springfield (depending on programming)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 290 km
Travel time: 3h30
3
Day

Cuba

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9 photos
Day 3
🔍

Discover

1
Collinsville, IL – World's Largest Catsup Bottle (photo-stop)
2
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site – walk on the mounds (UNESCO)
3
St. Louis – Gateway Arch National Park (museum + exterior photos)
4
Cuba, MO – murals in downtown
🎯

Activities

→
Litchfield – lunch at the historic Ariston Cafe
→
St. Louis – sweet break at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 460 km
Travel time: 4h45
4
Day

Tulsa

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9 photos
Day 4
🔍

Discover

1
Springfield, MO – Red's Giant Hamburg (historic drive-thru, kitsch interior)
2
Galena, KS – Cars on the Route (Tow Mater) and Gearhead Curios
3
Riverton, KS – Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store (general store)
4
Catoosa, OK – Blue Whale (Route 66 icon)
+1 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Tulsa – souvenir shopping at Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios
→
Dinner at Tally's Good Food Cafe or Mother Road Market
✈️
Next stop
✈️ Flight / transfer day
Distance: 610 km
Travel time: 6h
5
Day

Amarillo

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10 photos
Day 5
🔍

Discover

1
Stroud, OK – Rock Cafe (inspiring site for the character Sally from Cars)
2
Arcadia, OK – Round Barn (round barn from 1898)
3
Arcadia, OK – POPS 66 (soda collection + giant bottle sculpture)
4
Clinton, OK – Oklahoma Route 66 Museum (immersive journey by decades)
+2 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Amarillo – dinner (e.g. The Big Texan) or historic downtown 6th St
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 320 km
Travel time: 3h30
6
Day

Tucumcari

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10 photos
Day 6
🔍

Discover

1
McLean, TX – Devil's Rope Museum (barbed wire and tools museum)
2
Amarillo – Cadillac Ranch (art installation, free spray-paint)
3
Palo Duro Canyon State Park – scenic drive and viewpoints
4
Tucumcari – Blue Swallow Motel (historic motor court, neon signs)
🎯

Activities

→
Amarillo – lunch (Yellow City Street Food or 6th St)
→
Tucumcari – neon stroll on Route 66 (evening)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 180 km
Travel time: 2h
7
Day

Albuquerque

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10 photos
Day 7
🔍

Discover

1
Tucumcari – Del's Restaurant (iconic breakfast, cow on the sign)
2
Santa Fe – Meow Wolf: House of Eternal Return (immersive)
3
Albuquerque – Sawmill Market (food hall) – stroll
🎯

Activities

→
Albuquerque – Sandia Peak Tramway (sunset from the ridge)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 380 km
Travel time: 4h
8
Day

Albuquerque

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10 photos
Day 8
🔍

Discover

1
Petroglyph National Monument – Boca Negra Canyon (paved trails, ~100 petroglyphs)
2
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center – museum + dances (depending on day)
3
National Museum of Nuclear Science & History – Cold War/nuclear exhibitions
🎯

Activities

→
Tex-mex lunch at Los Compadres (chiles rellenos, red/green sauce)
→
Bombs Away Beer Company – tasting (near the nuclear museum)
9
Day

Winslow

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10 photos
Day 9
🔍

Discover

1
Continental Divide – stop at the marker (west/east hydrological)
2
Gallup – El Rancho Hotel (historic lobby + lunch)
3
Yellowhorse Trading Post (at the AZ border) – handicrafts
4
Petrified Forest National Park & Painted Desert – scenic drive + short loops
+1 Places visited
🎯

Activities

→
Winslow – Standing on the Corner Park (photo-stop)
→
La Posada – stroll through the gardens (evening)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 380 km
Travel time: 3h45
10
Day

Flagstaff

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8 photos
Day 10
🔍

Discover

1
Grand Canyon National Park – Mather Point (first view + visitor center)
2
Grand Canyon – Bright Angel Trail (partial descent to the 1st rest house ~1.5 mi partial round trip)
3
Grand Canyon – Yavapai Point (sunset)
🎯

Activities

→
Winslow – breakfast at Turquoise Room (La Posada)
→
Lunch in the park (Harvey House Cafe or picnic)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 300 km
Travel time: 3h45
11
Day

Kingman

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6 photos
Day 11
🔍

Discover

1
Flagstaff – Nordic Spa (HCL): sauna + cold plunge + jacuzzi (reserved slot)
2
Seligman – Delgadillo's Snow Cap (lunch and retro atmosphere)
3
Seligman – Seligman Sundries / The Rusty Bolt (memorabilia shops)
4
Hackberry – Hackberry General Store (photo ops, vintage pumps)
+1 Places visited
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 240 km
Travel time: 2h30
12
Day

San Bernardino

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10 photos
Day 12
🔍

Discover

1
Needles – El Garces (restored Harvey House) – quick visit
2
Calico Ghost Town – restored buildings (car-free walk)
3
Oro Grande – Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch (folk art installation)
🎯

Activities

→
Needles – lunch break (Wagon Wheel or equivalent)
→
San Bernardino – dinner at Mitla Cafe (institution since 1937)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 360 km
Travel time: 4h
13
Day

Santa Monica

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8 photos
Day 13
🔍

Discover

1
Rancho Cucamonga – Cucamonga Service Station (volunteer museum)
2
Monrovia – Le Roy's (lunch XXL portions, 70s atmosphere)
3
Santa Monica Pier – 'End of Route 66' sign, historic carousel, arcade
4
Pacific Park – ferris wheel (ocean view)
🎯

Activities

→
Quick Los Angeles option – photo stop Griffith Park / Hollywood sign (depending on traffic/time)
→
Seafood dinner at The Albright (pier)
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 110 km
Travel time: 2h
14
Day

Los Angeles

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9 photos
Day 14
🔍

Discover

1
Santa Monica – last beach walk / morning coffee
🚗
Next stop
Distance: 14 km
Travel time: 30min

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🛡️ Travel advice - United States

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❓ Frequently asked questions

What weather should you expect?

Spring (April-May): Perfect weather across most regions (15-25°C) with blooming landscapes, moderate crowds, and excellent conditions for national parks and cities. Ideal for diverse activities nationwide.

Autumn (September-October): Excellent temperatures with spectacular fall foliage, harvest festivals, and comfortable weather. Perfect for outdoor activities, cultural events, fewer crowds than summer.

Summer (June-August): Peak season with warmest weather but highest crowds and prices. Excellent for northern regions, challenging in southwestern deserts, perfect for beaches and national parks.

Winter (December-February): Variable conditions from tropical Florida to snowy Colorado. Perfect for skiing, southern destinations, indoor attractions, lowest prices outside holiday periods.

How many days should I plan?

We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 14 and 22 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.

What to discover in United States?

Continental diversity with iconic landmarks, cultural melting pot, and endless possibilities. Experience natural wonders, vibrant cities, and authentic American dreams from coast to coast. The country offers incredible diversity with modern amenities and cultural richness. United States provides life-changing experiences with natural beauty and cultural authenticity.