Plus your entire music library on all your devices. I like to make and play games, I hope you like the content! No Operating System. 2 offers from $25.99. H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2019 with 4% Refund Bonus Offer PC/Mac Disc. A USB GPS and the Route 66 Europe 2004 software. Portugal seems to be one of the least mapped countries of the EU, but Route 66 did have all the main roads - albeit slightly outdated - in it. These dates are approximate because Route 66 was continually being moved, re-routed, improved and changed. But it will help you understand in which order the alignments were made. There are more Route 66 maps on the next page in Google Maps format. This map shows most of the alignments that Route 66.

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Travel Guide to Historic Route 66: The Mother Road

Route 66 was one of the United State's first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west.

'The Mother Road' was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.

From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed south through Illinois and Missouri, and a small section of southeast Kansas.

From there it turned in a more westward direction through Oklahoma and Texas, with the final stretches in New Mexico and Arizona before its termination point in Los Angeles.

Alignments of the road changed often over the years, as improved sections of highway were constructed. In the early years many sections connected only one small town to the next, and had no official federal route number. Over time the route was formalized as a Federal Highway numbered as 'U.S. 66'.

We've had the pleasure of driving in all eight states along Route 66, The Main Street of America!

Included on this website are photographs, personal experiences, commentary and travel recommendations on the various segments of the Mother Road. We hope that this site will help planning your next vacation or holiday, and get Route 66 checked off your bucket list of destinations!

The Lore of Route 66: The Main Street of America

Route 66 became one of the most famous roads in the United States, outdistancing others such as the Lincoln Highway.

It is popular lore in movies, songs, books like 'The Grapes of Wrath', and TV shows.

The legendary highway was known far and wide for its variety of 'mom and pop' motels, neon lights, drive-ins, quirky roadside attractions, flat tires, cars with no air conditioning, dangerous curves, steep hills, and narrow lanes.

The movie 'Easy Rider' was filmed at several locations along Route 66. The move 'Thelma and Louise' also featured Route 66 references and scenes.

The popularity stuck, and continues to grow today!

Route 66 Map from Chicago to Santa Monica

Map of Historic Route 66 from Illinois to California

Route 66: The TV Show

A popular television show during the early 1960s bore the road's name: 'Route 66'. Starring George Maharis as Buz, and Martin Milner as Tod, the two young adventurers drove the road in their Chevrolet Corvette for 116 episodes.

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Despite the name of the series, most episodes did NOT take place on the historic road, but in 25 different U.S. states.

The show was filmed mostly on location, and became known for its cinematography. A long list of well-known actors and actresses appeared on the series.

The show ran from October, 1960, through March, 1964, and created a huge following.

The interest in the show continues today by 'Baby Boomers' who remember the original showings, and new generations of viewers fascinated by the show who watch it on DVD.

Road Trip Travel Guides for Various States Along Route 66

Planning a road trip on Route 66? Here are the travel guides and reviews by state...

Road Trip Travel Guides for Popular Route 66 Segments

List of Route 66 Mileage by State (1926 Alignment)

The Demise of Route 66

Route 66 underwent many improvements and realignments during its lifetime.

The passage of the Federal Highway Act of 1956 sounded the death knell for the old road, and gradually segments were replaced with new, safer and faster superhighways.

Its final demise was the completion of the Interstate Highway System. The last town by-passed by the Interstate system was Williams, Arizona, on October 13, 1984.

Subsequently, U.S. Route 66 was officially removed from the United States Highway System on June 27, 1985.

Route 66 was replaced by five Interstates: I-55 southbound from Chicago, I-44 across Missouri and Oklahoma, I-40 in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, I-15 and finally I-10 into Los Angeles.

Route 66 Today

Today, several states recognize the historical significance of the road, and have it marked with '66' in the state highway number. 'Historic Route 66 Associations' are active in several states.

The road is also a major tourist attraction, so many states openly market attractions and lodging along the old route.

The old road still traverses dozens of small towns with vintage gas stations, quirky tourist attractions, diners, 'Mop & Pop' motels, historic sites & museums, stunning vistas, and gift shops

Touring Route 66 by Auto, Bus, or RV

Different people choose different modes of transportation to tour the Mother Road. While some elect guided bus tours, or drive their own vehicles, others seek new destinations in their RV or motor home.

And for those that don't own an RV yet, companies like Cruise America, El Monte RV Rentals, Road Bear RV Rentals, and Camping World offer a variety of RV sizes and rental plans.

Touring Route 66 by Motorcycle

Get your motor running! Get out on the highway!

Many travelers on Route 66 rent motorcycles to seek new open-air adventures on their USA road trip!

A variety of motorcycle rental plans are available, such as those from Eaglerider Motorcycle Rentals.

Out West, your motorcycle can be picked up at a number of rental locations in Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. If you are starting your Route 66 trip further north, motorcycle pickup locations in Illinois are available.

Model options are plentiful, and cycles from manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson and Indian are available. Trikes can also be rented.

If you don't want to ride independently, choose from one of many guided motorcycle tours. Self-drive tours often include rental of the motorcycle, hotel reservations and detailed tour route information.

Some companies offer one-way rentals, hotel pickups, luggage storage, helmets and other amenities.

Route 66: The Song

The song 'Get Your Kicks on Route 66' was composed by songwriter Bobby Troup in 1946.

It was first recorded by Nat King Cole, and sung by other singers over the years including Chuck Berry, Perry Como, and the Rolling Stones.

If you ever plan to motor west,
travel my way, take the highway that is best.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.
It winds from Chicago to LA,
more than two thousand miles all the way.
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

Now you go through Saint Looey
Joplin, Missouri,
and Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.
You see Amarillo,
Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona.
Don't forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernandino.
Won't you get hip to this timely tip:
when you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route sixty-six.

Highlights of Attractions and Cities Along Route 66

Along the length of Route 66, there are hundreds, probably thousands of attractions. And there are dozens of cities and towns.

Different travelers have different interests, so we can't list everything. But here are a few favorites! Let's get on the Road ... starting in Chicago, Illinois, and heading west through eight states to Santa Monica, California.

Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac, Illinois

The museum is a repository for thousands of pieces of historic memorabilia from the glory days of the Mother Road.

This is a great place to learn the history of Route 66 in Illinois, see images of the road's wonderful history, and hear a few great stories about life in America when Route 66 was the most important highway in the nation.

It is located at 115 W. Howard Street in Pontiac.

Joplin, Missouri

The mural at Pearl Brothers Hardware in downtown Joplin, Missouri

Cars on the Route in Galena, Kansas

Cars on the Route is located in a restored Kan-O-Tex service station at 119 North Main Street in Galena.

Formerly known as '4 Women on the Route', the attraction sells sandwiches, antiques, Route 66 memorabilia and work by local artists.

It has connections with the movie 'Cars' featuring the rusted tow truck 'Tow Tater' and other restored vehicles on display.

Lucille's Service Station and Roadhouse, in Hydro, Oklahoma

Lucille's Service Station, a classic gas station built in 1929 along Route 66 near Hydro, is one of only two upper-story, out-thrust porch style stations left on Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66.

In 1941, the Hamons family took over the operation of the station and Lucille Hamons, ran the business for 60 years.

Lucille, who quickly became known for her friendly assistance to motorists, earned the nickname 'Mother of the Mother Road.'

Phillips 66 Gas Station in McLean, Texas

Dozens of old gas stations were located along Route 66 ... like this one. Shown here is a vintage Phillips 66 Service Station in McLean, Texas. The early Philliips stations, like the one in McLean, were designed in the 'Cottage Look' to blend with local residential neighborhoods.

Located at 218 West First Street.

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas

Route 66 is known for its quirky and unusual attractions. Shown here is one of those, the Cadillac Ranch, just west of Amarillo, on present-day I-40.

Access is from the service road on the south side of the interstate. Park and walk across the field ... free admission.

And be sure to bring a can of spray paint!

A Texas Ghost Town

Sitting directly on the Texas - New Mexico border at Exit 0 is the abandoned ghost town of Glenrio.

The townsite still has noticeable traces of Route 66 and the motels and restaurants that used to thrive there before the arrival of I-40.

Today it includes the Glenrio Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The district emcompasses the Route 66 roadbed and 17 abandoned structures.

Remains can still be seen of an old motel, cafe, service station, the post office, and a few other buildings, as well as the old Route 66 roadbed.

Tucumcari, New Mexico

The 'Dodge and Cowboy' mural in Tucumcari, New Mexico

Angel & Vilma's in Seligman, Arizona

In 1972, Angel Delgadillo moved his barber shop so that he could take advantage of the traffic on the new alignment of Route 66 through Seligman.

Business was good until September of 1978, when I-40 bypassed Seligman.

To stimulate tourism, Angel, his wife Vilma, and other shop owners in northwest Arizona established the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. The Association was located in Angel's Barber Shop & Pool Hall.

His work helped make Seligman 'The Birthplace of Historic Route 66'.

Elvis and friend take a break along Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona

Amboy, California

Roy's Motel and Cafe in Amboy, California

Santa Monica, California

The original terminus of U.S. Route 66 was at 7th and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. However, over the years, and decades, Route 66 has had several “official” and “unofficial' ending points.

The route was later extended to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards in Santa Monica, about one mile from the Pacific Ocean. This is often referred to as the official ending point of Route 66.

Since this locale can be disappointing after the long journey from Chicago, the Route 66 Alliance partnered with the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation in 2009 to mount an unofficial “End of the Trail” sign on the pier, seen below in 2020.

Popular Stops and Attractions Along Route 66

More Route 66 and Travel-Related Resources

Plan your Route 66 Road Trip

Definition of Plan
'Noun. A set of actions that have been thought of as a way to do or achieve something'

Your Vacation on U.S. Highway 66

Just like you would do for any other vacation, you will have to gather information to plan your Route 66 trip.

This means you have to do some research, read tips and suggestions to learn more about the attractions that you will enjoy during your journey.

Actually, planning a trip along US 66 is part of the fun.

The four steps that we outline below combined with our Route 66 Route Planner Tool will help you design the perfect Route 66 Road trip.

How to Plan a Route 66 Trip

Step-by-step list

Our step-by-step checklist will help you to outline your journey and consider everything that you should take into account when planning your trip.

1. Collect information and analyze it

You should first learn about your destination (in this Route 66 is the destination):

A map and Route 66: start living your adventure!

• What are the main sights and attractions?
• When will we drive it, summer, fall, spring?
• What sort of weather will you encounter during that season?
• Will you drive the whole Route 66 or part of it?
• Check a map to identify the main places you will visit (Grand Canyon? Petrified Forest? side trip to Las Vegas?)
• Drive the original alignment or stick to the freeway and only stop at the interesting cities?

These basic questions will help you to outline your trip and gather information.

If you have friends who have done the trip, ask them about their experience both planning their trip and enjoying it, and also, what they would have skipped and what they are sorry they did not visit during their vacations.

Write a rough outline of the trip, and a 'wish list' of must-see sights.

You can gather all of your Route 66 vacation planning data here in our website; check the following links:

• Route 66 itinerary planner, an itinerary of the mother road, from Chicago to Los Angeles
• Towns & Cities a link to each and every town along Route 66. You will find all the attractions and sights of that town.
• Attractions a complete list with links to all the attractions and landmarks: motels, diners, gas stations and Route 66 classic sights, listed by state.
• Historic Sites all the 'historic places' along US 66, listed by state.
• State by State a summary of each the top 10 sights in each state along the Mother Road
• National & State Parks for those interested in outdoors and nature

Step 1 outcome: A first outline of your trip

You now have a rough outline of where your trip will start and end; the towns, attractions, landmarks, must-see places and other sights. Now you can write down an initial draft of your Route 66 trip plan.

The next step will be to try to fit your initial plan into your allocated time frame, see Step 2 below

The Best Tips to Plan your Road Trip

Free E-Book

A beginners guide to planning a relaxing road trip

Here is what you will find inside:

• How to calculate your budget
• When to travel
• How to define the length of your trip
• Getting to your Road Trip
• A Check list
• Don't forget the Side Trips!
• What to Pack
• Plan it or go with the flow?
• Hotel bookings

Step 2. How long will your trip be?

How much time do you need for it?

How much time can you spare? Your trip will change depending on how much time you have available.

But don't be discouraged, a one-week or a one-month trip can be planned so that you can pack as much fun and adventure as possible into it; it all depends on how you Plan your Route 66 road trip.

a. Getting to Route 66

In step one you defined the possible starting and ending cities of your road trip; now you can use our Route 66 Road Trip Planner to check their location on the map, and see the distance and driving time between them.

Also, start thinking about getting from your home to the starting point and from the end point back home.

International Visitors

In case you have to fly to Route66, it will come in handy to see which options are available regarding flights and which are the airports closest to the Route 66 start & end points of your journey:

See our Flights page, with full information on flights and airports.

Check out our International Visitors page for useful travel tips.

Factor in the time it will take you to get to US 66. A visitor from the UK will need to calculate the flight times from Britain to the U.S., and the connecting flight to the point where you will start your trip. And then, the return flights to get back home.

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A U.S. road-tripper or a Canadian one may choose to drive instead. Calculate the time you will need to 'Go to and from Route 66'.

Actual Driving Time

Driving Time: Take it easy

Driving is fun and road trips are all about the driving experience. However Route 66 is also about the sights, the people and enjoying the trip.

Drive too many hours and you will get too tired to have fun. So try not keep driving at less than 6 hours per day.

You may also want to take side trips to visit nearby attractions or stick to the side road and avoid the Interstate. These roads may mean a slower pace.

It is a road trip so it is pretty obvious that you will be driving. So plan your driving time: From Chicago to Los Angeles it is 2,278 miles (3,665 km). You can drive along the old road in some parts, and in others you will have to drive along the Interstate. So assuming an average speed of 50 mph (80 km⁄h) you could drive the whole road in about 46 hours.

But you need to consider the towns, cities and villages (with their speed limits and traffic), stopping to take in the scenery, to visit the sights, to eat, fill up with gasoline, walking and relaxing; driving on Old Route 66 isn't like cruising along the Interstate, it is a slower trip.

Driving Route 66 planner tool

Route 66 planner

Check our Route 66 travel planner Tool; it will let you calculate the total distance of your journey between the starting and ending points that you select. It will also give you the total driving time and the Trip duration at the selected driving speed and hours of driving per day, plus a map showing the itinerary.

Play around with the planning tool using different starting and ending points for your trip.

So you can calculate how many days you will actually have for your trip, knowing:

1. How much time you have for your trip (i.e. 7 days)
2. How long it will take you to go and come from Route 66 (i.e. 2 days)

In this example you have 5 days for your road trip. Now refine you Route 66 Trip Plan by estimating:

1. How many hours you will drive each day (i.e. 5 hours)
2. Your average driving speed. Tip: err on the safe side; calculate a lower average speed (i.e. 40 mph).
3. How many hours you will dedicate to visiting the attractions during each driving day. (i.e. 3 hours). So you will be using 8 hours each day between actual driving and sightseeing.

Our Route 66 travel planner Tool lets you do this calculation easily, try it! You can select driving time and speed.

So, in this example, you will have 8 hours between your check-out and check-in times. If you leave at 9 AM, you will arrive at 5 PM. You will be driving 5 hours x 40 miles⁄hour= 200 miles per day on average.

In your allotted time span of 5 days you will have driven: 1,000 miles

You also know the distance you will cover each day (in this case 200 mi.) so this will let you reckon where you will stop to spend the night. And let you plan your accommodation for the night.

Step 2 outcome: outline of itinerary and time required

You now have a draft of your itinerary (distance, main sights) and the duration of your trip (including the driving time and the time to go from your home to Route 66 and back.

The next step will be to calculate how much will it cost. See Step 3 below

Step 3. Calculate a Budget

How much will the trip cost? You must have a reasonable idea of the cost of your road trip. Take into account the following:

Getting There

The cost of reaching the Mother Road (and getting back home after your trip) depends on whether you will fly or drive to and from your home to the starting and ending points of your journey.

Calculate these costs, which may include: air fares, getting to the airport, parking, airport taxes, taxi, gasoline, tolls, food while you are traveling to get to US66, etc.)

Gasoline for your Road Trip

In Step 2, you calculated the total mileage you will be driving (add a +10% to it just in case). Now estimate the average mileage per gallon (km⁄l) of your car -yours or the one you wil be renting- and calculate how many gallons of gasoline you will need for your trip.

Turn this into dollars by checking the current Gasoline and Diesel Fuel prices in the US.

Accommodation

This is a key element in your budget, and the cost will depend on the season (high or low) and the type of lodging (will you stop at some icon landmark motel? or a regular chain motel?).

To calculate your lodging costs take each of the stopover towns that you identified in Step 2, and the starting and ending points of your journey (in case you spend a night there) and look for hotels to stay at.

Check hotels & motels along Route 66 that are available on the dates that you have identified in Step 2 using some online hotel booking tool such as Booking.com

Tips for Booking your accommodations

Book your hotel on time!

If you plan to drive Route 66 during the high season summer holiday period, reserve your hotel or motel in advance. Some key lodging may be fully booked months in advance, so pinpoint these locations and reserve with plenty of time.

There are of some Vintage and Route 66 'must see' hotels with thematic rooms which should be booked well in advance. Demand is high.

Read our Tips on Accommodation.

RV parks and campgrounds

Visit our RV Campgrounds page for a State-by-State detail of the RV Campgrounds on Route 66 or close to it. Full information on each RV Park and campground for your Recreational Vehicle or Motorhome.
A State by State, Town by Town detail with contact information so that you can check the camp ground's features and book your space now, online.

Travel Insurance

For our international visitors: Are you covered? If you are traveling outside of your home country, your health and accident insurance may not cover you.

Your travel insurance should cover cancellations or other travel mishaps.

Learn more about Travel Insurance.

Renting a Car, RV or motorcycle

You'll need a vehicle for your Road Trip...

Car, motorcycle or RV rental. If you are an international traveler, you will surely rent a vehicle to do your road trip. Calculate the rental costs and the different options available.

Tips on Renting a Vehicle

Hiring a Car is expensive. For complete information, check out our pages on Renting a Car.

We also have information on Motorcycle rental and Renting an RV.

Food

Calculating the cost of food depends on how you like to eat: Will you eat at restaurants? Fast food or more formal meals? Have both Lunch and Dinner? Buy snacks or stock up at the local supermarket?

Attractions and admission fees

You will have to pay an admission fee at National Parks, Museums and events... calculate these too. The fee for National Parks is between $25 and $30 per car per park. There are some senior and annual Passes which may interest you.

Miscellaneous items

Always set some cash aside for the unexpected, for souvenirs, emergencies and whatever may tickle your fancy.

Step 3 outcome: your expenses and a budget

You now know how much your trip will cost. You can now iron out the details... See Step 4 below

Step 4. Check your Plan again and again

Review your first draft. Get some more details. Add or remove sights and attractions, perhaps give yourself more time to see things, for shopping or to visit some cultural attraction. Factor in some side trip. Read more, and improve the original rough draft.

Review flight options the connecting flights, the car rental pick up and return points. Check other lodging options.

Planning a trip on Route 66 is part of the fun, it is about the journey not the destination; enjoy the process!

Trips are lived three times: when we dream them, when we live them, and when we remember them

How much should you plan?

Some travelers like to have a very detailed Route 66 trip plan detailing all their stops, the sights they will see and the hotels where they will stay at. This is perhaps a good idea if you have a tight schedule, so that you can optimize your trip.

Others, especially those with more time on their hands, prefer an open plan, and are open to letting the road take them to unexpected destinations.

A middle-of-the-road approach is to outline a general broad idea of your Route 66 vacation, and then book key accommodations with plenty of time. Leave room for unexpected scenic spots that may surprise you along the way.

See our One Week Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary

We have put together a 1-Week Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary from Chicago to Santa Monica.

You can use it as a starting point for planning your own road trip.

Some sponsored content:

>> Book your Hotel in Santa Monica

Sources

Banner image: Hackberry General Store, Hackberry, Arizona by Perla Eichenblat