Route 66
The 1926 highway from Chicago to Santa Monica. It was officially decommissioned in 1985 and kept alive by the towns along it.
- Length
- about 2,400 mi
- States
- 8
- Suggested time
- 2–3 weeks
- Best season
- May–Oct
Before you go
- About 85 percent of the old alignment can still be driven, though some pieces are now frontage road or gravel.
- Split it into two halves at Oklahoma City if you have one week at a time.
- Historic motels fill up in summer, so book the Blue Swallow and the Wigwam early.
Planning the drive
Most travelers drive west, following the old "go west" story and keeping the Pacific as the finale. Follow the brown "Historic Route 66" signs. They disappear in places, so load a trip with the key stops before you go. CampingSpirit's guides mark where the old road leaves the interstate.
Illinois to Oklahoma
The first 500 miles pass through farm towns with restored gas stations, including a string of them in Illinois. Missouri adds the Ozarks and Meramec Caverns. Kansas has just 13 miles of the route, and in Oklahoma the Blue Whale of Catoosa and the Arcadia round barn are both worth stopping for.
Texas to California
West of Amarillo the land flattens and the neon gets brighter. New Mexico and Arizona add the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest and the longest unbroken stretch of the original road, between Seligman and Kingman. The Mojave crossing past Amboy is the emptiest part. Carry water.
FAQs
Where does Route 66 start and end?
It starts on Adams Street in downtown Chicago and ends near the Santa Monica Pier in California. The traditional End of the Trail sign is on the pier.
How long does it take to drive Route 66?
You could drive it in under a week, but most people take two to three weeks to see the towns and roadside attractions without rushing.
Is Route 66 suitable for RVs?
Mostly yes. The exceptions are the narrow, winding Oatman grade in Arizona and a few old bridges. CampingSpirit's RV profile warns you about length and height limits when you plan.
Places to see
© David Quigley · CC BY 4.0Gemini Giant
A 30-foot fiberglass spaceman holding a rocket, one of the best-loved "muffler men" on the old highway.
© G. Edward Johnson · CC BY 4.0Blue Whale of Catoosa
A grinning concrete whale built in the early 1970s as an anniversary gift. It sits in a spring-fed pond…
© Mobilus In Mobili · CC BY-SA 2.0Cadillac Ranch
Ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in a wheat field and layered with decades of spray paint. Bring a can and…
© W. Bulach · CC BY-SA 4.0Petrified Forest National Park
Fossil logs turned to rainbow quartz lie across the Painted Desert. It is the only national park that…
Photo by Miguel Ángel Sanz on UnsplashGrand Canyon National Park – South Rim
A mile deep and up to 18 miles across. The South Rim is open all year. Watch sunset from Hopi Point or…
© Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0Roy's Motel & Café
Its Googie sign in the middle of the Mojave has been photographed more than almost any other on the road.…
© Chris Lawrence from Blacksburg, VA, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Route 66 Begin Sign
The brown sign on Adams Street marks mile zero of the Mother Road. Grab the photo, then point the car…
© artistmac · CC BY-SA 2.0Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
A mile-long former Route 66 bridge over the Mississippi with a 22-degree bend in the middle. Now open to…
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