In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
3,900 kilometres of Americana: neon signs, grain elevators and desert tracks – three weeks across the continent to the Pacific.
The spirit of the route
Route 66 is not one road, it is a patchwork. Sometimes you roll on the original concrete, its expansion joints thumping under the tyres in rhythm; sometimes the old alignment vanishes beneath the interstate and resurfaces two exits later as a frontage road. From the sliding door you see cornfields in Illinois, red earth in Oklahoma and wind turbines over the Texas Panhandle, mesas and pueblo villages in New Mexico, ponderosa forests in Arizona and finally the Mojave with its Joshua trees. In between stand rusty filling stations, neon-lit motels and diners where the coffee is refilled before you ask. In 2026 the road turns 100, as the highway was officially established on 11 November 1926; that means more festivals, but also more traffic at the well-known stops. Whoever drives this route drives slowly, stops often and listens: to the people in Seligman, Tucumcari and Galena who keep the Mother Road alive.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Chicago to Springfield, Illinois (approx. 320 km)
- The drive
- From the “Begin Route 66” sign on Adams Street near the Art Institute, you drive through the suburbs to Joliet and from there on the old alignment, which mostly runs as a frontage road, county road or town street beside I-55, through Wilmington, Pontiac, Bloomington and Lincoln. The land is completely flat, the road mostly two-lane with 25 to 55 mph (40–90 km/h), plus traffic lights, level crossings and changing signage: without a route guide or a Route 66 layer in your map app you will miss turns. Pure driving time is about 4 to 4.5 hours, with stops a full day. Filling stations and supermarkets are found in every town; the hardest part is the city traffic at the start.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Gemini Giant in Wilmington: the roughly 6 m tall fibreglass figure with a spaceman helmet and rocket from the 1960s in front of the former Launching Pad Drive-In. 15 minutes is enough for photos; check beforehand whether the restaurant behind it is open.
- Pontiac with the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum and the murals in the town centre, about 1 to 1.5 hours. A few kilometres on, the restored 1932 Standard Oil filling station in Odell serves as a backdrop and information point; its opening hours are seasonal and short.
- Springfield with the Lincoln Home National Historic Site (free admission, guided tours by time slot from the visitor centre, 1 to 1.5 hours) and the Cozy Dog Drive In from 1946, where the corn dog on a stick is said to have been invented. Lincoln’s Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery costs nothing and lies ten minutes’ drive north.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Kankakee River State Park near Bourbonnais (Illinois Department of Natural Resources): Potawatomi Campground has 110 sites with electricity and showers, Chippewa Campground 98 simpler sites, some with electricity only. Book through ExploreMoreIL; the minimum age to rent is 18; because of the emerald ash borer, firewood may neither be brought in nor taken out, and the park page asks for cash payment, which you should check on site. Near Springfield there is the campground at Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site near Petersburg, about 30 minutes north-west; check status and facilities beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Illinois has practically no public land for free camping; the state parks allow overnight stays only on designated sites. Individual Walmart stores tolerate one night, but the store manager decides, so ask first. At the rest areas on I-55, parking is time-limited; read the signs.
- Insider tip for campers
- The Illinois Tollway is cashless: without I-PASS or E-ZPass you can pay online within 14 days of the trip with “Pay By Plate” by credit card at the cash rate, otherwise an invoice follows, for rental vehicles often via the rental company with a fee. The old 66 is toll-free and in any case the better choice for this stage. In Chicago start early, avoid the centre and watch for low clearances under the bridges of Lake Shore Drive and the boulevards; many start with the camper only from a suburb and visit the city centre by train.
2Stage 2: Springfield, Illinois to Cuba, Missouri (approx. 300 km)
- The drive
- Through small towns such as Litchfield and Mount Olive down to the Mississippi, then around St. Louis via I-270 or through the city itself; beyond the river the wooded Ozark hills begin, with the first bends and climbs along I-44. The traffic around St. Louis and the many roadworks are the bottleneck, otherwise the stage is easy: about 4 hours of pure driving. There is no time difference from Illinois; both states are in Central Time.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi: the old Route 66 bridge with the 22-degree bend in the middle, about 1.6 km long and open only to pedestrians and cyclists. Park on the Missouri side; out and back takes about 45 minutes.
- Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis: the capsule tram to the top of the 192 m arch takes 45 to 60 minutes including waiting, and tickets cost roughly 15 to 19 US dollars for adults depending on the date. Book a time slot online in advance, as trips sell out on busy days; the museum and visitor centre beneath are free.
- Cuba, the “Route 66 Mural City” with more than a dozen murals, and on the way the 42-foot rocking chair at the Fanning 66 Outpost. About an hour is enough; Ted Drewes Frozen Custard on Chippewa Street in St. Louis is an ice-cream parlour right on the old alignment.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg on the Meramec River, about 15 minutes from Cuba: sites with and without electricity/water, dump station and a shower block (showers April to October), reservations up to 12 months ahead through Missouri State Parks. The cave can be visited on a guided tour. An alternative is Meramec State Park near Sullivan, about 30 minutes east of Cuba, also with electricity and showers; check facilities and opening times beforehand.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Mark Twain National Forest south of the route, dispersed camping along forest roads is usually allowed, with a typical maximum stay of 14 days; access roads can be narrow and muddy for long motorhomes. Check camping bans and fire rules of the ranger district beforehand.
- Insider tip for campers
- In downtown St. Louis, parking for motorhomes is scarce, and many car parks near the Arch have low height limits; ask Gateway Arch National Park in advance about spaces for large vehicles and come early. If you only want to see the Arch, it is better to park outside and take the MetroLink. Refuel and shop in St. Louis and Rolla; the Ozark stretch later has many filling stations at the I-44 exits.
3Stage 3: Cuba, Missouri to Tulsa (approx. 500 km)
- The drive
- Through the Ozarks to Springfield (Missouri), the “birthplace of Route 66”, on via Carthage and Joplin and through the only 13-mile panhandle of Kansas into Oklahoma; from Miami (Oklahoma) the route runs on wide, well-built sections to Tulsa. The road is hilly, in places twisty and busy; driving time is about 5 to 6 hours plus stops, so a long day or better two. The Missouri–Kansas–Oklahoma border is in Central Time, so there is no clock change.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Galena in Kansas with the rusty tow truck said to be the model for “Mater” from the film “Cars”, plus the arch bridge in Riverton; at a good 20 km the Kansas section is the shortest of the whole route. A half-hour stop is enough.
- The Blue Whale in Catoosa, a swimming-hole whale from the 1970s on a pond; admission is free and the site is easy to reach by camper. Allow about 30 minutes; the light is best in the late afternoon.
- Tulsa with the Cyrus Avery Route 66 Memorial Plaza, the Golden Driller and the Art Deco buildings downtown. Spend the evening in Tulsa before continuing to Oklahoma City the next day.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Keystone State Park near Sand Springs west of Tulsa on Keystone Lake: three campgrounds (Red Carpet, Green Country, Lake Country), sites with electricity (30/50 A), water, shower houses and dump station; sites are available by reservation only (reservation line 877-657-2757). Alternative east of the city: campgrounds of the US Army Corps of Engineers on the lakes around Tulsa, mostly simpler and cheaper.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Oklahoma has little public land for free camping; at the Corps of Engineers lakes, simple campgrounds charge fees and wild camping is not allowed. Walmart car parks in Joplin or Tulsa tolerate individual nights, but ask there first.
- Insider tip for campers
- The turnpikes in Oklahoma (including the Will Rogers Turnpike, I-44 between Missouri and Tulsa) are cashless; without a PikePass, PlatePay bills by licence plate at higher rates. Clarify beforehand with the rental company whether a transponder or a flat fee is included. Anyone driving the old 66 saves the toll but loses time: in Springfield and Joplin the town crossings are slow.
4Stage 4: Tulsa to Oklahoma City (approx. 170 km)
- The drive
- From Tulsa via Sapulpa, Bristow, Stroud and Chandler to Edmond; the alignment is one of the best-preserved Route 66 passages in the country, two-lane through hills and pastures, with many old bridges and small-town centres. The pace is 45 to 55 mph, driving time 3 to 4 hours, so a relaxed half day. The Turner Turnpike (I-44) makes sense only if you must save time, and it costs toll.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Round Barn in Arcadia, a round wooden barn from 1898 with an exhibition upstairs, free admission depending on the season. The stop takes 20 minutes.
- The roughly 20 metre (66 foot) tall neon soda bottle of POPS in Arcadia with several hundred soda varieties; in the evening it glows most beautifully. Lunch or coffee is worthwhile here.
- Oklahoma City National Memorial for the victims of the 1995 bombing: the outdoor area with the 168 empty chairs is freely accessible at any time, the museum requires tickets and about 1.5 to 2 hours. The place is quiet and should be visited as such.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Lake Thunderbird State Park near Norman south-east of Oklahoma City: several campgrounds on the lake (among them Hickory Hill, Clear Bay, Little Sandy, Turkey Pass) with electric sites, sanitary blocks and dump station; reservations through Oklahoma State Parks. Which loop takes large vehicles and which water and electric connections it offers, check in advance in the booking.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping in the city; the inexpensive campgrounds of the state parks and Corps lakes are the solution here. Overnighting on streets or commercial car parks is consistently penalised in Oklahoma City.
- Insider tip for campers
- Tornado season in Oklahoma is mainly April to June, but severe thunderstorms are possible in autumn too. Install a weather app with National Weather Service warnings, distinguish “Tornado Watch” (conditions present) from “Tornado Warning” (tornado sighted or on radar) and, on a warning, go to the solid building or the campground’s shelter, never stay in the motorhome. Ask about the shelter when checking in at the campground.
5Stage 5: Oklahoma City to Amarillo (approx. 420 km)
- The drive
- Farther, flatter, windier: the alignment runs via Clinton, Elk City and Erick through the Plains, wind turbines turn on the horizon and the old 66 often lies right beside I-40. Beyond the Texas border the Panhandle begins with endless wheat fields, cattle pastures and villages with water towers. Driving time about 5 hours, markedly more tiring in crosswind with a tall body. Filling stations are found in every town, but between them there are often 50 to 70 kilometres.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton and National Route 66 & Transportation Museum in Elk City: both give a good overview of the road’s history, admission for a fee, each about 1 to 1.5 hours.
- The Tower Station & U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas, an Art Deco filling station from 1936 with a green tower, now a visitor centre. A little farther west, the cross and the leaning water tower in Groom merit short stops.
- Cadillac Ranch west of Amarillo: ten Cadillacs from 1949 to 1963 buried at an angle, which visitors may paint with spray paint, access is free. Many bring their own spray cans; mind your shoes because of the often muddy ground.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Palo Duro Canyon State Park, about 40 minutes south of Amarillo: sites with electricity and water in the second-largest canyon in the USA, plus tent and cabin options, reservations through Texas Parks & Wildlife (telephone 512-389-8900). The park is often full; reservations are recommended for both camping and day entry, the gates are open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; day entry for adults is about 8 US dollars. In summer the outdoor musical TEXAS runs here.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): At rest areas in Texas an overnight stay is usually tolerated for up to 24 hours, observe the signs. The state park is safer and quieter; Walmart car parks in Amarillo also tolerate single nights if the store agrees.
- Insider tip for campers
- The access road into Palo Duro Canyon is steep and twisty: go down and back up in a low gear with long rigs, and do not overheat the brakes. Crosswind on the high plateau pushes tall bodies sideways strongly; in storm warnings it is best not to drive. The clock stays on Central Time but is set back one hour the next day at the New Mexico border.
6Stage 6: Amarillo to Albuquerque (approx. 460 km)
- The drive
- Across the Llano Estacado into New Mexico, then through red hills and mesas; beyond Santa Rosa the road climbs to about 2,000 m. At the New Mexico border the clock goes back one hour; driving time is about 5 hours. The land is sparsely populated, filling stations are reliable in Tucumcari, Santa Rosa and Clines Corners, with long gaps between. In winter the road can be icy in snow over the passes before Albuquerque.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Midpoint Café in Adrian (Texas): here stands the sign marking the exact halfway point between Chicago and Santa Monica, 1,139 miles each way. The café serves pie and coffee; the stop takes about half an hour.
- Tucumcari with neon motels such as the Blue Swallow Motel from 1939 and murals; in the evening, when the signs glow, the town is at its best. The Blue Swallow is often fully booked, so reserve early.
- Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, a crystal-clear spring about 25 m deep with a water temperature of around 17 °C, open for swimming and diving. Rules and fees apply to divers and swimmers; check in advance.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Santa Rosa Lake State Park at about 1,450 m above the reservoir: 75 developed sites, 25 of them with electricity, some pull-through, plus showers and dump station; book through the New Mexico State Parks reservation system (telephone 575-472-3110). An alternative is Conchas Lake State Park north of Tucumcari, also with electric sites and sanitary facilities. In Albuquerque a private RV park on Central Avenue is a good choice; in early October during the Balloon Fiesta, sites are booked out long in advance.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Cibola National Forest east of Albuquerque dispersed camping is possible, in the Sandia district however only at designated spots in the Manzanita Mountains, in the Manzano Mountains along forest roads. Observe fire bans in the dry season, and check access roads for motorhomes in advance in the Motor Vehicle Use Map.
- Insider tip for campers
- In Albuquerque a detour onto Central Avenue, the old Route 66 alignment through the city with neon signs, is worthwhile; parking overnight there for wide vehicles (over 90 inches) on the street is not allowed, so use the RV park. Top up water and supplies before you head into the sparsely populated high desert, and set the clock back. If you travel in early October, rooms and sites in the city are scarce because of the Balloon Fiesta.
7Stage 7: Albuquerque to Flagstaff (approx. 520 km)
- The drive
- Through the high desert via Laguna, Grants and Gallup to Arizona; the Continental Divide lies at about 2,200 m, beyond it the road goes via Holbrook and Winslow to Flagstaff at 2,100 m. The stage is long and better split into two days, with an overnight stay near the Petrified Forest or in Winslow. Important: Arizona stays on Mountain Standard Time all year and does not change the clock; in the summer half-year it has the same time as California, while New Mexico and the Navajo Nation are then an hour ahead.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Acoma Pueblo (“Sky City”) off I-40 (exit 102): one of the longest continuously inhabited villages in North America on a rock plateau about 110 m high. Visits only with a guide; according to the website tours start on Fridays to Mondays at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.; photography is forbidden on feast days. Clarify times by phone before driving there (1-800-747-0181).
- Petrified Forest National Park with the Painted Desert: the park road is about 45 km long and links I-40 with US 180; at Puerco Pueblo and on the old 66 alignment in the park stands a 1932 Studebaker. Usually open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., admission 25 US dollars per vehicle, cashless (card only).
- Holbrook with the Wigwam Motel, Winslow with “Standin’ on the Corner” and Meteor Crater, about 1.2 km wide and 170 m deep. The crater charges admission, and there is its own RV park at the crater rim.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Meteor Crater RV Park off I-40 (exit 233): 71 sites, 36 of them with full hookup, all pull-through up to 60 feet in length, open all year (except 25 December), about 45 to 70 US dollars per night. In the pine forest of Flagstaff, Fort Tuthill County Park offers 101 sites, but without electric hookups; only 8 sites have water and sewer, and generator use is not permitted between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Check season and prices beforehand with Coconino County.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): The Coconino National Forest around Flagstaff has numerous forest roads with permitted dispersed camping, usually with a maximum stay of 14 days; observe seasonal fire bans. On the reservation land of the Navajo Nation camping without a permit is not allowed.
- Insider tip for campers
- In the Petrified Forest there is no campground for motorhomes (only backcountry with a free permit), and the park closes in the evening; plan the overnight stay before or after it. Taking petrified wood is forbidden and punished. Near the park boundary a fuel stop in Holbrook is worthwhile; inside the Petrified Forest itself there is only coffee and snacks.
8Stage 8: Flagstaff to Kingman (approx. 240 km)
- The drive
- Via Williams, the last town bypassed by the interstate in 1984; from Seligman begins the longest continuous stretch of old Route 66 via Peach Springs and Hackberry to Kingman – wide valleys, empty road, freight trains alongside. The road is two-lane, speed limits are mostly 55 to 65 mph, and there are long sections without filling stations and without mobile reception. Driving time about 3.5 hours, with stops a whole day.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Williams with its historic centre and the Grand Canyon Railway, which runs daily to the South Rim (departure by timetable about 9:30 a.m., journey time about 2 hours 15 minutes each way). Check timetables and prices beforehand with the operator; seats go quickly at weekends.
- Seligman, the cradle of the Route 66 revival, with souvenir shops, vintage-car backdrops and Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In. The village is small; an hour is enough.
- Hackberry General Store: an open-air museum of the filling-station era with vintage cars and signs. The Grand Canyon Caverns near Peach Springs offer a cave about 65 m deep; check prices and tours beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Hualapai Mountain Park south-east of Kingman, a county park in pine forest at about 1,980 m above the desert: 34 sites, some with full hookup (30 A), pull-through sites, reached by a road about 19 km long that is steep at the end. Reservations through Mohave County Parks (telephone 877-757-0915); vehicles up to about 35 feet should make the climb, for longer ones enquire beforehand. As a fallback there is a private RV park in Kingman on the route.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Kaibab National Forest around Williams dispersed camping is allowed; around Kingman there is plenty of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land free of charge, usually with a 14-day limit. Fire bans in early summer are frequent.
- Insider tip for campers
- The next day the route goes over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman: tight hairpins, steep descents and no guardrails; on the Oatman Road a length limit of 40 feet (12 m) applies. For long motorhomes and combinations, I-40 via Topock is the safe alternative; Oatman itself can then be visited by rental car or taxi. According to the BLM there is neither drinking water nor toilets nor mobile reception on the route, so fuel up beforehand and take water.
9Stage 9: Kingman to Barstow (approx. 330 km)
- The drive
- Via Oatman or I-40 down to the Colorado River at Needles, then into the Mojave Desert – in summer the hottest stage of the trip. The section of National Trails Highway (Route 66) between Needles and Barstow has one lane in each direction, is partly poorly surfaced and in places has over 100 km with neither filling station nor mobile reception. Driving time on the old alignment 5 to 6 hours, via I-40 about 3.5 hours. The clock is not changed in Arizona; in California Pacific Time then applies.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Oatman, an old gold-miners’ town with wild burros on the main street, descended from the miners’ pack donkeys. The burros must not be touched; feed is sold in the village; stop about 45 minutes.
- Amboy with the neon sign of Roy’s Motel & Café and the volcanic cone Amboy Crater, a loop of about 5 km (out and back) with little shade. Check beforehand whether Roy’s filling station is open.
- Calico Ghost Town near Barstow, a restored silver-mining town from the 1880s with shops and mine tours. If you stay overnight in the campground, admission to the town is free for campers.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Calico Ghost Town Regional Park, a county campground at the ghost town with sites without, with partial and with full hookup as well as a dump station; prices are about 35 to 55 US dollars per night, plus a one-time reservation fee of 10 dollars (booking through San Bernardino County Regional Parks, telephone 877-387-2757). Alternatively Hole-in-the-Wall Campground in the Mojave National Preserve (35 sites, vehicles up to about 33 feet, water and dump station, first come, first served only, a good 60 km detour from I-40 exit 100).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): Large BLM areas in the Mojave allow dispersed camping, usually with a maximum stay of 14 days; do not drive deep into soft sand and park only on spots already in use. In the Mojave National Preserve camping is allowed at the edge of roads at designated spots, and its own rules apply there.
- Insider tip for campers
- Sections of the National Trails Highway between Needles and Barstow were temporarily closed after bridge damage (Bridge 77 near Amboy was closed in February 2024 and reopened on 22 March 2024): check the status with San Bernardino County (Public Works), and if necessary switch to I-40. In Needles the underpass on K Street has a very low clearance of about 8 feet; check your navigation before entering town. In summer above 45 °C: drive only early in the morning and carry plenty of water, at least 4 litres per person.
10Stage 10: Barstow to Santa Monica (approx. 210 km)
- The drive
- Via Victorville and Cajon Pass (about 1,280 m) down into the Los Angeles basin, through the urban area via San Bernardino, Rialto and Pasadena to the sea. Traffic is the real challenge: for the last 100 km allow 3 to 5 hours, considerably more at weekends and in rush hour. On Cajon Pass the wind is often strong, and in winter snow can fall. In California 55 mph applies to vehicles with a trailer and certain larger vehicles.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande: a forest of metal trees with glass bottles on the old alignment, admission is free. Check beforehand whether the site is open and whether donations are welcome; parking is possible on a gravel area.
- Wigwam Motel in Rialto with its concrete tepees and Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, which was part of the classic route. Each is worth a stop of about an hour.
- The “End of the Trail” sign at Santa Monica Pier, officially the end of the route. By motorhome the pier is hard to reach, so it is better to switch to a bicycle or bus at the beach.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
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Official campsite or RV park: Dockweiler Beach RV Park of Los Angeles County directly on the beach near the airport: full-hookup sites for vehicles up to 40 feet for about 65 to 75 US dollars, 19 simpler sites up to 19 feet for around 45 dollars, reservations up to 90 days ahead, in summer with a two-night minimum stay; the public dump station was most recently closed. Quieter is Leo Carrillo State Park in Malibu (135 sites, vehicles up to about 31 feet, around 50 with electricity, dump station, about 45 to 60 dollars, maximum 7 days), which you book through ReserveCalifornia.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In Los Angeles there is no legal free camping; overnighting in the vehicle is forbidden in many districts, and night-time parking bans for motorhomes are widespread. On the beach along the coast highway too: only on designated sites.
- Insider tip for campers
- Drive the city stage early in the morning at weekends. In Santa Monica many car parks have height limits; vehicles over 22 feet are directed to special lots, and the large open beach car parks on the Pacific Coast Highway or on Ocean Park Boulevard are the better choice for motorhomes. Observe signs on vehicle length and parking time. If you have to return the motorhome, clarify the drop-off on the edge of Los Angeles in advance.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- The route crosses eight states with very different rules. In the Midwest (Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma) there is little public land: in Illinois overnighting is allowed only on designated state-park campgrounds, in Missouri dispersed camping is possible in the Mark Twain National Forest (usually 14 days maximum), in Kansas the route runs only about 20 km through the state, and in Oklahoma what remains are simple fee-charging Army Corps of Engineers campgrounds at lakes and the state parks.
- From New Mexico on it gets easier: in the national forests (Cibola, Coconino, Kaibab) and on BLM land in Arizona and California dispersed camping is usually allowed with a 14-day limit. Stay on spots already used, do not drive into soft sand, take your rubbish with you and observe fire bans, which are frequent in early summer and in drought; check rules and maps in advance with the Forest Service or BLM. On the land of the Navajo Nation and other reservations camping without a permit is not allowed.
- Overnighting in supermarket car parks is often tolerated in small towns, but each store decides for itself; in large cities and in California it is rarely allowed, in Los Angeles almost never. Rest areas are strictly regulated: in Texas the stay is usually limited to 24 hours, in California a shorter maximum often applies, and in Arizona overnight stays are partly forbidden; signs on site take precedence.
- Wildlife: do not feed or touch the wild burros in Oatman, they bite and kick. In the desert states rattlesnakes and scorpions occur, so do not reach blindly into crevices or under rocks. On the prairie the main hazard is weather: tornadoes in Oklahoma and Kansas, flash floods in desert canyons during thunderstorms in Arizona and New Mexico, heat above 40 °C in the Mojave. Ticks are common in the Midwest.
- Apps and sites: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt, Allstays and Recreation.gov (federal land); state-park reservations run through each state’s own system (ExploreMoreIL, Missouri State Parks, Oklahoma State Parks, Texas Parks & Wildlife, New Mexico State Parks, ReserveCalifornia).
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations are found in state parks, at large truck stops (such as Flying J or Pilot) and at many filling stations in the West; overview at sanidumps.com and in the camping apps. Not every RV park lets passers-through empty their tanks for a fee, and individual stations are closed because of damage (for example at Dockweiler RV Park).
- From New Mexico on water becomes scarce: fill up in every larger town, and in Arizona and the Mojave carry at least 20 to 40 litres in reserve. Tap water is drinkable everywhere in the USA; from streams and lakes only filtered or boiled. Never let grey water run onto the ground or into drains.
- Fuel is sold in US gallons (3.785 l); diesel is dearer than petrol, California has the highest prices, Oklahoma and Texas the lowest. Between Needles and Barstow, on the Oatman Road and between Seligman and Kingman the tank should be at least half full, because filling stations are rare.
- Propane at U-Haul stations, propane dealers and some truck stops; European gas bottles are mostly not refilled, rental motorhomes have permanently installed tanks. Electricity is available on campgrounds with 15, 30 and 50 amp connections; an adapter (“dogbone”) is useful.
- Shopping: large supermarkets (Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons, Safeway) in the cities; in the countryside mostly just Dollar General or filling-station shops. Mobile reception is patchy in the Mojave, on the Oatman Road and between Seligman and Kingman; download offline maps.
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits on the interstates depending on the state 65 to 80 mph (105–130 km/h); mostly 70 to 75 mph. In California 55 mph applies to vehicles with a trailer and some multi-axle vehicles, in towns and through-routes 25 to 45 mph. School buses with warning lights may not be overtaken in either direction; turning right on red is mostly allowed unless a sign forbids it.
- Tolls: Illinois Tollway (cashless, I-PASS/E-ZPass or online within 14 days via “Pay By Plate” at the cash rate) and the turnpikes in Oklahoma (PikePass or invoice by licence plate via PlatePay, at higher rates; the Will Rogers Turnpike and Turner Turnpike belong here). The old Route 66 itself is toll-free. With a rental vehicle clarify whether a transponder or flat fee is included, because rental companies add charges.
- National parks and admission: Petrified Forest costs 25 US dollars per vehicle (valid seven days, card payment only); the America the Beautiful annual pass costs 80 dollars. Since 2026 the National Park Service charges foreign visitors aged 16 and over an additional 100 dollar surcharge in eleven parks (including the Grand Canyon); Petrified Forest and Gateway Arch are not among them. A non-resident annual pass costs 250 dollars and covers the surcharge for the holder and three further people aged 16 and over.
- Vehicle and road: the Oatman Road (Sitgreaves Pass) is limited to 40 feet (12 m) in length; the K Street underpass in Needles is about 8 feet (2.4 m) high, the Chain of Rocks Bridge is open only to pedestrians and cyclists; in Albuquerque vehicles over 90 inches wide may not park on the street, in Santa Monica vehicles over 22 feet are directed to special car parks. Time zones: Central Time (Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas Panhandle), Mountain (New Mexico), Arizona without daylight saving, Pacific (California).
- Season: the best times are April to June and September to October; in high summer over 40 °C in the Mojave and Arizona, in winter snow and black ice on the passes near Flagstaff, Albuquerque and Cajon Pass. In the anniversary year many stops are busier than usual, for example around 11 November; book sites early. Emergency number in the USA: 911 (also from a mobile); 511 services and Caltrans QuickMap give road conditions; with motorhome liability insurance and rental-company rules on mileage limits and accident reporting, get familiar beforehand.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Detailed route guide (e.g. “EZ66 Guide for Travelers”) or a Route 66 layer in your map app – without it you will miss the old alignment pieces beside the interstate.
- Power adapter 30A/50A to 15A (“dogbone”) for the differing connections at state parks and county campgrounds.
- Weather app with tornado warnings or a NOAA weather radio for the Plains from April to June and in autumn storms.
- Toll transponder or a licence-plate billing arrangement clarified with the rental company for Illinois and Oklahoma.
- Sun-shade mats, 12 V fan and 20–40 litres of reserve water for the Mojave and Arizona; plus sunscreen and a hat.
- Wheel chocks and levelling supports for uneven county and forest sites, as well as a shovel or recovery boards for soft desert ground.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
