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Route 66 Turns 100 in 2026!

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Susan Prichard, Travel Agent in Chesterfield, MO

Susan Prichard

Chesterfield, MO Travel Agent

Susan Prichard

Chesterfield, MO

A full-service Travel Leaders Associate Agency
5.0
(2)
100% Recommended
Susan took extra care in handling all of the details for our trip. She found the best flights and covered other details such as insurance and... Read More >
DESTINATIONS VISITED:Arizona, California, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas
PLACES VISITED:Amarillo, Chicago, Flagstaff, Gallup, Grand Canyon, Holbrook, Kingman, Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Pasadena, San Bernadino, Santa Fe, Santa Monica, Springfield, St. Louis, Tulsa
SUGGESTED DURATION:18 Days
Get your kicks on Route 66 in 2026! Route 66 turns 100 in 2026 and this is the perfect time to drive the Mother Road. There will be celebrations along the route to commemorate the centennial of Route 66. I have put together the ultimate Route 66 road trip for you. You can drive all of it or some of it. I'm happy to adjust the itinerary to your needs.
Close All Days
DAY1
Chicago
Close Day
Day 1–2: Chicago, Illinois
Where Route 66 Begins
HIGHLIGHTS:
Find the Route 66 Begins sign
Enjoy a breakfast at Lou Mitchell's Diner, a Route 66 icon since 1923
Visit the Art Institiute of Chicago, explore Millennium Park, and walk the Magnificent Mile
Stay at either the Palmer House Hilton or Congress Plaza Hotel
DAY2
Springfield
Close Day
Day 3: Springfield, Illinois
Drive: Approximately 3 hours to Springfield
HIGHLIGHTS:
Stop in Wilmington for a photo with the Gemini Giant, a 30-foot tall "Muffler Man" statue.
Visit the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum in Pontiac.
Tour the Dana–Thomas House, a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece, and Lincoln's Home
Stay at either the Inn at 835 or Route 66 Hotel and Conference Center
DAY3
St. Louis
Close Day
Day 4: St. Louis, Missouri
Drive: Approximately 2 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Explore Route 66 State Park and its museum, housed in a historic roadhouse.
Take a tram to the top of the Gateway Arch for panoramic city views.
Enjoy a meal and the ambiance in the eclectic Delmar Loop district.
Stay at the Moonrise Hotel
DAY4
Springfield
Close Day
Day 5: Springfield, Missouri
Drive: Approximately 4 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Detour to see the Meramec Caverns, a massive underground cave advertised for decades on Route 66
In Springfield, visit the Route 66 Car Museum, which features a large collection of classic vehicles
In Carthage, Grand Falls is a scenic waterfall cascading off a 163-foot ledge
Stay at Boots Court Motel
DAY5
Tulsa
Close Day
Day 6: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Drive: Approximately 3 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Make a brief stop in the tiny stretch of Kansas for the Kan-O-Tex service station
See the Blue Whale of Catoosa, a quirky roadside attraction.
Stay at either the Mayo Hotel or the Campbell Hotel
DAY6
Oklahoma City
Close Day
Day 7: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Drive: Approximately 2 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Learn the history of the Mother Road at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton.
Spot the Milk Bottle Grocery and other nostalgic landmarks in the Milk Bottle Historic District
Stay at either the Classen Inn or the Skirvin Hilton
DAY7
Amarillo
Close Day
Day 8: Amarillo, Texas
Drive: Approximately 4 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Get a photo and add your own spray paint to the graffiti-covered cars at Cadillac Ranch
Try the famous "72 oz. Steak Challenge" at The Big Texan Steak Ranch
Stay at The Big Texan Motel
DAY8
Amarillo
Close Day
Day 9: Tucumcari, New Mexico
Drive: Approximately 2 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Visit the Route 66 welcome Center and Gift Shop
Visit the quirky Tee Pee Curios in Tucumcari, a former gas station now selling souvenirs.
Stay at the Blue Swallow Motel, the Motel Safari, or the Roadrunner Lodge
DAY9
Santa Fe
Close Day
Day 10: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Drive: Approximately 2.5 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Take a dip in the Blue Hole in Santa Rosa, NM
Explore the art galleries, adobe architecture, and lively plazas of Santa Fe.
Stay at either La Fonda on the Plaza, Hotel Zazz, El Sendero Inn, El Rey Court, or The Mystic
DAY10
Gallup
Close Day
Day 11: Gallup, New Mexico
Drive: Approximately 3 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Take the Sandia Peak Tramway in Albuquerque for a scenic ride and panoramic desert views.
Visit Zuni Traders 66 for handcrafted jewelry, pottery, and other treasures by local artisans.
Stay at the historic El Rancho Hotel
DAY11
Holbrook
Close Day
Day 12: Holbrook, Arizona
Drive: Approximately 2 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Explore the otherworldly landscapes of the Petrified Forest National Park
Check out the Rainbow Rock Shop Dinosaurs
Stay in the iconic concrete teepees at the Wigwam Motel
DAY12
Flagstaff
Close Day
Day 13: Williams, Arizona
Drive: Approximately 2 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Make a stop at the Standin' on the Corner Park in Winslow
Stay at either the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel or the Red Garter Inn
DAY13
Grand Canyon
Close Day
Day 14: Grand Canyon National Park (Optional Detour)
Drive: Approximately 1 hour north to the South Rim
HIGHLIGHTS:
Spend the day exploring the breathtaking overlooks of the Grand Canyon.
Stay at either the Supai Motel or the Postcard Motel
DAY14
Kingman
Close Day
Day 15: Kingman, Arizona
Drive: Approximately 1 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Experience the retro town of Seligman, often called the "birthplace of historic Route 66".
Visit the Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman to learn about the route's history in the state.
Stay at El Trovatore Motel
DAY15
San Bernadino
Close Day
Day 16: Barstow, California
Drive: Approximately 4 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Drive the scenic and winding Oatman Highway, passing through the ghost town of Oatman.
Stay at the Route 66 Motel
DAY16
Pasadena
Close Day
Day 17: Pasadena, California
Drive: Approximately 2.5 hours
HIGHLIGHTS:
Stop at the Mojave National Preserve for a final taste of the desert and a field of Joshua Trees.
Visit the Original McDonald's Site and Museum
Stay at either The Saga Motor Hotel or The Langham
DAY17
Santa Monica
Close Day
Day 18: Santa Monica, California
Drive: Approximately 1 hour
HIGHLIGHTS:
Arrive at the Santa Monica Pier to find the "Route 66 End of the Trail" sign.
Explore the pier, ride the Ferris wheel, and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean.
Stay at either The Georgian Hotel or the Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows
DAY18
Los Angeles
Close Day
Day 19–21: Los Angeles
Drive: 30 minutes
HIGHLIGHTS:
Extend your trip to take in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, and Rodeo Drive.
Stay at The Hollywood Roosevelt
FINAL THOUGHTS
It's time to get your kicks on Route 66 in 2026 to celebrate the route's 100th birthday! Give me a call or send me an email, and we can start planning your ultimate road trip on The Mother Road!