The Best of Route 66

Day 1 - Arrive in Chicago.

On the shores of Lake Michigan, the ‘Windy City’ has something for everybody. A great destination at any time of the year, Chicago has a beautiful lakefront, breath-taking architecture, world-class shopping, wonderful museums, great theatres, gourmet restaurants and fantastic nightlife.

Stay two nights in Chicago

Day 3 - Chicago to Springfield, IL approx. 190 miles.

Before you embark on your road trip, fill up with breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s legendary Route 66 café on Jackson Boulevard in Chicago. Collect your hire car and begin the journey to Springfield, meandering past many delightful all-American haunts, including the Polka Dot Café, Dixie Truck Stop and Shea’s Gas Station Museum. Overnight in Springfield for one night and enjoy some of the popular Route 66 spots, such as the Cozy Drive Inn, Just Off Route 66 Diner or Die Cast Auto, just up the road in Williamsville. Springfield is also the state capital of Illinois.

Stay one night in Springfield

Day 4 - Springfield to St Louis, MO, approx. 100 miles.  Leave Springfield and drive south along Route 66 toward St Louis. Along the way stop at the Ariston Café for great food and to look at the massive outdoor screens at the drive-in theatre in Litchfield. As you drive into Missouri you should make a stop at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge – this original Route 66 span over the Mississippi Rover has been reopened as the world’s longest pedestrian and biking bridge. The bridge offers a great view of the river and the downtown St Louis skyline. Visit the Gateway Arch in the heart of downtown on the riverfront where the original Route 66 passed by. Enjoy one of the tastiest spots along the Mother Road at Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, and if that is not enough try the Donut Drive-In across the street, both Route 66 landmarks. This evening tour the music clubs of Leclade’s Landing and the Soulard neighbourhood and discover some of St Louis’ music history.

Stay two nights in St Louis

Day 6 - St Louis to Springfield, MO, approx. 220 miles. Today you are heading for a second Springfield, this time in Missouri. Heading through the rolling hills of the Ozark Mountains, remnants of the old Route 66 are everywhere just of the Highway. A new addition to this is the Route 66 Neon Park in Saint Robert, showcasing nearly a dozen restored neon signs that once stood along the Missouri portion of the Mother Road. The city of Springfield was the location, where in 1926, the name for the new trans-continental road was declared as Route 66. Much of the old highway frontage has been preserved along St Louis Street. Discover some of the stories surrounding Wild Bill Hickock and Jesse James in the surrounding area.

Stay one night in Springfield

Day 7 - Springfield to Oklahoma City, OK, approx. 280 miles.

You are heading into the South-west today as you cross into Oklahoma, so you will experience a change in scenery and in culture. With many Native Americans having been resettled here and the soil being suitable for cattle rearing, the area gave rise to the era of the American cowboy. Oklahoma City is the largest city in the state, and Bricktown - its renovated warehouse district - provides plenty of evening entertainment with over 30 canal-side restaurant and clubs. Visit the world class National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, the Red Earth Museum, FAM the First Americans Museum, the Myriad Botanical Gardens, the American Banjo Museum, the fast growing Boathouse District and the Paseo Arts District.

Stay one night in Oklahoma City.

Day 8 - Oklahoma City to Amarillo, TX, approx. 260 miles.

On the 'Way to Amarillo' and before you leave Oklahoma, visit the 'official' Route 66 Museum, where you can learn about the legends surrounding the Mother Road. Also worth a stop is Lucille's Service Station & Roadhouse. Then it is on to Amarillo and you will see why Texas is known as Cowboy Country – stretching into the distance is ranch upon ranch, essentially unchanged since the late 1800s. Coupled with the Twenty First century oil business, the area is a unique mix of old and new. Stay one night in Amarillo Day 9- Amarillo to Albuquerque, NM, approx. 285 miles. The next state on your list is New Mexico, which still has the most miles of the original Route 66 that are driveable today. Even in its heyday, the number of roadside businesses that sprung up along the Mother Road here was exceptional and today in towns such as Tucumcari locals still cling on to as much of the original Americana as possible.

Stay two nights in Albuquerque

Day 11 - Albuquerque to Flagstaff, AZ, approx. 320 miles.

In Flagstaff many of the old brick buildings in the downtown area are original to Route 66. Take a walking tour and discover more about these landmarks and finish in the Museum Club a historic roadhouse that still welcomes visitors to quench their thirst after a long day on the road. Stay one night in Flagstaff. Day 12 - Flagstaff to Barstow, CA, approx. 350 miles. There are a few sections of Route 66 that you can take from Flagstaff, including as you head west into California through the high Arizona desert from Seligman to Kingman. Then continue on to Barstow, where the Main Street is a section of Route 66. Barstow is home to Calico Ghost Town, a Silver Rush Ghost Town, parts of which are preserved as one of the few original mining camps in the Old West.

Stay one night in Barstow

Day 13 - Barstow to Santa Monica, CA, approx. 130 miles.  

Continue on the last stretch of your ‘Main Street of America’ journey to the California coast and Santa Monica, where Route 66 reaches the Pacific Ocean. Today Santa Monica is a haven for beach lovers with a boardwalk, pier, amusements, street performers, side walk cafes and bars and a true California atmosphere. Enjoy the beach, or the other sights of the Los Angeles area such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Universal Studios, Disneyland, or one of the museums representing the American West and Californian Heritage. Why not extend your holiday to include a bit more time to see the sights, or to relax.

Stay two nights in Santa Monica

Day 15 Head for the airport and drop-off your car in time to check-in for your flight back to the UK.