Historic Route 66
The Mother Road - America's most famous highway. Journey through the heartland from Chicago to Los Angeles, experiencing vintage roadside attractions, classic diners, quirky motels, and the nostalgia of mid-century Americana across 2,448 miles of history.
2448 mi
40 hrs
4/5
Easy
Highlights
- ✓Vintage neon signs and retro motels
- ✓Classic American diners
- ✓Quirky roadside attractions
- ✓Historic downtown districts
- ✓Petrified Forest and Painted Desert
- ✓Authentic Americana culture
Must-See Stops
Cadillac Ranch
Art installation of half-buried Cadillacs covered in graffiti
quirkyWigwam Motel
Sleep in a concrete teepee at this vintage motor court
historicBlue Whale of Catoosa
Iconic 80-foot blue whale roadside attraction
quirkyPetrified Forest National Park
Ancient petrified wood and colorful badlands
natureGrand Canyon Caverns
Underground caverns 200+ feet below the surface
attractionSanta Monica Pier
Western terminus of Route 66 at the Pacific Ocean
attractionRoute Map
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⚠️ Important Notes
- •Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 - some sections are now Interstate
- •Original roadbed still driveable in many places - follow historic markers
- •Plan 7-10 days to properly explore the route
- •Small towns along the way offer authentic Route 66 experiences
- •Many vintage motels and diners still in operation
- •Download a Route 66 guidebook or app for turn-by-turn directions
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