Explore the Heart of the USA on Route 66

In the age of nonstop notifications, we all need time to slow down, disconnect and appreciate the beautiful world around us. If you’re looking for a way to live in the moment and experience the genuine hospitality of the USA, historic Route 66 is your perfect road trip. Whether you cruise a portion of the “Mother Road” or retrace the fabled route all the way from Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, you’ll be immersed in stunning landscapes, quirky roadside attractions and the open-road culture that’s inspired songs and stories since 1926.

Art and Architecture in Chicago, Illinois

Fly into Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) or Midway International Airport (MDW) and rent a car. Your first stop is the official “Begin” sign for Route 66. Find it across from the Art Institute of Chicago, near where East Adams Street intersects with South Michigan Avenue. For an alternate photo op, there’s a more artistic Route 66 sign in a fenced-in park at Adams and Wabash streets. You can’t leave Chicago without visiting the “Cloud Gate” sculpture, better known as “The Bean.” It’s the centerpiece of Millennium Park. If you like architecture, board a tour boat on the Chicago River for a unique look at the city’s iconic skyline. As you cruise out of Chicago toward St. Louis, Missouri, make a pit stop at the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Illinois. It’s painted with the world’s largest Route 66 shield mural and has a ton of Mother Road memorabilia inside.

St. Louis, Missouri: Midwestern Hospitality, Americana and Entertainment

The 4.5-hour drive to St. Louis is packed with retro motels, intriguing museums and nostalgic drive-in restaurants. On the northern edge of the city, check out the Chain of Rocks Bridge over the mighty Mississippi River. The old bridge was part of Route 66 for decades, connecting Illinois to Missouri. Today, it’s a scenic spot for a walk or bike ride, connecting trails on both sides of the river. Another sight you literally can’t miss is the Gateway Arch – it stands an impressive 192 meters tall. Take a tram ride to the top of this stainless steel landmark, also known as the “Gateway to the West,” for breathtaking views of the city.

Get a taste of Missouri sports culture at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team, and then tour the Anheuser-Busch Brewery nearby before settling down for the night in St. Louis.

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Classic Route 66 Eats and More

Get going early for your 8-hour trip to Oklahoma City. Take a leisurely drive to enjoy stops along the way including Pops 66 Soda Ranch in Arcadia, Oklahoma. The landmark diner and gas station serves 700 different kinds of sodas, plus burgers, sandwiches and other comfort foods. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you spot the 21-meter-tall LED soda bottle out front. As you continue into Oklahoma City, you’ll find lots of great barbecue spots. Ask about hometown favorite cuts at Jack’s Bar-B-Q or Clark Crew BBQ, and be sure to try some burnt ends.

Digest at nearby Lake Hefner with a few hours of birdwatching and fishing. When you’re ready to head downtown, swing through Mix-Tape by Factory Obscura. The mural-splashed immersive art experience features all kinds of whimsical artwork and should provide plenty of conversation for the road ahead. After your stay in Oklahoma City, you’re Texas-bound.

Architecture and Art in Amarillo, Texas

It’s about a 4-hour drive to Amarillo, Texas, where you’ll explore a Route 66 historic district listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The U.S. Route 66-Sixth Street Historic District is a hub for socializing and entertainment, where you’ll see buildings in the Spanish Revival, Art Deco and Art Moderne styles. Meet and mingle with friendly locals at the historic – and reportedly haunted – Natatorium building, now home to an antique shop.

Just outside Amarillo, visit the famous Cadillac Ranch. It’s an interactive art installation where 10 Cadillacs are buried nose-down in the ground, and visitors are encouraged to add their own paint. Not to be outdone, nearby Slug Bug Ranch at the Big Texan RV Ranch has a similar setup with old Volkswagen Beetles. You’ll want these memories in your road trip photo gallery.

Albuquerque’s Route 66 Nostalgia

Before you finish the 4.5-hour drive to Albuquerque, take a break at the Blue Hole east of Santa Rosa, New Mexico. The bell-shaped blue pool is a popular spot for scuba diving and cooling off from the Southwest sun. Once you hit the city limits, you can’t miss the historic neon signs that light up Old Route 66. Albuquerque has a historic Old Town district and many great restaurants, shops and boutiques scattered throughout its neighborhoods. Marvel at the vintage signs above the storefronts as you make your way down Central Avenue, then tuck into traditional diner fare at the whimsical 66 Diner on Central Avenue Northeast. Bring your appetite; this place serves up Fiesta Fries smothered in Texas chili and refreshing whole-milk milkshakes. Nearby, don’t miss natural and man-made wonders at Petroglyph National Monument and the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway.

Hidden Gems of Holbrook, Arizona

Holbrook, Arizona, is home to neon-clad motels and classic diners serving authentic Tex-Mex cuisine, about 3.5 hours west of Albuquerque. Driving down this town’s main strip is like traveling back in time, especially outside the Wigwam Village Motel with its 15 concrete teepees. Holbrook is also known for its quirky rock shops, eye-catching signs and larger-than-life statues lining its streets. Check out the brightly painted dinosaur statues downtown before heading to Petrified Forest National Park. You’ll want to spend at least a day in this Painted Desert park; its landscapes make vibrant backdrops for hiking and guided activities. When you’re ready to hit the road, stop in Kingman, Arizona, and Amboy, California, for more Route 66 nostalgia on the final leg of your trip. It’s about 8.5 hours to Los Angeles, California.

End of the Road: Los Angeles, California

Wrap up your road trip at the official end of Route 66: the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California. See aquatic animals at the Heal the Bay Aquarium, visit the historic 1922 Looff Hippodrome Carousel – where Paul Newman worked in “The Sting” – and shop the pedestrian-only Third Street Promenade. You can stretch out at the Original Muscle Beach or head 15 minutes south to the always-entertaining Venice Beach Boardwalk, known for its enthusiastic street performers. First Fridays at nearby Abbot Kinney Boulevard provide laid-back opportunities to make new friends when food trucks and entertainers take over the road. You’ll get a superb taste of Southern California culture before flying home from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).