Route 66 Guide

The Route: Chicago to Los Angeles

Route 66 runs roughly 2,450 miles (about 3,940 km) from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California, passing through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. While the original highway was decommissioned in 1985, most of it is drivable today as a patchwork of preserved sections and frontage roads alongside the interstate.

Driven end to end without stops, it takes about 40 hours of driving — but the whole point of Route 66 is the stops, so most travellers plan 10–14 days to do it justice.

Highlights Along the Way

Highlights include the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the neon signs of Tulsa and the Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo, the painted desert and Petrified Forest in Arizona, and the historic Santa Monica Pier at the route's western end marking 'the end of the trail'.

Small-town diners, retro motels, and quirky roadside attractions (giant statues, vintage gas stations) are as much a part of the experience as the natural scenery — this is a trip about the journey, not just the destination.

Best Time to Drive Route 66

Spring (April–May) and fall (September–October) are ideal — comfortable temperatures across the whole route, avoiding both the desert heat of an Arizona summer and the risk of winter snow in the Midwest sections.

Summer is doable but expect very high temperatures through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, so plan driving during cooler morning and evening hours if travelling June–August.

Planning Tips

Book classic motels along the route in advance during peak season (many are small, independently run, and popular with Route 66 enthusiasts), and carry a physical or offline map — cell signal drops out in some of the more remote stretches.

A reliable rental car with good fuel range is worth prioritizing over speed; some sections between towns are long with limited services.