Itinerary
Day 1 CHICAGO
Welcome to Chicago, the start of Route 66! Your Tour Director is available from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. to answer questions.Once settled into your hotel, perhaps start exploring the city with a stroll along the Chicago Riverwalk or browse the shops, restaurants, and attractions lining Michigan Avenue, better known as the Magnificent Mile.CHICAGO-CITYSCAPE.jpg
Day 2 CHICAGO
Known as the “Windy City,” Chicago is celebrated for its striking architecture, vibrant cultural scene, and deep-rooted blues and jazz heritage. Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour that includes the sign marking the beginning of historic Route 66. The afternoon is free to explore. Perhaps visit the 103rd-floor Skydeck of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) for panoramic city views, admire masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago, or join an optional river cruise for a unique perspective on the city’s renowned architecture. CHICAGO-DOWNTOWN.jpg
Day 3 CHICAGO–PONTIAC–SPRINGFIELD-INTERNATIONAL ROUTE 66 MOTHER ROAD FESTIVAL
This morning, begin your Route 66 journey with a visit to the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac. Housed in a historic fire station, the museum features exhibits, photographs, maps, and memorabilia celebrating the history and culture of America’s most famous highway. Continue to Springfield, the capital of Illinois, for the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival. Enjoy classic cars, vintage motorcycles, vendors, and specialty food stalls while live entertainment fills the streets with the sounds of R&B, Motown, rock, and pop favorites spanning the decades.CHICAGO-ROUTE-66-SIGN.jpg
Day 4 SPRINGFIELD–ST. LOUIS
Cross the mighty Mississippi River and continue to St. Louis, known as the “Gateway to the West.” Your orientation tour introduces the city before a visit to Gateway Arch National Park. Ride to the top of the 630-foot-tall Arch for panoramic views of the city skyline and the Mississippi River below. Later, travel along a historic stretch of Route 66 and get the chance to sample Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a Route 66 treat since 1929! ST-LOUIS-CITY-VIEW.jpg
Breakfast
Day 5 ST. LOUIS–JOPLIN
Travel through the rolling countryside of Missouri, following portions of Route 66. Along the way, pass small towns, vintage roadside attractions, and reminders of the highway’s golden age.Arrive in Joplin, a city with deep Route 66 roots and a colorful past. Learn about the area’s history, including its connection to the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, who briefly sought refuge here during their crime spree across the American Midwest. JOPLIN-MISSOURI.jpg
Breakfast
Day 6 JOPLIN–TULSA–OKLAHOMA CITY
After a brief drive through Kansas, enter Oklahoma, once known as Indian Territory and home to the Cherokee Nation. Visit the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Welcome & Cultural Center to learn about Cherokee history, culture, and contemporary life through exhibits, artwork, and interpretive displays. Continue to Tulsa, where you’ll see the “East Meets West” sculpture honoring Cyrus Avery, widely recognized as the “The Father of Route 66.” Later, arrive in Oklahoma City for an overnight stay. TULSA-EAST-MEETS-WEST.jpg
Breakfast
Day 7 OKLAHOMA CITY–ELK CITY–AMARILLO
Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Oklahoma City, the capital of Oklahoma, including a stop at the moving Oklahoma City National Memorial honoring those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever by the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Continue to Elk City for a visit to the National Route 66 Museum, where exhibits trace the history, people, and communities that shaped America’s most famous highway crossing eight Route 66 states.Travel west across the Texas Panhandle to Amarillo, a city known for its ranching heritage and Route 66 connections. OKLAHOMA-CITY-NATIONAL-MEMORIAL.jpg
Breakfast
Day 8 AMARILLO–TUCUMCARI–ALBUQUERQUE
Depart Amarillo and stop at Cadillac Ranch, the famous roadside art installation featuring 10 colorful Cadillacs buried nose-first in a Texas field. Continue to Adrian, the halfway point on Route 66, before crossing into New Mexico.In Tucumcari, shop for souvenirs at Tee Pee Curios, a Route 66 landmark since 1944, and see the iconic Blue Swallow Motel, which has welcomed travelers along the Mother Road 1939. Later, arrive in Albuquerque and travel along Central Avenue, where many historic Route 66-era buildings, signs, and businesses still stand. CADILLAC-RANCH.jpg
Breakfast
Day 9 ALBUQUERQUE
Enjoy a day at leisure in Albuquerque a city where Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo influences have shaped a rich cultural heritage. Explore Old Town, the site of the city’s original settlement, or visit one of the area’s museums, including the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, the Albuquerque Museum, or the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. ALBUQUERQUE_DECOR.jpg
Day 10 ALBUQUERQUE–GALLUP–WINSLOW–WILLIAMS
Experience one of the highlights of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta with the early morning Balloon Glow and Mass Ascension, when hundreds of colorful hot-air balloons rise into the New Mexico sky. Depart Albuquerque and cross the Continental Divide continuing west to Gallup, a community with deep Native American heritage and strong connections to the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and other Indigenous cultures of the Southwest. Then cross into Arizona and stop in Winslow, made famous by the Eagles’ hit song Take it Easy. Continue to Williams, a historic Route 66 town and gateway to Grand Canyon National Park for a two-night stay. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Williams features a walkable downtown filled with Route 66 landmarks, western heritage, shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. GALLUP.jpg
Day 11 WILLIAMS. EXCURSION TO GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Take a detour from Route 66 to visit Grand Canyon National Park, one of the world's most celebrated natural wonders. Stroll along the South Rim and take in sweeping views of the canyon's colorful rock layers carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. Keep watch for wildlife, including elk that are often seen grazing in the surrounding forests.For a different perspective, consider an optional helicopter flightseeing excursion above the canyon with thrilling aerial views.Return to Williams, where the evening is free to explore the town's historic Route 66 district, browse local shops, eat at a vintage diner or stroll past the glowing neon signs of its preserved 1940s-era "Motel Row."GRAND-CANYON.jpg
Continental Breakfast
Day 12 WILLIAMS–SELIGMAN–LAS VEGAS
Depart Williams for Seligman, a town that played an important role in preserving and revitalizing historic Route 66. Continue west before detouring to Las Vegas, the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation tour featuring many of the themed resorts and famous landmarks along the Las Vegas Strip. This evening, join an optional night on the town featuring dinner and a live show celebrating the legendary entertainers who helped shape Las Vegas' rich entertainment history followed by a visit to the Freemont Street Experience, a lively district known for its illuminated canopy, street performers, and historic casinosLAS-VEGAS-STRIP-SKYLINE.jpg
Continental Breakfast
Day 13 LAS VEGAS
Enjoy a full day at leisure to experience Las Vegas your way. Explore the famous Las Vegas Strip, relax by the pool, browse themed resorts, or try your luck at one of the city's many casinos. Or choose to join an optional excursion to see nearby Hoover Dam, one of the most ambitious engineering projects of the 20th century.LAS-VEGAS-SIGN.jpg
Day 14 LAS VEGAS–VICTORVILLE–LOS ANGELES
Depart Las Vegas and travel across the Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino Mountains en route to Los Angeles. Along the way, visit the California Route 66 Museum, where exhibits celebrate the history and nostalgia of America's most famous highway, including a 1950s diner, a VW Love Bus, and a 1917 Ford Model T.Continue to Los Angeles and visit Santa Monica, home to the iconic "End of the Trail" sign marking the end of this legendary road. Take time to reflect on your journey across eight states before arriving in Los Angeles for a two-night stay.SANTA-MONICA-ROUTE-66-SIGN-XGTY.jpg
Day 15 LOS ANGELES
Explore the "City of Angels" on a morning sightseeing tour featuring Beverly Hills, the Sunset Strip, and Hollywood. Walk along the stars of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and stop for a photo of the iconic Hollywood Sign.The afternoon is free to explore on your own. For a behind-the-scenes look at the entertainment industry, consider an optional Warner Bros. Studio Tour, where you'll see famous sets and learn how television shows and movies are brought to life. LOS-ANGELES-WALK-OF-FAME.jpg
Day 16 LOS ANGELES
Your vacation ends this morning. Consider extending your vacation with extra nights to explore Los Angeles further.LOS-ANGELES-SKYLINE.jpg