Route 66 Holidays

On  Route 66 Holiday, you will crossing the USA from east to west covering over 2000 miles.   Whether you drive this route by car, motorhome or motorbike, in conclusion, this is the ultimate 'all American' road trip.  Get your motor running and 'get your kicks on Route 66'!

Route 66 Road Trip specialists

There are many fabulous fly drive holidays in the States but Route 66 this has to be the biggest and best!  We are specialists in this area and have organised hundreds of trips over the years...no two the same.  Travel Route 66 on a Harley Davidson and really get the wind on your face or perhaps take your time in a motorhome.  Maybe you saw  Billy Connolly on TV riding Route 66?  This gave a wonderful view of the quirky sights and eccentric people that you could experience along the way! You can do this fly drive holiday most of the year...although we suggest you avoid winter. 

Chicago

Road trip America on the Mother Road - get your kicks on Route 66

The hit song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" brought worldwide fame to this road.  This song was originally recorded by the Nat King Cole Trio in 1946 and later by various artists including The Rolling Stones and Chuck Berry.

History of Route 66

Sometimes know as the 'Will Rogers Highway', the 'Mother Road' or 'Main Street of America', this was just part of the US highway system until it became recognised in popular culture as the iconic drive that it is today. Road signs were erected in 1927, a year after it was originally established, running from Chicago to Los Angeles.  Route 66 has had many changes and improvements over the years.  Therefore the overall length has been altered and has been often detoured around cities to avoid congestion. In 1985 'US 66' was removed from the Highway System and replaced by the Interstate Highway System. 

Historic Route 66

Some sections of the former road have now been designated 'Scenic Byways' under the name 'Historic Route 66'.   So where is the actual 'Route 66'?  There are some deviations and, of course, with self drive holidays you can do your own thing, but here is a sample itinerary of  around 20 days.  We use character and historic hotels and motels where possible.  However, we tailor make every trip so the choice is yours.

Route 66 Road Trip specialists

We can tailor make any version of your Route 66 holiday you don't have to do the tour everyone else tells you to!

Sample Itinerary

Day 1  

Arrive Chicago O’Hare airport. Make your way to your hotel downtown for two nights.

Day 2

At leisure – Chicago. Wander the shores of Lake Michigan, tour the skyscrapers and enjoy the magnificent mile of shops and restaurants.

Day 3

Collect your vehicle downtown Chicago.  Leave Chicago and drive through Springfield (note there are two Springfields on Route 66!). This one is famous for being the home of Abraham Lincoln.  

Chicago

Day 4

Onwards to St Louis Missouri. Enjoy the sites of the famous Mississippi river and the Gateway Arch. Or stay on Route 66 around St Louis into the land of the Ozarks.  

Day 5 

See The Giant Rocking Chair as seen on Billy Connolly’s Route 66. Drive to Springfield Missouri through the Ozarks and Mark Twain National Forest stopping at small towns along the way.  

Day 6

 From Missouri drive through Kansas and into Oklahoma.  You may want to stop at Catoosa just before Tulsa to see the famous ‘Blue Whale’. 11th Street in Tulsa has some great Art Deco architecture and old R66 signs.  

Day 7 

On the stretch of road between Tulsa and Oklahoma there are various old loops where you may want to stop.  For example the old towns of Chandler and Stroud. Oklahoma City has several cowboy and heritage museums.  In Clinton where you can visit the Oklahoma R66 Museum. In Elk City there is the National R66 museum and a huge neon sign.  

Day 8

Stop on the way at Mclean, home to the ‘Devils Rope’ museum. Heading over the Texas panhandle you come to Palo Duro Canyon State Park and Amarillo – just outside the town is the famous ‘Cadillac Ranch’.   

Mid Point Route 66

Day 9

Leaving Amarillo make a stop just before the state border with New Mexico at the café at Adrian – the half way point of Route 66. There is a time change at the state line from Texas into New Mexico. Tucumcari has plenty of old picturesque motels. 

Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari

Day 10

Travel across the plains to the Native Indian and arts centre of Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. 

Day 11

A short drive today to Albuquerque.  Here you can take in the neon lights of downtown which celebrates the American road culture of the 50s and 60s.   

Day 12

Cross the New Mexico desert and you soon get to Gallup, the gateway to the Four Corners area and the Navajo Nation.   

Day 13  

Just before Holbrook on Route 66 turn off to visit the Petrified Forest National Park. Then pass through Winslow (of Eagles song fame – “standing on a corner in Winslow Arizona"). Just past Winslow is a turn off to the Meteor Crater.  Continue to Flagstaff today from where you can visit the Grand Canyon.  Two nights here to allow time to explore the Canyon area. 

Sunset Grand Canyon

Day 14

Day at leisure exploring around Grand Canyon OPTION TO INCLUDE MONUMENT VALLEY AND OVERNIGHT AT GRAND CANYON:

OR/ Day 13

Head north from Gallup towards the Utah border. Here you will find the most famous scenery of cowboy movies and road trips at Monument Valley!  

Monument Valley

Day 14

Travel west across desert scenery through Tuba City to the Grand Canyon Village.  If you choose this option we recommend adding a night at Peach Springs or Grand Canyon Lodge.

Day 15

Continue on Route 66 as it winds its way through some of the most scenic parts of its journey.  At Kingman  you can detour off Route 66 to Las Vegas. 

Day 16

A day at leisure in Las Vegas

Las Vegas

Day 17

Heading back from Vegas to R66 , re-join again at Kingman and take the old R66 as it switches back and forth down a river valley escarpment.  This will take you through Oatman, an old gold mining town where you can see cowboy shoot outs and roadside Burros. 

Day 18

Follow the old rail road alongside Route 66 and San Bernardino to the end of the road just before the Pacific Ocean. Turn into Sunset Boulevard and end at Santa Monica by the famous pier.  This is where the road and America ends! 

Day 19

A day to relax and enjoy Santa Monica and Los Angeles. Visit Beverley Hills and the famous sites of the area.  

Day 20

Drop your vehicle at Los Angeles airport and board your flight home.

Day 21

Arrive UK

Of course, this is YOUR trip so if you would rather skip or add anything, we can tailor make it exactly to YOUR requirements.

Santa Monica

Route 66 by Motorcycle 

We can arrange for individual motorbike hire or guided motorcycle tours of Route 66.  The most popular bikes are Harley Davidsons, Honda Goldwing 1800 and the BMW R1200GS. Rentals come with Saddle Bags, helmets  and include unlimited mileage and insurance. 

Monument Valley Route 66

Route 66 by Car 

All types of standard rental cars are available from economy up to luxury and 4×4.  Some people choose to start with a saloon and swap for a convertible further down the route. Note that any convertibles have very small luggage space!  In addition, they are much easier to source in LA so driving the Route west to east works best here.

Route 66

Route 66 by Motorhome 

Motorhomes are a popular way to self drive anywhere in America. For Route 66 we can book a variety of sizes to suit your group.  If you have an HGV licence it may be possible to hire one of the huge ‘motor coaches’ used in the movies!  Beware that some hire companies do not include essential items such as cooking fuel, crockery, cutlery, linen, full cover insurance and local taxes.  Cheapest is not always the best option!

Monument Valley Campervan

We have successfully planned hundreds of tailor made Route 66 holidays over the last few years, please get in touch now on 01728 748209 or complete the enquiry form or use the Live Chat to talk to us and start planning your Route 66 bucket list trip!