Route 66 Vacation Planning

Route 66 Vacation Planning

Flickr.com

The historic Route 66 goes from Chicago to Los Angeles. You can stop to hike, bike and camp in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

Maps

Current maps do not have Route 66 on them, so pick up one of the many guidebooks available online or in bookstores.

Fun Fact

Route 66 is 2,448 miles. Another name for this highway is "The Mother Road." The road was not fully paved until 1937.

Places to Stay

Stay at the Rest Haven Motel in Afton, Oklahoma, and the Little Brick Inn located in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Sleep at the Pioneer Motel in Springfield, Illinois. The restored Blue Swallow Motel is in Tucumcari, New Mexico.

Places to Visit

Take a side trip to the Grand Canyon on the steam train that departs from Williams Depot in Williams, Arizona. Visit the ghost town of Glenrio in Glenrio, Texas. Don't miss the Route 66 Museum in Victorville, California.

Places to Eat

Eat a T-bone steak at Zeno's Motel and Steak House in Rolla, Missouri. Try the Club Cafe in Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Drink orange juice at the last orange juice stand in Fontana, California.

Article Written By Ellen Kendall

Ellen Kendall has 15 years of writing and editing experience. Her travel and insurance articles have appeared in national magazines. Her book contributions include biographies and multi-cultural and Holocaust lesson plans. She has previously served as a real estate broker and interior designer and taught ESL in Korea and at Duke.

Write for Trails.com
  • Editor's Pick

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    5 Top North American Wildflower Hikes

    Springtime brings a sense of new beginnings and new life as flowers begin to bloom and fill the air with their sweet and pleasant fragrance. Luckily we can see wildflowers all summer long, since spring hits at different times throughout North America. See flowering cactu...

    More National Parks...
  • Popular Article

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    National Park Substitutes: Great Spots Without the Crowds

    Coping with crowds at national parks can get tiresome, especially during the peak tourist season. If you want to escape from the herd, or just take a breather from the bustle of bigger attractions, the United States has plenty of less-visited but still worthwhile spots t...

    More National Parks...
  • Featured Destination

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    Prevent Yourself from Getting Lost While Hiking

    When you're hiking you're going to want to make sure you stay found. What I mean by that is that you've put an itinerary in the car, you know the area that you're hiking to, you know the route and the trail you plan on being on, you know what the trail markers are going ...

    More Camping Basics...

Hotel Finder

Destination
Check-in
Check-out
Adults (18+ yrs)
Children (2-17 yrs)
Get Rates and Availability

Outdoor Gear & Equipment

ALL NEW Trails Gear Store powered by:

Trail Finder

US Map

Search by Keyword