Route 66 - The Mother Road

Days 1-2  Chicago  
Fly into Chicago, the lakeside city where this historic highway starts. Enjoy the fantastic mix of striking architecture, cool blues bars and superb shopping on the Magnificent Mile.  

Day 3  Chicago to Springfield, Illinois
Pick up your car and head south, passing classic Americana including retro roadside diners and vintage 1930s gas stations. Stop off in Pontiac to take a photo in front of the Route 66 mural before heading to Springfield, Illinois. Here you’ll find the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and the iconic Cozy Dog Drive In restaurant.  

Day 4  Springfield to St Louis  
A 190m tall steel monument towers over the St Louis skyline – take a lift to the very top of the Gateway Arch for sensational views over St Louis and beyond.  

Day 5  St Louis to Springfield, Missouri  
Continue on to another Springfield, this time in Missouri. The town is the gateway to Lake of the Ozarks, one of the largest recreational lakes in the US with more shoreline than the California coast!  

Day 6  Springfield to Oklahoma City  
Drive on to Oklahoma, which enjoys over 400 miles of Route 66. The state capital offers various attractions including the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.  

Day 7  Oklahoma City to Amarillo
Stop at the Route 66 Museum, full of nostalgic memorabilia, then leave Oklahoma behind as you continue on to the quintessentially Texan town of Amarillo.  

Days 8-9  Amarillo to Albuquerque  
Head to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Here you’ll a find a rich tapestry of Native American and Hispanic culture. Learn about Albuquerque’s history at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center or the city’s Museum of Art & History.  

Day 10  Albuquerque to Holbrook  
Next stop is Arizona and the old frontier town of Holbrook. Visit the Petrified Forest National Park with its strange landscape of petrified wood and coloured rocks.  

Day 11  Holbrook to Flagstaff  
Continue to Flagstaff, a great base for exploring the local area. The town of Sedona, with its striking red rock landscape, is just 30 miles south.  

Day 12  Grand Canyon NP  
It is an 80 mile drive to the spectacular South Rim of the Grand Canyon. This unique natural wonder offers truly impressive views of the awe-inspiring landscape.  

Day 13  Flagstaff to Barstow  
Cross into California, past the Mojave National Preserve with its tumbleweeds and Joshua trees, until you reach the town of Barstow. Visit nearby Calico, an old silver mining ghost town.  

Day 14  Barstow to Los Angeles  
Keep driving until you reach the Pacific Ocean. The Mother Road ends in laidback Santa Monica, Los Angeles.    

Day 15  Los Angeles  
The City of Angels has plenty of options to keep you occupied. Shop like a star in Beverly Hills, enjoy the exciting rides at Universal Studios Hollywood or stroll along Santa Monica Pier.  

Days 16-17  Fly home