Travelpack

Overview

Chicago • Los Angeles • Barstow • Kingman • Williams • Gallup • Albuquerque • Amarillo • Oklahoma City • Tulsa • Springfield • St. Louis • Seneca

Hit the open road and relive America’s most iconic journey on an unforgettable RV holiday along Route 66 from the sun-soaked beaches of Santa Monica to the vibrant streets of Chicago. This 17-day adventure takes you off the beaten path through quirky roadside diners, ghost towns, national parks, neon-lit motels, and historic landmarks. Travel through deserts, mountains, and the heart of the Midwest, discovering the soul of the Mother Road. Perfect for families, couples, or solo explorers ready to make memories.

Day 1: Chicago

STAY: Freehand Chicago 4*
Freehand outpost is housed in a classic 1927 building in Chicago’s vibrant River North neighborhood, and is home to some of the city’s best art galleries, boutiques, and restaurants.

Day 2: Los Angeles

Motorhomes C25 Rental
Included in your Rental:
-Unlimited Mileage Package
-One Way Fee
-Personal Kits 2 Kits
-Provisioning Kits 1 Kits
-Insurance is an essential part of your rental, and we include it in your rental price.

Day 2: Barstow

Enjoy a few days in the greater Los Angeles area, exploring places like Santa Monica with its classic California laid-back beach vibe and wonderful dining and shopping options. Santa Monica Pier is also the place to get that all-important photo with the iconic Route 66 sign. With photo in hand and child-like excitement that only a cross-country road trip can bring, head off to collect your RV from the depot in Carson and navigate east through the freeways of Southern California into the vast Mojave Desert. Your overnight stop is a campground in the town that once saw The Old Spanish Trail and Route 66 pass this way. 130 miles to Barstow. Take the shuttle from the KOA to the silver mining ghost town of Calico.

Day 3: Barstow to Kingman

Sections of Route 66 follow Interstate 40 east towards the Arizona border and the town of Kingman, AZ. However, for those who want to detour and extend their trip to the bright lights of Las Vegas for a few nights, head northeast along Interstate 15 and rejoin Route 66 in Arizona. Head for Kingman KOA and unwind in the huge pool, high in the desert, surrounded by the Hualapai (Hu-al-a-pie) Mountains. Nearby, you can see traces of the pioneer wagon ruts that still mark the Fort Beale Wagon Trail 206 miles to Kingman. Make a short detour to Lake Havasu and the iconic London Bridge spanning an artificial channel of the mighty Colorado River. Stop at The Powerhouse Visitor Center, which houses a good Route 66 museum, and grab a burger and fries at the neon-lit Mr. Dz Route 66 diner.

Day 4 & 5: Kingman to Williams

As you leave Kingman, this is one of the few sections of the whole journey where Route 66 detours significantly from Interstate 40 and heads up through the high desert and into the Hualapai Indian Reservation along the Santa Fe Railroad tracks. This is a memorable part of the whole trip, so do take your time and enjoy the scenery. Before arriving in Williams for the night, Seligman is a great place to stop and take a break, with its old town retaining lots of historical character. 130 miles to Williams. Enjoy the old town nostalgia of Williams with its old-fashioned street lamps and every other store offering Route 66 memorabilia. Take the train from the Grand Canyon Railway station north to the world-famous and magnificent Grand Canyon National Park for awe-inspiring views across the Colorado Plateau. If you get the chance, book and take a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon (definitely not to be missed!) or maybe a jeep or rafting tour!

Day 6: Williams to Gallup

The drive from Williams through eastern Arizona takes you through some beautiful landscapes and historic Route 66 stops. Just 30 minutes into your drive, you arrive in the trendy mountain town of Flagstaff with its university vibe and many outdoor adventure options. Your next stop is Holbrook and the otherworldly Petrified Forest National Park, with its Painted Desert, and home to the largest collection of petrified wood in the world. Finish the day with a short drive to your stop for the night in Gallup, NM. 218 miles to Gallup. Visit the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, where Pluto was first discovered, and take in the view of the Meteor Crater, at nearly a mile wide!

Day 7 & 8: Gallup to Albuquerque

Today, you have a relatively short drive to Albuquerque, and we have given you 2 nights here to enjoy all the city and region have to offer. The drive itself is no less stunning, though, with a stop in Grants to visit the El Malpais National Monument with its volcanic landscapes and scenic trails. You will also be passing the Continental Divide and plenty of neon Route 66 memorabilia en route. 138 miles to Albuquerque. Stop at Acoma Pueblo (Sky City), one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America, built atop a 365-foot sandstone mesa. Enjoy exploring the historic old town dating back to 1706 and ride the Sandia Peak Tramway up to the 10,378ft Sandia Peak for a phenomenal panorama of the surrounding area. If travelling in October, enjoy the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, the largest of its kind in the world.

Day 9: Albuquerque to Amarillo

A long drive today takes us into the great state of Texas for the first time. You will largely be covering the miles along Interstate 40, but there are still plenty of places to stop and enjoy the wacky world of Route 66 and its quirky roadside attractions. Just a short drive out of Albuquerque, stop in Moriarty for the Route 66 Auto Museum, which is a collection of classic cars and memorabilia. If the temperatures are rising, take a dip in the Blue Hole, a crystal clear 80-foot natural swimming hole in the middle of the desert, and you have to stop for a while in the small town of Tucumcari, which is famous for its old-school Route 66 nostalgia. 287 miles to Amarillo. Visit the famous Cadillac Ranch with its spray-painted, half-buried Cadillacs. Just don't forget your spray paint! For those brave enough, take on the 72-ounce steak challenge at the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

Day 10 & 11: Amarillo to Oklahoma City

Today is a drive across north Texas and into Oklahoma, which has the most uninterrupted miles of historic Route 66 running from the Texas border to Kansas, with many of the original bridges, road alignments, and vintage landmarks still in use. Good news, you have a few days to explore this wonderful region. Before leaving Texas, do stop at the Devil's Rope Museum in McLean (it's more interesting than it may sound!) and the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, which is a beautifully restored Art Deco gas station and café and the inspiration for Ramones' shop in Cars. Just as you enter Oklahoma, stop at the Oklahoma Sign, a classic Route 66 photo op. 258 miles to Oklahoma City. A must-visit is the National Route 66 & Transportation Museum in Elk City and the famous Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, regularly voted one of the best on the whole route for its interactive exhibits and vintage cars. For a night out in Oklahoma City, visit Bricktown with its lovely bars and canal walk. Spend some time at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, regularly voted one of the best in the country for learning about the Old West and cowboy culture.

Day 12:Oklahoma City to Tulsa

Just a short drive today, certainly by Route 66 standards, to the other major city in Oklahoma, Tulsa. Again, this day is filled with so many great options to experience different Route 66 attractions. Take your pick from Pops 66 Soda Ranch in Arcadia, with its 66-foot-tall neon soda bottle selling over 700 types of soda, to the Rock Caf in Stroud with its historic Route 66 diner from 1939 and the inspiration for Sally in Cars. 106 miles to Tulsa. In the city, enjoy a night out in the Blue Dome District, a lovely entertainment area named after a historic 1920s gas station with its great food, breweries, and Route 66 history, or enjoy a walk along The Gathering Place. A world-class riverfront park in the heart of the city and along the Arkansas River.

Day 13: Tulsa to Springfield

The scenery starts to change in eastern Oklahoma from the desert landscape to more lush green fields and open farmland. Not long after leaving Tulsa, one of the most iconic Route 66 roadside attractions comes into sight in the form of the Blue Whale of Catoosa! This huge and frankly bizarre attraction is worth a stop. Most of today's driving is off the main Interstate, allowing you to enjoy what it must have been like for those making the journey westward 100 years ago. You will visit Kansas before stopping for the night in Springfield, MO. 181 miles to Springfield. In Galena, stop at the funky Galena Mining and Historical Museum for a glimpse of what it was like in the 1920s heyday. Visit the History Museum on the Square in Springfield to learn about its role in Route 66 and the Wild West.

Day 14: Springfield to St. Louis

Today's drive is largely spent on Interstate 44 heading northeast towards St Louis, but this is quite a rugged part of the drive through the upland Ozark Mountains, offering a very scenic view from the window as the route skirts the Mark Twain National Forest. You have a full day to explore St Louis, the Gateway to the West, 216 miles to St Louis. Do stop at the Meramec Caves, one of the most enjoyable and charming roadside attractions along the entire Mother Road. Route 66 State Park also offers scenic trails along the Meramec River. No visit to St Louis is complete without a ride to the top of the Gateway Arch, one of the tallest structures in the country.

Day 15: St. Louis to Springfield

It is a relatively short drive today to Springfield, IL, but this allows you to enjoy some Route 66 attractions and other worthwhile stops. None more so than the UNESCO World Heritage site of Cahokia Mounds, just east of St Louis, with its ancient Native American earthen mounds. Also, stop and take a walk or bike ride across the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, a historic Route 66 bridge over the Mississippi River. 98 miles to Springfield. Who doesn't want to stop and see the world's largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville or a giant pink elephant statue in Livingston? All part of a day along Route 66! When in Springfield, stop at the Cozy Dog Drive-in, the birthplace of the corn dog, a must-try Route 66 classic.

Day 16: Springfield to Seneca

Before leaving Springfield, we would certainly suggest stopping at the Lincoln Home National Historic Site to learn about one of the most important and iconic figures in the history of the United States. For some outdoor adventure, visit Starved Rock State Park, with some of the state's best hiking spots with waterfalls, and scenic trails. This is also where we suggest you spend your last night along the Illinois River before returning your RV to the Chicago depot in the morning. 136 miles to Seneca. Stop for a photo at the world's largest covered wagon in Lincoln, IL, and for those with a sweet tooth, we suggest a visit to Funks Grove Maple Syrup, a family-owned syrup farm and a Route 66 attraction.

Day 17:Seneca to Chicago

What is included in the offer

International flights with 23kgs baggage
1 night at Freehand Chicago in a standard room on room only basis
16 nights/17 days C25 RV hire
Unlimited Mileage Insurance & One Way Fee

Based on 2 Adults Sharing

Deposit: £125pp
• A27729 Heathrow Direct Flights from £2709pp
• A27776 Glasgow from £2695pp
• A27773 Manchester from £2725pp
• A27765 Single Supplement from £1854pp

Meal Plans