Travelpack

Los Angeles • Barstow • Kingman • Williams • Grand Canyon (Arizona) • Flagstaff • Holbrook • Petrified Forest National Park, USA • Gallup • Albuquerque • Tucumcari • Amarillo • Oklahoma City • Tulsa • Catoosa • Galena • Springfield (Missouri) • St. Louis • Cahokia Mounds (Illinois) • Springfield (Illinois) • Seneca • Chicago

Embark on an unforgettable journey from vibrant Los Angeles to iconic Chicago, beginning with a relaxing hotel stay before setting off on a classic Route 66 road adventure. Travel through deserts, mountains, small towns, and legendary Americana, exploring national parks, nostalgic diners, quirky roadside landmarks, and rich cultural sites along the way. Enjoy stunning natural wonders, charming historic districts, and immersive local experiences as you trace the “Mother Road” across multiple states. The trip concludes in one of America’s most dynamic cities, offering the perfect finale to this epic cross-country adventure.

Day 1: Los Angeles
Flights from Heathrow Airport to Los Angeles International Airport
Stay at Freehand Los Angeles 1 night

Day 2: Route 66 The Road Less Travelled
C25 Motorhome Los Angeles to Chicago
Vehicle class: C25
Pickup location: Los Angeles (LAX) and Return location: Chicago (CHI)
Pickup date: 8 Sep 2026 and Return date: 25 Sep 2026

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 camp ground 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
Sections of Route 66 follow Interstate 40east towards the Arizona border and the town of Kingman, AZ. However, for those that want to detour and extend their trip to the bright lights of Las Vegas for a few nights, head northeast along Interstate 15 and re join 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 huts 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 Centre 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
As you leave Kingman, this is one of the few sections of the whole journey where Route 66 detours significantly from Interstate 40and 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 oldtown nostalgia of Williams with its old-fashioned street lamps and every other store offering Route66 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
The drive from Williams through eastern Arizona takes you through some beautiful landscapes and historic Route 66 stops. Just 30minutes 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 other-worldly 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
Today you have a relatively short drive to Albuquerque and we have given you 2 nights here to enjoy all the city and region has 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 memorabiliaen 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
Leaving the city behind, roll through the wide-open skies and vast deserts of eastern New Mexico. About an hour into the drive and if temperatures are rising, take a short dip in the Blue Hole, a crystal clear 80ft natural swimming hole in the middle of the desert. Your stop for the night is the nostalgic town of Tucumcari which feels frozen in time with its many attractions dating back to Route 66s golden age. 176 miles to Tucumcari Stop by the legendary Blue Swallow motel, an icon along this stretch of the highway and grab a bite to eat in a local diner like Dels for some real western food.

Day 10
Todays drive is relatively short by Route66 standards, and you are entering into the great state of Texas for the first time. Break up the journey at Russell's Travel Centre home to a free vintage car museum packed with nostalgia and also plan a stop at the Midpoint Caf in Adrian. As the name suggests, this is the exact halfway mark of Route 66 and a great place for a photo of the iconic sign. 114 miles to Amarillo Visit the famous Cadillac Ranch with its spray-painted, half-buried Cadillacs. Just don't forget your own spray paint! For those brave enough, take on the72-ounce steak challenge at the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

Day 11 - 12
Todays drive is relatively short by Route66 standards, and you are entering into the great state of Texas for the first time. Break up the journey at Russell's Travel Centre home to a free vintage car museum packed with nostalgia and also plan a stop at the Midpoint Caf in Adrian. As the name suggests, this is the exact halfway mark of Route 66 and a great place for a photo of the iconic sign. 114 miles to Amarillo Visit the famous Cadillac Ranch with its spray-painted, half-buried Cadillacs. Just don't forget your own spray paint! For those brave enough, take on the72-ounce steak challenge at the Big Texan Steak Ranch.

Day 13
Just a short drive today, certainly by Route66 standards to the other major city in Oklahoma, Tulsa. Again, this day is absolutely filled with so many great options to experience different Route66 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 from1939 and the inspiration for Sally in Cars. 106miles 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 14
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 66roadside 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 todays driving is off the main Interstate allowing you to really enjoy what it must have been like for those making the journey westwards 100 years ago. You will make a visit through 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 15 - 16
Todays 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 17
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, an historic Route 66 bridge over the Mississippi River. 98 miles to Springfield Who doesn't want to stop and seethe Worlds largest Cats up 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 18
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 states 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 worlds largest covered wagon in Lincoln, IL and for those with a sweet tooth, we suggest a visit the Funks Grove Maple Sirup, a family-owned syrup farm and Route 66 history.

Day 19
Make the 70-mile drive to the Cruise America depot to return your RV. Plan on spending at least a few days in the Windy City and enjoy the sights and attractions of one of Americas most important and vibrant cities.

Prices & Departures
Deposit: £125pp
b05326 Heathrow Direct Flights from £2349pp
b05799/5805 Edinburgh or Glasgow from £2449pp
b05790 Manchester from £2469pp
b05815 Newcastle from £2479pp
b05820 Dublin from £2559pp
b05795 Go Solo Supplement from £1629pp

Terms & Conditions
Based on 2 adults

Offer Includes

Meal Plans