The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip (2024)

Created by fredder - June 3rd 2020

Route 66, and its 2,500 miles, is known affectionately as "The Mother Road." It's the quintessential cross-country road trip experience. From Chicago through the beating heart of America and down to Los Angeles, the route officially ends at the Santa Monica Pier. The road reached peak popularity in the late 40's and early 50's before being officially removed from the US Highway System in 1985. After a few years, travelers from America and beyond started feeling tinges of nostalgia, and by the end of the 1980's it was fast becoming one of the most popular road trip routes once more.

645 Joliet Rd, Willowbrook, IL, US

Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket

The Illinois stretch of Route 66 is home to some pretty good eats, especially if you like classic American cuisine. Before you hit the road, visit Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, just outside Chicago, for some of the best fried chicken you'll ever have. They've been serving the home-cooked goodness since 1946.

1

127mi 02h 02m

5257 Old Rte 66, McLean, IL, US

Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup

1

For those of you with a sweet tooth, Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup in Shirley, IL produces over 1,800 gallons of maple syrup using old-fashioned techniques, and it's all bottled in beautiful, vintage-looking bottles.

2

10mi 00h 16m

114 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL, US

Route 66 Arcade Museum

2

The Illinois stretch of Route 66 is also home to loads of great roadside attractions, but none shout "retro-kitsch" louder than the massive muffler men statues! The Gemini Giant in Wilmington and Bunyon With a Hotdog in Atlanta, IL are two of the best for photo-ops of this iconic vestige of Americana. While you're in Atlanta, which is a ridiculously charming little town in Illinois, visit the Route 66 Arcade Museum: it's a fantastic hidden gem that features tons of vintage arcade machines you can play.

3

46mi 00h 49m

4.2

525 S Pasfield St, Springfield, IL, US

Pasfield House Inn

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3

Illinois is also great for history buffs, as it's home to loads of Abraham Lincoln-inspired attractions, and since the establishment of Route 66, big 'ole statues of "Honest Abe" have been delighting road travelers over the years. For the full Lincoln experience, spend the night at the Pasfield House Inn in Springfield, and just down the road there's the Watermelon Lincoln Monument, and the Railsplitter Covered Wagon in Lincoln.

4

57mi 00h 59m

1107 Historic Old Rte 66, Staunton, IL, US

Henry's Rabbit Ranch

4

If quirky roadside attractions are your thing, then you can't get much better than Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, where you'll find a whole bunch of VW Rabbits all cut in half and sticking out of the ground, like some weird Stonehenge homage. There's also a gift shop and info center on site, and a few actual bunnies that hang around to meet travelers. It's such a sweet stop to make along the route and has so much to photograph, including massive vintage Route 66 signs and memorabilia.

5

50mi 00h 54m

6726 Chippewa St, St. Louis, MO, US

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

5

As you drive through Missouri, there's a couple must-eat places once you hit St. Louis, including the classic 60-year old Eat-Rite Diner, which is like stepping back in time. Afterwards, polish off your meal with dessert at another Route 66 icon, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard.

6

7mi 00h 12m

12580 Rott Rd, St. Louis, MO, US

6

While in St. Louis, stretch your legs with a visit to the Laumeier Sculpture Park & Museum. Here you can get a great picture of a gigantic, massive, eyeball in the middle of a field. It's pretty wild and fun to walk around the outdoor art exhibits.

7

47mi 00h 45m

I-44 - Exit 230, Sullivan, MO, US

Jesse James Museum

7

Another great Missouri museum to visit is the Jesse James Museum in Sullivan. It's a very weird, but very cool interactive walking museum that takes you through the life of outlaw Jesse James and even questions his mysterious "death." The gift shop is loaded with kitschy Jesse James memorabilia, as well.

8

30mi 00h 29m

3.8

112 N Filmore St, Cuba, MO, US

Murals of Cuba, MO

8

Another Missouri town that will make you feel like you're traveling back in time is Cuba, and while there, you should tour the Murals of Cuba, which take you on an artistic journey through the rich history of the area.

9

137mi 02h 10m

4872 N Farm Rd 125, Springfield, MO, US

Fantastic Caverns

9

If you want a break from driving, pull over at the Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, and explore the world that exists underneath Route 66. It's North America's only completely ride-through cave tour, and it's absolutely worth the 55 minute tram ride.

10

23mi 00h 27m

4.7

21118 Old 66, Ash Grove, MO, US

Gary's Gay Parita

10

Your last Missouri stop should be at Gary's Gay Parita in Ash Grove: it's a verifiable Route 66 icon. As Gary says, “Folks from all over the world say it’s the dream of their life to travel Historic Route 66. It’s the dream of my life to meet those folks.” Owner Gary Turner loves the Mother Road and the people on it so much that he recreated a little retro Sinclair gas station, and spends his days welcoming travelers with a soda and great conversation.

11

68mi 01h 08m

119 N Main St, Galena, KS, US

Cars on the Route

11

Next up: Kansas! The Kansas section of Route 66 isn't what you'd call "lengthy", by any means. In fact, it's just 14 miles, but it's absolutely worth a visit. If you're coming in from Joplin, MO heading west, your first stop should be Galena, at the restored Kan-O-Tex service station now called "Cars on the Route". There are little snacks and sandwiches for sale, as well as antiques and Route 66 memorabilia. As part of their vision to connect visitors with the town, many of the items for sale are made by local craftspeople and artists. And what Route 66 service station would be complete without an old truck made to look like “Tow Mater,” from the Disney/Pixar film Cars?

12

47mi 00h 48m

319 E Illinois Ave, Vinita, OK, US

Clanton's Cafe

12

When you're hungry, head to Clanton's Cafe in Vinita, OK. This retro Route 66 restaurant is best-known for its breakfast, local cuisine, which includes their world-famous chicken fried steak and calf fries.

13

47mi 00h 47m

4.1

2680 N Highway 66, Catoosa, OK, US

Blue Whale of Catoosa

13

One of the most popular roadside attractions along Route 66 is the Blue Whale of Catoosa, built by Hugh Davis in the early 1970s. He built the massive blue whale as a surprise anniversary gift for his wife Zelta, who loved whales and collected whale figurines. The whale has certainly seen better days, but it's a very cool stop. Take time to wander around the abandoned ruins of this famed roadside wonder, and have a picnic at one of the picnic tables. If you're lucky, the tamale wagon will be open and you can grab a tasty snack.

14

65mi 01h 02m

114 W Main St, Stroud, OK, US

Rock Cafe

14

The historic Rock Cafe in Stroud is another iconic Route 66 stop. It also has a deep connection to the movie "Cars" and it was also featured on the show "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives." It's famous for its mouthwateringly golden-brown chicken-fried steak, and if you're in the mood for something sweet, try their Diet Doctor Pepper float.

15

13mi 00h 16m

3.0

740 E 1st St, Chandler, OK, US

Lincoln Motel

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15

Oklahoma also has its share of retro Route 66 hotels (notable today for their vintage signage). A few of the more famous ones along the route are the Desert Hills Motel in Tulsa, the Skyliner Motel in Stroud, and the Lincoln Motel in Chandler.

16

28mi 00h 31m

660 W Hwy 66, Arcadia, OK, US

POPS Soda Ranch

16

After all that driving, you're probably thirsty. Head over to POPS Soda Ranch in Arcadia. This is a landmark gas station and diner, but the real draw here is the hundreds of sodas they offer. Plus, there's a massive 66-ft tall soda bottle out front for a great photo-op.

17

85mi 01h 20m

3.6

Old Route 66, Hydro, OK, US

Lucille's Famous Rt. 66 Gas Station

17

Also, get a photo in front of Lucille's Famous Rt. 66 Gas Station in Hydro, OK. This historic two-story gas station was built by Carl Ditmore in 1929 in a very rural area... in fact the area is still very rural, but there's a nearby stream where locals go to find fossils and arrowheads.

18

18mi 00h 18m

I-40 Exit 62, Clinton, OK, US

Jiggs Smoke House

18

If you've had your fill of chicken-fried steak, and are in the mood for some good barbecue, head to Jiggs Smoke House in Clinton. It's a Route 66 road food icon, and one of the most famous BBQ joints on the Mother Road.

19

86mi 01h 18m

101 E. 12th Street, Shamrock, TX, US

Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café

19

On to Texas! The Lone Star state still has about 150 miles of Route 66 road still remaining, and it all closely parallels Interstate 40, so it's easy to hop on and off the patches of Mother Road. A few highlights include Shamrock, Texas, which is home to the Conoco Tower. This once-bustling stop along the route remains a great place to take pictures to this day. Of all the gas stations, open or closed, in America, this may be one of the most stunning. It’s just a hop, skip, and jump off I-40, so you really have no excuse not to stop and see this roadside classic. While you’re in Shamrock, also hit up their very own Blarney Stone.

Best time of year to travel along Route 66: The best time to road trip down Route 66 is between late April and early July, as well as late August through late October. The worst times to visit would be July and August, this is when the temperature is sweltering and all the kids are out of school, which means you'll come across some crowds along the route. In addition, July and August is considered high season, so you're going to be paying higher rates for lodging.

fredder

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The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip (2024)

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