Our Route 66 itinerary is the perfect way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this iconic highway if you’re planning the ultimate American road trip. Over the course of 40+ unforgettable days, we traveled the length of the original 1926 route (what could be legally traversed anyway), staying in vintage motels, camping under the stars, and taking in all the history and charm of the Mother Road.
Whether you’re gearing up for your own Route 66 adventure or just daydreaming about hitting the open road, I put together this day-by-day guide to help you make the most of your journey. You’ll find links to each detailed post; just click through for more info! And if you notice any links aren’t working yet, don’t worry, as I’m still working on them, so be sure to check back soon.
And don’t forget, if you’re interested in keeping a daily log of your Route 66 trip, check out the daily logbook I created, called My Route 66 Mother Road Story, on Amazon. You can record up to 70 days, with an overview section and extra areas in the back for signatures and well wishes from fellow travelers you meet, plus overflow space for all those neat stickers and stamps you collect along the route that won’t fit in the daily log.
Our Route 66 Itinerary
Day 1: Chicago, IL
Day 2: Chicago, IL to Dell Rhea’s Chicken
Day 3: Dell Rhea’s Chicken to Dicks on 66 (Joliet, IL)
Day 4: Joliet, IL (NASCAR Racing Experience Day)
Day 5: Joliet, IL
Day 6: Joliet, IL to Pontiac, IL
Day 7: Pontiac, IL to Bloomington, IL
Day 8: Bloomington, IL to Springfield, IL
Day 9: Springfield, IL to Carlinville, IL
Day 10: Carlinville, IL to Manchester, MO
Day 11: Manchester, MO to Sullivan, MO
Day 12: Sullivan, MO to St. Robert, MO
Day 13: St. Robert, MO to Springfield, MO
Day 14: Springfield, MO to Cathage, MO
Day 15: Cathage, MO to Galena, KS (we left to head back home to Texas to change out gear and get there before the tropical storm hit)
Day 16: Joplin, MO to Vinita, OK (restarted in Joplin since we blew through it and Kansas trying to get home before the tropical storm hit back at home)
Day 17: Vinita, OK to Tulsa, OK
Day 18: Tulsa, OK
Day 19: Tulsa, OK to Chandler, OK
Day 20: Chandler, OK to Edmond, OK
Day 21: Edmond, OK to El Reno, OK
Day 22: El Reno, OK to Clinton, OK
Day 23: Clinton, OK to Sayre, OK
Day 24: Sayre, OK to Shamrock, TX
Day 25: Shamrock, TX to Amarillo, TX
Day 26: Amarillo, TX to Vega, TX
Day 27: Vega, TX to Tucumcari, NM
Day 28: Tucumcari, NM
Day 29: Tucumcari, NM to Ribera, NM
Day 30: Ribera, NM to Albuquerque, NM
Day 31: Albuquerque, NM
Day 32: Albuquerque, NM to Gallup, NM
Day 33: Gallup, NM to Holbrook, AZ
Day 34: Holbrook, AZ to Flagstaff, AZ
Day 35: Flagstaff, AZ
Day 36: Flagstaff, AZ to Seligman, AZ
Day 37: Seligman, AZ to Kingman, AZ
Day 38: Kingman, AZ to Needles, CA (via Oatman, AZ) – Stayed the night in Kingman for a 2nd night, due to lack of lodging.
Day 39: Kingman, AZ to San Bernardino, CA
Day 40: San Bernardino, CA to Santa Monica, CA
My Route 66 Mother Road Story
A Route 66 Travel Journal and Memory Book with Daily Prompts to Capture Every Mile, Memory, Photo, Sticker, and Stamp Along the Mother Road
Traveling Route 66 was more than just a road trip; it was an experience filled with nostalgia, excitement, and unexpected surprises. I hope our Route 66 itinerary and daily logbook help you plan your own unforgettable adventure, whether you’re chasing old memories or making new ones along the Mother Road. Wherever your journey takes you, enjoy every quirky stop, friendly face, and wide-open stretch of highway. Safe travels, and may your Route 66 story be one to remember!
Have you driven Route 66? Comment below and let us know how long it took you!
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