USA: Drive Route 66 by RV

In 2026, Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary. This historic highway played an important role in 20th-century American culture and remains one of the best-known road trips in the United States. The original Route 66 runs from Chicago to Santa Monica near Los Angeles, crossing eight states and covering nearly 2,500 miles.

For this RV road trip, fly into Chicago, Illinois. This example itinerary covers 22 days, but you can easily add extra time along the way. For a more relaxed Route 66 trip with enough time for stops and sightseeing, we recommend allowing about 3 to 4 weeks.

Days 1-2: Chicago
Your journey begins in Chicago, Illinois' largest city and the starting point of Route 66. This itinerary gives you two days to explore the city before picking up your RV. If you want more time in Chicago, simply add a few extra days at the beginning of your trip.

• Visit Willis Tower and see Chicago from the 103rd floor.

• Catch a game at one of Chicago's well-known sports venues.

• Walk along the Magnificent Mile.

• Bike through the parks and along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

• Visit Millennium Park and see Cloud Gate.

Day 3: Chicago – Springfield, approx. 200 mi / 320 km – 3.5 hours
Today, pick up your RV and start the drive to Springfield, Illinois. The city has strong connections to Abraham Lincoln, who lived here for many years before becoming president of the United States.

• Visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

• See Lincoln's former home at Lincoln Home National Historic Site.

• Take a tour of the Dana-Thomas House.

Campground: Riverside Park Campground

Days 4-5: Springfield – St. Louis, approx. 100 mi / 160 km – 2 hours
Continue from Springfield to St. Louis, Missouri. Located along the Mississippi River, the city is a natural next stop on Route 66. Its most recognizable landmark is the Gateway Arch, rising above the river and downtown.

• See the Gateway Arch.

• Spend a day at Six Flags.

• Walk through Forest Park.

• Visit the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis.

Campground: DraftKings at Casino Queen RV Park

Days 6-7: St. Louis – Springfield, approx. 210 mi / 340 km – 3.5 hours
Continue to Springfield, Missouri. The city holds an important place in Route 66 history: during a meeting here in 1926, the name for the new highway was proposed.

• Visit the Route 66 Springfield Visitor Center.

• Explore Fantastic Caverns on a ride-through cave tour.

• Visit the Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks or the Springfield Art Museum.

Campground: Springfield / Route 66 KOA Holiday

Day 8: Springfield – Tulsa, approx. 185 mi / 300 km – 3 hours
The journey continues to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The city grew rapidly during the oil boom and today is known in part for its Art Deco architecture. Route 66 history is also easy to spot throughout Tulsa and the surrounding area.

• Explore the Art Deco architecture downtown.

• Visit The Golden Driller, a large statue honoring oil workers.

• See the art collection and gardens at the Philbrook Museum of Art.

Campground: Honcho RV Park

Day 9: Tulsa – Oklahoma City, approx. 105 mi / 170 km – 2 hours
Today, drive to Oklahoma City, the state capital. Different neighborhoods offer their own distinct character. Bricktown, for example, is a former warehouse district with restaurants, entertainment, and a canal.

• Explore Bricktown and consider taking a water taxi.

• Walk or bike around Lake Hefner.

• Take some time to discover another of Oklahoma City's neighborhoods.

Campground: Oklahoma City East KOA Holiday

Day 10: Oklahoma City – Amarillo, approx. 255 mi / 410 km – 4 hours
Leave Oklahoma behind and travel west to Amarillo, Texas. Along the way, the scenery gradually opens into the broad plains of the Texas Panhandle. Amarillo is a classic Route 66 stop and a convenient base for visiting Cadillac Ranch and Palo Duro Canyon.

• Stop at Cadillac Ranch, where graffiti-covered Cadillacs are buried nose-first in the ground.

• Visit Palo Duro Canyon State Park south of Amarillo.

Campground: Route 66 RV Ranch

Days 11-12: Amarillo – Santa Fe, approx. 290 mi / 465 km – 5 hours
After Texas, continue to Santa Fe, the capital of New Mexico. The city has a long history and distinctive architecture influenced by Pueblo and Spanish Colonial styles. With two days here, you'll have time to explore the historic center and several cultural attractions.

• Explore Santa Fe Plaza and the surrounding streets.

• Visit the Santa Fe Opera.

• Walk through the Barrio de Analco Historic District.

Campground: Santa Fe Skies RV Park

Day 13: Santa Fe – Albuquerque, approx. 75 mi / 120 km – 2 hours
Continue to Albuquerque, New Mexico's largest city. In Old Town, you'll find historic buildings surrounding the central plaza, while the Sandia Mountains just east of the city provide a very different backdrop.

• Visit Petroglyph National Monument.

• Walk through Old Town and see San Felipe de Neri Church.

• Ride the Sandia Peak Tramway if conditions and operating hours allow.

Campground: NomadLand RV Park Albuquerque

Days 14-15: Albuquerque – Petrified Forest National Park, approx. 225 mi / 360 km – 4 hours
From Albuquerque, travel west into Arizona toward Petrified Forest National Park. The park sits directly along historic Route 66 and is known for its petrified wood, colorful badlands, and Painted Desert scenery. The park road is about 28 mi / 45 km long, making it easy to combine several viewpoints and short hikes during your visit.

• Drive through the national park and stop at several viewpoints.

• Hike the Blue Mesa Trail.

• See the petrified wood in the southern part of the park.

• Allow extra time for a backcountry route if you want a longer hike.

Campground: Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA Journey

Days 16-17: Petrified Forest National Park – Grand Canyon National Park, approx. 220 mi / 355 km – 4 hours
From Petrified Forest National Park, continue to Grand Canyon National Park. This itinerary takes you to the South Rim, the primary year-round visitor area of the Grand Canyon. Use your extra day to combine several viewpoints with a walk along the rim.

• Hike all or part of the Rim Trail.

• Use the park shuttle to reach different viewpoints.

• Visit Hermits Rest.

• See the Grand Canyon around sunrise or sunset.

Campground: Mather Campground

Day 18: Grand Canyon National Park – Seligman, approx. 100 mi / 160 km – 2 hours
Leave the Grand Canyon and return to the atmosphere of historic Route 66. Seligman is a small town filled with classic motels, old gas stations, neon signs, and other reminders of the Mother Road's heyday.

• Eat at a classic American diner such as Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In.

• See the colorful buildings, neon signs, and classic cars.

• Take some time to walk through Seligman's compact downtown area.

Campground: Seligman / Route 66 KOA Journey

Days 19-20: Seligman – Las Vegas, approx. 180 mi / 290 km – 3 hours
Today, temporarily leave historic Route 66 for a side trip to Las Vegas. After the small towns and desert landscapes of Arizona, the city provides a dramatic change of pace. With two days, you'll have time to explore the Strip, Downtown Las Vegas, and several of the city's well-known attractions.

• Visit the Neon Museum.

• See Las Vegas from the High Roller.

• Walk along Fremont Street.

• Visit one of the casinos or see a show.

• Take in the city views from the STRAT Tower.

Campground: Las Vegas RV Resort

Days 21-22: Las Vegas – Los Angeles, approx. 275 mi / 440 km – 5 hours
The final leg takes you to Los Angeles. Historic Route 66 ends in Santa Monica on the Pacific Ocean. After returning your RV, you can finish your trip by exploring Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Hollywood, or one of Los Angeles' many other neighborhoods.

• Walk along the Santa Monica Pier and look for the Route 66 sign.

• Rent a bike and follow the coast toward Venice Beach.

• Visit Universal Studios or Disneyland.

• Explore Downtown Los Angeles.

• Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

• Take in views of the city from the Getty Center or Griffith Observatory.

Rent an RV in the United States?

Route 66 is an excellent way to combine several different regions of the United States in one RV road trip. This 22-day example itinerary gives you a starting point, but you can add extra nights or adjust sections of the route to match your own travel plans.

Explore RV rental options and rental locations in the United States, or contact Worldwide Campers if you'd like help planning your Route 66 RV trip.