Route 66: Chicago to Los Angeles on the Mother Road
Route 66 is less a road than a pilgrimage: ~2,400 miles from downtown Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The original highway was decommissioned in 1985, but most of it survives as drivable historic alignments running beside the interstates — neon motels, mid-century diners and all.
Breaking Up the Drive
| Leg | Distance | Drive Time |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago → St. Louis | 300 mi | ~4h 30m |
| St. Louis → Oklahoma City | 500 mi | ~7h 30m |
| Oklahoma City → Albuquerque | 540 mi | ~8h |
| Albuquerque → Los Angeles | 790 mi | ~11h 30m |
If you follow only the modern interstates (I-55, I-44, I-40), the trip is about 30 hours of driving. The historic alignments roughly double your time on the road — that's the point. A good compromise: use the interstate across the flatter stretches of Illinois and Missouri, then slow down and take the old road through Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, where the best-preserved segments and roadside attractions cluster.
State-by-State Highlights
- Illinois: Begin at the "Route 66 Begin" sign on Adams Street in Chicago; stop for a Cozy Dog in Springfield.
- Missouri: Walk the Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi; Meramec Caverns near Stanton was the original tourist trap.
- Oklahoma: The longest drivable stretch of original 66. Don't miss the Blue Whale of Catoosa and the round barn at Arcadia.
- Texas: Cadillac Ranch outside Amarillo and the free 72-oz steak challenge at the Big Texan.
- New Mexico: Tucumcari's restored neon at night, then Albuquerque's Central Avenue — the longest urban stretch of 66.
- Arizona: The Petrified Forest is the only national park containing a segment of 66; Seligman and Oatman are living time capsules.
- California: Cross the Mojave via Amboy's Roy's Motel sign, then finish at the "End of the Trail" sign on the Santa Monica Pier.
When to Go and What It Costs
April-May and September-October avoid both the Mojave's 110°F summers and winter ice on the high plateaus (Flagstaff sits at 7,000 ft and gets real snow). Expect roughly $280 in gas at 30 MPG, plus 6-9 nights of lodging — the vintage motels in Tucumcari, Seligman, and Williams cost $70-120 and are half the experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
The highway was decommissioned in 1985, but roughly 85% of the original alignment is still drivable as state roads and frontage roads beside I-55, I-44, and I-40. Brown 'Historic Route 66' signs mark most surviving segments.
The purist's drive on old alignments takes 2-3 weeks. Most travelers mix historic segments with the parallel interstates and complete it comfortably in 7-10 days. Non-stop on the modern interstates it's about 30 hours — see our Chicago to LA route page.
Highlights include the Gemini Giant in Wilmington IL, the Chain of Rocks Bridge at St. Louis, Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, the Blue Whale of Catoosa OK, Tucumcari's neon motels, the Petrified Forest drive-through in Arizona, and the Santa Monica Pier 'End of the Trail' sign.