The "classic" Road 66


Trip description

Here is a golf course exclusively dedicated to the Road 66, where a complete first day was planned to visit Chicago and the two other days are dedicated to discovering Los Angeles and its (Pasadena, Santa Monica and Downtown Los Angeles) region. Rent a car at the departure of Chicago.

Day 1: Departure from Paris, arrival in Chicago

Day 2: Visit of Chicago

Day 3: Chicago-Bloomington. 214 km (133 miles)

Day 4: Bloomington-Saint-Louis. 286 km (178 miles)

Day 5: Saint-Louis-Springfield. 370 km (230 miles)

Day 6: Springfield-Tulsa. 327 km (203 miles)

Day 7: Tulsa-Weatherford. 319 km (198 miles)

Day 8: Weatherford-Amarillo. 317 km (197 miles)

Day 9: Amarillo-Tucumcari. 182 km (113 miles)

Day 10: Tucumcari-Santa Fe. 291 km (181 miles)

Day 11: Santa Fe-Gallup. 325 km (202 miles)

Day 12: Gallup-Flagstaff. 340 km (211 miles)

Day 13: Flagstaff-Kingman. 262 km (163 miles)

Day 14: Kingman-Barstow. 370 km (230 miles)

Day 15: Barstow-Pasadena. 208 km (129 miles)

Day 16: Pasadena-Santa Monica via Hollywood. 43 km (27 miles)

Day 17: Santa Monica-Los Angeles via Mulholland Drive. 50 km (31 miles)

Day 18: Los Angeles-Paris CDG

Day 1 : Departure from Paris, arrival in Chicago

©Pgiam - iStockphoto.com


Arrival in Chicago at the end of the day and settling down at the hotel.




Day 2 : Visit of Chicago

©Claire DELBOS


You should see first of all the starting points and arrival points of Road 66. Visit The Art Institute of Chicago, Grant Park and Millennium Park. Enjoy the sound and light of Buckingham Fountain (day and night). Climb at the top of the Willis Tower and admire the city at the top of its 103 floors. If you still have time left, go to Navy Pier or visit one of the other museums in the city, such as the Chicago History Museum or the the Museum of Science and Industry. For your meal or for a drink, stop at Lou Mitchell's or at Miller's Pub. Night in Chicago.




Day 3 : Chicago-Bloomington. 214 km (133 miles)

©Claire DELBOS


Taking over the rented car and departure for the journey. In Joliet, the Rialto Theater and prison are must-see. In Wilmington, make a photo break in front of your first giant (Gemini Giant) of Road 66. Stop at Odell for its beautiful 1932 standard service station. Pontiac offers several museums to visit and beautiful murals frescoes. It will also be your first meeting with Bob Waldmire, an artist on Road 66. Night in Bloomington.




Day 4 : Bloomington-Saint-Louis. 286 km (178 miles)

©Peek Creative Collective - Shutterstock.com


Make a short stay in Atlanta, with its other giant of Route 66 (Paul Bunyan's Giant) and its many frescoes. At Lincoln, as in Springfield, Abraham Lincoln is honoured. The Oak Ridge Cemetery, where he was buried, is a must. Between Chatham and Auburn, discover an original, still paved, Route 66 portion that you can borrow over 1,4 mile. a treat! When you arrive in Saint-Louis, don't miss Mustang Corral in Edwardsville or the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. In Saint-Louis, see the ark. Night in Saint-Louis.




Day 5 : Saint-Louis-Springfield. 370 km (230 miles)

©Gim42 - iStockphoto


At the exit of Saint-Louis, you will discover the beginning of the Goddaer Mountains. At Stanton, the Wax Museum dedicated to Jesse James and the Meramec Caverns is worth visiting. Then go through the towns of Bourbon, Cuba, Saint James and Rolla before arriving at Devil's Elbow Bridge, superb. At Springfield, spend a pleasant night at the Route 66 Rail Haven.




Day 6 : Springfield-Tulsa. 327 km (203 miles)

©Jean-Baptiste THIBAUT


Halltow and its Whitehall Mercantile, as well as Paris Springs and its Sinclair station will be your first stops. Then Carthage with its courthouse and drive-in cinema, then Carterville, for its old cars exposed on the street, including a model truck that inspired the designers of the cartoon Cars. When you are in Kansas, make a short stop at Galena and Cars on The Route. In Oklahoma, take a good half hour to discover the Miami frescoes, go to Claremore to visit the Will Rogers Memorial Museum then, before arriving at Tulsa, make a photo break in front of the blue whale of {6}Catoosa{/6}. Night in Tulsa.




Day 7 : Tulsa-Weatherford. 319 km (198 miles)

©Claire DELBOS


Don't leave Tulsa without seeing Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza on your way out of the town. Chandler, with its Route 66 Interpretive Center, and Warwick, with the Seaba Station Motorcycle Museum are must-see attractions. A little further, the Arcadia of Round Barn will impress you. Try to arrive at the National Cow Boy & Western Heritage Museum for lunch, to combine the taste of an excellent buffet to the very interesting site visit. Shortly before Bridgeport, the crossing of the Pony Bridge will leave you with an unforgettable memory. At Hydro, make a photo break before the Lucille's Service Station.




Day 8 : Weatherford-Amarillo. 317 km (197 miles)

©Claire DELBOS


In the morning, before crossing the Texas border, visit the Route 66 of Clinton and Elk City. Both are complementary and very well designed. For lunch, stop at Shamrock and admire its beautiful Art Deco resort, Tower Station & U-Drop Inn Cafe. In Groom, look at the leaned water tower and go to the foot of the largest U.S. cross, at 58 meters high. As far as Amarillo is concerned, the Cadillac Ranch (visit to plan for the next day, on the departure road) and the Big Texan Steak Ranch deserve a visit.




Day 9 : Amarillo-Tucumcari. 182 km (113 miles)

©Claire DELBOS


For lunch, make a stop at the Vega's Boot Hill Saloon before you go to the few frescoes of the city. At Adrian, halfway from Route 66, stop at Mid Point Café. In Tucumcari, reserve time for a walk along Route 66 crossing the city, to shoot all the old motels brand which are waiting for you. Night in Tucumcari.




Day 10 : Tucumcari-Santa Fe. 291 km (181 miles)

©Tom Pepeira - Iconotec


On your way to Santa Fe, make a stop at Santa Rosa. The Route 66 Auto Museum is a real gem. Join Santa Fe with a small hook in Las Vegas (New Mexico, not Nevada) and the Pecos National Historic Park. Then you know more about Glorieta Pass, which awaits you further, and the battle that occurred during the American Civil War. At Santa Fe, visit the city centre where you can spend a pleasant evening. Night in Santa Fe.




Day 11 : Santa Fe-Gallup. 325 km (202 miles)

©Claire DELBOS


Go to Albuquerque late in the morning for lunch on Central Avenue. Stop near to 4th Street to admire the Kimo Theatre and some other beautiful buildings. Then take the road to Gallup via Laguna, Grants and Church Rock. On the way, you will cross several pueblos and you will also have the opportunity to make a short visit of Sky City. Respect the private properties and prohibitions to photograph on the Indian reserves. Night at Gallup.




Day 12 : Gallup-Flagstaff. 340 km (211 miles)

©Tom Pepeira - Iconotec


Soon after leaving Gallup, you will reach Lupton and Arizona. Welcome to the Navajo territory! The landscape becomes desert. Take a look at the Painted Desert and the Petrified Forest National Park, which are two sites in the same national park. Lunch in Holbrook. Take the road by stopping in Winslow and then visit Meteor Crater. Before arriving at Flagstaff, stop at Two Guns and Twin Arrows. Night to Flagstaff.




Day 13 : Flagstaff-Kingman. 262 km (163 miles)

©Zack Frank - Shutterstock.com


If you didn't have time to go there the day before, go to the town centre of Flagstaff, the time of a short walk. On the road to Barstow, stop at Williams, Ash Fork and Seligman. If you have time, visit the Grand {2}Canyon{/2} Caverns. Continue your way to Kingman by stopping at the Hackberry General Store. Night in Kingman.




Day 14 : Kingman-Barstow. 370 km (230 miles)

©Qiongna Liao - Shutterstock.com


The Powerhouse is the building you must see first in Kingman. From the exit of the city, the road will gradually rise to make you discover the Black Mountains. You just need few times to visit Oatman. You will enjoy its wild donkeys in the street and his duels. Then reach Topock and the California border. Be ready for a very hot temperature between Needles and Newberry Springs. In Newberry Springs, make a break at Baghdad Café before joining Barstow. Night in Barstow.




Day 15 : Barstow-Pasadena. 208 km (129 miles)

©trekandshoot - Shutterstock.com


Leave Barstow early because this day will be long. At the start of the journey, take the road to Helendale and stop at the Bottle Tree Ranch. Once you have crossed Victorville, go to the beautiful Cajon Pass and reach San Bernardino. From there, you have miles to reach Pasadena. Night in Pasadena.




Day 16 : Pasadena-Santa Monica via Hollywood. 43 km (27 miles)

©David GUERSAN - Author's Image


To reach Santa Monica, several Route 66 tracks are available to you till the north of Downtown Los Angeles. Follow Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Boulevard, discover Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Join Palisades Park and Santa Monica pier. You're at the end of the adventure! Night in Santa Monica.




Day 17 : Santa Monica-Los Angeles via Mulholland Drive. 50 km (31 miles)

©Stéphan SZEREMETA


For the last day, take the time to discover Mulholland Drive from Santa Monica, then go to Downtown Los Angeles. Don't forget to go to the corner of Broadway and 7th Street, which was the official end of the Route 66 until 1936. Night in downtown.




Day 18 : Los Angeles-Paris CDG



Return of the rented vehicle, shopping, last preparation and departure.




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