Oklahoma and Texas get a lot of tornados between late April and early June. If you travel during these times, make sure to keep an eye on local weather forecasts for any tornado warnings or watches.
If you are travelling in the spring, begin in California and make your way to Illinois. If you are travelling the the fall, start in Illinois and work your way to California. This should provide the most ideal weather conditions. Depending on how often you stop and how many places you explore, a one-way road trip from Chicago to Santa Monica (or vice versa) will take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. As a general guideline, plan to travel between 70 and 90 mi (110 and 140 km) a day if you want to stop and see everything.
Route 66 passes through a number of major cities including Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Amarillo, Flagstaff, Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles. Once you know your starting point, decide where you want to end your trip and plug the information into an online mapping service. Then, use the service’s distance estimate to determine how many days it will take you to complete your journey. [4] X Research source
If you live in the United States, consider using your own vehicle for the trip. If you’re flying in from another country, or if your vehicle isn’t durable enough for the trip, you can rent a vehicle. If you only want to visit the major cities on Route 66, you can book a 14-day train trip.
For a full list of Route 66 hotels and motels, visit https://www. theroute-66. com/hotels. html. If you’re travelling by RV, find and reserve campgrounds ahead of time. You can also check out tent campgrounds if you’re travelling by car or motorcycle and want to sleep under the stars.
You may want to book a flight with free cancellation in case the trip takes more or less time than you anticipated. If you rent a vehicle to make the drive, choose a company that has a hub near the airport you plan to fly home from for your convenience.
For a 1-way trip from Chicago to Santa Monica or vice versa, expect to spend a minimum of $300 on gas, $1,700 on lodging, $600 per person on food, and $200 per person on entertainment. Boost your final budget by 10-20% to account for unintended expenses, price hikes, and emergencies. Don’t forget to include the cost of the return trip!
Clothing and shoes Electronic devices and chargers Toiletries Prescription medications Car accessories Travel snacks Camping gear, if applicable
Even if you have a smartphone, consider purchasing a backup GPS in case your device malfunctions or breaks.
Before your trip, double-check to make sure you have all your car’s insurance paperwork.
A first-aid kit A flashlight Emergency blankets Jumper cables A spare tire Automotive tools
Route 66 Museum Cadillac Ranch 66 Drive-In Theater Gillioz Theatre Old Riverton Store Twin Arrows Trading Post World’s Largest Catsup Bottle World’s Largest Totem Pole
Ariston Café Bagdad Café Circle Inn Malt Shop Midpoint Café Pops 66 Rock Café Wagon Wheel Motel, Café and Station
Grand Canyon National Park The Blue Whale of Catoosa Gateway Arch National Park Cadillac Ranch Oatman, Arizona Santa Monica Pier and Carousel Petrified Forest National Park Abraham Lincoln’s Tomb Painted Desert National Park
These places may not have the same advertising budget as well-known establishments, so look for small, hand-crafted road signs instead of big, flashy ones.
