Route 66 Road Trip Guide: Complete Planning, Budget & Itinerary

Last Updated on 5 June, 2026 by Veronica

Route 66 is one of those trips that stays with you forever. We drove it end to end — and it was one of the best experiences of our lives. But we also made mistakes that cost us time and money.

This guide covers everything you need to plan Route 66 on your own in 2026: realistic budget, day-by-day itinerary, documentation, where to sleep, how to get around and what we wish we’d known before we left.

This isn’t a travel agency guide. It’s the guide we wished we’d had.

Check Out:

• EZ66 Route 66 Travel Guide (Amazon)
• Printable Road Trip Planner

In this post, you’ll find:

• How to plan the Historic US Route 66 road trip
• What you should take into account
• Tricks and tips so that you can organize Route 66 on your own.
• The most important cities and towns.
• What documentation will you need to travel to the United States
• What itinerary to do, where to sleep, where to stop, etc.

Keep reading!

Does Route 66 Still Exist in 2026?

This is one of the most common questions we get. The short answer: yes, but not all of it.

Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985, replaced by the interstate highway system. But most of the original alignment is still there, now signed as Historic Route 66, and completely driveable.

What you’ll find is a mix of well-preserved stretches — with their 1950s motels, classic diners and neon signs — and sections that have disappeared under the interstates or fallen into disrepair. That contrast is actually part of what makes the drive so special.

The best-preserved sections are in New Mexico (especially between Santa Rosa and Albuquerque) and Arizona (the stretch between Seligman and Kingman is the most photogenic and authentic on the entire route). The Illinois section from Chicago is also well signposted and in great condition.

The most deteriorated or disappeared sections are in parts of Texas and Oklahoma, where I-40 has absorbed much of the original road.

Route 66: Planning and Budget

Some info about Route 66

This post will be dedicated to planning your trip down Route 66.

When you want to make a trip like this, you must plan perfectly beforehand.

With good planning, you will know which section of the route you will drive each day, where the interesting places or landmarks worth being seen are, where to stop, where to eat, and -pretty important- where to sleep.

It’s not a matter of having everything absolutely planned because we have to leave room for improvisation, but to at least have the basics clear.

With this blog post, we have tried to minimize mistakes as much as possible so you won’t make the same mistakes we did. But, as always, on a trip, something will happen. If so, try to enjoy that moment, and don’t let it spoil the trip!

How Many Kilometers is Route 66?

Route 66, also known as “Main Street of America” or “The Mother Road,” is about 4000 kilometers long (2448 miles). It is the road that joins Chicago and Los Angeles.

Why did Route 66 Become Famous?

It became very famous because it was the route followed by immigrants traveling to the West to seek their fortune and a better life, especially during the Great Depression of the 1930s.

Where does Route 66 Begin, and where does it end?

In theory, its official road is from Chicago to Los Angeles, but you can do it from Los Angeles to Chicago if you like it 🙂

Officially it no longer exists as such and was no longer considered Route 66 in the mid-1980s. It is now marked as a historic route, and parts of the route are preserved intact; others are part of the interstate highway network or have disappeared.

Route 66 begins in Chicago. Chicago is a fantastic city with much to do and see. At least you have to save 3 days to visit the minimum.

The good thing about starting the route from here is that you arrive with all your strength, and you can make the most of the time you have to get to know the city, pick up the rental car/motorcycle, have a drink at Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant (a must stop for all those who we have done and do route 66).

And as you go along the route, you gain an hour due to the time difference between the different coasts.

• Read 20 spots you must visit on Route 66
• Read: Ghost Towns on Route 66

How Many Days Do You Need for Route 66?

It depends on what you want to see, but here are the real options:

10 days — express version. You can complete the full route but at a fast pace with little room for spontaneity. Only recommended if you’re already comfortable traveling in the US.

15 days — the most balanced option and the one we recommend. Enough time for the must-see stops, an extra visit like the Grand Canyon, and room to improvise without stress.

21 days or more — if you want to take it slow, with detours and time to properly explore the big cities like Chicago, St. Louis or Los Angeles. The ideal choice if this is your first big US road trip.

Our recommendation: 15 days of actual driving, plus 1-2 days in Chicago or Los Angeles at the start or end depending on your direction.

Why did we decide to travel route 66 from Los Angeles?

Because we had a flight to Las Vegas for a darts championship, we toured the West Coast first, and then, in Los Angeles, we started route 66 to Chicago, then continued to Niagara Falls, and ended up in New York City (It was a month-long trip).

Therefore, we begin in Los Angeles and finish in Chicago. We will spend 15 days traveling this beautiful road, which will allow us to see and learn about a good part of the U.S. (Although we will visit only eight states, we will have 42 remaining!)

You can read where to start route 66 here.

Starting Route 66 in Los Angeles has disadvantages. One of them is that you lose hours as you travel east, and sometimes, without realizing it, it is an hour less, and you may be late to somewhere you wanted to go for not having considered it.

As you already know, we did Route 66 from west to east and with some extra visits along the way, such as:

• Las Vegas,
• Death Valley National Park
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Niagara Falls
• New York City

Well, I’ll stop the chatter and get into the subject that is the target of this post.

Planning the Route 66: TIPS

This section tells you how to plan and organize the trip along Route 66, the United States’ mother road.

We also give you an approximation of the budget to travel Route 66 (at the end of this post), the steps to organize the trip, how many kilometers to do each day, tips for driving in the United States, and where to get the ESTA application, and much more.

Best Time to Do Route 66

The best time is May through October, with some nuances:

May and June are ideal — pleasant temperatures, fewer tourists than peak summer and lower prices on accommodation and car rentals.

July and August are the most popular months but also the hottest — in the Arizona desert you can hit 113°F (45°C). If you travel in summer, plan your desert stages for early morning and rest during the hottest hours of the day.

September and October are another excellent option — the heat drops, the fall foliage in Illinois and Missouri is spectacular and there are fewer crowds.

Winter — not recommended. The northern sections (Illinois, Missouri) can get snow and very low temperatures, and many historic businesses close out of season.

How Many Kilometers Do You Drive Each Day on Route 66?

It is to outline obvious which part of the road you will drive each day and, therefore, where you will sleep, and at least a couple of choices of where you will eat.

Besides, you must know what you want to see during the day, or at least what you don’t want to miss.

It’s important to consider this because many places you’ll want to see have a schedule; usually, they close at five p.m., sometimes even earlier, so you have to get there at least before three o’clock.

Also, keep in mind that if you have any part of the route scheduled for after those hours, it has to be a section with nothing of interest to stop in that may be closed.

On the other hand, if it is a natural resource or a landscape, it’s important not to run out of natural light; hence, you’ll need to arrive before eight p.m.

Big Decision: Car, Bike, or Motorhome?

I’m a biker. I have had motorcycles of all kinds for many years; however, we wanted to do this by car or RV.

Seeing Route 66 on a Harley is very romantic, but 15 days with luggage, in the summer, with extreme heat, some storms from time to time, and for some of you in a foreign country and on your own?

Choose a car or an RV, no doubt, and very important, and it has to have a decent trunk. If you are a group of three or four people, the cost gets lower, and it’s more comfortable. The decision is yours. This is just my opinion.

Once we have these three points clear, we can start planning our trip:

• Buy the flight ticket (if you need to),
• Book your car
• I highly recommend you reserve your accommodations in advance; it can be done online easily.

Documentation for Traveling to the United States in 2026

ESTA — if you’re a citizen of a visa waiver country, you need to apply for ESTA authorization before flying. The process is online and approval usually takes between a few minutes and 72 hours.

The current cost is $40.27 — be careful, there are many third-party websites that charge much more. Always use the official site: esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Your ESTA is valid for 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Important: from 2027, a passport will be required to enter the US under the visa waiver program — national ID cards will no longer be accepted. If you’re traveling before that date, check your country’s specific requirements, but it’s worth renewing your passport now if it’s close to expiring.

International driving permit — not mandatory but recommended. Easy to obtain, inexpensive, and gives you peace of mind if you get stopped by the police. Valid for stays under 3 months.

Travel insurance — essentially mandatory in the United States, where healthcare costs are extremely high. A medical emergency without insurance can cost tens of thousands of dollars. We recommend HeyMondo — good prices, customizable coverage and up to $10,000,000 cover.

Book Flights at Good Prices

There are many websites where you can book your flight. The best way to check dates and prices is through Skyscanner.

The costs change a lot from one country to another. If you depart from London, you can find round-trip flights for less than £450.

How Many Miles Drive per Day?

The next point to consider is the sections you will do each day. I leave you here is my proposal, but it is just that—a proposal to serve you as a starting point. Use it, judge it, and modify it to suit you and your plan.

I have considered an average of 196 miles per day of the route. I haven’t accounted for any additional miles you will have to travel to see interesting places during a given section of Route 66.

I’ve planned for about three hours by car per day.

Note that the speed limit is between 55 and 65 miles per hour, depending on the state, and respect it! I didn’t, and I got a $300 fine.

What to Do if the Police Stop You?

If the police stop you, be respectful, keep your hands still on the steering wheel, and don’t make a single strange movement inside the car. When they approach you, roll down the window carefully, give the police your car docs, and see what happens.

If you don’t speak English, have a couple of sentences written on a cardboard-like “I” m from XXXXX” and “I don’t speak English.”

Another important thing not mandatory but recommended is to apply for an international driving license. It’s easy to get, and it will allow you to drive if you will not be in the country for more than three months.

Where to Book Your Rental Car o RV motorhome?

As for cars, there are low-cost rental car enterprises that allow you to rent a good car pretty cheap car.

In our case, we made the reservation using a rental car comparator, and we chose Dollar, and the rental cost was around $ 1000. The bad news is that where you return your car to a different city office is a fee, and just for that, $500!

*This fee may change depending on the state where you return the car.

Make your car reservations with this comparator that finds you excellent prices. And don’t forget the return fee.

But if you want to travel in an RV, you can do it here with this awesome company and save the hotel money.

Save up to 25% on your travel costs this Summer by renting an RV through RVshare

Internet on Route 66

Having internet on your Route 66 road trip is essential — not just for posting photos, but for navigation, checking attraction opening times and avoiding speeding fines with Waze.

The easiest option in 2025 is an eSIM. No physical SIM card, no hunting for a phone store at the airport, no swapping anything out. You buy it from home, activate it when you land and you’re connected immediately.

We recommend Holafly — they have specific plans for the United States with unlimited data, coverage through the main US carriers and a very straightforward activation process. Use code TOURISTEAR for a 5% discount on your order.

→ See Holafly plans for the United States

eSIM compatibility: most smartphones from 2019 onwards support eSIM — iPhone XS and later, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later. Check your model before buying.

If your phone isn’t eSIM compatible, a portable WiFi router is a good alternative — one device shares internet with everyone in the group, which makes it very cost-effective if you’re traveling with others.

Practical tip: download offline Google Maps for each major section before you leave each city. Some stretches of the Arizona and New Mexico desert have limited coverage even with an eSIM, and having maps downloaded offline has saved us more than once.

Driving in the United States

Well, a little driving in the USA. As we say, always be careful. Traffic rules in the United States are slightly different from ours, and you have to get used to them.

Well, the truth is that some things are strange to us, but hey, you get used to it in a very short time.

In this post on how to drive in the United States. You have compiled what was strange to us driving on Route 66 and other routes in the United States.

Where to Stay on Route 66

Several chain hotels or motels, such as Travelodge, Motel 6, or Super 8, are nice for a night and are located throughout the United States.

It’s better to book in advance; it can be unpleasant to be unable to find a place to sleep once you’re there.

Hotels and motels on route 66

Travel Insurance for the United States

Traveling with travel insurance is almost mandatory, especially in places like the United States, where healthcare is so expensive.

It is always good to travel insured, and although you have paid for your ticket with a credit card, the insurance it includes is not comparable to travel insurance.

We recommend HeyMondo (up to $10,000,000 cover). They have very good prices, and the biggest advantage is that you customize the insurance to your needs, so you are not over-insured and do not pay for what you do not need.

How Much Does it Cost to Do Route 66?

This budget to do Route 66 is an approximation, and I always think the prices are higher than they really are since the plane ticket price depends greatly on the date you go.

Now many low-cost companies take you to the United States for excellent prices. Check Skyscanner.

The accommodation price will depend on what you are looking for and the city. We slept most of the way in motels; some were very well-priced ($ 30 a room). Chicago was the most expensive city.

The car rental price will depend a lot on which one you choose. It is cheaper to hire it online and several months in advance; we do it with a comparator, and we also recommend Autoeurope.

About food, eating in the USA is cheap if you want. The plates are always large; if you have leftover food, you can ask them to take it away. It’s normal, don’t be ashamed.

How Much Would it Cost to Do Route 66 by car

Item	2026 estimate
Return flights	$900–1,100 per person
Accommodation (15 nights)	$1,300 ($85/night average)
Car rental	$1,500–2,000 total
Gas	$500
food	$700
Other (tickets, souvenirs)	$600
Total per person	$3,200–3,800

Approximate budget to do Route 66 by an RV

Item	2026 estimate
Return flights	$900–1,100 per person
RV rental (15 nights)	$2,800–3,800 total
Gas	$900
Campgrounds & RV parks	$450
food	$550
Other (tickets, souvenirs)	$500
Total per person	$3,300–4,100

A few tips to keep costs down:

• Book your rental car 3-4 months in advance — prices increase sharply closer to the date
• Avoid one-way rentals if you can — the drop-off fee between cities can add $400-500
• Eat at local diners instead of chains — cheaper, tastier and you support the businesses that keep Route 66 alive
• Use GasBuddy to find the cheapest gas stations along the way

This budget to do Route 66 is an approximation and probably a little higher than what you’ll really spend. The flight tickets price depends a lot on the dates you are going and the country of departure.

The accommodation price depends on what you are seeking and the city. We slept in motels for almost the entire Route 66; some had an excellent price ($30 per room). Chicago was the most expensive city.

The car rental price will depend a lot on what kind of vehicle you choose; it is cheaper to hire at American companies.

Regarding the food, eating in the USA can be cheap if you shop around. The meals are great and usually large portions.

Note:

When you travel Route 66, try to shop at local businesses and avoid the big chains. This way, we all contribute to its maintenance.

Essential Apps for Route 66 in 2026

• Google Maps — download offline maps for each section before you set off
• Waze — speed camera alerts integrated, a must for avoiding fines
• Route 66 Attractions — dedicated app with historic points of interest along the route
• GasBuddy — find the cheapest gas in any area (prices vary a lot between stations)
• iOverlander — essential if you’re in an RV, with campsite and RV park information
• Holafly — manage your eSIM and monitor your data usage

Well, that sums up my plan. At the end of the post, you will find a post for each day of the journey, telling you what to see, where to stop, where to sleep, etc.

If you want us to help you organize your trip, just write us!

We are translating our blog, so you will probably find some links to the Spanish posts. We will be updating the links week by week.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

Plan Your Route 66 Road Trip

• Best Travel Insurance for your trips
• Hotels and motels on Route 66
• 20 spots you should visit when you’re traveling on Route 66
• The 25 most important cities on Route 66
• Ghost Town on US Route 66

Route 66 itinerary day by day

• Day 1. Best things to do in Los Angeles.
• Day 2. Los Angeles. California – Amboy. California. 209 Miles.
• Day 3. Amboy California – Kingman. Arizona. 143 Miles.
• Day 4. Kingman. Arizona – Holbrook. Arizona. 239 Miles.
• Day 5. Holbrook. Arizona – Grants. Nuevo México. 157 Miles.
• Day 6. Grants. Nuevo México – Santa Rosa. Nuevo México. 247 Miles.
• Day 7. Santa Rosa. Nuevo México – Amarillo. Texas. 172 Miles.
• Day 8. Amarillo. Texas – Clinton. Oklahoma. 176 Miles.
• Day 9. Clinton. Oklahoma – Bristow. Oklahoma. 160 Miles.
• Day 10. Bristow. Oklahoma – Springfield. Missouri. 213 Miles.
• Day 11. Springfield. Missouri. – St. Louis. Missouri. 216 Miles.
• Day 12. St Louis. Missouri – Bloomington. Illinois. 162 Miles.
• Day 13. Bloomington. Illinois – Chicago. Illinois. 134 Miles.
• Day 14. Chicago Illinois. Visit Chicago

When you finish Route 66, please come back and tell us your feelings and make us a bit jealous!