UnitedStatesofAmerica

Land of the Road Trip - Home of the Car

4 All American Road Trips

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Disclosure: Affiliate Links - click here 🍔

eSIM📱

Marker Map

All recommended sites & everything else can be located & checked out with a few clicks - most have 10 photos showing views, food, beds, scenery, facilities, goods - everything you need to make an informed decision & links to all of them.

Just click on any marker, then on the traffic arrow and a 2nd location for instant detailed public & private travel information including routes, distances, times, frequency, transfers & stop locations.

A map of the USA in the colours of the Stars and Stripes

Your holiday - Your way

Country Guide

COUNTRY GUIDE

Monument Valley

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

TRAVEL RECIPES - these itineraries are meant to be flexible as we all have different likes and interests. Treat it like a recipe that you can play around with as you like. Go through the tours and what to see and do to work out how long or how little you want to spend in each place. Some trips are coordinated with events but you will be warned about them.

BEST TIME TO GO - Spring , Summer and Fall are a good time with Summer being peak tourist season.

In winter the north freezes over and the further south you go the warmer it gets. It can get really humid down south.
The west coast doesn't freeze up like the east. Seattle is the wettest place in the country by days but not in volume.
Hurricane season down south is August and September.
Alaska is best in summer which is short - mid May to mid September.
The best time to visit Hawaii is April to October. June to August is peak tourist season. Winter is November to April where it is a little cooler and a little wetter.

STAY -

Most hotels are available on Booking.com unless otherwise stated. It's best to get bookings with free cancellation and pay on site when you get there. Hotels chosen are usually 3*** or 4 or 5 if they are good value. They are chosen firstly for their location, value for money, positive testimonials regarding cleanliness and service and features like rooftop terraces and great views.

Since the end of Covid a lot of prices have gone through the roof. So if the selected hotel is out of your price range click on the location map and choose something cheaper nearby. Or you might prefer something else but try to stay in the same area.

Accommodation in the USA is very expensive so hotels around the 3*** level should be around the US$200 mark and up. If you want a cheaper option you'll have to stay at a generic motel on the edge of town or try to find a hostel. Airbnb is another option worth trying.

BUDGET

It's not going to be cheap. Decent accommodation is really expensive. Some areas are better than others so you could try roughing it when necessary and having something decent when it's affordable.

As these are all road trips you have the added expense of daily car rental. If you want to get something special for Route 66 it will cost you. Gasoline is not as cheap as it used to be.

Food and drink will likely be a lot of roadside places which are sort of middle of the range prices. Be selective about what attractions you visit to save on entrance fees. Pick free ones and go on lots of walks. A bit of planning and it will all work out.

If money is not a problem just follow the recommendations and you will have a ball.

VISAS - Click here for information

TIPS -

Prices for these trips are in US$

It's always a good idea to have a drinks cooler / esky / chilly bin with you on a road trip. They can be bought cheaply and you should get one at the start of the trip and stock it up with non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages.

Get off the Interstate Highways and on to the minor roads that go through the little towns along the way. You'll be surprised with the high standards of these minor roads.
Carry a photocopy of your passport at all times

Download Maps.me app and the appropriate maps onto your phone before you go

All of these itineraries are road trips. Most of the time your hotel will be in walking distance of restaurants, bars and night life. On those occasions it isn't or you want to go to a different area it's probably best to use a ride share app.

Grab some soaps and shampoos from the hotels for the odd occasion when you are roughing it in the State Parks

Before you leave home pick up a Route 66 Passport online. They also have offline navigation apps.

You could combine 2½ trips and do the triangle from Miami - Nashville - New Orleans - Miami. You could start and finish the trip in any one of these cities.

Or you could do Nashville - New Orleans - Miami - New York + (Montreal - St. Johns)

Or you could return to Chicago - or New York - or Montreal (& St. Johns) after doing Route 66 on the Across America Train Trip.

FLIGHTS -

Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) - has direct flights to 247 destinations in 48 countries on 6 continents so it should be easy to find a direct or connecting flight

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) - has direct flights to 184 destinations in 42 countries and 5 continents spread all around the world

Miami International Airport (MIA) - has direct flights to 184 cites in 63 countries mainly in the Americas and Europe

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) - has direct flights to 192 destinations in 72 countries in 6 continents

New York Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) - has direct flights to 185 destinations in 58 countries in 5 continents

New York City Airport (LGA) aka La Guardia is located in Queens and mainly has domestic flights
Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY) - has mainly domestic flights so it will be easiest to connect with a major USA city. There are direct flights to London, Montreal and Cancun

Key West International Airport (EYW) - has 20 domestic flights mainly along the eastern seaboard as well as Fort Worth Texas and Chicago

Nashville International Airport (NBA) - has 106 direct flights to the USA, Canada, London, Cancun and San Pedro Sula

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Once you have bought your airline tickets get some travel insurance to cover your investment

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

POPULATION - 331.8 million

CAPITAL - Washington DC

RELIGION - Christian 71%, Other 6%, None 23%

ETHNICITY - White 72%, Hispanic 15%, Black 13%

LANGUAGE - English

NATIONAL DRINK - Bourbon

NATIONAL DISH - Hamburger, Apple pie

GOVERNMENT - Presidential Republic

BIRTHDAY - 4th July 1776

BIG MAC IN $US - $3.39

LITERACY - 99 %

MINIMUM WAGE ANNUAL IN $US - $15,080

CURRENCY - United States dollar USD -= $1

LIFE EXPECTANCY - 78.87

TOURISTS PER YEAR - 79.6 million

NO.1 TOURIST SITE - Times Square

CHEERS - Cheers

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

HP 66Kicks

Get Your Kicks

Chicago IL

GET YOUR KICKS 19N

Map of Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles iconic highway across america Santa Fe Historic Santa Monica

JUN

Road Trip

HIGHLIGHTS - The road that was born twice

2,448 miles - 1 1 states - 3 time zones & 2 Springfields
+ Bonuses - Monument Valley, Grand Canyon & Las Vegas

Chicago 3N

Springfield IL 1N

Saint Louis 1N

Springfield MO 1N

Stroud 1N

Oklahoma City 1N

Amarillo 1N

Santa Fe 2N

Monument Valley 1N

Seligman 1N

Las Vegas 2N

Los Angeles 4N = 19N

Chicago style Pizza
Rush Street
Many Icons & Diners
Small town USA
Lou Mitchell’s Diner
Vintage Motels
World's largest Arch
Multiple Springfields
Gary's Gay Parita
Grand Canyon
Hoover Dam
Las Vegas
Monument Valley
Phillipe the Original
Venice Beach
Universal Studios
Disneyland
Whiskey A-go-go
Viper Lounge
Stay in the Elvis Suite
Four Corners Monument
Hollywood Walk of Fame
A free USD$72 Steak Dinner
Mississippi Riverboat Cruise
Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour
The best bar in Yavapai County
World Famous Cadillac Ranch
The World's largest Totem Pole
The Margarita Capital of the World
Spend the night in "Radiator Springs"
Los Alamos - birthplace of the A - bomb - Little Boy and Fatman
The start, end, mid-point and two birthplaces of the most famous road in the world
Use the daily maps which enlarge with a click & the Marker Map for more detail

Photo by Alex Meier on Unsplash

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Cowboy country Route 66 scenery historic old highway

Image by Víťa Válka from Pixabay

1- 3 Chicago IL - 3N

Before you leave home you can pick up a Route 66 Passport which you can get stamped at various places all along the route. They also have offline navigation apps.

Fly into Chicago and out of Los Angeles. Unless you want to return to Chicago by a different route. You could drive up the very scenic Pacific Coast Highway to Seattle then cut across Montana, Yellowstone and Mount Rushmore on your way back to Chicago. Which after diving East for over 2,000 miles and 30 hours, they call the mid-west.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Classic Corvette Stingray convertible V8 Hire rental car

Muscle Cars

Classics

Stay at or near Hilton Garden Inn Chicago McCormick Place *** - great location on the south loop, indoor pool, 5 restaurants, fitness centre, bar, expensive parking available - just pick up your vehicle on the day you are leaving
Or for a cheaper option the HI Chicago Hostel *** - private and dorm rooms available, excellent location centre right in the loop, good breakfast included, no parking available

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Campervans

Yank Tanks

You may want to read the "Grapes of Wrath" before you head off for some background history on the route. Start the trip with a few nights in Chicago to check out some of the iconic must see's and do's in the Windy City. Take a boat cruise through downtown, ride a bike or skate around the Lakefront Trail, go to a Blues Club or two, head to Rush Street for cheap drinks, or visit these old pubs, shop in the Magnificent Mile, eat Chicago-style pizza, hot dogs, popcorn and pumpkin pie, hit Millers Pub a Chicago institution since 1935 also with iconic dishes and perhaps take a tour or catch a game at Wrigley Field. Head out to Navy Pier for a meal and view of the city's skyline. Willis Tower and the Skydeck Experience is a short walk from the hotel.

You should organise your vehicle online before you get here along with your hotel bookings. Get the car for around 16 days so that you will have it until you leave. Pick it up the day you head off on Route 66 and drop it off at LAX Airport when you fly out. This way you will have transport to look around LA and get out to the airport. First decide on what suits you best. Motorbike - Harley, Indian, Trike, Classic American - Corvette, Mustang, Cadillac, convertible or hardtop, muscle car, Campervan or RV (Recreational Vehicle), SUV 4WD or just a nice, normal, cheap car.

For campers here is a comprehensive state by state guide of all the camp grounds along route 66. It all depends on your budget and how many of you there are. Click on one of the vehicles of your choice for information and don't be shy about chasing up the best deal you can get. Get them to drop your vehicle off at your hotel. You'll be staying near the starting line and Chicago isn't exactly driver friendly.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

harley-davidson Rental Hire Motorbike Route 66 Cruisr route 66

Trikes

Harleys

Yellow Stripes Bike stories of people who have tackled Route 66 by bicycle historic highway

mobile-home-RV Recreational Vehicle Hire Rental Vehicle camping along Route 66

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Bicycle Tales

RVs - Recreational Vehicles

Once you are organised it will be time to head to the starting line of Route 66. Also known as the Mother Road, the Will Rogers Highway and America's Main Street. It is the most famous road in the world. Don't have breakfast before you start, because that is your first stop.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Map of tourist attractions in Chicago Start of Route 66 Lou Mitchell's Diner Navy Pier Magnificent Mile Chicago Riverwalk

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Have a hearty breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s Diner which is three years older than Route 66 and traditionally the first port of call. People would stop off here and fill up before hitting the road. They have the best coffee in Chicago and great breakfasts. They also invented the donut hole.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Chicago to Springfield map route 66 drive in theatre Gemeni Giant Historic route begin sign

4 Springfield il - 1N

So far you've travelled one mile and at this rate it's going to be a long trip😁. Eighty five % of the road is drivable and it is well signposted. This is not the case everywhere even though more signs are going back up. The best way is to get a Route 66 specific map. Make your way to Pontiac via the Gemini Giant for morning smoko and have a look at the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum. On to Springfield for Abraham Lincoln's house and other important historic sites.

Spend the night here at the Route 66 Hotel *** - free parking. South of town is the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill & Museum & Entertainment Complex. Sounds like a night out. Or if you prefer something more relaxed catch a movie at the Route 66 Drive-In.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road map of Route 66 from springfield to St Louis

Spuds MacKenzie

5 St. Louis MO - 1N

Just a short drive today to St. Louis. Start off with breakfast at the Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill or the nearby Cracker Barrel. Spend the day seeing it's many attractions like the Gateway Arch. You can ride the tramway to the top for spectacular views over St. Louis. The onsite museum will tell you the story of the Pioneers and their Westward adventure as well as the Native Americans. Their are a range of Mississippi Riverboat Cruises available. Another place worth mentioning is the fun and hands on St. Louis City Museum. Try some of the famous Ribs at Bogart’s Smokehouse for lunch. Then a tour of the legendary Anheuser-Busch Brewery, the home of Budweiser Beer. Dinner and drinks at the Delmar Loop (One of the 10 great streets in America) should round out a pretty good day. You can catch the train from the Convention Centre Station close to the hotel.

Stay at or near Drury Inn & Suites St. Louis Convention Centre *** - parking onsite for reasonable fee.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road Map of Route 66 from St Louis to Springfield Car museum Rocking Chair Restaurant Meramec Caverns Cuba

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

6 Springfield MO - 1N - Birthplace #1

If you're an early riser you might like to catch the sunrise over the Gateway Arch. One last stop before you leave has to be Rooster for breakfast. There is one less than a 10 minute walk west from the hotel on Washington Ave. With farm fresh innovative dishes it has become one of the local favourites. If you need a kick start their Bloody Mary's are bloody good. Off to the Meramec Caverns a popular, natural wonder that should amaze you. Stop in Cuba at a historical café for lunch. Then another Route 66 museum in Lebanon and check out Wrinks Market as well. And if you need a rest after all this the next stop is the world's second largest rocking chair. Finish up in another, Springfield where you will spend the night. There are over 50 murals around town if you want to head out for a look. Still no sign of the Simpsons who were actually based on the Springfield in Oregon. There are around 40 Springfields in the USA but nobody seems to agree on the actual number.

Stay at or near the Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven *** - free parking - try to reserve Room 409, the Elvis Suite, he stayed here in 1956 and it looks like he left a few things behind.

If you enjoyed the caverns earlier you can take a tram ride through the nearby Fantastic Caverns which were once used as a Speakeasy. There is a car museum here as well as a park to mark the birthplace of Route 66.

Springfield is known for having great pizza so that might be dinner tonight as you wander along the restored Commercial St district. It has lots of 1920's style shops and restaurants. For a bit of fun you could get picked up by a hearse and taken to the Hotel of Terror.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road map of Route 66 Springfield to Stroud Heart of Route 66 Auto Museum Paris Springs Raincbow Bridge Blue Whale of Catoosa Mural Park

7 Stroud OK - 1N

First Stop today is at Gary's Gay Parita at Paris Springs. Gay was the wife of the original proprietor of this now gasless 1930 Gas Station. Pick up a souvenir and have a chat. They give good advice on the best places to stop at along the route. The next attraction will be the Mural Park in Joplin and then the Rainbow bridge for a brief Kansas visit. Maybe pick up a souvenir, then head south through the rolling hills of Oklahoma.

Say hey to the legendary Blue Whale on the way past. And stop in Tulsa at Ike's Chili and eat a bowl of history for lunch. Tulsa is quite large with many attractions. Spend a bit of time here looking at what interests you. It may be Art related, the Oil Industry, the Golden Driller or perhaps the Tulsa Air and Space Museum. Also of interest is the Route 66 Historical Village and Ollie's Station Restaurant which helped inspire the animated movie Cars. The Philbrook Museum of Art is another stunning local attraction worth seeing. The 72 room mansion was owned by an oil tycoon and has 23 acres of gardens.

Finish up in Stroud for the night where Route 66 has numerous classic buildings that are on the National register. After a look around you may feel like some Mexican food and Margaritas. There are plenty of attractions in this area.

Stay at or near the Sooner Motel * - free parking - the Fiesta Cozumel Cantina & Grill is just across the road - the best Margaritas in Oklahoma.
Or if you're not thinking of a big night on the tequila you might find the Hampton Inn & Suites Stroud *** more comfortable - free parking, indoor pool, fitness centre & good breakfast included

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Map of Route 66 Road Trip from Stroud to Oklahoma City Pops 66 Speakeasy Deep Deuce grill

8 oklahoma City OK - 1N

Stroud is Oklahoma's Winery and Grape Capital so you could do a few cellar doors on your way to Oklahoma City. Morning smoko and souvenirs at Pops 66. It is only a short drive today to give you a break. Hire a Bird Scooter (or Lime or Helbiz) and spend the day looking around at the many things the state capital has to offer. There is the Oklahoma History Center, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, Frontier City or maybe just a round of golf or visit to the water park.

If you're looking for a drink try the 51st Street Speakeasy. They have a 4pm - 6pm happy hour with Appetisers and Cocktail combos. Spend the evening in the amazing Bricktown area just down the road. have a walk along the Bricktown Canal and take a relaxing ride on the Water Taxi to see what attractions are around. If you feel like a good steak head over to Cattlemen's Steakhouse in Stockyard City. Be aware steak is also on the menu tomorrow night.

Stay near the Bricktown entertainment area. All of these are about a 5 minute walk away and have parking rates that are half of the other hotels.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oklahoma City Downtown - Bricktown, an IHG Hotel *** - 24 hour desk, fitness centre, very good breakfast included, reasonably priced parking or street parking should be available
Or the Hampton Inn & Suites Oklahoma City-Bricktown *** - excellent location around the corner from the river walk, 24 hour desk, very good breakfast included, ATM, snack bar, moderately priced onsite parking
Or the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Oklahoma City Downtown *** - 24 hour desk, restaurant, bar, ATM, indoor pool, fitness centre, reasonably priced onsite parking

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road map of Route 66 road trip Oklahoma City to Amirillo Cadillac Ranch U Drop inn Cafe

9 amarillo TX - 1N

Have breakfast at Sid's Diner which is about a half hour drive out of town in El Reno. The fried onion-burger has been filling up travellers in this area since 1926. Before you get there you'll see the Lake Overholser Bridge. Today you'll be traversing areas where the buffalo roamed and great cattle drives passed through as you head on to Texas. Stop for smoko in Clinton and go to the Route 66 museum there to learn about some of it's history and myths. Stop in Shamrock for lunch at the Tower Station and U Drop In Café. Another hour and a half will see you in Amarillo. You should have time in the afternoon to get out and see a few things.

For dinner how about a free steak. All you have to do is eat a shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, buttered dinner roll and a 72oz steak. In less than an hour. Easy. Or you could just have a normal meal at the world famous Big Texan Steak Ranch.

The Big Texan Steak Ranch famous route 66 pool restaurant motel brewery live music

Image by Dave Navarro from Pixabay

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Amarillo

Stay at or near the one stop, big as all Texas the Big Texan Motel *** - free parking, Route 66 and cowboy themed rooms, good price, outdoor swimming pool, World famous Steak Ranch, Brewery, Amarillo's #1 music venue and gift shop all a short walk from your room

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Map of Route 66 Road Trip from Amarillo to Santa Fe Midpoint Cafe

10 - 11 Santa Fe NM - 2N

Early start today as there's a bit to get through. Breakfast at Ye Olde Pancake Station then stop in at the Helium Centennial Time Columns Monument. Off to the "world famous" Cadillac Ranch just outside of town. Take some spray paint if you want to add to the colour or satisfy your inner graffiti artist. Stop for smoko after you've gone 1139 miles and still have 1139 miles to go. Yes you're half way there so a definite photo op and visit to the Midpoint Café. A quick hello to the ghosts at the border in Glenrio then Tucumcari for Watson's BBQ lunch or Del's Restaurant. This town was a part of the inspiration for the Disney movie Cars. Grab a map and do your own mural tour. Continue on through the "Wild West" to one of the US's most beautiful cities, Santa Fe - the Margarita Capital of the World!!

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Downtown Santa Fe

Santa Fe New Mexico USA Public Square at night gardens sunset

Image by Rony Rafael Romero from Pixabay

You've earned a rest so have a couple of nights here and a day off. Lash out on a nice hotel with a pool if you can afford it. Have dinner at one of the great places to eat like La Lecheria - Ice Cream Parlour, Jambo Cafe - African / Arabic, Compound Restaurant - local innovation, El Nido - Open Fire Dining, Clafoutis - French Patisserie, the Plaza Café - the oldest restaurant in town, El Farol - the oldest bar / restaurant with a Flamenco dinner show and La Choza for Mexican and Margaritas. You may also want to do a tasting tour of Santa Fe Spirits or perhaps the Opera. There is plenty of lively night life in Santa Fe and here are a few bars worth visiting. There is a free shuttle service to get around to the city's attractions.

Stay at or near La Fonda on the Plaza *** - fantastic location by the plaza, bell tower bar for sundowners, parking onsite for a reasonable fee, French Bakery, traditional adobe, outdoor swimming pool, rooftop hot tub, Spa and Wellness Centre, restaurant and bar, ATM, sun terrace
A bit cheaper is the Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza**** - 5 minute walk from the Historic Santa Fe Plaza, outdoor pool, 24 hour minimart, restaurant, 24 hour gym, outdoor jacuzzi and fireplace, cafe, reasonably (for here) priced parking
Cheaper again 7km away from the centre of town but has a shuttle service into the plaza is the Coyote South *** - 24 hour desk, very cheap parking which is included in room price, fitness centre

Santa Fe was founded in 1610 by the Spanish and it is known for it's Pueblo style and great views. Try breakfast at Café Pasqual's or the Sweetwater Harvest Kitchen. Spend the day exploring. It is full of historic sites, shops and restaurants. There are museums, art galleries, churches, markets, rafting, golf and the Kakawa Chocolate House. Try some of the local specialties including following the "Margarita Trail". Or have a sleep in and hang around the pool for a while. You might want to stock up the bar before the next leg of your trip.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road Map of Route 66 Santa Fe to Monument Valley Four Corners Monument Cuba Los Alamos

12 Monument Valley AZ - 1N

Hopefully you are well rested because you have a full drive / ride today. You're taking a detour away from Route 66 but it will be well worth it. You're off to the stunningly spectacular Monument Valley. Head up to Los Alamos for a breakfast burrito at Chili Works . This was the town that was taken over by the Top Secret Manhattan Project which developed the first atom bombs. There were two different types represented by Little Boy and Fat Man which were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There are some interesting places related to the project for a self guided tour. Don't miss the Bradbury Science Museum.

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Route 66 Harley Davidson Monument Valley iconic kitsch

Image by Christoph Drozdzdok from Pixabay

Straight out of the movie "Cars"

Continue on through Cuba and other small towns on the way up to the Four Corners Monument where you can stand in four states at once. There are shops and markets here. Stop for lunch and smokos anywhere that takes your fancy. Just be sure to be booked in your hotel and enjoying a sundowner at Monument Valley by sunset. You'll have to BYO because alcohol cannot be sold on native land.

It's worth making the effort to get up early for sunrise as you won't see too many as good as this. It is a good place to learn about Navajo Culture and there are various tours available. Or just do your own self drive 17 mile Tribal Loop. 4 x 4 not required but impassable when wet. With scenery from the old Westerns like this how about some horse riding.

Stay at or near Goulding's Lodge *** who are the major players here - free parking, restaurant, indoor pool, ATM, sun terrace
They have a variety from cabins, villas, apartments, rooms and houses. They have a restaurant with panoramic views of the valley and feature authentic Navajo and Southwestern cuisine. They sell gas and groceries. They have an indoor swimming pool, free parking, café, ATM, tour desk, sun terrace
Two others you could look at are Fire Tree Bed and Breakfast
And Tear Drop Arch B&B

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road trip map from Monument Valley to the Grand Canyon and Seligman

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

13 SEligman AZ - 1N - Birthplace #2 of Historic R66

Next stop the Grand Canyon. There are various ways to get involved with this. If you want to ride a mule down into it you need to book very early. Head into the Grand Canyon Village and you will be inundated with ways to spend your money. When you're ready head back to Route 66 and to welcome you back you'll be staying in Seligman the birthplace of "Historic Route 66".

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Image by David Mark from Pixabay

Route 66 Iconography - Seligman

Step back in time to the real life Radiator Springs - Seligman was an inspiration for the animated movie Cars. In 1987 it was given the title of birthplace of the Historic Route 66 thanks to the efforts of some of it's citizens to get the road declared a "historic highway". Full of colourful old cars, kitsch and signs. To turn back the clock head on over to Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-in. Go shopping at the Rusty Bolt. Eat carrion at the Roadkill Café / OK Saloon :-) Have a margarita at the Road Runner Gift Shop, Café and Pub. Go boot scootin at the world famous Black Cat Bar. Sleep in a historic landmark motel.

Stay at or near the Deluxe Inn *** - excellent location near all of the attractions, free parking, BBQ facilities.
Or down the road a bit next to the Roadkill Cafe is the Historic Route 66 Motel - lots of Route 66 memorabilia, free parking

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road Map of Route 66 from Seligman to Las Vegas Henderson Hoover Dam Kingman Grand Canyon museum

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

14 - 15 las Vegas NV - 2N

Have a good old fashioned diner breakfast and head on up via Peach Springs to Kingman on the old road. Pop into the Grand Canyon Caverns for a look. They're not as impressive as what you saw yesterday. Have a look around, there is another Route 66 museum, a visitor centre with souvenirs or maybe stretch your legs and have a coffee. There is a brewery, winery and distillery but it's a bit early in the day for that. Isn't it?

las-vegas-Nevada the strip casinos Eiffel Tower Venice fountains Cesars Palace circus circus

The Vegas Strip

Next stop Nevada. Make your way to the Hoover Dam an engineering marvel first opened in 1936. Learn the story about the dog with an unfortunate name who owned a dam. There is a cafe here if you're getting hungry. There are a variety of walks too if you're feeling active.

Half an hour away is Las Vegas and hopefully it's mid week so you can get a great deal on your hotel. Time for another break from the road as you spend a couple of nights here. Have a flutter, take in a show or two, you know the drill. Head to Senor Frogs and have a Margarita or three. Beware of expensive drinks in your hotel fridge. There are some pretty spectacular golf courses around here if you feel you need some exercise after sitting in a car for ten days.

Stay on the strip around Bellagio. Try some of these for starters, all in an excellent location, with reasonable parking fees, you should be able to get a swimming pool or seven, half a dozen restaurants or more for under AUD $200. Hunt out the specials. Horseshoe Las Vegas formerly Bally's *** - excellent location very close to all of the attractions, outdoor pool, 5 restaurants & a fitness centre, onsite paid parking
Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel & Casino *** - outdoor pool with entertainment, waterfalls & water slide, Beach Club pool & spa, 5 restaurants, gym, bar
Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino **** - rooftop pool, Eiffel Tower with fine dining, 12 restaurants, 9 bars, full service spa & gym
Caesars Palace Hotel & Casino ***** - 7 swimming pools, 15 restaurants (many celebrity owned), night club, unique spa experiences, floating barge bar, ATM

Avenir Light is a clean and stylish font favored by designers. It's easy on the eyes and a great go-to font for titles, paragraphs & more.

Road map of Route 66 Las Vegas to Los Angeles finish line Santa Monica Pier Elmers Bottletree ranch Museum Barstow Wigwam Motel

16 - 19 lA CA (Venice Beach) - 4N

Hopefully you haven't blown all of your money on the tables. Stop in at Barstow for lunch. You could try Peggy Sue's 50's Diner that has been around since 1954. If you're starting to get a thing for Route 66 Museums you're in luck. There are two more left on the trip. One here in Barstow and it's free!!. There is another one just down the road at Victorville. Keep on going until you reach Santa Monica Pier. Take a selfie with the End of Trail sign. Don't forget to get your certificate of completion from the nearby Last Stop Shop. And one last souvenir. They close at 8pm weekdays and 10pm on weekends.

Stay at or near Venice Suites *** - can park on the street or pay a reasonable fee for private parking per day, rooftop terrace for people watching - sea views and sunsets, amazing location on Ocean Front Walk, fully equipped kitchen, BBQ facilities, launderette.

Hang on to your car it'll come in handy. Drop it off at the airport when you leave. Hang out on Venice Beach and prepare for a little Californication. Visit all of the major sights on your list like Disneyland, Hollywood, Universal Studios, Whiskey a Go Go, the Viper Room and have a French Dipped sandwich at Phillipe's (must eat). If you do nothing else on this trip do that last one! Visit nearby Olvera Street the birthplace of Los Angeles while you're in the area.

If you're not ready to go home there are three more US Road Trips below, one #132 Train Trip from LA to Montreal and a trip from #12 Montreal to St. Johns in Newfoundland. It could be a good way to spend your Vegas winnings🤑.