Route 66: The Mother Road

I bloody love road trips. There's something so liberating about jumping in the car and driving. So today I find myself planning yet another one. This time along arguably the most famous roads in the US: Route 66. Eight states, three time zones, 18 days. The stuff of dreams.

Day 1: Chicago

Hotel

The Langham Chicago

Sights & Activities

Millennium Park & Buckingham Fountain

Michigan Avenue Bridge

The Magnificent Mile

Navy Pier

Hancock Observatory

Oak Street Beach

The Gold Coast

Day 2: Chicago to St Louis

Hotel

Moonrise Hotel

Sights & Activities

Ambler's Texaco Gas Station (Dwight)
Standard Oil Gas Station (Odell)

World's Largest Catsup Bottle (Collinsville)

Chain of Rocks Bridge (Madison)

Day 3: Six Flags St Louis

Hotel

Comfort Inn

Day 4: St Louis to Afton

Hotel

WorldMark Grand Lake

Sights & Activities

Meramec Caves

Day 5: Afton to Oklahoma City

Hotel

Holiday Inn

Sights & Activities

Blue Whale (Catoosa)

Tulsa:

Philbrook or Gilcrease Museum

River Parks

Boston Avenue Methodist Church

Rock Creek Bridge (Sapulpa)

The Arcadia Round Barn

Pops (Arcadia)

Oklahoma City:

National Memorial & Museum

Bricktown

Day 6: Oklahoma City to Shamrock

Hotel

Sleep Inn

Sights & Activities

Rig 114 (Elk City)

Day 7: Shamrock to Amarillo

Hotel

Marriott Courtyard

Sights & Activities

Devil's Rope Museum (McLean)

Groom [the water tower and the steel cross]

Cadillac Ranch

Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Day 8: Amarillo to Albuquerque

Hotel

Hotel Andaluz

Sights & Activities

Midpoint Cafe (Adrian)

Blue Hole (Santa Rosa)

Sandia Crest

Albuquerque

Old Town & San Felipe de Neri

Day 9: Albuquerque to Santa Fe

Hotel

The Inn of Five Graces

Sights & Activities

Rio Puerco Bridge

Santa Fe

The Plaza

Canyon Road

Day 10: Santa Fe to Gallup

Hotel

Hampton Inn

Sights & Activities

Acoma Pueblo

Grants to Gallup via Hwy-53

Zuni and Navajo Indian Reservations

El Malapais
Inscription Rock

Day 11: Gallup to Flagstaff

Hotel

England House B&B

Sights & Activities

Painted Desert

Petrified National Park

Wigram Village Motel (Holbrook)

Lunch: Turquoise Room @ La Posada (Winslow)

Meteor Crater

Walnut Canyon National Monument

Day 12: Flagstaff to Grand Canyon

Hotel

El Tovar

Sights & Activities

Sunset Crater
Wupatki National Monument

Grand Canyon (Desert View Watchtower, Grandview Point, Mather Point)

Day 13: Grand Canyon

Hotel

El Tovar

Sights & Activities

Grand Canyon (Hopi Point, Hermit's Rest)

Day 14: Grand Canyon to Lake Havasu City

Hotel

Heat Hotel

Sights & Activities

London Bridge (Lake Havasu City)

Day 15: Lake Havasu City to Barstow

Hotel

Country Inn & Suite

Sights & Activities

Oro Grande (Steel Bridge)

Day 15: Barstow to LA

Hotel

Chateau Marmont

Sights & Activities

San Bernadino
Pasadena

Day 16 - 18: LA

Hotel

Chateau Marmont

Sights & Activities
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Movie Stars' Homes Tour
Sunset Boulevard and The Sunset Strip
Santa Monica Pier
Venice Beach's Ocean Front Walk
Universal Studios Hollywood and CityWalk
Mulholland Drive
Paramount Pictures
Beverly Hills's Rodeo Drive