The "Mother Road" runs from Chicago to Santa Monica across eight states, a nostalgic ribbon of diners, neon motels, and desert Americana.
2,451 mi / 3,945 km
14 days
April to June, September to October
Moderate
Right
Tolls apply
Iconic stops
Cadillac Ranch, TX
Ten graffiti-covered Cadillacs half-buried nose-down in a field.
Santa Fe & Albuquerque, NM
Adobe architecture, southwestern cuisine, and desert culture.
Petrified Forest, AZ
Fossilized logs and the Painted Desert badlands.
Seligman, AZ
The kitschy town that inspired the movie Cars.
Santa Monica Pier, CA
The official western end of the road, over the Pacific.
Stops on the map
Each numbered marker matches the list above, linked in driving order from 1 to 5. Hover or tap a marker to see the stop name, scroll to zoom, and download the map as an image.
Prefer turn-by-turn navigation? Open the full route in Google Maps with all 5 stops loaded as waypoints in driving order. It opens in a new browser tab.
Tolls & fees
The historic alignment is toll-free, but modern connectors near Chicago (Illinois Tollway) and Oklahoma turnpikes may add tolls if you leave the old road.
Toll cost estimator
Estimates in USD. Figures are typical standard-car rates and can change. Confirm with the official toll links before you travel.
Traffic & road alerts
Long remote desert stretches in the west have little traffic but sparse services. Summer heat in Arizona and New Mexico can be extreme.
Best maps & planning
Plan your drive and check the latest conditions with these trusted maps and official resources.
Driving tips
- Carry a dedicated Route 66 guidebook or app. The old road is unsigned in places.
- Book quirky vintage motels ahead in small towns. They fill up.
- Carry water and watch fuel in the western deserts.
Distances, tolls, and seasons are curated planning references and can change. Always confirm current tolls, opening dates, and closures with the official sources linked above before you travel.