All-American Road and National Scenic Byway · Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, California

Historic Route 66

The designated sections of old U.S. 66 in six states, from Illinois and Missouri across Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona into California.

Also known as U.S. 66; The Mother Road

Along the Historic Route 66

Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

  • Length1408.6 miles[1]The designated byway sections in six states; the full historic highway was much longer.
  • Drive timeFour or five days to drive the whole byway; plan several days per state to enjoy it[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
  • RoadsHistoric alignments of former U.S. 66[2]
  • Start and endChicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles[2]The historic highway's route; the byway covers its sections in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
  • Fees and passesNone for the byway[1]National parks along it charge their own fees.
  • Best seasonYear-round[5]
  • SurfaceNot verified
  • Vehicle notesRoute 66 is no longer continuous, so some stretches require interstate driving. In Arizona, the road into Oatman from the west has a 40-foot vehicle length limit; in Illinois, motor coaches should use modern IL 4 on the 1926 alignment loop.[5]
  • Seasonal closuresRarely, a snowstorm closes the interstate around Flagstaff for a few hours, making Route 66 harder to reach.[5]

Before you go

Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.

About the drive

Route 66 opened in 1926 as one of the first federal highways, running from Chicago through St. Louis to Los Angeles. After Interstate 40 bypassed its last section, it was decommissioned in 1985. The national byway covers its sections in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona and California.

The road crosses Illinois farmland and the Missouri Ozarks, then the Oklahoma plains and the Southwest desert. National Park Service sites on or near it include Lincoln Home in Springfield, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Petroglyph and El Malpais national monuments in New Mexico, and Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona.

FHWA says the whole byway takes four or five days to drive and several days per state to enjoy. Old alignments often run beside the interstate, so use a good Route 66 map and expect gaps.

Stops along the way

  1. Oatman

    Old mining town on the Route 66 alignment in western Arizona.

    Official information · 35.0264, -114.38358

  2. Wigwam Village #6

    Wigwam-shaped motel in Holbrook, listed on the National Register.

    Official information · 34.90257, -110.16883

  3. Lincoln Home National Historic Site

    Abraham Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois.

    Official information · 39.79781, -89.64622

  4. Gateway Arch

    The 630-foot stainless steel arch on the St. Louis riverfront.

    Official information · 38.624669, -90.184934

  5. El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center

    Lava-field monument near Grants, New Mexico.

    Official information · 35.118725, -107.828492

  6. Petroglyph National Monument

    Rock art on Albuquerque's West Mesa; Rinconada Canyon is one of its trails.

    Official information · 35.12663, -106.72425

  7. Oklahoma City National Memorial

    National memorial in downtown Oklahoma City.

    Official information · 35.47318, -97.51706

Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).

Food along the way

Farmers markets within about 25 miles

Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.

Farms along the way

Farm stands and pick-your-own seasons vary, so check with the farm before you go.

Food events nearby

Dated public events within about 50 miles, during the drive's best months, from our events calendar. Dates can change; confirm with the organizer.

In season during the best months to drive

The drive's best months are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.

Keep exploring

Scenic drives nearby

More scenic drives in Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, California

Food and farms in the area

Sources

  1. America's Byways: Historic Route 66 (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
  2. Route 66 Overview (NPS Travel Route 66 essay series) (checked 2026-10-29)
  3. Find Your Park on Route 66 (NPS) (checked 2026-10-29)
  4. Route 66: Arizona (NPS Travel Route 66 itinerary) (checked 2026-10-29)
  5. Historic Route 66: Visitor Services, byways.org (FHWA, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
  6. Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.

Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.

Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).

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