Bespoke Tour Quote
Route 66 — The Mother Road
Route 66
The Mother Road
A self-drive down the full length of Route 66 — Chicago to the Pacific. Two nights on the Magnificent Mile to start, thirteen days with a rental car through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California, two nights in Las Vegas on the way, and two nights in Santa Monica at the finish line.
Day by Day
Two warm-up nights in Chicago, then thirteen days west in your rental car — a town a night across the heartland, two in Vegas, two in Santa Monica at the end.
London → Chicago
Newcastle to London Heathrow first thing, connect onto a direct Heathrow to Chicago O’Hare flight — roughly nine hours over the Atlantic, you land late morning local time with the afternoon still ahead of you. Transfer to the hotel on the Magnificent Mile.
A free day in Chicago
No driving today — The Westin is on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, in the heart of the shopping and dining district, minutes from Navy Pier and the Hancock Tower.
Chicago → Springfield, Illinois
Pick up the Hertz hire car in Chicago and head south on the original Route 66 through Joliet and into the Illinois heartland. First night on the road in Springfield, Lincoln’s old hometown.
Springfield IL → St Louis, Missouri
A shorter driving day across southern Illinois — cornfields, small-town America, and the Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi as you approach the Gateway Arch. Tonight is in a landmark hotel in the restored Union Station.
St Louis → Springfield, Missouri
Across Missouri’s rolling Ozark hills on Route 66, past Devil’s Elbow and the small-town diners that make this stretch feel most like the Mother Road of the postcards.
Springfield MO → Oklahoma City
South-west across the state line into Oklahoma — through Miami, Claremore, and Catoosa (the Blue Whale), then down to Tulsa and on to Oklahoma City. The Sheraton puts you right in Bricktown, the city’s entertainment district.
Oklahoma City → Amarillo
Oklahoma’s oldest stretches of Route 66, across the Chisholm Trail country at Yukon and El Reno, then over into the Texas Panhandle where the Great Plains open out. Amarillo tonight is in walking distance of the historic Big Texan.
Amarillo → Santa Fe
Cadillac Ranch out of Amarillo in the morning, then on to Adrian — the official midpoint of Route 66. Cross into New Mexico, the mesas rise and the air thins as you climb into the High Plains, into one of America’s oldest cities for the night.
Santa Fe → Gallup
South to Albuquerque, across the Rio Grande, and into Navajo wilderness through Laguna and Grants with Cibola National Forest on the horizon. Gallup is a classic Route 66 railroad town — the sort of stop riders and drivers have been making for decades.
Gallup → Flagstaff
Into Arizona, through Petrified Forest National Park and past the famous corner in Winslow immortalised by the Eagles. The Little America Hotel in Flagstaff sits in 500 acres of Ponderosa Pine forest — a very different end to the day.
Flagstaff → Las Vegas
Via Seligman, Hackberry, Kingman, through the mining town of Oatman and down across the Mojave to the Strip. Two nights at ARIA Resort & Casino in CityCenter, right on Las Vegas Boulevard.
A free day in Las Vegas
No driving — a day to recover, swim, see a show, or do very little by the pool. Second night at ARIA.
Las Vegas → Santa Monica
Out across the Mojave into California — volcanic rock, Joshua trees, the little outposts of Amboy and Ludlow — and down into Los Angeles. Finish at Santa Monica, a short walk from the Pier and the historic “End of the Trail” sign.
A free day on the Pacific
Second night in Santa Monica — the beach, the Pier, the restaurants on Ocean Avenue. Or a day’s drive up the Pacific Coast Highway if you fancy it.
Los Angeles → London
Drop the Hertz car at LAX and fly home — overnight across the Pole into Heathrow the next morning, then the short connection back up to Newcastle.
Where You Stay
Fourteen hotel nights across the route — a mix of city landmarks, Hilton-family stays and the odd standout.
Your car — Hertz, all-inclusive
Thirteen days of car hire with Hertz — pick up in Chicago on Day 3, drop at Los Angeles LAX on Day 15. All-inclusive rate (unlimited mileage, insurance and taxes bundled in).
What’s Included
Included
- Return flights Newcastle ↔ London Heathrow ↔ Chicago out, Los Angeles ↔ London Heathrow ↔ Newcastle home (Economy throughout, 23kg each)
- 13 days of Hertz car hire — pick up in Chicago, drop at LAX, all-inclusive rate
- 14 hotel nights across the route, as listed above
- Breakfast at four of the hotels (Springfield IL, St Louis, Amarillo, Gallup)
- Full ATOL financial protection — see legal below
Not included — allow for these
- Hotel transfers (available on request if you’d rather not take a cab or Uber)
- Hotel resort fees — payable locally at check-out at The Westin, ARIA Las Vegas and the Hyatt Centric Santa Monica
Your Price
Firm pricing for your dates in July or August 2028 follows separately — this page is to show you the shape and the inclusions.
Hotels, flights and the Hertz rate for Wayne’s exact dates in July or August 2028 will be re-costed and sent on by email. This page sets out the structure of the trip and what’s included — the number arrives in a separate quotation.
Your money is protected. Road Trip Co is part of Travelosophers (Travel Philosophy Ltd). This holiday is arranged with a specialist US tour operator, whose booking conditions apply. Paying for your holiday confirms you’ve read and accepted them. Prices and availability are not guaranteed until the booking is confirmed, and local fees and taxes payable in resort can change without notice.