A Route 66 RV trip covers roughly 2,400 miles across 8 states, and 15 days at about 160 miles a day lets you see it without white-knuckling it. This itinerary splits the road from Chicago to Santa Monica into 8 segments, each with mileage, nights, rig cautions, and the stops worth a pull-off.
Route 66 turned 100 in 2026 (it was commissioned November 11, 1926), so the road is dressed up and busy. The planning below works for any year.
Route 66 RV Itinerary at a Glance
Mileage is approximate and follows the main alignment. The full road runs about 2,400 miles once you add the historic detours, so the segment totals land a bit shorter.
| Segment | Route | Miles | Nights | RV watch-out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicago to St. Louis | ~300 | 2 | Big-city parking in Chicago |
| 2 | St. Louis to Joplin | ~285 | 2 | Older downtown streets, tight lots |
| 3 | Joplin to Oklahoma City | ~280 | 2 | Narrow Kansas and Oklahoma main streets |
| 4 | Oklahoma City to Amarillo | ~260 | 2 | Crosswinds on the plains |
| 5 | Amarillo to Albuquerque | ~285 | 2 | Climb toward 7,000 ft, long fuel gaps |
| 6 | Albuquerque to Williams | ~370 | 2 | Elevation, snow risk Nov to Mar |
| 7 | Williams to Barstow | ~330 | 2 | Oatman grade, desert heat, fuel gaps |
| 8 | Barstow to Santa Monica | ~140 | 1 | Los Angeles traffic and parking |
Five Rules Before You Pull Out
Pick the rig for the road. A Class C, a Class B, or a trailer under 30 feet moves through small-town main streets and motel lots without drama. Rigs of 30 to 40 feet make the trip too, and the work shifts from driving to parking. Before you route anything, measure your RV length so you know your real number.
Fill up at half a tank west of Amarillo. Stations thin out between Tucumcari and Albuquerque, again between Williams and Kingman, and most of all west of Kingman. The abandoned gas stations along the road make good photos. They also show what happens when a town loses its fuel stop.
Stage outside the big cities. Chicago, St. Louis, and Los Angeles are all easier from a park 30 to 50 miles out, with a day trip in by car or rideshare.
Aim for spring or fall. Summer pushes the Needles to Barstow stretch well into triple digits. Winter can bring snow around Albuquerque and Flagstaff, and wind on the plains is a factor for tall rigs in any season. Run a full RV maintenance checklist before a trip this long.
Navigate by the road, not the app. Phone GPS wants I-40 at every chance. The EZ66 Guide and the brown Historic Route 66 signs keep you on the old alignment, and the National Park Service Route 66 program has maps and site listings.
Segment 1: Chicago to St. Louis (About 300 Miles, 2 Nights)
Start at the Begin Route 66 sign near Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, take the photo, and head out. Chicago works best as a day-trip city for RVers; park outside it and ride in.
Southwest of the city the road runs through corn country and roadside kitsch. Wilmington’s Gemini Giant, the murals and museum in Pontiac, Funks Grove maple syrup, and the Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield make an easy day. Plan the second night near Springfield or Litchfield, then cross the Mississippi on the Chain of Rocks Bridge, a pedestrian and bike span with a 22-degree bend in the middle (walk or bike it).
Segment 2: St. Louis to Joplin (About 285 Miles, 2 Nights)
Missouri is where the road starts to feel like the Ozarks. Route 66 State Park sits on the Meramec River near Eureka, Meramec Caverns is a short run beyond that, and Devil’s Elbow, Rolla, and Lebanon string together old bridges and cafes. Springfield calls itself the Birthplace of Route 66, and Carthage keeps a working 66 Drive-In.
One RJourney park sits on the road itself. Pin Oak RV Resort is on Historic US-66 in Villa Ridge, about 45 minutes west of St. Louis off I-44. Sites are full hookup with 20, 30, and 50-amp service, in pull-through and back-in layouts, and the park has a private fishing lake, a pool, and mini golf. It makes a clean first Missouri night, with the Arch a day trip east and Meramec Caverns a short drive west.
Check availability at Pin Oak RV Resort, 1302 State Hwy AT, Villa Ridge, MO 63089, or call (636) 329-6154. Rates start at $50 a night.
Segment 3: Joplin to Oklahoma City (About 280 Miles, 2 Nights)
Kansas gets 13 miles of Route 66 and makes them count: Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs fit into a morning. Then Oklahoma, which holds more drivable original road than any other state. Miami’s Coleman Theatre, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Tulsa’s neon, and the Round Barn in Arcadia are all on the line.
Main streets in the small Kansas and Oklahoma towns run narrow, so park at the edge of town and walk. Oklahoma City earns the second night.
Segment 4: Oklahoma City to Amarillo (About 260 Miles, 2 Nights)
El Reno’s onion burgers, the Route 66 museums in Clinton and Elk City, and the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, Texas, give this leg its rhythm. The Groom water tower leans on purpose. Cadillac Ranch, west of Amarillo, is a row of 10 buried Cadillacs you can spray-paint (bring your own can).
This is flat, windy country. Tall Class A rigs should check the forecast and drive the morning hours.
Segment 5: Amarillo to Albuquerque (About 285 Miles, 2 Nights)
The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian marks the halfway point of the road. Tucumcari’s neon strip lights up at dusk (the Blue Swallow Motel sign is the shot), and Santa Rosa’s Blue Hole is an 81-foot-deep spring that draws divers year round. Albuquerque’s Central Avenue is the old 66 and earns the second night.
You’ll climb toward 7,000 feet on the way, so watch engine and transmission temperatures, and fuel at half a tank.
Segment 6: Albuquerque to Williams (About 370 Miles, 2 Nights)
Gallup, the Continental Divide, and then Petrified Forest National Park, the one national park with a stretch of Route 66 running through it. Holbrook’s Wigwam Motel, the corner in Winslow, and Meteor Crater fill out the Arizona high desert. Flagstaff sits near 7,000 feet, and Williams is the natural overnight, about 60 miles from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim.
Snow and ice are possible from November through March. Arizona stays on standard time year round, so in summer your clock drops an hour when you cross in from New Mexico.
Segment 7: Williams to Barstow (About 330 Miles, 2 Nights)
Seligman holds the longest unbroken stretch of old 66. Next come Hackberry General Store, Kingman, and the question every big-rig owner has to answer: Oatman. The road over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman, where wild burros walk the main street, has steep grades, tight curves, and posted length limits on the approach. Most larger rigs run I-40 from Kingman to Needles and visit Oatman from the west in a tow vehicle or rental car. Check current conditions on Arizona 511 before you commit.
Past Needles the road crosses the Mojave. The Bagdad Cafe, Roy’s Motel and Cafe in Amboy, and miles of open desert make a long day, so carry extra water and top off fuel in Kingman and Needles.
Segment 8: Barstow to Santa Monica (About 140 Miles, 1 Night)
Victorville, Cajon Pass, San Bernardino, and Rancho Cucamonga carry you into the Los Angeles basin. This is the shortest leg and the hardest on a big rig, because traffic and parking take over. Many RVers sleep in Pomona or San Bernardino the night before and finish early. The End of the Trail sign on the Santa Monica Pier is the finish line, and leaving the RV outside the beach area saves a lot of grief.
How Many Days Do You Need?
10 days: 230 to 250 miles a day, icons only. 15 days: the plan above, about 160 miles a day with time to stop. 21 days or more: 100 to 150 miles a day, extra nights in Tulsa, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff, and room for side trips to Santa Fe or the Grand Canyon.
Route 66 RV Trip FAQ
How long does it take to drive Route 66 in an RV?
About 15 days is comfortable at 160 miles a day. 10 days works if you skip stops, and 21 days gives you room for detours and weather.
Can you drive Route 66 in a big RV?
Yes. Most of the road suits a rig of 30 to 40 feet. The exceptions are the Oatman approach in Arizona and tight parking in older downtowns and big cities.
Which direction should you drive Route 66?
Westbound is the popular choice. You finish at the Pacific, and the End of the Trail sign on the Santa Monica Pier makes a good last photo.
Where can you stay on Route 66 with an RV?
Private RV parks and campgrounds sit in or near most Route 66 cities. In Missouri, Pin Oak RV Resort sits right on Historic US-66 in Villa Ridge.
Keep Planning Your Route 66 Trip
Pair this itinerary with our 11 Route 66 stops for the long list of detours, the American road trip history for the story behind the road, and the cross-country RV loop for turning one highway into a full circuit.
Last verified October 19, 2026. Stop hours and road conditions change; confirm before you go.
