Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica
The Mother Road. 2,400 miles of diners, motels and neon across eight states
- Distance
- 2151 mi
- 3462 km
- Driving
- 38 hr 36 min
- excl. stops
- Suggested
- 9 days
- balanced split
- Stops
- 10
- curated
Distance and driving time are measured along the mapped route through the 10 stops listed below. Officially signed versions of famous routes often quote a longer figure, since they include promoted detours this line doesn't take.
Opens the planner with every stop loaded. Free, no card needed.
Day by day
Distances are measured along the actual road geometry, not straight-line. Drive times exclude stops, traffic and ferry waits.
Before you go
Best time to drive it
April to June, or September to October
Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
Indicative costs
- We haven't compiled cost data for USA yet.
Tolls assume ~65% of the distance on tolled road. Fuel prices move constantly: treat these as a range, not a quote.
Driving rules
Emission zones, mandatory equipment and licence requirements change country by country, and in 2026 several of them changed mid-year.
Every stop on the Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica
- 1Chicago, IL
- 2Springfield, IL
- 3St. Louis, MO
- 4Springfield, MO
- 5Oklahoma City, OK
- 6Amarillo, TX
- 7Albuquerque, NM
- 8Flagstaff, AZ
- 9Barstow, CA
- 10Santa Monica, CA
Worth a detour
Curated places within 25 km of the road.
Santa Monica Beach
beachA quintessential Southern California beach anchored by its famous pier, Ferris wheel, and wide golden sand stretching for miles.
Venice Beach
beachLA's bohemian beachfront known for its eccentric boardwalk, Muscle Beach, skate park, and non-stop people-watching.
Meteor Crater
natural wonderThe world's best-preserved meteorite impact site, a 1.2-kilometer-wide crater formed 50,000 years ago in the Arizona desert.
Painted Desert
natural wonderA stunning expanse of colorful badlands stretching across 260 kilometers of northeastern Arizona, layered in vibrant sedimentary hues.
Hackberry General Store
cafeA perfectly preserved Route 66 trading post in the Arizona desert, packed with vintage memorabilia and classic cars that transport visitors back to the road's golden age.
Midpoint Cafe
cafeThe famous cafe at the geographic midpoint of Route 66 in Adrian, Texas, known for its 'ugly crust' pies and being the inspiration for Flo's V8 Cafe in Cars.
Rock Cafe
cafeA Route 66 landmark in Stroud, Oklahoma built from local sandstone in 1939, which inspired the character Sally Carrera in Pixar's Cars.
Peggy Sue's 50s Diner
cafeA retro 1950s-themed diner in Yermo off Interstate 15 between LA and Vegas, famous for its dinosaur garden and classic American road trip vibe.
Bagdad Cafe
cafeThe real-life cafe on Route 66 in Newberry Springs made famous by the 1987 cult film, a quirky desert oasis decorated with memorabilia from around the world.
The Bent Door
cafeA quirky Route 66 cafe in Adrian, Texas built from a repurposed airplane fuselage, sitting in the vast Texas Panhandle alongside the Midpoint marker.
Big Texan Steak Ranch
cafeAn iconic Route 66 steakhouse in Amarillo famous for its free 72-ounce steak challenge, giant cowboy sign, and Texas-sized roadside personality.
Meramec Caverns
landmarkA Route 66 roadside attraction near Stanton, Missouri famous for its barn-roof billboard advertising campaign and cave tours that have drawn road trippers since the 1930s.
Common questions about the Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica
How long does the Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica take?
The driving itself is about 38 hr 36 min across 2151 miles (3462 km). Most people spread it over 9 days: the day-by-day breakdown on this page splits it into balanced stretches rather than equal ones, so no single day is all driving.
How many miles is the Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica?
2151 miles, or 3462 km, measured along the actual road rather than straight-line between towns.
When is the best time to drive the Route 66: Chicago to Santa Monica?
April to June, or September to October. Shoulder season. Warm enough to enjoy, and you avoid both the August heat and the worst of the coastal traffic.
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