Itinerary Details
Highlights Of Route 66 W/ Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Day 1: CHICAGO Welcome to Chicago, Illinois, the start of historic Route 66! Your Tour Director is available from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. to answer questions.
Once settled into your hotel, perhaps start exploring the city with a stroll along the Chicago Riverwalk or browse the shops, restaurants, and attractions lining Michigan Avenue, better known as the Magnificent Mile.
Day 2: CHICAGO Known as the “Windy City,” Chicago is celebrated for its striking architecture, cultural attractions, and rich history. This morning, enjoy a sightseeing tour featuring some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, including the sign marking the beginning of historic Route 66.
The afternoon is free to explore. Perhaps visit Skydeck Chicago on the 103rd floor of Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) for panoramic city views, admire masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago, or join an optional Chicago River cruise for a unique perspective on the city’s renowned architecture.
Day 3: CHICAGO–PONTIAC–SPRINGFIELD This morning, begin your Route 66 journey with a visit to the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac, Illinois. Housed in a historic fire station, the museum features exhibits, photographs, maps, and memorabilia celebrating the history and culture of America’s most famous highway.
Continue to Springfield, the capital of Illinois, for a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, where interactive exhibits and artifacts tell the story of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th U.S. president.
Day 4: SPRINGFIELD–ST. LOUIS Cross the mighty Mississippi River and continue to St. Louis, Missouri, known as the “Gateway to the West.” Your orientation tour introduces the city before a visit to Gateway Arch National Park. Ride to the top of the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch for panoramic views of the St. Louis skyline and the Mississippi River below.
Later, travel along a historic stretch of Route 66 and get the chance to sample Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a Route 66 tradition since 1929! (B)
Day 5: ST. LOUIS–JOPLIN Travel through the rolling countryside of Missouri, following portions of historic Route 66. Along the way, pass small towns, vintage roadside attractions, and reminders of Route 66’s golden age.
Arrive in Joplin, Missouri, a city with deep Route 66 roots and a colorful past. Learn about Joplin’s history, including its connection to the infamous outlaws Bonnie and Clyde, who briefly sought refuge here during their crime spree across the American Midwest. (B)
Day 6: JOPLIN–TULSA–OKLAHOMA CITY After a brief drive through Kansas, enter Oklahoma, once known as Indian Territory and home to the Cherokee Nation. Visit the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Welcome & Cultural Center in Vinta, Oklahoma, to learn about Cherokee history, culture, and contemporary life through exhibits, artwork, and interpretive displays. Continue to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where you’ll see the “East Meets West” sculpture honoring Cyrus Avery, widely recognized as the “The Father of Route 66.”
Later, arrive in Oklahoma City for an overnight stay. (B)
Day 7: OKLAHOMA CITY–ELK CITY–AMARILLO Begin the day with a sightseeing tour of Oklahoma City, the capital of Oklahoma, including a stop at the moving Oklahoma City National Memorial honoring those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever by the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
Continue to Elk City, Oklahoma, for a visit to the National Route 66 Museum, where exhibits trace the history, people, and communities that shaped Route 66 across eight states.
Travel west across the Texas Panhandle to Amarillo, a city known for its ranching heritage and Route 66 connections. (B)
Day 8: AMARILLO–TUCUMCARI–ALBUQUERQUE Depart Amarillo and stop at Cadillac Ranch, the famous Route 66 roadside art installation featuring 10 colorful Cadillacs buried nose-first in a Texas field.
Continue to Adrian, Texas, the halfway point on Route 66, before crossing into New Mexico. In Tucumcari, shop for souvenirs at Tee Pee Curios, a Route 66 landmark since 1944, and see the iconic Blue Swallow Motel, which has welcomed travelers along the Mother Road since 1939.
Later, arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and travel along Central Avenue, part of historic Route 66, where many historic Route 66-era buildings, signs, and businesses still stand. (B)
Day 9: ALBUQUERQUE Enjoy a day at leisure in Albuquerque a city where Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo influences have shaped a rich cultural heritage. Explore Albuquerque’s Historic Old Town, the site of the city’s original settlement, or visit one of the city’s museums, including the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science, the Albuquerque Museum, or the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.
Day 10: ALBUQUERQUE–GALLUP–WINSLOW–WILLIAMS Experience one of the highlights of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta with the early morning Balloon Glow and Mass Ascension, when hundreds of colorful hot-air balloons rise into the New Mexico sky.
Depart Albuquerque and stop at El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center, where lava flows, sandstone bluffs, and rugged badlands create a striking landscape shaped by centuries of volcanic activity.
Cross the Continental Divide and continue to Gallup, New Mexico, a community with deep Native American heritage and strong connections to the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and other Indigenous cultures of the Southwest. Then stop in Winslow, Arizona, the sleepy Route 66 town made famous by the Eagles' hit song Take It Easy.
Continue to Williams, Arizona, a historic Route 66 town and gateway to Grand Canyon National Park for a two-night stay. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Williams features a walkable downtown filled with Route 66 landmarks, western heritage, shops, restaurants, and historic buildings.
Day 11: WILLIAMS. EXCURSION TO GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK Take a detour from Route 66 to visit Grand Canyon National Park, one of the world's most celebrated natural wonders. Stroll along the South Rim and take in sweeping views of the canyon's colorful rock layers, carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. Keep watch for wildlife, including elk that are often seen grazing in the surrounding forests.
For a different perspective, consider an optional helicopter flightseeing excursion above the canyon with thrilling aerial views.
Return to Williams, where the evening is free to explore the town's historic Route 66 district, browse local shops, eat at a vintage diner, or stroll past the glowing neon signs of its preserved 1940s-era "Motel Row." (CB)
Day 12: WILLIAMS–SELIGMAN–LAS VEGAS Depart Williams for Seligman, a town that played an important role in preserving and revitalizing historic Route 66. Continue west before detouring to Las Vegas, Nevada, the “Entertainment Capital of the World.”
Upon arrival, enjoy an orientation tour featuring many of the themed resorts and famous landmarks along the Las Vegas Strip. This evening, join an optional night on the town featuring dinner and a live show celebrating the legendary entertainers who helped shape Las Vegas's entertainment history, followed by a visit to the Fremont Street Experience. known for its illuminated canopy, street performers, and historic casinos.(CB)
Day 13: LAS VEGAS Enjoy a full day at leisure to experience Las Vegas your way. Explore the famous Las Vegas Strip, relax by the pool, shop, or visit some of the city's most distinctive attractions. Take a gondola ride through the canals at The Venetian, admire the seasonal botanical displays at the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, or discover the many themed resorts along the Las Vegas Strip.
Or join an optional excursion to see nearby Hoover Dam, an engineering landmark on the Colorado River, and learn about its history and construction.
Day 14: LAS VEGAS–VICTORVILLE–LOS ANGELES Depart Las Vegas and travel across the Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino Mountains en route to Los Angeles. Along the way, visit the California Route 66 Museum, in Victorville where exhibits celebrate the history and nostalgia of Route 66, including a 1950s diner, a VW Love Bus, and a 1917 Ford Model T.
Continue to Santa Monica, California, home to the iconic "End of the Trail" sign marking the end of Route 66. Take time to reflect on your journey across eight states before arriving in Los Angeles for a two-night stay.
Day 15: LOS ANGELES Discover some of Los Angeles's most iconic neighborhoods on a morning sightseeing tour. Visit Beverly Hills, travel along the Sunset Strip, and explore Hollywood, where the stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame honor figures from film, television, music, and entertainment.
The afternoon is free to explore Los Angeles on your own. Perhaps join the optional Warner Bros. Studio Tour to see soundstages, backlots, and locations featured in popular movies and television shows.
Day 16: LOS ANGELES Your vacation ends this morning. You may choose to extend your vacation with extra nights and explore Los Angeles further.
