Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Chicago - Springfield - St Louis - Springfield - Tulsa - Oklahoma City - Amarillo - Santa Fe - Gallup - Holbrook - Flagstaff - Las Vegas - Los Angeles
100% customisable for you
Your epic adventure across the States (eight of them to be specific) starts today. Head to the airport, whizz through security and enjoy some downtime in the airport lounge as you await departure. The flight to Chicago is about nine hours long, so make sure to have plenty of entertainment options lined up. Our suggestion? Our carefully curated ‘Sounds of North America’ Spotify playlist to soundtrack your flight.
On arrival, a private driver will be waiting to whisk you off to your first accommodation: a trendy hotel in the heart of the Loop, right next to Millennium Park, where you’ll be staying for the next three nights. Spend the rest of today settling into your new American surroundings and enjoy some R&R this evening, ready for the next couple of days of exploring.
The next two days are yours to discover the scenic and cultural delights of the so-called ‘Windy City’. Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a vibrant cosmopolitan hub in a superb natural setting.
You’ll be armed with the Chicago Explorer Pass, which gives you access to three out of the 30 major sites across the city. We’ve also arranged for you to enjoy dinner and a show at Andy's Jazz Club, one of the most iconic and timeless jazz haunts in the city. And if you’re an architecture enthusiast? Our team can organise a thematic cruise on the Chicago River centred around seeing some of the city’s most beautiful buildings.
It’s time to get some miles under your belt and start hitting the road west. Your next destination is Springfield, a historic city known as the former home of President Abraham Lincoln. On the three-hour drive, you’ll pass through Chicago’s suburbs and later Cicero, a town frequented by the gangs of the Roaring Twenties. On arrival in Springfield, check in for the night in a contemporary hotel perfect for a quick and comfortable stopover.
Today, cross state lines into Missouri, journeying an hour and a half through the sweeping plains and small rural towns of the Midwest to St Louis. On arrival, check in for the night in a characterful hotel in the centre of town and spend the rest of today exploring the city.
To make things easy, you’re in walking distance of some of the best sights, including Forest Park, the Loop district and Laclede's Landing. You’ll also be armed with entrance tickets to the Gateway Arch, the emblem of St Louis. The mind-boggling 630ft-tall footbridge is the world’s tallest arch and, as the tallest building in the city, offers breathtaking views from the top (as long as you’re not afraid of heights).
After a hearty breakfast at the hotel this morning, hop back into your car and head southwest to (yes, another) Springfield – it’s the most common place-name in the US – this time in Missouri. You’ll pass through some iconic landscapes along the way, including the Meramec Caverns, an ancient cave network that notorious outlaws Jesse and Frank James used as a hideout in the 1870s, and the Ozark Mountains, which rose to fame as the backdrop of the eponymous hit Netflix crime drama.
After three and a half hours on the road, you’ll arrive in Springfield, a classic Midwestern city filled with the retro cinemas, diners, motels, gas stations and drugstores of yesteryear. Your home for the night is a simple yet stylish hotel with a lovely bar and restaurant to grab dinner at.
Your next destination on this great American road trip is Tulsa in neighbouring Oklahoma, a charming city known for its dazzling Art Deco architecture in the central Deco District. The journey takes about three hours and winds through sleepy towns and sweeping forests, gently becoming more rural.
On arrival in the city, settle in for one night in a delightful hotel in the heart of town. The rest of today is yours to spend discovering Tulsa. Come evening, we recommend turning to our destination-specific Dossier for our top picks of cafes, restaurants and bars in the area.
Before moving on to your fourth state, there’s one more stop in Oklahoma: the state’s capital, Oklahoma City. The drive shouldn’t take more than an hour and a half, leaving you plenty of time to explore the city’s cowboy culture this afternoon.
On arrival, check in for the night at a trendy hotel in the city centre before heading to one of our favourite spots, the National Cowboy Museum & Heritage Center, a museum magnifying the epic history of cattle, cowboys and rodeos in the American West. You could also check out Stockyard City, home to the largest feeder cattle market in the world (on Mondays and Tuesdays), as well as a collection of restaurants, shops and other attractions. This evening, we recommend heading to Bricktown, an old warehouse district that has transformed into a hip canal-side neighbourhood.
Your next stop along the iconic Route 66 is Amarillo, a typical cowboy town located where the southern plains meet the desert. The journey takes around four hours, passing through an ever-drier desert landscape as you head directly west. As you drive into the city along Interstate 40, you’ll pass Big Texan Steak Ranch and Microbrewery, a classic Route 66 restaurant that has been relocated from its original spot for easier access. After a hearty helping of food, head to tonight’s hotel in the heart of the city centre.
We also recommend checking out 6th Street, a mile-long stretch of road on the original Route 66 that is now dedicated to the history and heritage of the route with shops, bars and restaurants.
Another day, another journey. Today, bid Texas a warm farewell and cross into neighbouring New Mexico to reach Tucumcari, just under two hours away. You’ll be driving into the heart of Native America: New Mexico is home to 23 native communities that live in every corner of the state. The name Tucumcari is even derived from the native Comanche word for ‘lookout’, in reference to the nearby mountain that acted as a lookout for Comanche raiders preying on cowboys. On arrival in the city, settle in for one night in an iconic 1960s-style motel that has hosted generations of Route 66 travellers.
It’s time to inch three hours west, but still within the borders of New Mexico. You guessed it… your next destination is the charming state capital of Santa Fe.
After arriving at your central hotel, dump your bags and freshen up – the rest of today and tomorrow are yours to discover the city. While away hours in the beautiful centre, admiring the rustic adobe-clad houses and the blend of Hispanic and Native American architecture. There are also a host of independent art galleries worth visiting, as well as the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, which traces the origin and history of various Native American peoples. When you’re ready to answer the call of the wild, head into the hills of the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the southernmost subrange of the Rocky Mountains, for a walk along one of the many well-signed hiking trails.
After a day’s break from driving, it’s time to hit the road again and rack up some more mileage. Hop back into your hire car and drive three hours to the small city of Gallup, your final New Mexico destination. On the way, you’ll pass through Los Cerillos and Madrid, colourful ghost towns that treasure the remnants of the 70s hippy revolution, and bustling Albuquerque, symbolising the Route 66 spirit with its spectacular sign-adorned diners.
On arrival in Gallup, check in for the night at a classic hotel in the heart of town and spend the rest of the afternoon exploring. Gallup's Main Street, lined with colourful murals and Navajo craft shops, is beloved for hosting the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial parades each August. They’re an iconic celebration where the Native tribes and communities of the Americas meet and celebrate their traditions.
It’s time to leave New Mexico behind and cross into the sixth state of this epic Route 66 road trip: Arizona. Your next destination, the small town of Holbrook, is just an hour and a half’s drive away, giving you plenty of time to get a taste of local life this afternoon.
Set down your suitcases for one night in a comfortable hotel and spend the rest of the day discovering the town’s breathtaking natural landscapes. A must-visit is the Canyon de Chelly, a stunning sandstone canyon that preserves centuries-old ancestral dwellings and rock art from the Anasazi ruins, an ancient Native American community. There’s also the Petrified Forest National Park, which houses a large concentration of fossilised tree trunks and fossils of a 220-million-year-old theropod dinosaur named Chindesaurus.
Rise and shine, it’s time to head to one of the most impressive natural wonders on Route 66 (and the Western Hemisphere): the Grand Canyon. Your base for the night is an elegant chalet-style motel in Tusayan, a lovely resort town two and a half hours from Holbrook.
Once you’ve settled in and freshened up, you can head straight into the heart of the awe-inspiring geological phenomenon on your doorstep. There’s a viewing platform that allows you to gaze over and into the vast canyon, which measures a mind-boggling 277 by 18 miles. If you fancy taking in its true scale, we can also arrange an exclusive sunset helicopter ride over this natural wonder.
Your next and final destination in Arizona is Flagstaff, a charming city surrounded by mountains, desert and pine forests. The drive takes about an hour and a half, leaving you plenty of time to explore the town centre.
On arrival, check into your cosy motel and take a moment to rest and relax before heading out to explore. There’s plenty to see and do – Flagstaff is known for its live music scene, as well as its selection of interesting and well-curated museums.
Today you’ll be switching gears, swapping the calm of the countryside for the bright lights of Las Vegas. That’s right – after a four-hour journey through the arid Nevada desert, you’ll arrive in the city of entertainment, exuberance and excess. Along the way, we recommend making a stop at the quirky town of Seligman, home to the longest surviving section of the original Route 66.
On arrival in Las Vegas, check in for two nights at a glamorous new hotel on the Strip, just a few minutes' walk from the iconic Bellagio fountains. The rest of today is yours to play with, and we recommend turning to our handy Dossier to find a spot for an evening drink. Make sure to pause at the Bellagio to watch the mesmerising water display, which takes place regularly throughout the day.
After a morning spent enjoying the hotel’s swimming pool or shopping in one of the many malls, head out for a long walk down Vegas’ Strip, passing from one themed hotel-casino to another.
This evening, admire the frenzy of the old Downtown or head to one of the city’s many luxurious restaurants for some high-end dining. Our team can also arrange for you to round off your night watching the unforgettable ‘O’ by Cirque du Soleil show at Bellagio.
As the casinos and neon lights of Vegas get smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, a new landscape opens up in front of you: the dusty golden plains of the Mojave Desert. Your next (and final) stop on this great American road trip is none other than Los Angeles, a city of film legends, timeless tales and year-round sunshine. We recommend making a few iconic Route 66 stops along the way: there’s the ghost town of Calico, an Old West mining hub, and Barstow, which is full of classic diners and gas stations. On arrival in LA, check in for three nights at a trendy hotel in the heart of Hollywood.
You did it! After over 2,000 miles on the road, the time has come to put your feet up and experience the delights of LA life. Laze on the beach (there are over a hundred of them), shop ‘til you drop in Beverly Hills, soak up the city skyline from Griffith Park, dine in celebrity-favourite spots and hike in the hills beneath the world-famous Hollywood sign.
Fancy something even more active? We can arrange for you to cycle through Venice Beach and Santa Monica in the company of a clued-up local guide. Beginning on Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice Beach's most sophisticated street, you’ll continue to the beachside boardwalk to check out the local bodybuilders, surfers and skaters living a life of fun under the Golden State sun. Round off your two-wheel visit with a tour of Santa Monica, known for its white-sand beaches and seaside charm.
If you’re a film fanatic, we can also arrange for you to spend a few hours discovering the wonderful Universal Studios.
Sadly, your epic journey along Route 66 has come to an end. Today, you’ll swap your trusty vehicle for a speedy plane. After one last delicious breakfast at your hotel and a dip in the pool, head to the airport for some downtime in the lounge before your flight. Most direct flights to the UK take off in the afternoon and last about ten and a half hours, so you’ll fly overnight and arrive back in London tomorrow morning.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
