Flydrives
Route 66 Road Trip: LA to Chicago
From €contact us for prices
- Depart From
- Fly from Cork, Shannon or Dublin
- Departure Date
- Departures throughout the year
- Duration
- 15 nights
- Destination
- USA
- Price
- From €contact us for prices
Fly to Los Angeles and hit the 'Mother Road' through the heart of America, on this fantastic Route 66 Road Trip. A quintessential American adventure... including a stop in fabulous Las Vegas. Opened in 1926, the road will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2026!
Route 66: small towns, gas stations, quaint old shops and retro motels: a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Explore the best of the American West on your Route 66 journey: Start in Santa Monica for coastal charm and the Route's western marker. In Las Vegas, stay at Excalibur on the Strip for Vegas flair. Marvel at the Grand Canyon before a night in Williams.
Discover Holbrook's history in Arizona and enjoy Albuquerque's museums and hot air balloons. Amarillo offers Texan hospitality, and Oklahoma City showcases cowboy culture. St. Louis beckons with the Gateway Arch, and Springfield, Missouri, celebrates Route 66 origins. Finally, embrace Chicago's vibrancy with a stay at the Hotel Saint Clair, steps from iconic landmarks.
This itinerary is meant as a guide and can be adjusted to suit your particular needs. Want to stay in different hotels? Extend your stay in certain towns? Reverse it and go from Chicago to Los Angeles instead? Whatever your perfect Route 66 Road Trip looks like, we're here to make it happen.
Chat with your USA experts to get started. Sumit the enquiry form below or email info@shandontravel.ie.
This itinerary is meant as a guide based on our experiences, and can be adjusted to suit your particular needs. We'll work with you to plan your perfect Route 66 adventure.
On arrival in Los Angeles, collect your rental car and head to your home for the next two nights in Santa Monica. Located just 10 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from the beach, this hotel blends coastal style with friendly service and plenty of thoughtful touches. It's the perfect place from which to begin your Route 66 adventure. At the end of Santa Monica pier, you'll find the road marker that traditionally marks the Western end of Route 66.
After 2 nights in Los Angeles, set off for Las Vegas. Located on the famous Las Vegas Strip, the Excalibur is a great base from which to explore this unique and lively city. This hotel's castle exterior promises fun and adventure- which is exactly what you'll find inside one of Las Vegas's most recognizable landmarks. You'll spend three nights in this unique and vibrant city.
Hit the road again and head for the Grand Canyon. Marvel at the awe-inspiring scale of this natural wonder. You'll spend tonight in the town of Williams, close to the Canyon. Want to take a tour while you're here? Our experts can arrange the perfect Grand Canyon experience, from hiking to helicopter tours. Just let us know what you'd like to do!
The next day, continue on to Holbrook, Arizona. Though people have been living in this area for over 500 years, this small city was founded with the arrival of the railroads in the 1880s. Known in the indigenous language as Tʼiisyaakin, it is the county seat of Navajo County. You'll spend one night here. Located just off the I-40, your hotel offers a great breakfast, an indoor pool, and comfortable guestrooms. It's also just 25km from Petrified Forest National Park, where you can see ancient, petrified tree trunks and fossils.
Your next stop will be Albuquerque, New Mexico. You'll spend two nights here. Love museums? You'll be spoiled for choice here with the Museum of Natural History and Science, the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History to name just a few. Thrillseekers will love a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway up into the mountains. For an even better view, take off in a hot air balloon- an activity that Albuquerque is well-known for.
Is this the way? Yes, the next stage of your Route 66 journey brings you to Amarillo, Texas. A gateway to Palo Duro Canyon State Park, Amarillo's highlights include the iconic Cadillac Ranch and the beautiful botanical gardens. Texas is home to some of the best-preserved sections of Route 66.
The next day, continue on to Oklahoma City for one night. Known for its cowboy culture, your visit here must include some authentic local BBQ. Learn about the Wild West, the culture it fostered and its impact at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, American Banjo Museum and First Americans Museum. Oklahoma City Street Cars and Oklahoma City Museum of Art are both within an eight-minute walk of the hotel.
St Louis, Missouri is your next destination. This city is probably best known for the iconic Gateway Arch, built in the 60's to honour the explorations Westward of Lewis & Clark. The view can be best enjoyed from one of the replica paddle wheelers which adorn the river. You'll stay just a 5-minute walk away. Located in the heart of downtown Saint Louis, your hotel is the ideal place from which to explore the city. But it's not all about the Arch, other highlights include Busch Stadium (home of the Cardinals), Saint Louis Science Center, Grant's Farm, Forest Park and the City Museum.
After one night in St. Louis, continue your road trip to Springfield, Missouri. Famous as the origin of Highway 66, there's a placard to commemorate this on the east side of Park Central Square. Remnants of the old 66 Route run right through the city and can still be traced along many of the streets. Other sights here include the Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks, the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and the Wild Bill Hickok/ Davis Tutt shootout site. You'll spend one night in Springfield.
The next day, continue along Route 66 to Chicago, Illinois. Return your hire car not far from your hotel, because you'll spend the next two nights here in the city. Housed in a building dating back to the 1920s, your boutique hotel provides a launchpad into the heart of Chicago close to the Magnificent Mile. Things to see in the Windy City include the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Wrigley Field (home of the Chicago Cubs), Skydeck Chicago and the iconic Navy Pier.
Please ask for prices. Our standard package is based on 2 adults sharing and includes:
- Return flights from Cork, Dublin or Shannon via London
- 23kg checked luggage
- Car hire: SUV, Chevrolet or similar
- 15 nights accommodation in our hand-selected 3* and 4* hotels along Route 66:
- Los Angeles, California- 3*
- Las Vegas, Nevada- 3*
- Grand Canyon (Williams)- 3*
- Holbrook, Arizona- 3*
- Albuquerque, New Mexico- 4*
- Amarillo, Texas- 3*
- Oklahoma, Oklahoma- 4*
- St Louis, Missouri- 3*
- Springfield, Missouri 3*
- Chicago, Illinois- 4*
Please ask us about:
- Travel Insurance
- ESTA visas
- Attraction entry, guided tours and other experiences along Route 66. Save time and money by booking with us before you fly. From helicopter tours over the Grand Canyon to food tours around Chicago, we've got something for everyone.
- Please be aware that a car hire fee of approx €107 is payable locally on arrival. Charges for car parking and road tolls are not included in your rental fee.
Subject to availability. Terms & conditions apply. This suggested itinerary can be adjusted to suit your needs.
For more information and the most up-to-date pricing for your desired Route 66 itinerary, please call us on 021 427 7094 or 01 696 5135, email info@shandontravel.ie, request a call back using the red button, or submit an enquiry through the form below.