Route 66 – Chicago to Santa Monica

Route 66—Chicago to Santa Monica

Call for prices

“Get your kicks on Route 66”

April 29-May 10, 2024 | 12 days

Pickup: Lancaster, PA     Times pending

Price per person: call for prices

Avoid $ loss; purchase travel insurance.

2 breakfasts     2 lunches     8 dinners

♦Photo ID, Passport or military ID required♦

Day 1 *Transfer to airport for flight to Chicago *Have a guided sightseeing tour of the “Windy City”, visiting Grant Park to see the official banner, “Historic Route 66 Starts Here” *See the park’s centerpiece, the impressive Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain *Enjoy Chicago’s legendary, deep-dish pizza for dinner *Overnight just outside of Chicago (D)

Day 2 *Journey on the Main Street of America or the Mother Road, running from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California *Visit the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac *Continue to Springfield, Illinois, a city rich in Route 66 memories and where President Abraham Lincoln lived for 24 years *See the Chain of the Rocks Route 66 Bridge over the Mississippi River *Overnight in the St. Louis, Missouri, area (B)

Day 3 *Board the Jeep-drawn tram at Fantastic Caverns in Missouri, experiencing its natural beauty *Travel on Route 66 through Springfield, Missouri, officially recognized as the birthplace of Route 66, The Mother Road, stretched from the Great Lakes to the Pacific Coast, parts of the road still visible in downtown Spring-field *Dinner and overnight near Joplin *Enjoy light kickback dinner at hotel (B, D)

Day 4 *Travel the scenic stretch of the highway known as the Will Rogers Highway, passing through the town of Commerce, boyhood home of Baseball Hall of Famer, Mickey Mantle *Visit the Will Rogers Museum, loaded with memorabilia, his saddle collection, nine galleries and three theaters *Tour the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, featuring one of the finest collections of western art in the country *See the West of Yesterday Gallery with its life-size re-creations of early Indian and pioneer life The Rodeo Hall of Fame is always a favorite featuring the famous “End of the Trail” and “Coming Through the Rye” sculptures and the 33-foot statue of Buffalo Bill Enjoy a steak dinner *Overnight in Oklahoma City (D)

Day 5 *Visit the Murrah Memorial honoring the 1995 bombing victims of the Oklahoma City tragedy, viewing the chairs representing each of the 168 people killed *Browse the National Route 66 Museum, seeing the route’s history with photographs, old signs and vintage automobiles *Have dinner at the Big Texas Steak Ranch *Overnight in Amarillo, Texas (D)

Day 6 *Make a photo stop at the famed Cadillac Ranch, capturing 10 brightly painted Cadillacs, buried nose down in concrete *Stop for a photo at the Route 66 mural in Tucumcari, New Mexico *Take a walking tour of Old Town, original Albuquerque, seeing the old adobe architecture *Dine at the 66 Diner, with its 1950’s jukebox and blue-plate specials (D)

Day 7 *Take a 2.7-mile ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway aerial tram to the top of 10,000-foot Sandia Peak *Enjoy a traditional New Mexico lunch *Take a guided tour of downtown Santa Fe for a great overview of Santa Fe’s history, culture and architectures, including Loretto Chapel and the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis *Have free time for shopping in Santa Fe *Overnight in Albuquerque (L)

Day 8 *See the history of Route 66 on the “Main Drag” including historic El Rancho Hotel, which served as a home base to movie stars such as John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn *Cross into Arizona, marveling at the colors of the Painted Desert *Visit the Petrified Forest *See the Wigwam Motel *Enjoy dinner at the Cruiser’s Cafe 66 *Overnight in Williams, AZ (D)

Day 9 *Browse local shops in Seligman for Route 66 memorabilia *Pass through Peach Springs (inspiration for the Pixar movie Cars) *Journey to the land of the Hualapai Nation, visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk, walk beyond the canyon walls and stand at the edge of the Glass Bridge *Visit an Indian Village *Take in incredible views of the Grand Canyon and Colorado River at Guano Point and lunch here *Overnight in Laughlin, Nevada (L)

Day 10 *Stop in Barstow to visit the Route 66 “Mother Road” Museum, seeing displays of the development of Route 66 from early pioneer trails, railroads, automotive history and more *Head to Santa Monica, known as the end of famous Route 66 *Dinner and overnight in Los Angeles (1st of 2 nights) (D)

Day 11 *Browse the Ronald W. Reagan Presidential Library & Museum *See a piece of the Berlin Wall *Board the Air Force One that served as the “Flying White House” *Stop at the Los Angeles Farmer’s Market *Tour the “City of Angels,” Los Angeles *Take pictures of footprints, hand prints and autographs cast in concrete at the TCL Chinese Theater and see the renowned Walk of Stars *Enjoy dinner together (D)

Day 12 *Travel to the airport for our flight home

We are offering this tour in cooperation with Christian Tours.

Early deadlines—register early!