Route 66 Family Road Trip: Illinois to New Mexico
Route 66 Family Road Trip Vlog Fun Places Illinois to New Mexico
Lesser Known Adventures on YouTube
A couple of years ago we packed up the car, loaded the dog, strapped in our five year old daughter, and drove the old historic Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois all the way to Albuquerque, New Mexico. It was one of the best trips we have ever taken as a family, and honestly one we still talk about to this day.
We tried to hit every major stop along the way. Roadside landmarks, historic points of interest, quirky museums, classic diners. If it was on Route 66 and worth stopping for, we wanted to see it.
This post is part road trip guide, part trip diary. We want to share the stops we made, the resources we used to plan, and the tips we picked up along the way so you can do the same thing with your own family.
How We Planned (Or Didn’t Plan) the Trip
Here is the honest truth about how we planned this trip: we barely planned it at all. We had a rough idea of the route obviously, but beyond that we kept things pretty loose. We never booked hotels in advance. Every day we would drive until we felt like stopping and then figure out where to stay from there. It sounds stressful but it was actually the best decision we made.
Because we were flexible, we found so many places we never would have stopped at if we had a rigid itinerary. A random antique shop here, a weird roadside statue there, a classic diner that looked too good to pass up. That is the whole spirit of Route 66 anyway. The road is supposed to surprise you.
Since then we have done a couple more long road trips and we always do them the same way. Never set a plan in stone. Go out and find your adventure.
The Books and Apps We Used
Even with a loose plan we still needed some guidance, especially for finding the smaller and lesser known stops. Here are the resources we actually used and can genuinely recommend.
EZ66 Guide – https://amzn.to/3VeXgBR
This was a great book that covered a lot of stops and things to check out. (Amazon affiliate link, helps us out a ton! Thank you!)
Here It Is! Route 66 Map Series – https://amzn.to/3wE2de5
This was another map series we picked up for our trip. It included some more info the book missed and is formatted as a cool map pamphlet. (Amazon affiliate link, helps us out a ton! Thank you!)
Roadtrippers Route 66 – https://amzn.to/4aCl9Ye
We love Roadtrippers! We use their app on pretty much every road trip we take, short or long. You can check it out here, and if you sign up you’ll get $5 off the premium subscription which is what we use.
The Route 66 book was a must-have for us. (Amazon affiliate link, helps us out a ton! Thank you!)
We never booked hotels until halfway through the day. We didn’t know how far we’d make it each day, or what we’d find. So we played it by ear. It was the best way to do it. We found so many random amazing places and had a great time. Since then, we’ve done a couple more longer road trips, and have done them the same way. Never set a plan in stone. Go out and find your adventure.
This video isn’t so much of an educational or informative video, but more of a montage of our trip. I love filming everything and everywhere we go and love to edit. Hopefully, everyone likes it as much as we do.
If you ever have a chance to take the Route 66 road trip, DO IT!
Thanks for watching! If you like this type of content, it’d be awesome if you could subscribe and maybe even share the videos. We’re having a blast making these videos, and have a lot of stuff planned coming soon.
Maps and Roadtrippers
Below is a map of stops along Route 66 to check out. It’s from Roadtrippers, an app that WE LOVE and have been using for a long time now. Whether on longer trips like this, or just day trips where we only drive a few hours in any direction, we use Roadtrippers to help find stops along the way. We highly recommend it.
We do have an affiliate link if you want to try it out. If you subscribe to the premium version which we use, you’ll get $5 off. Use the promo code BTR5QTP, or you can sign up through this link – https://roadtrippers.com/plus?via=andrew25.
The top things to do on a Route 66 road trip on Roadtrippers
https://roadtrippers.com/the-ultimate-guide-route-66
Every Stop We Made on Route 66
We covered a lot of ground on this trip. Here is a rundown of every stop we made, roughly in order from Chicago to Albuquerque. Some were planned, most were spontaneous, and a few were complete surprises we stumbled onto.
Illinois
The Launching Pad and the Gemini Giant, Wilmington, IL
This was one of our first stops out of Chicago and it set the tone for the whole trip perfectly. The Gemini Giant is a massive fiberglass spaceman holding a rocket ship, standing outside the Launching Pad drive-in. He is over 28 feet tall and absolutely impossible to miss. He is also one of the most iconic Route 66 roadside attractions in the whole state. Pull over, take the photo, get a burger. You will not regret it.
Dwight, Illinois
Dwight is a small town with a surprising amount of Route 66 history packed into it. The old Ambler Becker Texaco Station is one of the best preserved gas stations from the Route 66 era and worth a quick stop and a few photos.
Pontiac, Illinois and the Vermilion River
Pontiac was a highlight of the Illinois stretch. The town has fully embraced its Route 66 identity with murals, a dedicated Route 66 museum, and a really charming downtown area. The Vermilion River runs through town and makes for a nice spot to stretch your legs if you have been driving a while.
Oak Ridge Cemetery and the Lincoln Tomb, Springfield, IL
Oak Ridge Cemetery is the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln and his family. It is one of the most visited cemeteries in the country and honestly a pretty moving experience. The tomb itself is impressive and the grounds are beautiful. Worth at least an hour of your time.
Downtown Springfield, IL
Springfield as a whole is worth spending some time in. Beyond the Lincoln sites there is a great historic downtown area with good food, independent shops, and a lot of Route 66 character. We walked around for a while and really enjoyed it.
Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, IL
You cannot drive through Springfield without stopping at the Cozy Dog. It is the birthplace of the corn dog on a stick and has been a Route 66 institution since 1949. The interior is covered in corn dog memorabilia and the walls are full of photos and history. It is exactly the kind of quirky stop that makes Route 66 so much fun.
Twistee Treat Diner and Antiques, Livingston, IL
This was one of those spontaneous stops that ended up being one of our favorites. A classic ice cream shop combined with an antiques store in a tiny town. Our daughter loved the ice cream and we spent way too long looking at old stuff inside. Highly recommend.
Missouri
Totem Pole Trading Post, Rolla, MO
Rolla has a small but well known replica of Stonehenge on the campus of Missouri University of Science and Technology, but the Totem Pole Trading Post is the classic Route 66 stop here. It has been around since the 1940s and sells all kinds of Native American art, jewelry, and souvenirs. A classic roadside shop experience.
Uranus Fudge Factory, Saint Robert, MO
Yes, the name is exactly what you think it is and they lean into it completely. The Uranus Fudge Factory is one of the most fun roadside stops on the entire route. The fudge is genuinely delicious, the gift shop is hilarious, and the whole place has a great sense of humor about itself. If you have kids this is an absolute must stop. We actually went back and did a full blog post on this one, you can read it here.
Steak n Shake, Springfield, MO
Sometimes the best stops are the simple ones. After a long day of driving we pulled into a classic Steak n Shake in Springfield and it hit the spot perfectly. There is something very road trip appropriate about a good Steak n Shake.
Spencer Garage, Spencer, MO
Spencer is a tiny town with not much left to it, but the old Spencer Garage is a great example of the ghost town energy you find in a lot of these small Route 66 communities. It is the kind of stop that makes you think about what this road used to be like when it was the main highway across the country.
Red Oak, Carthage, MO
Red Oak is a fascinating stop. Artist Lowell Davis relocated an entire ghost town to his property outside Carthage and restored it. It is basically a recreated 1930s Missouri village including a full blacksmith shop, general store, and filling station. Totally unexpected and really cool.
Oklahoma
The Blue Whale, Catoosa, OK
The Blue Whale of Catoosa is one of the most beloved and recognizable Route 66 roadside attractions in the whole country. It is a giant blue whale sculpture sitting in a pond that was built in the 1970s as a private anniversary gift and later opened to the public. You can walk right up to it, climb on it, and take as many photos as you want. It is completely free and absolutely worth the stop.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is a great city to spend a night in if you are making this drive. The Art Deco architecture downtown is stunning, the food scene is really good, and there are a handful of solid Route 66 stops right in the city including the Golden Driller statue and the Circle Cinema.
Skyliner Motel
We stayed at the Skyliner Motel on this stretch and it was a great experience. Old school Route 66 motel vibes with a neon sign and everything. Exactly the kind of place you want to stay when you are doing this drive.
Rock Cafe, Stroud, OK
The Rock Cafe has been serving travelers on Route 66 since 1939 and is one of the most authentic stops on the entire route. The building is made from sandstone that was blasted out of the roadbed when Route 66 was originally built. The food is great and the history is even better.
Oklahoma City, OK
Oklahoma City is another great city stop on the route. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is a powerful and important place to visit. Beyond that the Bricktown area has great restaurants and the stockyards district is a genuinely unique experience.
Roberts Grill Onion Burger, El Reno, OK
El Reno is famous for the onion burger, a style of smash burger where thin sliced onions are pressed directly into the patty while it cooks. Roberts Grill is one of the classic spots to get one and it did not disappoint. If you like burgers this is a legitimate must stop.
Texas
Texola, OK and U Drop Inn, Shamrock, TX
Texola is a near ghost town right on the Oklahoma-Texas border with just a handful of buildings left standing. It has a real end of the world feeling to it that is worth experiencing even if you just slow down and drive through. Just across the border in Shamrock, the U Drop Inn is one of the most architecturally impressive buildings on all of Route 66. The Art Deco design is incredible and it is now a visitor center and museum.
Jericho Cemetery, TX
This is the kind of stop that Route 66 is full of if you know to look for it. A small, old, windswept cemetery in the middle of the Texas panhandle. Easy to miss but worth a moment if you are into that kind of history and reflection.
Clarendon, Texas
Clarendon has a classic small town Texas feel to it. We stopped to stretch and get gas and ended up spending more time than expected just walking around and taking it all in.
Palo Duro Canyon, Canyon, TX
Palo Duro Canyon is one of the most underrated natural wonders in the entire country and one of the highlights of our whole trip. It is the second largest canyon in the United States, just behind the Grand Canyon, and most people have never heard of it. The colors of the rock walls are stunning and there is great hiking available at all levels. If you are making this drive, do not skip this one.
New Mexico and Colorado
Clayton, Springer, Maxwell, and Abbott, New Mexico
The stretch through northeastern New Mexico has a different energy than anything you will experience earlier in the drive. The landscape opens up dramatically and these small towns feel genuinely remote and historic. We stopped in each one briefly just to take it all in.
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO
We made a detour into Colorado to see Garden of the Gods and it was absolutely worth it. The massive red sandstone formations are unlike anything we had ever seen. It is free to enter, has great hiking, and the scenery is just extraordinary. One of our favorite stops of the whole trip.
Pony Express Trail and Santa Fe Trail, Colorado
Driving through this stretch of Colorado you are literally following the same paths that the Pony Express and Santa Fe Trail used in the 1800s. There are historical markers along the way and it gives the drive a really incredible sense of history and perspective.
Tips for Doing Route 66 with Kids
Taking a five year old on a multi-week road trip might sound ambitious but honestly it was one of the best things we have ever done as a family. A few things that helped us make it work.
Keep things flexible. Do not over-plan. Kids get tired, they want to stop at random things, and that is actually perfect for a Route 66 trip. The more spontaneous you can be the better time everyone will have.
Use a great trip planning app. Roadtrippers was invaluable for us. Being able to search for interesting stops within a certain distance of our route meant we always had something to look forward to. Try Roadtrippers here and use code BTR5QTP for five dollars off premium.
Do not skip the weird stuff. The Gemini Giant, the Blue Whale, the Uranus Fudge Factory. Kids absolutely love this stuff and so do adults. That is the whole point of Route 66.
Build in canyon and nature stops. Palo Duro Canyon was one of the best decisions we made. Kids need to run around and burn energy, and stopping at a spectacular natural landmark is a great way to do that and see something incredible at the same time.
Do not book hotels in advance. We know this sounds counterintuitive, especially with kids, but it genuinely worked for us. We always found a place to stay and the flexibility let us go wherever the day took us.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Route 66 road trip take?
The full Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, California is about 2,400 miles. Most people allow two to four weeks to do it properly. We drove from Chicago to Albuquerque which is roughly the first two thirds of the route, and that took us about ten days at a relaxed pace with lots of stops.
Is Route 66 a good road trip for families with kids?
Yes, absolutely. There are so many weird, fun, and interesting stops along the route that kids genuinely love. The key is keeping things flexible and not trying to stick to a rigid schedule. Let the kids decide some of the stops and make it an adventure for everyone.
What is the best stretch of Route 66?
Honestly every section has something great to offer, but if we had to pick a highlight the stretch through Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle surprised us the most. The Blue Whale, the onion burgers in El Reno, and Palo Duro Canyon alone make that section worth the drive.
What is the best time of year to drive Route 66?
Spring and fall are the sweet spots. Summer can be extremely hot especially through Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. September and October are particularly great because the weather is mild and the crowds are smaller than in peak summer.
Do you need a special map for Route 66?
We really recommend picking up the EZ66 Guide and the Here It Is! Route 66 Map Series before you go. Both are excellent and between the two of them they cover pretty much every major stop. The Roadtrippers app is also invaluable for finding stops in real time while you are on the road.
Should You Do the Route 66 Road Trip?
Yes. One hundred percent yes. If you have ever thought about doing this trip, stop thinking about it and start planning it. It is one of the great American road trips for a reason and doing it with your family makes it even better.
We went in with a loose plan and a full tank of gas and came home with memories we are still talking about years later. Our daughter was five years old and she still remembers the Blue Whale, the Gemini Giant, and the fudge factory. That says everything.
If you end up doing this trip we would love to hear about it. Drop a comment below and tell us your favorite stop. And if you want to see more of what we found along the way, check out our YouTube video at the top of this post.
Thanks for reading. Now go find your adventure.
