Route 66 Shorter Road Trip

Sample Itinerary of Route 66 Shorter Road Trip

3 Nights Santa Monica
Your Route 66 shorter road trip will begin in Santa Monica, staying at the Gateway Hotel Santa Monica. Monica is a small coastal town outside of Los Angeles, home to the Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park with famous amusement park ride the Pacific Wheel. Santa Monica also has a beautiful golden sand beach where you could spend the morning relaxing, or why not drive into Los Angeles and visit Rodeo Drive and the Hollywood Sign. If you want to visit a nice beach before you head off on your journey, then why not visit the beaches of Malibu as well. Be sure to take a picture with the Route 66 End of The Trail sign on Santa Monica Pier before heading off.

3 Nights Las Vegas
On your way to Las Vegas, where you will stay at the MGM Grand hotel, you will detour off Route 66 slightly. Before doing so though, the last major town you will hit is Barstow. Barstow is full of Route 66’s history and memorabilia including iconic Route 66 motels and museums. Roy’s Café in Barstow is also a great place for some food before heading off to Las Vegas. After you cross the border into Nevada you have an opportunity to hop out the car and stretch your legs at Seven Magic Mountains – a desert art installation featuring 7 painted boulder totems up to 35 ft. high. Once you reach Las Vegas, and have checked-in to your hotel, you can begin living the high life in Vegas; you can visit the various Las Vegas casinos, other hotels in Las Vegas like Caesars Palace and the Venetian, or catch one of the many Las Vegas shows!

1 Night Kingman
On your way out of Las Vegas be sure to also visit Hoover Dam where you can straddle the Arizona and Nevada state line… and literally be in two places at once! Kingman is a small town, back on Route 66, where you will stay at Best Western Plus a Wayfarer's Inn And Suites. However, on your way to Kingman there are plenty of stops to make and things to see. If you make a slight detour, you'll come to the abandoned goldmine town Nelson Ghost Town - this town is open for tours and is full of retro unrestored buildings, signs, and photos. Just before coming to Kingman, you’ll find the town of Chloride – the oldest inhabited town in Arizona and certainly worth stopping to stretch your legs. In Kingman you’ll find the Route 66 Museum where you can learn all about the historic highway you’re driving.

1 Night Seligman
Your next stop along Route 66 for the night is Seligman, where you will stay at an authentic Route 66 motel – the Stagecoach 66 Motel, complete with classic Route 66 Motel signage. This leg of the journey will be driven on Historic Route 66 and will take you through some authentic towns and villages found on Route 66 back in the 1950s. Hackberry is certainly worth stopping at, especially to visit Hackberry General Store where you can grab some food and drink but also admire the quirky shop and its history. The next stop you could make along Historic Route 66 is Peach Springs – the capital of the Hualapai Nation. Whilst in Seligman be sure to visit Angel & Vilma Delgadillo's Original Route 66 Gift Shop for some authentic Route 66 souvenirs!

1 Night Williams
The next stop along your Route 66 mini road trip is Williams, where you will stay at the Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel. In Williams you’ll find some authentic Route 66 memorabilia at Pete's Route 66 Gas Station Museum and adrenaline lovers will want to have a go on the Route 66 Zipline in Williams! From Williams you will make your way to the Grand Canyon Village.

2 Nights Grand Canyon Village
A slight detour off Route 66, but certainly worth it, is to the Grand Canyon Village where you will stay at the El Tovar Hotel right at the Canyon Rim! This is a real treat hotel to stay at whilst visiting the Grand Canyon due to its excellent location! For amazing sunrises at the Grand Canyon, then you’ll want to wake up early and head for Mather Point for some epic panoramic views over the Canyon. Taking the shuttle bus along Hermit Road Red Route will offer great views out over the Canyon and the bus will stop at various points of interest. For those who enjoy being outdoors, there are also plenty of hikes to do around the Grand Canyon.

1 Night Flagstaff
Flagstaff is one of the biggest cities in Arizona and is where you will be spending your last night along Route 66, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Flagstaff. Whilst in Flagstaff be sure to visit the historic Route 66 Mile Marker, stargaze at the Lowell Observatory, and enjoy the shops and restaurants in Downtown Flagstaff.

2 Nights Scottsdale
This part of your drive will take you off Route 66 and through the desert to Scottsdale where your mini-Route 66 road trip will end. In Scottsdale you will stay at the The Scottsdale Plaza Resort & Villas before flying home to the UK. Along the way however there will be many interesting stops to make. One of the first stops just outside of Flagstaff is the desert town of Sedona; surrounded by red rock walls and pine forests, Sedona is a unique town full of beauty and mystery that is certainly worth a visit. Another pit-stop to make along the way is Oak Creek Canyon for some more natural beauty, including a swimming hole, in the Arizona desert. Further along this road is the amazing Montezuma Castle National Monument - an important historic site within Arizona that dates back over 1000 years and is well worth stopping for. Scottsdale is only a short drive from Phoenix so be sure to head into Arizona’s capital city for its vibrant arts, food and/or nightlife scene.

All our holidays are tailor-made and can be adapted by changing hotels durations and destinations to suit the individuals tastes and requirements – please do get in touch so we can start planning.