Maps of the entire Route 66, from beginning in Chicago to the end in Santa Monica, California



Route 66 Maps

Maps of Route 66 States
Illinois Missouri
Kansas Oklahoma
Texas New Mexico
Arizona California

"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.

From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed south through Illinois and Missouri, and a small section of southeast Kansas.

From there it turned in a more westward direction through Oklahoma and Texas, with the final stretches in New Mexico and Arizona before its termination point in Los Angeles.

Alignments of the road changed often over the years, as improved sections of highway were constructed. In the early years many sections connected only one small town to the next, and had no official federal route number. Over time the route was formalized as a Federal Highway numbered as "U.S. 66".

Map of Historic U.S. Route 66

Map of Historic Route 66 from Illinois to California
Map of the entire Historic U.S. Route 66, from start to finish, from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California

Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica
Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 from start to finish, from Chicago to Los Angeles

Maps of Route 66 Across Each State

Included below are maps of the eight states through which Route 66 passed, showing the overall, approximate path through each state. Alignment changed over the years, as highway engineering improved. There are many sources online and in print that document detailed, turn-by-turn tours through various alignments.


ILLINOIS ROUTE 66

Map of Illinois Route 66: 301 Miles

Route 66 Road Trips across the State of Illinois
Take a road trip on Route 66 across Illinois

From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed southwest to Joliet, Wilmington, Dwight, Odell, Pontiac, Bloomington, Lincoln and Springfield. The segment from Chicago to Springfield is roughly a 2.5 hour drive.

Leaving Springfield, Route 66 traversed Litchfield, Staunton and Hamel, and then continued on to the Chain of Rocks Bridge at St. Louis, where it turned west through Rolla, Springfield, Joplin and into Kansas and Oklahoma.

Illinois was the first of the eight states through which Route 66 passed to have its segment of U.S. 66 paved, at a time when much of the route across the country was still a gravel or dirt road

Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Illinois from Chicago to St. Louis, MissouriMap showing the approximate route of U.S. Route 66 across Illinois from Chicago to St. Louis, Missouri

Route 66 road trip to Chicago, Illinois Route 66 Road Trip to Joliet, Illinois Route 66 Road Trip to Pontiac, Illinois Route 66 Road Trip to Bloomington and Normal in Illinois
Dwight, Illinois along Route 66 Route 66 road trip to Springfield, Illinois Route 66 road trip to Litchfield, Illinois

Route 66 hotel listings and traveler reviews

MISSOURI ROUTE 66

Map of Missouri Route 66: 317 Miles

Route 66 across Missouri features a variety of large cities and small towns, connected by roadways over rolling hills and valleys. The Mother Road followed much of the Kickapoo, or Osage, Trail, an Indian trail that later became the Old Wire Road.

Route 66 road trips in Missouri ... click for details!
Take a road trip on Route 66 across Missouri

Like other Route 66 segments, the actual alignment varied over the years as engineering improvements were constructed.

Heading westbound the route traveled through these cites and towns in Missouri:

Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Missouri from St. Louis to Joplin
Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Missouri from St. Louis to Joplin

Route 66 road trip to St. Louis, Missouri Route 66 road trip to Lebanon, Missouri Route 66 road trip to Springfield, Missouri
Route 66 road trip to Carthage, Missouri Route 66 road trip to Cuba, Missouri Route 66 road trip to Joplin, Missouri
Route 66 Road Trip to Sullivan, Missouri Route 66 road trip to Rolla, Missouri Route 66 Road Trip to Webb City, Missouri

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KANSAS ROUTE 66

Map of Kansas Route 66: 13 miles

Route 66 road trips in Kansas

Take a road trip on Route 66 across Kansas

As Route 66 left Joplin, Missouri, it was only a short distance westbound to the Kansas border.

The route through Kansas was the shortest of all the states, only about 13 miles.

It traveled through Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs. From there it entered Commerce, Oklahoma, and headed southwest through Miami, Alton, Chelsea and Claremore and Tulsa.

Map of Historic Route 66 through Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs in Kansas
Map of Historic Route 66 through Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs in Kansas

Route 66 road trip to Galena, Kansas Route 66 road trip to Baxter Springs, Kansas



OKLAHOMA ROUTE 66

Map of Oklahoma Route 66: 432 Miles

Route 66 Road Trips Across Oklahoma
Take a road trip on Route 66 across Oklahoma

As Route 66 left Joplin, Missouri westbound, it was only a short distance to Kansas, and then to the Oklahoma border.

It quickly entered Commerce, and headed southwest through Miami, Alton, Chelsea, Claremore and Tulsa. The road continued through Stroud, Chandler and Arcadia to Oklahoma City.

From there, it was a straight shot west through Yukon, El Reno, Hydro, Clinton and Elk City, and finally Texola.

The Mother Road crossed the Texas state line at Texola, near Shamrock, and moved on to Amarillo.

The nation's longest drivable stretch of Route 66 crosses Oklahoma, making its way past charming towns, roadside diners and quirky attractions.

Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Oklahoma
Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Oklahoma from Commerce to Erick

Map of approximate Historic Route 66 path through the Tulsa, Oklahoma area
Map of approximate Historic Route 66 path through the Tulsa, Oklahoma area
Map showing the approximate location of Historic Route 66 through Oklahoma City
Map showing the approximate location of Historic Route 66 in Oklahoma City
Route 66 road trip to Miami, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Chelsea, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Catoosa, Oklahoma
Route 66 road trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Chandler, Oklahoma
Route 66 road trip to Yukon, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Weatherford, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Clinton, Oklahoma
Route 66 road trip to Elk City, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Sapulpa, Oklahoma Route 66 road trip to Erick, Oklahoma
Route 66 road trip to El Reno, Oklahoma Route 66 Road Trip to Vinita, Oklahoma Route 66 Road Trip to Arcadia, Oklahoma
  Route 66 Road Trip to Claremore, Oklahoma


TEXAS ROUTE 66

Map of Texas Route 66: 186 Miles

The Mother Road crossed the Texas state line at Texola, OK, near Shamrock, Texas, and traveled through McLean and Groom on its way to Amarillo. From there it continued west to Glenrio.

Route 66 road trips across Texas
Take a road trip on Route 66 across Texas

The Route through Texas totaled 186 miles, and closely followed today's Interstate I-40.

Heading westbound the route traveled through these places:

Map of the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Texas from Shamrock to Glenrio
Map of the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Texas from Shamrock to Glenrio

Route 66 road trip to Shamrock, Texas Route 66 road trip to McLean, Texas Route 66 road trip to Amarillo, Texas
Route 66 road trip to Vega, Texas Route 66 road trip to Adrian, Texas Route 66 road trip to Glenrio, Texas

NEW MEXICO ROUTE 66

Map of New Mexico Route 66: 487 Miles

Route 66 road trip Across New Mexico

Take a road trip on Route 66 across New Mexico

After leaving Glenrio, Texas, Route 66 continued west in its 1926 alignment, through Tucumcari, Cuervo, and Santa Rosa before turning north for Santa Fe.

From the capitol city, it ran southwest thru Albuquerque and Grants to Gallup near the Arizona border.

In later years, it would continue west from the Santa Rosa area through Clines Corner on a more direct route to Albuquerque.

Map showing cities and towns along an early alignment of U.S. Route 66 across New Mexico, from Glenrio to Gallup
Map showing cities and towns along an early alignment of U.S. Route 66 across New Mexico, from Glenrio to Gallup

Route 66 road trip to Tucumcari, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Santa Rosa, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico
Route 66 road trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Grants, New Mexico Route 66 road trip to Gallup, New Mexico
Tucumcari thru Santa Rosa to Santa Fe
Route 66 Road Trip westbound from Tucumcari through Santa Rosa to Santa Fe
Santa Fe thru Albuquerque to Gallup
Route 66 Road Trip westbound from Santa Fe through Albuquerque to Gallup

Route 66 alignment in central New Mexico in 1926 and post-1937
Map of U.S. Route 66 alignment in central New Mexico in 1926 and post-1937

ARIZONA ROUTE 66

Map of Arizona Route 66: 401 Miles

Arizona is one of our favorite Route 66 destinations, with many miles of original roadbeds still open, and minimal congestion on most segments.

The largest city on the route is Flagstaff, with only about 65,000 residents. Other stops along the way are smaller towns ... traffic is not a problem on Route 66 in Arizona!

Route 66 road trips across Arizona
Take a road trip on Route 66 across Arizona

Arizona includes several of our favorite places and scenes along the Mother Road, like:

Some of today's journey is on I-40, which parallels the old Route 66 in many places. We always drive the segments of the Mother Road where it still remains. Exits from I-40 onto Route 66 are marked in many locales.

Driving time non-stop from Lupton (near Gallup) at the New Mexico border to Oatman is 5:45, less than a day's drive. But you probably want to split the trip up into at least two days.

Major concentrations of lodging are found in Gallup, NM, Flagstaff and Kingman. Many other lodging options are available in other cities such as Winslow and Williams, as well as smaller towns.

Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 across Arizona from Lupton to Topock
Map showing Route 66 across Arizona from Lupton to Topock

Route 66 road trip to Holbrook, Arizona Route 66 road trip to Winslow, Arizona Route 66 road trip to Flagstaff, Arizona Route 66 road trip to Williams, Arizona
Route 66 Road Trip to Ash Fork, Arizona Route 66 road trip to Seligman, Arizona Route 66 road trip to Kingman, Arizona Route 66 road trip to Oatman, Arizona

Holbrook to Flagstaff
Route 66 Road Trip from Holbrook through WInslow to Flagstaff

Seligman to Kingman
Route 66 from Seligman through Hackberry to Kingman, Arizona

Flagstaff to Seligman
Route 66 Road Trip from Flagstaff through Williams to Seligman, Arizona

Kingman to Oatman
Route 66 Road Trip from Kingman to Oatman, Arizona


CALIFORNIA ROUTE 66

Map of California Route 66: 314 Miles

Route 66 ran southwest out of Kingman through Cool Springs to Oatman, and onward to Golden Shores and Topock where it turned west to Needles, California.

From the Arizona state line to San Bernardino U.S. Highway 66 followed the old National Old Trails Highway.

In 1936 U.S. 66 was extended from downtown Los Angeles to U.S. 101, at Santa Monica.

Route 66 road trip across California
Take a road trip on Route 66 across California

In 1940 the first freeway in Los Angeles was included as part of U.S. 66, the Arroyo Seco Parkway, later known as the Pasadena Freeway.

The highway is now mostly replaced with several streets in Los Angeles, State Route 66 (SR 66), Interstate 15 (I-15) and I-40.

The Mother Road passed through cities and towns like these as it made its way westbound across California:

Map showing the approximate route of an early alignment of U.S. Highway 66 from Needles to Santa Monica, California
Map showing the approximate route of an early alignment of U.S. Highway 66 from Needles to Santa Monica, Californi

The original terminus of U.S. Route 66 was at 7th and Broadway in downtown Los Angeles. However, over the years, and decades, Route 66 has had several “official” and “unofficial" ending points.

The route was later extended to the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic boulevards in Santa Monica, about one mile from the Pacific Ocean. This is often referred to as the official ending point of Route 66.

Map showing the "official" and "unofficial" ending points of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California
(click image to open in Google Maps)
Map showing the "official" and "unofficial" ending points of Route 66 in Santa Monica, California


Since this locale can be disappointing after the long journey from Chicago, the Route 66 Alliance partnered with the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation in 2009 to mount an unofficial “End of the Trail” sign on the pier, seen below in 2020.

The End of the Trail ... Santa Monica, California (Staff Photo)
The End of the Trail ... Santa Monica, California

Route 66 road trip across California

Route 66 road trip to Needles, California Route 66 Road Trip to Goffs, California Route 66 road trip to Amboy, California
Route 66 road trip to Barstow, California Route 66 road trip to Victorville, California Route 66 road trip to San Bernardino, California
Route 66 road trip to Pasadena, California Route 66 road trip to San Santa Monica, California

Click to view an interactive map with over 200 popular attractions on the entire Historic Route 66


Popular Route 66 resources for your next road trip!

EZ66 Guide for Travelers (5th Edition)
by Jerry McClanahan


EZ66 Guide for Travelers ... buy at Amazon

Here It Is! Route 66 Series of 8 Maps
by Jerry McClanahan & Jim Ross

Here It Is Route 66 Map Series ... buy at Amazon

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The Route 66 Store ... click to shop now for books, maps, clothing, videos and more!

Route 66 Hotel Listings and Traveler Reviews
TripAdvisor
Route 66 hotel listings and traveler reviews

Chicago, Illinois Joliet, Illinois
Pontiac, Illinois Bloomington, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois Litchfield, Illinois
St. Louis, Missouri Lebanon, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri Joplin, Missouri
Tulsa, Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Yukon, Oklahoma Weatherford, Oklahoma
Clinton, Oklahoma Elk City, Oklahoma
Shamrock, Texas Amarillo, Texas
Tucumcari, New Mexico Santa Rosa, New Mexico
Santa Fe, New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico
Grants, New Mexico Gallup, New Mexico
Holbrook, Arizona Winslow, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona Williams, Arizona
Seligman, Arizona Kingman, Arizona
Needles, California Barstow, California
Victorville, California San Bernardino, California
Arcadia, California Santa Monica, California

 

Additional Route 66 Mapping & Travel Resources

Route 66 Maps at the National Park Service (NPS)

Click to view "The 10-Minute Trip Across Route 66" video ...
"The 10-Minute Trip Across Route 66" video

Google Maps of Route 66

Enjoy Illinois: Route 66

Visit Missouri: Route 66

Kansas Travel: Route 66

Travel Oklahoma: Route 66

Travel Texas: Route 66

New Mexico: Route 66

Visit Arizona: Route 66

Visit California: Route 66

 

Route 66 Mobile Apps

Some travelers on Route 66 prefer the route planning and driving assistance provided by mobile devices and smartphones. Listed below are two of the more popular apps ... but there are more!

The Route66RoadTrip website has no connection with any of the mobile apps listed ... they are provided as a starting point in your research and selection on where you might want to purchase an app.