Route 66: Wheels on the Mother Road

“Get your kicks on Route 66.”

Following the Mother Road, one mile at a time. Updated daily from home base in Catawba, NC.

Rider	Don
Departure	June 14, 2026 – Catawba NC
Route 66 Start	June 14, 2026 – Chicago IL
Destination	Santa Monica Pier, CA
Total Route 66 Distance	~2,448 miles
Full Trip (including ride to Chicago)	~3,200 miles
States	IL -> MO -> KS -> OK -> TX -> NM -> AZ -> CA

Trip Details

Progress Tracker

Date	Stop	Route 66 Mile Marker	Miles to Santa Monica	Status
Pre-Trip	Catawba, NC
June 14	Chicago, IL	0	2,448	✅
June 14	Cicero, IL	~8	~2,440	✅
June 15	Edwardsville, IL	~270	~2,178	✅
June 16	Springfield, MO	~380	~2,068	✅
June 17 & 18	Vinita, OK	~628	~1,820	✅
June 19	Stroud, OK	~728	~1,720	✅
June 20	Elk City, OK	~840	~1,608	✅
June 21	Amarillo, TX	~990	~1,458	✅
June 22	Tucumcari, NM	~1,105	~1,343	✅
June 23	Santa Fe, NM	~1,272	~1,176	✅
June 24	Gallup, NM	~1,450	~998	✅
June 25	Flagstaff, AZ	~1,650	~798	✅
June 26	Kingman, AZ	~1,770	~678	✅
June 27	Needles, CA	~1,840	~608	✅

Mileage is approximate following historic Route 66 alignments.

Daily Updates

Day 14 — June 27, 2026 | Needles, CA — California! 🎉

Miles Today: ~70 (Kingman → Needles, via Oatman) Running Total (Route 66): ~1,840 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~608

He’s in California. Don took the old road out of Kingman — through the Black Mountains via Oatman — and the donkeys did not disappoint. The wild burros that roam Oatman’s main street are descendants of pack animals left behind by miners in the early 1900s, and they have zero interest in getting out of the way. It’s one of those only-on-Route-66 moments.

The climb out of Kingman and descent into the Colorado River valley on that stretch is some of the most dramatic riding on the entire route — tight switchbacks, sheer drops, and views that open up over the Mojave. Then the Colorado River crossing into Needles and the California state line. 608 miles to Santa Monica.

Day 13 — June 26, 2026 | Kingman, AZ — El Trovatore Motel

Miles Today: ~120 (Flagstaff → Kingman, through Williams and across the high desert) Running Total (Route 66): ~1,770 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~678

Tonight it’s the El Trovatore Motel in Kingman — another classic Route 66 property that’s been putting up road-trippers since 1939. Kingman is serious Route 66 territory: the Historic Route 66 Museum is here, and the old Powerhouse building downtown is worth a walk through.

The ride from Flagstaff took Don through Williams — and he enjoyed it. Williams is the last town in America to have had its Route 66 bypass removed (1984), so the old road is still the main street. The road west of Williams is some of the most unspoiled original alignment left on the whole route. Getting close now — Arizona is almost in the rearview.

Newest entries at the top, updated daily from home.

Day 12 — June 25, 2026 | Flagstaff, AZ

Miles Today: ~200 (Gallup → Flagstaff, through the Painted Desert and across the Arizona state line) Running Total (Route 66): ~1,650 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~798

Into Arizona and up to elevation — Flagstaff sits at nearly 7,000 feet, the highest point on Route 66. The ride from Gallup crosses the Painted Desert and passes through the Petrified Forest area, with the San Francisco Peaks coming into view long before you arrive. Flagstaff’s historic downtown is built around Route 66 (which runs through as Santa Fe Avenue) and the old Santa Fe Railway depot — great walkable town with a college vibe and some genuinely good food.

Day 11 — June 24, 2026 | Gallup, NM — El Rancho Hotel, Room 326 (The Dana Andrews Room)

Miles Today: ~178 (Santa Fe → Gallup) Running Total (Route 66): ~1,450 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~998

Gallup tonight, and not just any room — the Dana Andrews Room, #326 at the legendary El Rancho Hotel. Built in 1937 by D.W. Griffith’s brother (yes, that D.W. Griffith), El Rancho was the go-to Hollywood base camp while studios were filming Westerns in the area. The list of stars who slept here reads like a classic film marquee: John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Ronald Reagan, Katharine Hepburn — and Dana Andrews, whose portrait hangs on the door.

Gallup sits at the heart of Indian Country — the Navajo Nation to the north, Zuni Pueblo to the south. Route 66 runs right through downtown as Coal Avenue, lined with trading posts selling genuine Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi jewelry and art. Under 1,000 miles to go now.

Day 10 — June 22, 2026 | Santa Fe, NM — El Rey Court

Miles Today: ~167 (Tucumcari → Santa Fe) Running Total (Route 66): ~1,272 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~1,176

Don is riding the original 1926 Route 66 alignment tonight — before 1937 the road went through Santa Fe via Cerrillos Road rather than the later Albuquerque bypass. The El Rey Court is a living piece of that history, an adobe motor court built right on old Route 66 in 1936 and still going strong. A Michelin-recognized boutique hotel now, but the bones are pure Route 66.

Day 9 — June 22, 2026 | Tucumcari, NM

Miles Today: ~115 (Amarillo, TX → Tucumcari, NM — crossing into New Mexico!) Running Total (Route 66): ~1,105 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~1,343

[Morning started at the Cadillac Ranch on the way out to cross into New Mexico! Tucumcari is one of the most photogenic Route 66 towns, famous for its incredible vintage neon signs. The Blue Swallow Motel is here. Passed through the Texas panhandle including Adrian (the official midpoint — exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica). Tonight’s stay is at the RoadRunner Lodge – Blue Swallow was booked.]

Day 8 — June 21, 2026 | Amarillo, TX

Miles Today: ~150 (Elk City, OK → Amarillo, TX — through the Texas panhandle) Running Total (Route 66): ~990 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~1,458

[Entering Texas and the wide open panhandle. Tonight’s stay was at the Big Texan Covered Wagon]

Day 7 — June 20, 2026 | Elk City, OK

Miles Today: ~112 (Stroud → Elk City via historic Route 66 through OKC) Running Total (Route 66): ~840 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~1,608

[Getting close to Texas now!]

Day 6 — June 19, 2026 | Stroud, OK

Miles Today: ~100 (Vinita → Stroud, through Tulsa and past Oklahoma City) Running Total (Route 66): ~728 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~1,720

[Stroud is a classic Route 66 town, home to the Rock Café which appeared in the Pixar movie Cars.]

Day 5 — June 18, 2026 | Vinita, OK (Rest Day)

Miles Today: 0 — Rest day 🛑 Running Total (Route 66): ~628 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~1,820

[Vinita is home to the world’s largest McDonald’s (it spans the highway on an overpass) and it’s a charming little town in the Green Country region of Oklahoma.]

Day 4 — June 17, 2026 | Vinita, OK

Miles Today: ~428 (Springfield, IL → Vinita, OK — a long one! Through Missouri and into Oklahoma) Running Total (Route 66): ~628 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~1,820

[This was a big mileage day, crossing from Illinois through Missouri and into Oklahoma. The Kansas section of Route 66 is only about 13 miles.]

Day 3 — June 16, 2026 | Springfield, MO

Miles Today: ~110 (Edwardsville, IL → Springfield, MO — crossing into Missouri) Running Total (Route 66): ~380 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~2,068

[Springfield MO is a solid Route 66 town. Crossing the Mississippi from Illinois into Missouri is a milestone moment.]

Day 2 — June 15, 2026 | Edwardsville, IL

Miles Today: ~262 (Cicero → Edwardsville — heading south through Illinois on Route 66) Running Total (Route 66): ~270 miles Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~2,178

[The Illinois stretch of Route 66 runs south from Chicago. Pontiac, Bloomington, Funk’s Grove Maple Sirup (yes, sirup — it’s historic), Litchfield.]

Day 1 — June 14, 2026 | Chicago, IL → Cicero, IL

Miles Today: ~750 (Catawba, NC → Chicago, IL — pre-Route 66 riding day) + ~8 miles on Route 66 to Cicero Route 66 Miles: ~8 Miles Remaining to Santa Monica: ~2,440

[The big departure day from Catawba. The ride up to Chicago. Finding the Route 66 start sign on Adams Street at Michigan Avenue. First overnight in Cicero.]