“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 |
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 | ✅ |
Daily Updates
Newest entries at the top, updated daily from home.
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.]
Caboose for Two 