A practical guide to driving Route 66 It’s no wonder the legendary Mother Road remains a road trip firm favourite — but where to begin with such an epic journey? Read on and buckle up. It’s no wonder the legendary Mother Road remains a road trip firm favourite — but where to begin with such an epic journey? Read on and buckle up.A century on, Route 66 still embodies the spirit of American adventure. It’s an epic journey spanning 2,448 miles, winding through three time zones and eight states. More than any other highway, it offers travellers a glimpse of a bygone era, with small towns seemingly frozen in time and the promise of freedom on the wide-open road. Here’s our guide to hitting the Mother Road in style.It’s technically possible to drive the entirety of Route 66 from Chicago’s skyscrapers to the seaside pier in Santa Monica in about 30 hours, traffic permitting. But the real joy of the Mother Road lies in slowing down, lingering over stacks of pancakes in old-school diners, pulling over for snapshots with giant statues and bedding down in neon-lit motels. Two to three weeks is the sweet spot for the full stretch. If time is tight, many travellers explore it in shorter segments, focusing on a few states at a time, depending on interests. For example, Illinois appeals to petrolheads with its car museums, New Mexico offers insight into Indigenous cultures, while California preserves curb-side Americana, from theFor those driving the entire route, Chicago and Los Angeles both offer direct flights from and to the UK. It’s usually most cost-effective to book the trip as a ‘multi-city’ plane ticket — an option available on some booking platforms allowing visits to multiple destinations without returning to the same starting point. For travellers covering just a segment, other useful entry points include St Louis in Missouri, which has a new direct link to London. Tulsa in Oklahoma, Albuquerque in New Mexico and Flagstaff in Arizona all require connecting flights.A UK driver needs a valid UK driving licence and should carry an International Driving Permit for most US states. You’ll also need to ensure their car rental includes appropriate insurance coverage.Trying to follow the original road exactly is a bit like chasing smoke. When the Interstate Highway Act of 1956 introduced superhighways across the US, much of Route 66 was bypassed in favour of faster routes, which often run in parallel. Today, around 85% of the early route remains drivable, but signage is patchy and Google Maps doesn’t recognise Route 66 as a continuous road. A good workaround is to select ‘avoid motorways’ in your navigation settings and plug in the key stops you want to hit on the old road, which tends to keep things on track.A combination works well. For accommodation, 2026 looks set to be a bumper year for motel and hotel stays. To avoid being a victim of the ‘no vacancy’ sign, book ahead, either directly online or, occasionally, by calling the owner. For Route 66-themed museums, visitors can generally purchase tickets on the day. Natural attractions like theDriving Route 66 is a journey of contrasts. One moment you’re cruising along smoothly paved stretches, the next dodging blown-out tyres and potholes in the cracked asphalt. On any leg of the route, comprehensive car rental insurance, including roadside assistance, is a wise investment. Once you hit the lonelier expanses of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, petrol stations become few and far between. It’s not uncommon to drive more than 100 miles without seeing a service stop, so top up the tank whenever the opportunity presents itself.Because of the sometimes-patchy terrain and long hours behind the wheel, most travellers opt for a roomy, modern car with plenty of horsepower. But commonsense aside, it’s undeniably hard to resist the romantic allure of coasting in a soft-top Mustang or a fin-tailed Cadillac. While driving a vintage vehicle for the entire route can be demanding, a classic car can be incorporated into a specific experience or leg of the journey., which was partly set here. With a valid UK motorcycle licence, you can choose between a self-drive or guided tour. Joining a guided group motorcycle trip takes the guesswork out of planning, offering flights, accommodation, a support vehicle and expert guides who know the best pitstops. Operators like Plenty of RV parks line the route too, making family travel more convenient. For those who’d rather leave the driving to someone else, escorted coach tours fromThe ideal window is between May and October, when the weather is mostly mild and attractions are in full swing. In 2026, St Louis kicks off Route 66’s 100th anniversary with a week of celebrations in late April, including concerts, classic car displays and a group bike ride. Expect daytime warmth, but pack layers as temperatures can dip to 8C.will see around 130 vintage cars rally from Illinois to California, stopping in 17 cities along the route. In Texas, a ten-day birthday bash brings street parades and a cattle drive to the Panhandle, where temperatures can easily reach 32C. Be mindful: this stretch lies in Tornado Alley, with occasional dust storms., a weekend of live music honouring the Eagles’ famous lyrics. Come October, cyclists can join Oklahoma’s Cycle 66 in Edmond, with four routes highlighting local businesses and supporting community causes.offer self-drive packages from Chicago to Los Angeles, including flights, accommodation, car hire and a detailed itinerary. For those seeking a shorter road trip, To spark wanderlust, each of the eight states that Route 66 winds through have their own association dedicated to promoting and preserving the route within its borders. Their websites are great resources for planning and are often run by enthusiasts, filled with local tips and on-the-ground updates.by Jerry McClanahan is a spiralbound reference book packed with hand-drawn maps and key attractions, whileby DK Travel is a coffee table book published to coincide with the centennial, highlighting eccentric characters and legendary locations to inspire road trippers.Be prepared to make friends along the way. Even if travelling solo, Route 66ers are a sociable bunch, who often gather at diners and attractions, eager to swap stories and share highlights. It’s one of the unique pleasures of driving this legendary highway.For many, getting to California is the whole point of traveling the Mother Road. As the iconic highway marks its centennial in 2026, here are the sites to see.