Centennial Historic Route 66 Escorted Tour

Arrive at Chicago O’Hare International Airport and transfer independently to your hotel. Between 2pm and 8pm, meet your tour director at the Hospitality/Welcome Desk. The rest of the day is yours to relax or explore at leisure.

Enjoy an included morning city tour of Chicago, showcasing its iconic skyline and architectural marvels by legendary figures such as Mies van der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Daniel Burnham. Discover the Magnificent Mile’s upscale shops, Navy Pier’s entertainment offerings, and the green expanses of Grant and Lincoln Parks. Be sure to stop by the famous Cloud Gate sculpture. The afternoon is free to explore further or join optional visits to the Willis Tower, an architectural river cruise, or a dinner cruise (subject to availability).

Depart Chicago as you officially begin your Historic Route 66 journey. Travel west through classic Midwestern landscapes toward St. Louis, Missouri. Along the way, pass cornfields, prairies, and roadside Americana. Upon arrival, visit the Gateway Arch, the symbolic entrance to the American West and the tallest monument in the U.S.

Continue through the Ozark Highlands of Southern Missouri, considered the birthplace of Route 66. En route, stop at the Meramec Caverns, a natural limestone cave whose formations and colours are as unique as they are beautiful. Legend has it that outlaw Jesse James once used these caverns to make a dramatic underground escape.

This morning, cut through the south-eastern corner of Kansas on your way to Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma section of Route 66 contains more drivable miles than any other state. Part of this stretch was even used by many Oklahoman families headed west in search of better opportunities during the 1930s. Discover quirky roadside attractions like the famous blue whale statue in Catoosa. Once arriving in Tulsa, the Avery Route 66 memorial bridge connects the east with the west. Constructed in 1915 but closed to both vehicles and pedestrians, it gained its place on the list of National Historic Places in 1996. Upon arrival, a brief orientation tour in Oklahoma City.

Continue to Amarillo, found in the pancake flat plains of the Texas Panhandle. This area of Texas was once inhabited by the Kiowa and Comanche Native Americans. Stop at the Oklahoma Route 66 museum in Clinton, where you can experience 6 decades of Route 66 history. Stop in Shamrock, Texas, known for the once beloved Conoco Tower Station and U-drop café, and the 1929 restored Phillips 66 gas station for a photo stop in Mclean. Oil companies opened many gas stations as the need for petrol increased, as the number of travellers increased on Route 66.

Before leaving Amarillo, a visit to the world famous Cadillac Ranch is a must. Here, you experience a unique display of art featuring a row of ten colourful painted Cadillac cars, buried grill first in the ground. The Cadillacs range in production years between 1949 and 1963. This art display is now home to over 1 million visitors a year. Continue westbound and arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Leave Albuquerque and travel north to Gallup. Having barely changed since Route 66’s heydays, this city serves up a slice of Americana rarely seen nowadays, along with one of the best strips of Neon signs you will see anywhere on the route. Shop one of the unique gift stores of the Southwest. From here, enter the vast lands of the Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. This afternoon, consider an optional excursion to Canyon de Chelly, home to ancient cliff dwellings and sacred Navajo lands.

Leave Holbrook and continue your expedition through the Navajo Nation to Monument Valley. Experience the beauty of this region through a variety of Monuments, Mesas, and Buttes. This backdrop was used for many western movies with actor John Wayne, including movies like Forrest Gump and Back to the Future. Get up close to some of the monuments through an optional Monument Valley jeep tour. Overnight in Page, AZ.

Start the day with an optional visit to Antelope Canyon, famous for its narrow passageways and mesmerising light beams. Antelope Canyon is the American Southwest’s most visited canyon, created through the force of water and wind erosion, leaving slot canyons and narrow pathways. Return to the Navajo Reservations and travel to the magnificent Grand Canyon. In the late afternoon, you will arrive at the historic Route 66 community of Williams. You will take an unforgettable included train ride through the magnificent Grand Canyon National Park.

Depart Williams and continue via route 40 to route 66 and visit Seligman, Arizona. It was this community that lobbied to have the name changed from Route 66 to Historic Route 66 back in 1987. Many residents who had called Seligman home still live there today and always welcome visitors all year round. Continue via Kingman to the glitz and glamour of the City of Las Vegas, where mega resort hotels dot the Las Vegas Strip. Join your fellow travellers tonight for an optional orientation tour of the city, where you will be introduced to some of the hotels during this walking and driving tour.

Spend the day discovering Las Vegas at your own pace. Whether it's shopping, dining, or simply taking in the sights, the day is yours to enjoy. Optional excursions are available through your Tour Director, including a visit to the Hoover Dam or a dinner-and-show experience.

After a relaxed morning, stop for a photo at the iconic Welcome to Las Vegas sign before heading west through the Mojave Desert. En route, visit Calico Ghost Town (admission included), a restored silver mining settlement from the 19th century. Arrive in Los Angeles in the afternoon, a sprawling metropolis home to over 18 million residents.

Enjoy a full-day city tour exploring some of Los Angeles’ most famous neighbourhoods, including Downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Farmers Market and The Grove. The tour ends at Santa Monica, where Route 66 traditionally concludes near the beach. Enjoy some free time before a farewell dinner (included) and your final overnight stay at a hotel near LAX.

Check out of the hotel and take the complimentary shuttle to Los Angeles International Airport for your onward journey.