If you’re planning on winding from Chicago to LA (or any section therein), we’ve gathered the best individual sections to add to your Route 66 road trip in 2026, the year the highway celebrates its centennial.
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Celebrating 100 Years of Route 66
Route 66 has been an American road trip icon since before it was even built. Back in the early 1920s, figures like Cyrus Avery (aka “The Father of Route 66”) and John T. Woodruff argued for a road that would link together the American Midwest with the American West.
On April 30, 2026, the road will turn 100 years old, making it the perfect year to take to the highway yourself. And, of course, we think an RV is the perfect way to take that perfect road trip. (In fact, according to our recent Travel Trend Report, it’s one of the events travelers are most excited to plan their trips around this year.)
Because this highway offers a lot of history spread out over long distances, an RV keeps you comfortable the entire way, as well as helping you avoid the annoying task of packing and unpacking every time you leave or arrive at a new hotel. Renting a rig from RVshare is a flexible, affordable way to experience the Mother Road in an RV that’s actually been loved and personalized by its owners. Plus, our peer-to-peer rental platform means you can choose from a wide array of vehicle types, shapes and sizes.
Why Route 66 Is Perfect for an RV Road Trip
If you ask us, there’s no “wrong” road trip for RV travel. It’s simply one of the most comfortable, flexible ways to go.
But Route 66 in particular is well aligned with this style of traffic. You’ll have the freedom to take your time and explore preserved historic segments and roadside attractions at your own pace, knowing that everything you need (including your own bed and kitchen sink) are right there with you the entire time — no need to rush to get to the hotel.
Because Route 66 beckons for longer road trips (maybe you’ll even take the Mother Road the whole way!), it’s also nice to be able to bring pretty much anything you want, rather than being limited to what fits in your suitcase. Plenty of RVshare rentals are pet-friendly, too, so your four-legged family members can come along.
And while there may be some older byways or narrow bridges in the areas surrounding Route 66 (especially preserved historical areas), the highway itself is 100% paved, mostly flat, and RV friendly.
Best Sections of Route 66 to Add to Your 2026 Road Trip
Without further ado, let’s get to the good stuff: the best sections of Route 66 to add to your celebratory 2026 centennial road trip!
Chicago, Illinois to St. Louis, Missouri
This is the historic beginning of Route 66, so if you want to see where it all began, these 300 or so miles are key.
Importantly, you’ll notice that when you use your maps app to navigate between these two cities, it’ll route you along I-55 — which was built along the same corridor as Route 66, and much of which was built right on top of or alongside the original road. Still, there are segments where you’ll want to access the historic sections immediately off the highway along frontage roads, where you’ll find all the old motels, diners, and kitschy attractions that marked the original beginning to the Great American Road Trip.
Be sure to watch for urban traffic, low-clearance signage on original alignments, and city bridges that might be narrower than your usual highway overpass.
RV-Friendly Stops and Attractions
The Gemini Giant, named after the space program started in 1965, is located in Wilmington, Illinois just an hour outside of Chicago, and a selfie alongside him is a great way to mark the start of your trip.
And once you arrive in St. Louis, aside from its famous arch (which is an official NPS property known as Gateway Arch National Park), be sure to check out the Chain of Rocks Bridge, which offers pedestrian access if you’re down for a slower meander across the Mississippi. (The vehicular bridge is not RV-accessible, but nearby crossings are RV-safe.)
Campgrounds and RV Parks
There are plenty of RV parks near Joliet, Springfield, IL, and St. Louis with full hookups and luxurious amenities. Some state parks along the way, like Robertsville State Park, also offer camping opportunities.
Missouri Ozarks: St. Louis to Joplin
The next section we’d urge you to add to your itinerary: the 285 or so miles between the Gateway City and Joplin, MO, which will wind you through the rolling hills that mark the edges of the Ozarks. In fact, immediately south of this stretch of the highway, you’ll have access to the vast expanse of Mark Twain National Forest, a great option for dispersed camping and outdoor adventures of all types.
What’s more, this is one of the most well-preserved sections of the route, with the largest part of I-44 (the official highway you’ll be following) built directly on top of historic Route 66. Be sure to hop off the highway for historic views through downtowns like Cuba, Lebanon, and Springfield, MO — and know that when you’re driving along many of those parallel frontage roads, you’re on the original Route 66 pavement.
Because this is a more mountainous area, there may be winding areas and narrow zones. Most RVs should make it fine, especially on the main highway, but if you’re a newer driver, you may want to be prepared!
RV-Friendly Stops and Attractions
Along with its unique subterranean formations, Meramec Caverns is also home to a zip-lining course, climbing wall, and more, earning its nickname as Missouri’s Buried Treasure.
Plus, many of the towns this section runs through host themed museums that die-hard Route 66 fans won’t want to miss, like Lebanon’s Route 66 Museum and Springfield’s Route 66 Car Museum.
Campgrounds and RV Parks
On this part of the drive, you’ll be passing through many preserved natural areas that offer camping opportunities, like Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Table Rock State Park and more. There are also great private RV parks around the major population areas like St. Louis and Springfield, MO.
Oklahoma City to Tulsa and Northeast Oklahoma
Short and sweet, the 100 miles between Oklahoma City and Tulsa pack a big punch when it comes to quality Route 66 tourism. While I-44 or Turner Turnpike is the most direct route, historic Route 66 runs directly alongside the highway, and is one of the longest continuous preserved historic sections of the Mother Road.
This segment features wide roads and easy grades, along with well-marked alignments parallel to the highway. And as we’ll see in just a moment, it’s also home to some of the absolutely most iconic Route 66 roadside attractions along the entire route.
RV-Friendly Stops and Attractions
In Oklahoma City itself, you’ll want to take the time to grab a quick snap at Milk Bottle Grocery, whose larger-than-life milk-bottle sign is a must-have among your Instagram travel posts. Immediately outside of town on your way east, make a stop at the Pops 66 Soda Ranch, where you can shop over 700 varieties of fizzy drinks of every flavor you can imagine (and then some) while also grabbing a hearty meal.
As you make your way northeast, you’ll also be greeted by a variety of neon Route 66 signs, roadside diners, and Chandler’s Route 66 Interpretive Center, which is one of the most comprehensive museums along the entire highway. Up past Tulsa, be sure to grab a snap beside the Blue Whale of Catoosa. (We told you this segment packs serious bang for its buck!)
Campgrounds and RV Parks
You’ll find plenty of well-appointed private RV parks in and around both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Lake Thunderbird State Park and Keystone State Park are also great options for those looking for a more scenic, outdoorsy place to make their temporary headquarters.
Texas Panhandle: Amarillo to Adrian
An even shorter segment, but one that’s so worth the journey, the Texas Panhandle segment of Route 66 between Amarillo and Adrian is less than 50 miles in length — but it features some absolutely can’t-miss roadside icons. It’s also one of our favorites for RV travelers because its flat terrain and open highways make it ideal for even those driving larger RVs like fifth wheels or Class A motorcoaches, and there are minimal bridge restrictions to watch out for.
RV-Friendly Stops and Attractions
If you’ve never been to Cadillac Ranch, take it from us: It’s simply an iconic moment. (We’ve used that word a lot in this post, we know, but there’s just no other way to put it.) Whether you bring spray paint to participate in the art installation personally or simply photograph it, you can’t go wrong with a visit to this one-of-a-kind, totally American monument.
In the tiny town of Adrian, you’ll also find Midpoint Cafe, whose atmosphere and menu will both make you feel like you’ve taken a step back right into the American 1950s. (True to its name, this town marks the exact midpoint of Route 66, exactly halfway along the route between Chicago and Santa Monica.)
Campgrounds and RV Parks
We’ve gathered a list of our top-10 favorite campgrounds around Amarillo.
New Mexico: Tucumcari to Gallup
Once you cross from West Texas into New Mexico, you’re really in the desert. The stretch of Route 66 that runs along what’s now I-40 between Tucumcari and Gallup will take you through the heart of Albuquerque, but along the way you’ll enjoy breathtaking and alien-looking desert scenery eerily dotted with ancient neon signs.
Historic Route 66 runs immediately parallel to the modern highway, making detours easy. If you’re in a larger rig, do keep an eye out for gusty winds and elevation changes. (Areas where the former are likely are often marked with highway signs.)
This also marks an area of the country where you’ll want to get pretty serious about checking your fuel gauge regularly. We recommend treating a half-tank like empty while you’re in the desert: Fill up whenever you can, and always be sure to carry extra food and water. These are majorly remote stretches, and you just never know!
RV-Friendly Stops and Attractions
Tucumcari itself is well-known for its murals, with almost 100 of them spread throughout the tiny desert town. (Although they began popping up in the 1990s, rather than in the 1950s and 60s whose culture colors so much of this ride, they’re still a wonder well worth visiting.)
Albuquerque is home to Petroglyph National Monument, and short day trips can take you to other preserved ancient landscapes like Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument and Bandelier National Monument. Just north of Gallup you’ll find Chaco Canyon, so there’s no shortage of once-on-earth outdoor landscapes and ancient Indigenous cultures along this segment to visit and admire.
Campgrounds and RV Parks
Along with all the preserved wildernesses, many of which have on-site camping options, you can also find well-appointed RV parks around Tucumcari, Albuquerque, and Gallup.
Arizona: Flagstaff to Kingman
This Arizona segment of the highway is the first many think of when they hear its name, with the wild desert stretching off in every direction. It also puts you within a stone’s throw of many of the top destinations in the entire U.S. west, including the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Park.
Bear in mind that, again, elevation changes and mountain curves can make for adventurous driving, especially in a larger rig. And although an iconic addition to the trip just west of Kingman, Oatman Road is narrow and not recommended for RVs. You may be able to access these areas via alternate routes or using your tow vehicle.
RV-Friendly Stops and Attractions
Where to begin? Perhaps just east of Flagstaff, where you can visit Winslow, Arizona’s Standin’ on the Corner Park, named, of course, for the iconic Eagles song. The Williams segment of Route 66, just off I-40, is known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon, and is one of the most classic segments of the entire route.
Campgrounds and RV Parks
This part of the country is absolutely brimming with preserved landscapes with camping opportunities, especially if you venture further south toward Sedona (where you’ll find Red Rock State Park, among others). You can also check out private RV parks near Flagstaff and Kingman.
California: Barstow to Santa Monica
And just like that, we’ve made it all the way to the other coast!
The 130 miles between Barstow and Santa Monica only take a couple of hours to drive, pending southern California traffic. But you’ll want to give yourself plenty of extra time to enjoy the emotional end of Route 66, which no longer follows a modern highway corridor, but is rather made of a matchwork of local roads. In Barstow, Main Street is the remains of the historic road which is fed by National Trails Highway. As you move further into the inland empire, it becomes Foothill Boulevard, Huntington Drive, and Arrow Highway. And one of its most famous segments, Colorado Boulevard, runs straight through Pasadena and Eagle Rock.
Along with securing a good map so you know where you’re going, also consider desert heat conditions if you’re traveling in the summertime — not to mention what can be intense urban driving and traffic near Los Angeles proper. If you’re in a large rig like a fifth-wheel travel trailer, it may be best to avoid narrow historic alignments with tight turnarounds, but smaller RVs like Class Bs and campervans may be able to navigate the entirety of this segment.
RV-Friendly Stops and Attractions
Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch marks another photo-worthy roadside stop, in a desert area that feels far too desolate to be only a few miles from LA’s hustle and bustle. Once you do make it into and through the cosmopolitan part of this journey, celebrate with a spin on the Ferris Wheel at the Santa Monica Pier — and, of course, the End-of-the-Trail marker.
Campgrounds and RV Parks
You’ll find desert campgrounds like Skyline RV Park outside of Barstow, and Los Angeles has a surprising number of options relatively close to the densest parts of town.
RV Planning Tips for Driving Route 66
With these segments in mind, how can you plan for the perfect RV trip along Route 66?
- Choose the right RV for the job. As mentioned in many sections above, parts of the Route are narrow, built for the smaller vehicles of the 1950s and 60s, which means a smaller rig might be the right move this time. This will also help you get ahead of bridge height, weight limit, and road with considerations.
- Stay on top of your fuel. The very last thing you want is to run out of gas in the middle of the desert!
- Consider the best time of year to travel. Summer is the most popular road trip season, but in certain desert sections of Route 66, it can be dangerously hot. Conversely, driving out of Chicago in the wintertime can be an icy challenge of its own.
Why Renting an RV from RVshare Is the Best Way to Experience Route 66
When you rent an RV through RVshare, you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of RV types, including camper vans and small travel trailers, nationwide, including at many major Route 66 starting points. You won’t have to worry about maintenance or storage responsibilities, and insurance and roadside assistance are included on every rental. It’s the ideal way to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime Route 66 centennial road trip experience.
Mark your calendars, because on April 30 of this year, Route 66 turns 100. (But you’ll be on the road by then, right?) Despite the power of FOMO, intentionally choosing specific segments can be more rewarding than rushing through the entire route. And planning early means you get to start enjoying the journey right now — so what are you waiting for?
