April 202611 min readBest Car Hire

Route 66 is the original American road trip — 2,400 miles of history, kitsch, desert and small-town America stretching from Chicago's Lake Shore Drive to the Santa Monica Pier on the Pacific. It takes planning but rewards every mile.

How long does it take?

  • Minimum: 10–12 days driving hard, seeing highlights only
  • Recommended: 2–3 weeks for a balanced experience
  • Ideal: 4 weeks if you want to properly explore side routes and stay longer at major stops

West to east or east to west?

Most people drive west to east (Chicago to LA) simply because that's the classic direction. But driving east to west means finishing in sunny California, which many prefer psychologically. Either works — the route is well-signed in both directions.

Essential stops

  • Chicago, IL — start at Grant Park, take Lake Shore Drive
  • Springfield, IL — Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
  • St Louis, MO — Gateway Arch, the Mississippi crossing
  • Cadillac Ranch, TX — the famous row of buried Cadillacs near Amarillo
  • Albuquerque, NM — the longest stretch of original Route 66 survives through Old Town
  • Williams, AZ — the last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40; perfect base for Grand Canyon
  • Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, AZ — sleep in a concrete wigwam, as generations have before you
  • Petrified Forest National Park, AZ — 225-million-year-old logs turned to crystal
  • Santa Monica, CA — the end of the road, pier and Pacific Ocean

Car hire for Route 66

A one-way hire from Chicago to Los Angeles makes the most sense for a linear Route 66 trip. One-way fees between major US cities are often modest — sometimes free — compared to international one-way hires. See our one-way car hire guide for tips.

Car choice: An SUV or large sedan is most comfortable for long highway days. Avoid tiny economy cars — highway driving in the USA is tiring in a small car and you'll want the boot space. Automatics are standard throughout the USA.

Costs to budget for

  • Car hire: $30–$80/day depending on vehicle and season
  • Fuel: budget $15–$25/day depending on vehicle and fuel prices
  • Accommodation: $60–$150/night for a decent motel; budget motels from $40
  • Food: $30–$60/day per person eating at diners and road trip staples

Compare car hire prices across the USA — Chicago, St Louis, Albuquerque, LA and more.