Road Trip Itinerary: Route 66 From Los Angeles to Chicago and Back Again California Route 66 Grand Canyon Death Valley - Ride Free Motorcycle 6 years ago Save I'm traveling from Las Vegas to Los Angeles and I'd stop by and travel through Route 66 on my way to LA. Just before the City of Sin make a special stop near Jean Dry Lake to admire the Seven Magic Mountains. On leaving the concrete jungle, you'll pass through the small town of Pasadena, home to the California Institute of Technology and the famous Rose Bowl. Plan Your Route 66 Road Trip - TripSavvy (english), Netherlands I-44 takes you all the way through Missouri, passing Springfield and running to the north of Mark Twain National Forest. Well you can make a day of it, visit some classic and iconic spots on the way and make some memories! If you want to get out and explore at the various stops (and we think you should! Those looking for a completist approach to the Route 66 experience can add on from Las Vegas on their own, completing the road trip of a lifetime at the Santa Monica pier. As a mere two-hour detour (four hours round trip), a trip to Las Vegas is one of several well-known detours from Route 66. Breakdowns in the desert can be expensive and time-consuming to fix. Visiting the Huntington (Gardens + Library + Art Museum) near Pasadena, California, 22 Best Things to Do in Sequoia National Park (+ Tips for Visiting! Quite popular in the 1940s and 50s, the retreat has been uninhabited since Springer was evicted in 1974. You can go down US-93 to Kingman or you can go down US-95 and meet up with Route 66 at Goffs Road. Weve described a route that combines some of the best attractions along the California stretch of the Mother Road with a drive through the untamed desert in the Mojave National Preserve, which is less visited than Joshua Tree National Park and offers the opportunity to experience the vastness of the California desert in relative solitude. Installed in 2016 and originally scheduled to be on view for two years, these seven colourful sculptures were such a success that they will remain in place at least into 2022. The world's greatest designers have their storefronts here. Is this do able? Father Crowley Vista Point comes up right along California Highway 190, and offers panoramic views of the valley and distant mountains. When you walk Mane Street, you will feel like you are in a Western! Save. You'll see it from afar with its jukebox-shaped door arch! Summers can get brutally hot, and if you do plan to do the LA-Vegas road trip in the warmer months, plan on remaining inside your air-conditioned vehicle for the bulk of the drive, only getting down for quick photo stops if you must. The original concept was, you guessed it, the famous American beef jerky - vacuum-sealed bags of dried meat. Want to take it easy? Glad you found the info of use! Enjoy the golden beauty of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. How to do a day trip from Las Vegas to Route 66 in Arizona, Best National Parks on Route 66 what to see along or near the road, 5 of the best Route 66 tours from Las Vegas, How to plan a Route 66 road trip without getting overwhelmed, Route 66 in 10 days: an itinerary to copy, Visiting Meteor Crater in Arizona a Route 66 classic stop, Route 66 itinerary: 21 days on the Mother Road, Amboy (Roys Motel a classic retro Route 66 sign), Oatman (old ghost town with wandering burros). Kirsty Bartholomew became obsessed with Route 66 after taking her kids to see Cars at the cinema way back in 2006. Continue along the interstate to Albuquerque, then detour off I-40/Route 66 to visit the state capital, Santa Fe before returning to I-40 to carry on through Santa Rosa, crossing into Texas at Glenrio. Make sure you and your car are fuelled up and ready! Whatever you want your Las Vegas experience to be, chances are you can find it on the strip. The original road no longer exists unbroken, but as a road trip the route holds strong. If you have time, and its open, theres also a small museum there. While not on Route 66 itself, we at Route 66 Tours love Las Vegas and make it a key part of many of our tour itineraries. Look for the many other arches in the area. If you love the classic Americana and roadside attractions that make Route 66 famous, heres your chance to experience some of them as you travel between LA and Las Vegas. Linking Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California, U.S. Route 66 runs 3,940 kilometers and gives travelers a chance to see several major landmarks and monuments and explore some national parks. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Its worth pulling in and getting some photos of this place. Route 66, what to see between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. When it comes to temperatures, Chicago is cooler than California, but still reaches a respectable 70 degrees by May. Take my word for it: you'll want to try their onion rings! With the guidance of Wil and strategic planning, we managed to do a self-guided tour from LA to Yosemite National park, . Fancy visiting a resort in the middle of the desert? You'll pass some of the most famous sights in the City of Angels. The first thing you'll notice is Rodeo Drive, upscale shopping district of the rich and famous of Beverly Hills. Route 66 from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? - Tripadvisor I recommend the Kelso dunes for picture-perfect desert scenery. Panamint Valley Playa is a dry lake bed, great for photos and taking in the expansive views. Live stream the second round of the PGA Tour Travelers Championship on Fubo: Start your free trial today! LazyTrips is a trading name of Uncle Bob Media Ltd. For hiking enthusiasts, the most popular trail is the one leading to Teutonia Peak, the highest point of the Cima Dome. While Amboy may be a tiny, almost-deserted town, Roy's continues to hold its own, much to the delight of its fans. . You can take a self-guided tour of the complex. On this route, you'll be able to follow historic Route 66 from Kingman to Seligman, part of the longest remaining section of the original Route 66. The interstate runs between the two scenic areas of San Bernardino National Forest and Mount San Antonio then, as you approach the outskirts of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, exit onto CA-210 to head for Pasadena, one of the stops on the old Route 66. And we can say we have driven part of Route 66. Amboy, CA: Amboy is home to the iconic Roys Cafe, a favorite stop for Route 66 photographers and history buffs. For more information on our next planned adventure, please go to www.route66tours.com.au. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In the depot are the Route 66 Mother Road Museum and the Western America Railroad Museum, both sure to interest travelers interested in the history of the region. Your last stop is the Amboy Crater. Take the first right turn to begin your drive across the preserve, then keep right again to follow Morning Star Mine Road. It can be crazy busy so this trip is not recommended if you are on a tight schedule, but if youre able to take your time it can be really worth it. Change the settings. So glad you found the article useful! All four new international routes begin flying in mid-December. From Cima the run roads parallel to the railroad track as far as Kelso Depot, where you should turn left onto Kelbaker Road which takes you out of Mojave National Preserve then continues south to join up with CA-66. This motel will make you feel like you've stepped back into the 1950s with its Wild West ambiance, vintage cars, and memorabilia from the glory days of Route 66. The name was invented by Curtis Howe Springer, a radio evangelist and self-proclaimed medicine man with an oversized ego. Los Angeles Home / Route 66 / California / Los Angeles If you're looking for great displays of neon signs, mom-and-pop motels in the middle of nowhere, or kitschy Americana, do as the song says and "get your kicks on Route 66." Mojave National Preserve, CA: Turn into the Mojave National Preserve at the Kelbaker Road South Entrance, and cut across the desert to reach I-15 to Vegas. Los Angeles to Las Vegas via Route 66 LA to Vegas via Lone Pine and Death Valley Tips for Doing the LA to Vegas (or Vegas to LA) Drive LA to Las Vegas via Baker, the Shortest Route Road Trip Length: 270 miles ( Map) Driving Time: About 4 hours without traffic This former mining town was founded during the silver rush. Dhara loves to explore her home state of California. The colors, streaks of red, orange, and pale pink, are vivid. Here are the highlights and must-stop spots on this LA to Las Vegas drive: Red Rock Canyon State Park, CA: Red Rock Canyon is one of the most beautiful state parks in California. Finally, make a stop at the Wigwam Motel. Planning the perfect drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, One thing to remember as you plan your visit: Death Valley can get. We are travelling in May 2014 Report inappropriate content 11-20 of 25 replies We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Do I need insurance for traveling Route 66? You can visit what's left of the retreat and take a walk along the Boulevard of Dreams if you dare. At the end of the road, you will find Springer's deserted Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa. A newly-built hotel in the downtown area, The Metric - Los Angeles Downtown has a striking modern design to help you feel the LA vibe. Along the way, you will see one of the densest stands of Joshua trees anywhere on the planet, along with tall sand dunes, historic Kelso Depot, and cinder cones. We wish you a wonderful trip! If you're not able to commit to driving the whole road then Las Vegas is absolutely a great place to dip your toes in and see a small portion of it. It's really a great city to choose for a day trip along Route 66 because you can see so much of the classic road, neon signs, cute diners, wide open spaces and even a national park to enjoy. Has anyone done it? The site will also soon be home to a UFO-themed hotel, where guests will sleep in an intergalactic spacecraft. Depending on the time you have, and what you want to see en route, the LA to Vegas drive offers spectacular desert vistas, historical sights, and the opportunity for some fun outdoor adventures along the way. Rent an air-conditioned vehicle for comfort, no matter when you do the drive. The symmetric cinder cone is a thing of beauty. There are short Joshua Tree hikes you can do on even a brief visit to the Park! So, if you're up for an adventure and need help planning an epic road trip to Las Vegas from Los Angeles, continue reading below. Make a stop in the Old Town, an eclectic mix of historic buildings and trendy restaurants. After this refreshing detour, resume your route to Victorville. Los Angeles To Las Vegas Road Trip: 25+ Best Stops Along Route 66 April 4, 2023 Got a road trip through the California desert coming up? Its a classic Mom and Pop establishment with a sign just like the one in Amboy (a bit too much of a detour for us today)@media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-loston66_com-leader-1-0-asloaded{max-width:250px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'loston66_com-leader-1','ezslot_5',110,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-loston66_com-leader-1-0'); We leave Route 66 at Barstow and our final stretch takes us through the Mojave Desert all the way to Las Vegas. 2-Day Grand Canyon Tour from Las Vegas. Along the way, you can stop to admire the cinder cones, and hike to the top of the highest dune at Kelso Dunes, where you may hear the sands sing. While it doesnt cover much of the Mother Road, our Sturgis Tour also starts and finishes in Vegas with stops in between at natural attractions like the Rocky Mountains and South Dakota Black Hills, plus, of course, a trip to the famous motorcycle rally that gives this tour its name. ). Stop #6 Driving To Vegas From LA - Bonnie & Clyde's Death Car. The 270-mile road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas will take 4 hours to drive nonstop. Your last stop in the area is Elmers Bottle Tree Ranch. The constant heat and the accompanying lack of rainfall are responsible for the valleys unique landscape. Drive Whitney Portal Road to the higher reaches of Mount Whitney for spectacular views if you visit when the road is open. While it doesnt cover much of the Mother Road, our Sturgis Tour also starts and finishes in Vegas with stops in between at natural attractions like the Rocky Mountains and South Dakota Black Hills, plus, of course, a trip to the famous motorcycle rally that gives this tour its name. You'll get a warm welcome from the friendly staff, who make sure that baked goods are available for guests each day to kick-start your morning. At Riverton, the road becomes easier to pick out, as the more clearly named KS-66 follows the historic route across the Spring River. (english), Canada Well take the I-15 its a 2 and a half hour drive to the city and 156 miles. Dont forget to stop at The Mad Greek Cafe for a milkshake, and try the famous jerky at Alien Fresh Jerky! Ironically, this road trip begins at the end of . This famous Los Angeles cemetery is not only the final resting place for movie stars like Burt Renolds and Judy Garland but also serves as a cultural center that hosts concerts and film screenings. Day trip to Route 66 from Las Vegas: 4 ways to explore the - Lost on 66 Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Route 66 in California: A Must-Do Road Trip between Needles and Santa Monica! Death Valley National Park (Panamint Springs), CA: If you have already visited the main sights in Death Valley National Park, or you have the extra time for the add-ons, the western part of Death Valley National Park is worth exploring. @media(min-width:0px){#div-gpt-ad-loston66_com-large-leaderboard-2-0-asloaded{max-width:300px!important;max-height:250px!important}}if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'loston66_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_2',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-loston66_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Barstow is the last big town before getting to Las Vegas and our last stop on Route 66. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The former gives drivers an opportunity to explore Mojave National Preserve in all its glory including sights like the historic Kelso Depot and the largest Joshua Tree forest in the country (surprisingly its not actually in Joshua Tree National Park). Here is my guide to Route 66 from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Do the scenic Artists Drive loop to see colorful Artists Palette. The pass will save you money if you plan to visit three or four parks within twelve months of buying it. Rather than drive all the way to Vegas on the I-15 I encourage you to drive via Oro Grande on old 66. It's a great winter drive you can go from the warmth of the desert to snowy mountains before enjoying winter sunshine on the beach. Pro Tip: If you have the time, and you are doing this drive in the cooler months, the Teutonia Peak Trail in the Mojave National Preserve takes you past the densest stand of Joshua trees on the planet, en route to magnificent desert vistas from the top. By joining our email list, you give LazyTrips permission to use your email for sending you newsletters, emails and updates including for marketing purposes. If tracing the old route through the Chicago suburbs sounds a little intimidating, simply stick with I-55 all the way into Chicago, merging on to US-41 towards Grant Park before turning onto E Jackson Drive to find the famous Route 66 sign. and help to alleviate traffic by linking the High Desert to Los Angeles and Las Vegas . Road Trip From San Francisco To Las Vegas, Road Trip From Los Angeles To Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon, El Vado Motel has been welcoming travelers driving the route since 1937, The Metric - Los Angeles Downtown has a striking modern design, CitizenM Chicago is a great choice for the end of the epic drive. Pick up your rental car in Los Angeles and then, before hitting the road, enjoy a walk along the Santa Monica Pier. Calico Ghost town is not really on the route 66, but if you go from LA to Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon is an essential stop. Whatever trip you choose, you can look forward to an incredible 20 nights trip from Chicago to Las Vegas, exploring the best antique cars, roadside attractions, historic places and natural features that America has to offer. For the others, I would recommend overnighting in one of the national parks (or nearby), simply because there is so much to see and do, although you can drive straight through and still enjoy the routes. Route 66 from LA to Las Vegas 9 years ago Save We are planning a trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and thought it would be fun to go via Route 66. Consider Discover Cars for your car rental. There's no better way to get a taste for U.S. tradition and road trip lore than along this much-loved byway. Running close to the interstate are many sections of the old highway, however, these are often marked more clearly on the map than on the street so you'll have to pay close attention if you're planning on following the original route. And if you'd like to immortalize your visit to the region, make a stop at the graffiti corridor on your way out ofAmboy, where hundreds of travellers have left their mark by tagging their name or hanging their shoes! Cool Springs Station is a restored gas station, which also houses a museum and gift shop. But that does not mean there arent any adventures to be had along the way. $25M grant going towards 2 stations along Las Vegas-Southern California high-speed train route (Brightline . At the end of the pier you'll find the iconic Pacific Park, known for its classic carnival rides and funfair atmosphere! History buffs can relish a historic ghost town or two, while hikers can take in views of the Amboy crater, notable for its symmetrical volcanic cinder cone. The road between Kelso and Cima is scenic and offers the Teutonia Peak hike. The Alabama Hills also contain numerous natural arches. After a short diversion onto 55th Street - you can follow it through McCook, Lyons and Cicero. Follow the old Route 66 west to visit Amboy and admire the spectacular Amboy Crater, then join the interstate which will take you as far as Barstow. I have about 4 days in total. While the two cities each have a lot to love, including some of our favourite spots below, the route in between also features many wonderful Route 66 attractions to take in. From here the traditional route of Route 66 follows what's now CA-110, running alongside the Los Angeles River then merging onto the Santa Monica Freeway which takes you all the way to the end of the route looking out over the Pacific Ocean. The site is now managed by California State University and is well maintained. Going from east to west, Route 66 starts in downtown Chicago and ends at Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, but don't be fooled into thinking you can just show up and set off. converted into a colourful stop for passing, Belgique As you approach Chicago, Old Route 66 separates from the Interstate at Joliet Road. Planning an LA to Vegas drive? Kitschy? LA to Las Vegas Road Trip: To the Valley of Fire & Beyond Route 66 from Las Vegas to Los Angeles? - Tripadvisor All the main routes we have described are along paved roads, and you should have no problem with a passenger sedan. The Mountain Time Zone in New Mexico and Arizona. Many desert attractions look spectacular at sunrise and sunset, or at night. Discover our articles on California towns and cities, national and state parks, beaches and other natural areas, and cultural and historic landmarks. Big Sur Road Trip: Best Stops on a Scenic California Coast Adventure! 2002-2023 Authentik Usa. (english), Belgique Here are the highlights and must-stop spots on this drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas! Be sure to take a selfie with the star of your favourite celebrity or with one of the many street entertainers, who more often than not look like one of the Hollywood greats! Transportation to Las Vegas is easy: there are two ways to get in and outfly and drive. Route 66 LA to Vegas: 1 day driving itinerary - Lost on 66 Read on to find out what awaits you on this epic journey. The distance between Las Vegas to Los Angeles is about 270 miles and it takes about 5 hours drive but we will drive slowly and stop from time to time to enjoy the environment in detail . Barstow, CA: Barstow is an important Route 66 stop in California, with a couple of museums and several quirky attractions. Route 66 Guide - From Chicago to LA - Historic Route 66 If you're driving, the exact route you take will depend on where you start in the Los Angeles area. Andrea Bennet. All rights reserved. This route runs east through Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma before starting to swing northwards towards Chicago. Youll find Elmers Bottle Tree Ranch as well a fun example of art on Route 66 and a great place to stretch your legs a bit. No Los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip would be complete without venturing onto Route 66, America's most famous of roads. You can enjoy more desert views as the highway takes you through Hodge and Helendale before rejoining I-15 at Victorville. 11 Epic California Road Trips for Your Golden State Itinerary! (franais), Belgium Visit the USA: Driving from Illinois to California Along Route 66 Today, these objects form distinct colourful universes, and the wind blowing through them creates a gentle melody. Furnace Creek also has the Visitor Center, and lodging if you plan to stay in Death Valley National Park. One thing to remember as you plan your visit: Death Valley can get hot. Fast food fans will be happy to learn that there is now a McDonalds museum on the exact spot of the original "haute cuisine" establishment. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Hey! Our. If time allows, you may wish to add in a detour to Palm Springs. The artist, Elmer Long, spend his childhood travelling up and down Route 66 with his father, collecting glass bottles and other random objects. You might also like to check out the Route 66 Motel even if youre not staying there its a good photo stop and a great example of the kinds of historic accommodation that Route 66 has to offer. After Seligman, join the interstate to continue heading east across Arizona through Williams and Flagstaff. It's a no brainer that I have to share the wonders & secrets of my neck of the woods with other travelling souls. America's most famous road connected the country using miles of concrete, unique attractions, and an identity built on the ideals of freedom and individuality. Route 66 from LA to Las Vegas - Los Angeles Forum - Tripadvisor