Discover Route 66: A Family’s Ultimate Road Trip Itinerary
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Route 66 is turning 100 in 2026, and we decided there was no better way to celebrate than by getting in the car and seeing some of it for ourselves! For the first time!
There are road trips, and then there are road trips. This one was definitely the latter. We lived by the motto: The journey IS the destination. Our experience was just that, an experience. And an epic one at that. No need to be anywhere at any time, but we went to live in each moment, and take everything that came our way.
We packed up and headed out for a week-long Southwest adventure that took us through California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and beyond. Along the way we drove historic stretches of Route 66, stopped at quirky roadside attractions, explored national parks, ate a LOT of good food and just as much crappy gas station treats, and squeezed in some pretty unforgettable experiences.
And yes, we did it with the whole family. 2300 miles in 6 days. Honestly, it was an absolute blast!
Route 66 officially received its designation in 1926, connecting Chicago to Los Angeles across roughly 2,400 miles and eight states. It became one of America’s most famous roads, representing freedom, adventure and the great American road trip.
So when we realized 2026 marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66, it seemed like the perfect excuse to finally experience this iconic road for ourselves.
Here is our “Route 66” family road trip itinerary and everything we packed into our week!
Our Route 66 Family Road Trip at a Glance
The trip wasn’t a start-to-finish Chicago-to-Santa Monica Route 66 journey. Instead, we used historic Route 66 as the beginning of a bigger Southwest road trip.
Our route included:
California → Arizona → Colorado→ New Mexico → Texas → back through Arizona (let’s be real, we passed in and out of states multiple times, it started to be a joke how many times we saw a “welcome to New Mexico” sign as we drove.
And some of our biggest stops included:
- Roy’s Motel & Cafe in Amboy
- Oatman, Arizona
- Kingman, Arizona
- Historic Route 66 attractions
- Sedona
- Winslow
- Meteor Crater
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Four Corners
- Mesa Verde
- Durango
- Santa Fe
- Meow Wolf
- Roswell
- Carlsbad Caverns
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park
- White Sands National Park
- Saguaro National Park
Needless to say, we covered A LOT of ground!
Day 1: California to Arizona on Historic Route 66
Our first day was all about getting onto the Mother Road and experiencing some of the quirky roadside attractions that make Route 66 so much fun.
Roy’s Motel & Cafe – Amboy, California
Our first stop was Roy’s Motel and Cafe in Amboy, one of those instantly recognizable Route 66 landmarks.
There is something really cool about standing somewhere that feels like it has been frozen in time. The desert backdrop, old roadside architecture and giant Roy’s sign make this a must-stop for anyone driving this stretch of Route 66.
This was our official “OK, we’re really doing this!”start moment.
Oatman, Arizona
From Amboy we continued into Arizona and made our way to Oatman.
Oatman is one of those places where you have to just embrace the weirdness—and I mean that in the best possible way.
The historic mining town is known for its Old West feel and, of course, its famous wild burros. In fact there are more burros in population than people. And it’s awesome.
Lunch at Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner
We continued on to Kingman and stopped for lunch at Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner.
A classic diner on a Route 66 road trip? Obviously.
The whole point of a trip like this is to slow down enough to enjoy the little roadside stops instead of treating the drive as simply a way to get from one destination to another. No better way to do that than stopping for a homemade milk shake and old fashioned root-beer.
Explore Historic Kingman
We spent some time exploring historic Kingman before continuing our Route 66 adventure.
One of my favorite things about this trip was how often we could stop, get out of the car, walk around and find something completely unexpected. We really didn’t feel like we spent long in the car at any given time because we were in and out so often.
Giganticus Headicus
And then there was Giganticus Headicus.
Because apparently every great road trip needs a giant head.
This enormous roadside sculpture is definitely one of those “pull over because you have to see this” stops. And of course grab a photo.
Hackberry General Store
We also stopped at Hackberry General Store, another classic Route 66 attraction packed with vintage cars, signs and roadside memorabilia.
If you’re traveling with kids, these kinds of stops are great because they’re quick, unusual and give everyone a chance to stretch their legs.
This stretch of the drive was beautiful and worth taking just for the picturesque scenery.
Last stop of the day: Bearizona
Maybe one of the favorite destinations from the entire trip!
Located in Williams, Arizona, this drive-through wildlife park lets you see bears, bison, wolves, and other North American animals from the comfort of your very own car. The kids loved getting up close to the animals, and it was one of those stops that felt both fun and completely different from the usual roadside attractions. Definitely add it to your list if you’re road-tripping through Arizona with kids! Or even if you are checking out the Grand Canyon, it’s not far from there either. I cannot sing it’s praises enough honestly. Grab tickets HERE.
If this isn’t something that sounds super cool to you (I don’t know why) but this area actually is full of fun things to do. Check out the train, grand canyon tour and more HERE.
Flagstaff makes a great overnight stop and where we stayed 2 nights, simply because it was nice and affordable. Check out hotels in Flagstaff and compare prices here.
However, if you want to stay directly in Sedona and remove the drive in (and just enjoy being there longer) compare hotels here.
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Day 2: Sedona, Arizona
After our first full day of Route 66 roadside attractions, we changed gears and headed toward Sedona.
And WOW.
Sedona is one of those places that photographs beautifully, but seeing those red rocks in person is something else entirely.
Chapel of the Holy Cross
Our first stop was the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is built right into the red rock landscape.
Even if you’re not planning a long visit, the views alone make this worth adding to your Sedona itinerary.
Bell Rock Hike + Picnic
We then headed out for a hike at Bell Rock.
One of the things I love about traveling with our family is that we don’t always need a big attraction to have a good time. Sometimes it’s a hike, a packed lunch and a gorgeous view.
We brought a picnic with us and stopped to eat during the hike. Annnnd we may have gotten just a bit lost on the trail, but even that left us with some of the best memories and biggest laughs (afterwards).
If you are looking to book a jeep tour, stargazing, train or white water rafting in this area grab tickets HERE.
Huckleberry Ice Cream + Shopping
After working up an appetite, we headed into town for huckleberry ice cream.
Obviously. And enjoying this on a patio overlooking Snoopy rock= priceless.
We also explored the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village in Sedona, which was such a fun place to wander around! The charming, Spanish-inspired village is filled with unique shops, art galleries, restaurants, and beautiful little courtyards. We loved strolling around, popping into the shops, and taking in the red-rock views surrounding Sedona. It’s an easy stop to add to a Sedona itinerary, especially if you want a break from hiking and a little time to shop and explore. The bookstore there was 100!
It was the perfect combination of hiking, exploring, eating and relaxing.
And honestly this was all planned last minute. Due to a fire and huge rainstorms in the area our initial plan of playing in the water (since it was REALLY hot) was thrown out due to the possibility of flash floods. We live. We learn. We adapt.
Day 3: Route 66 Roadside Attractions, Winslow & Petrified Forest
Day three was another BIG driving day.
But this is where the road trip really started feeling like a classic Route 66 adventure.
Twin Arrows Trading Post
We started with the Twin Arrows Trading Post, a historic Route 66 stop known for its giant arrow sculptures.
These roadside attractions are exactly why I love Route 66. They are quirky, nostalgic and completely different from what you’d find on a typical interstate road trip. We always try to read up on the history of the stop so we understood what happened and what we were looking at. Fun history makes for a fun stop.
Jack Rabbit Trading Post
Next up was Jack Rabbit Trading Post.
You know you’ve reached the right place when you see the giant jackrabbit signs.
And yes, we stopped for the obligatory photos.
Winslow, Arizona
Then we made our way to Winslow.
If you know the song, you know exactly what we were doing here.
We stopped to check out the famous downtown area and corner and take in the Route 66 nostalgia.
Wigwam Motel
Another fun stop was the Wigwam Motel.
These iconic concrete tepee–shaped motel rooms are one of the most recognizable examples of classic roadside Americana.
It’s one thing to see them in pictures. It’s another to pull up and see an entire row of tee pees sitting beside the road. And a fun little Disney Car’s memorabilia. You can stay in them too… we asked a house cleaner to check them out and they are surprisingly big. Book your room here.
Seligman
Any Disney Cars fans? This is where the whole idea originated. And the town has fully embraced that heritage. My kids adored this stop.
Meteor Crater
From there we headed to Meteor Crater.
This was one of those stops that I wasn’t sure what the kids would think—but it ended up being a really cool way to break up the drive and learn something completely different. They have an incredible museum/interactive visitor center and was so fun to explore and learn more about.
Petrified Forest National Park
Then we headed into Petrified Forest National Park.
And here’s a fun Route 66 fact: Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park that contains a segment of historic Route 66. You can actually see remnants of the old road within the park.
This National Park truly has an other world vibe. It was not crowded like other N.P. and we visited during a lightning storm/thunder storm which only added to the vibe. Wish you could plan THAT into your itinerary.
We spent time exploring the park (The Blue Mesa Trail) before the storm got a little too close for comfort and we called it a day continuing on to Cortez, Colorado, through one of the craziest lightning storms ever, until we arrived at the Retro Inn. Cutest, cutest motel with the same vintage vibe as Route 66. 10/10 This is the perfect location if you are checking out Mesa Verde N.P. or 4-corners plus it had a free breakfast.
If you are looking for larger accommodations compare good hotels in the area here.
Day 4: Four Corners, Mesa Verde, Durango & Santa Fe
At this point, our trip officially expanded beyond Route 66 and into a bigger Southwest adventure.
Four Corners Monument
We started the day at Four Corners, where Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah meet.
Of course we had to get the family photo with everyone standing in different states.
It’s cheesy.
We loved it.
Fact: It’s pay per person to go NOT vehicle and it’s a bit pricey to be honest- but you have to do it at least once in your life right?!
Mesa Verde
Next we headed to Mesa Verde National Park.
Important: If you want to take one of the guided tours, check availability and reserve your tickets ahead of time.
Mesa Verde was another one of those places where the kids got to see something completely different from what they would experience at home. And while we didn’t get to see everything up close (dang it)- it was 100% worth it! We did the balcony tour and I regret not getting tickets for the other tours as well because I wanted to see it all! It was like a real life Indiana Jones adventure.
Durango → Santa Fe
From there we continued through Durango and eventually made our way to Santa Fe.
Loved all the different scenery, experiences, and history we had at this point. PS: if you don’t blast the song Santa Fe from the Newsies movie with Christian Bale, did you even go?
If you have time or love the adventure of climbing ladders and exploring, like at Mesa Verde, I would highly recommend Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico; it looks like such a cool stop. It’s about 45 miles from Santa Fe and one of my bigger regrets we didn’t have time for it.
Day 5: Santa Fe, Meow Wolf, Roswell & Carlsbad
Day five was a mix of culture, weirdness and one of the coolest experiences of the entire trip.
Explore Historic Santa Fe
We started by exploring historic Santa Fe.
The architecture, food and atmosphere were such a change from everything we’d seen earlier in the trip. So much cool history like the oldest church in America. Did some shopping at the certified Native American markets and got some beautiful jewelry. And loved walking downtown.
Meow Wolf
Then we headed to Meow Wolf.
If you’ve never been, this is a hard one to explain.
It’s immersive, weird, artistic and completely unlike a typical museum.
The kids loved exploring and trying to figure out what was going on.
Honestly, so did I. And, I am happy to say they have another location in Las Vegas and building another in Los Angeles, set to open soon!
There is a lot to do in Santa Fe: Check out tours and options HERE: Our recommendations Meow Wolf the ultimate walking tour (we didn’t have time for this but it included almost everything we wanted to see. We walked by but would’ve loved more time to take everything in
Roswell
Next stop? Roswell.
Because if you’re already this close, how can you NOT?
We explored some of the alien-themed attractions and embraced the whole UFO vibe. Our only regret, not packing tin foil to wear on our heads as we walked around. True story.
This was another one of those stops where the kids had fun because it was just so different. We ate inside the UFO themed McDonalds, and grabbed some alien memorabilia. And ‘tinfoil’ hats off to the city for embracing the whole alien thing to the extent they do, made for an epic pit stop.
Carlsbad Caverns Bat Flight
We ended the day in Carlsbad and headed to the Carlsbad Caverns bat flight amphitheater to watch the bats emerge from the cave at sunset. Totally free and honestly, one of the coolest natural phenomenons I’ve had the pleasure to witness.
This was definitely one of the experiences I was most excited about.
Pro tip: Check the current National Park Service schedule before your trip, because the bat flight program is seasonal and conditions can affect the experience. The best time to go is summer when the babies join the flying bats because there were hundreds of thousands of them and it was unbelievably cool.
Compare hotels HERE
Day 6: Carlsbad Caverns, Guadalupe Mountains & White Sands
We were up early because apparently we had decided sleep was optional on this road trip and wanted to see as much as possible each day. We heard we could do 3 National Parks in one day, and said, bet!
Carlsbad Caverns
We started the morning with an early tour of the Carlsbad Caverns.
If you are planning on going inside (which you should) make sure you look into tickets and reservations ahead of time. This is not a place I’d recommend just winging as the tour slots fill up fast.
Walking through the caverns was incredible. No incredible doesn’t do it justice. You should do this trip simply for this experience alone.
After seeing the bats the night before, getting to experience the cave itself the next morning made the whole stop even more memorable. This is another I simply cannot recommend enough. You will never have an experience like this anywhere else. They even have a bathroom, gift shop and cafe in the middle of the cave. Sadly it was closed because you know I would have gotten something to eat in there for the experience of eating in a cave alone.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Next we stopped at Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
This was another chance to get outside, stretch our legs and experience a completely different landscape. While as far as National Parks are concerned, this one didn’t blow our socks off- I’m not mad to check it off the list. I would not make a trip around this place alone so it worked out well to barbell this one in with the others. We kept saying this must be one location which is better during cooler seasons.
Pistachio Land
Confession. We did not actually make it here in time, because we had no idea it closed so early. But, since it is a mere 30 min from White Sands N.P. if you are making the trip this might be worth looking into. Because road trips are not just about national parks and historic sites. Sometimes you just need a giant pistachio.
White Sands at Sunset
We finished the day at White Sands National Park.
And WOW.
Watching the sun set over the white dunes was the perfect ending to an already packed day.
The kids could run, explore and enjoy the dunes, and I could have stayed there taking pictures forever. I think I have close to 300 there alone. Lol. We bought some cheap sleds at Big 5 since the rentals were already closed for the day- they did not work well. lol But we tried. We had a blast. We loved it there. I can’t say this would be a place I would want to camp and spend multiple days at- unless they allow for sand toys like ATVs (I have no idea), but it was perfect at the end of the day for a couple of hours.
Fun fact- White Sands National Park’s sand is generally much cooler to walk on than you might expect. It’s made mostly of gypsum, and the National Park Service notes that gypsum dunes are firmer and cooler than many other types of dunes. So while the temp was in the mid 90s we walked out shoeless, and laid on the cool sand all evening. But we were glad to be there as the sun was going down regardless.
Stayed in Tucson Az that night: Found a hotel that looked nice and fit the budget HERE
Day 7: Saguaro National Park & Buc-ee’s
Our final day brought us back through Arizona.
Saguaro National Park
We stopped at Saguaro National Park, where the giant cactus-filled landscape felt like the perfect Arizona finale.
After everything we’d seen during the week, it was almost funny how different this scenery was again. And at a temperature of 114 degrees that day- we did not do too much exploring outside, but we did take a 20 min detour from our fastest route to drive through the park. It’s def a place I would like to do a winter experience through.
Buc-ee’s
And because every great road trip needs a final food-and-road-trip stop…
Buc-ee’s.
We loaded up on snacks and hit the road. We spent way too much money and way too much time in there . But who would have guessed a gas station could be an adventure?! And wouldn’t you know- of the 2300 miles driven, countless stops, National Parks, once in a lifetime experiences… this was my 8 year old’s favorite destination of the whole trip. Go figure.
And just like that, our Route 66 adventure was over.
Route 66 at 100: Was It Worth It?
Absolutely.
One of my favorite things about this trip was that Route 66 wasn’t just about getting somewhere.
It was about stopping.
Stopping at the giant signs.
Stopping at the old trading posts.
Stopping at the weird roadside attractions.
Stopping for ice cream.
Stopping for a hike.
Stopping to take pictures.
Stopping because the kids needed a break.
Route 66 was built in 1926 as part of America’s growing highway system, connecting communities across the country. It eventually became a symbol of mobility, opportunity and the American road trip. Although the highway was decommissioned in 1985, its history and roadside culture are still very much alive.
And honestly, I think that’s what makes it such a fun family trip.
You don’t have to drive all 2,400 miles.
You don’t have to do everything.
Pick a section, choose a few stops and just go.
Our Route 66 Family Road Trip Tips
1. Don’t try to see everything.
You can’t.
Well, maybe you can, but you’ll probably be exhausted.
There is SO much to see along this route. Pick the stops that interest your family and leave some room for the unexpected.
2. Expect long driving days.
This was not a relaxing “sit by the pool all week” vacation.
We covered a lot of ground.
But our family is pretty used to road trips, and we actually enjoy the adventure of seeing how much we can fit into a trip.
***These items did make our trip waaaaaay more enjoyable however.
Definitely want a clean car- I recommend a trash can and some wipes but there are a lot of good stuff that works all the time, not just on a roadtrip.
CHARGERS! Don’t leave home without them.
Check out these road trip essentials.
3. Plan your must-do experiences ahead of time.
Some tours and attractions require advance tickets or reservations.
Mesa Verde and Carlsbad Caverns are two places where I’d definitely look ahead before your trip. Check out recreation.gov for tickets and tours.
If not having a plan really freaks you out, there are tours that will take you to one or multiple locations on here so you don’t have to stress. Check out the different tour options HERE.
4. Let the kids be part of the planning.
The adults might be excited about historic highways.
The kids? They might be more excited about ice cream, giant statues, UFOs and pistachios.
And that’s OK. Some of the stops were for us, some just for them, But I think we all enjoyed them equally.
5. Leave room for the weird stuff.
This might be my biggest Route 66 recommendation.
Don’t just plan the big attractions.
Some of our favorite memories came from the completely random roadside stops.
That’s what makes Route 66 different.
6. Book Hotels that include Breakfast!
Save time and money by booking hotels with breakfast. We stayed at a few dumps. Like scary Breaking Bad hotels. My best recommendations are:
*** Check out these 12 tips for a successful road trip with young kids
Save This Route 66 Family Road Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Amboy → Oatman → Kingman → Hackberry →Flagstaff
Day 2: Sedona → Chapel of the Holy Cross → Bell Rock → Flagstaff or Sedona hotel
Day 3: Twin Arrows → Jack Rabbit Trading Post → Winslow →Seligman → Wigwam Motel → Meteor Crater → Petrified Forest → Cortez (Stay at the Retro Inn in Mesa Verde)
Day 4: Four Corners → Mesa Verde → Durango → Santa Fe (don’t stay at the Quality Inn- anything BUT quality lol)
Day 5: Santa Fe → Meow Wolf → Roswell → Carlsbad
Day 6: Carlsbad Caverns → Guadalupe Mountains → Pistachio Land → White Sands
Day 7: Saguaro National Park → Buc-ee’s → Home
If you love family road trips, quirky roadside attractions and getting out there to see what is actually around you, add this one to your list.
