Route 66 Trip Planner: Miles, Days and Cost, Town by Town

How many miles is Route 66?

From the Begin sign in Chicago to the end of the trail on the Santa Monica Pier, following the road town by town as it can be driven today, Route 66 is about 2,267 miles. That is the figure this planner uses, built from real driving distances between 56 towns. If you count the older alignments too, such as the loop through Santa Fe that the road followed until 1937, the historic route measures about 2,448 miles, the figure in our Field Manual.

State by state, the Journal has a guide to every stretch: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California.

Want every town with its mile marker, or the distance between big cities like Tulsa and Albuquerque? See the Route 66 mileage chart.

How the planner works

Distances are driving miles between town centers along the Route 66 corridor, calculated in October 2026. Where the old road still runs, it usually sits right beside the interstate, so the miles are close either way. What changes is the time: the old two-lane road goes through every small town, and once you count stops, 40 to 45 miles per hour is a realistic average. On I-40 or I-44 you will average closer to 60.

Days are rounded up from your hours behind the wheel, and the cost assumes two travelers share a room. Change any number to match your car and your budget.

How long most people take

For the whole road, two weeks is the sweet spot: four or five hours of driving a day leaves the afternoons for diners, museums and the motel pool. If you only have a week, plan one half of the road, Chicago to Amarillo or Amarillo to Santa Monica. Our guide to how long Route 66 takes breaks it down trip by trip.

Plan the rest of the trip

• Route 66 road trip planner: the complete guide
• How long does it take to drive Route 66?
• A 14-day Route 66 itinerary, day by day
• Route 66 map: all 8 states and cities in order
• Historic Route 66 motels still open
• Route 66 diners still open in 2026
• Is Route 66 still drivable? Route 66 vs I-40
• Best time to drive Route 66, month by month

Route 66 planner questions

How many miles is Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica?

About 2,267 driving miles today if you follow the Route 66 corridor town to town, as this planner does. Counting the older alignments, such as the pre-1937 loop through Santa Fe, the historic road measures about 2,448 miles.

How many days do you need to drive Route 66?

About two weeks for the whole road at a comfortable pace. On the old road you will spend roughly 50 to 60 hours behind the wheel; at this planner's default pace, 45 mph and 4 hours a day, that is 13 days. With 8-hour days and the interstate in the west it can be done in a week, and 3 weeks lets you see nearly everything.

How much does a Route 66 road trip cost?

For two people sharing a car and a room, the three big costs are gas, motels and food. With this planner's default numbers (25 mpg, $3.40 gas, $110 a night for the motel, $55 a day each for food) the whole road over 13 days comes to about $3,060 for two. Change any number to match your car and your budget.

How fast can you drive on the old Route 66?

Much of the old road is two-lane with town speed limits, so 40 to 45 mph on average is realistic once you count stops and small towns. Where the old road is gone and you use the interstate, 60 mph is a fair average.

Can I plan only part of Route 66?

Yes. Pick any two towns: Chicago to St. Louis is a long weekend, Albuquerque to Kingman makes a classic Southwest week, and Kingman to Santa Monica covers the Mojave and Los Angeles.