A Route 66 Itinerary - Page 2

See our One Week Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary

We have put together a 1-Week Route 66 Road Trip Itinerary from Chicago to Santa Monica.

You can use it as a starting point for planning your own road trip.

Texas

Texas, click on any town below to for full details on its history, weather, hotels, and of course all of its Route 66 stops, sights landmarks & attractions.

Towns located on the Texas segment of Route 66

Click on the towns below to place them on the itinerary (towns are listed from East to West).

Route 66 in Texas

Current mileage: 189 mi.

Trivia: Adrian is the midpoint of the original Route 66

Visit Itinerary Page 1 for the itinerary through the previous states (Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois).

Route 66 crosses the Texas Panhandle with an East to West direction, from Texola on the Oklahoma Border to Glenrio on the NM - TX state line.

The original Route 66 nowadays is mostly the frontage road of I-40. The 1920s segment can be found in the Jericho Gap (dirt), where there is a part that is missing, so you will have to go along I-40.

Another missing segment is west of Landergin, where you will have to keep on I-40 to reach Glenrio.

There still is a segment west of Conway is protected as a Historic Site.

From: Texola, OK to Shamrock, TX

From Texola in Oklahoma (mile zero), take the main road westwards. At the Texas state line (0.6 miles) it becomes Spur TX 30 which becomes the south service road of Interstate 40, and is the Historic Route 66 alignment. It crosses a "Historic Bridge" over the Chicago, Rock Island and Gulf Railroad (6.6 miles).

Historic Art-Deco Conoco service station Shamrock. Source

Restored Magnolia gasoline station. Route 66, Shamrock TX. Source

It becomes Business Loop I-40 at the interchange with I-40 (13.6 miles) and enters Shamrock as East 12th St.

At the northeastern corner of Main (U.S. Hwy 83) and E. 12th St. is a "classic spot" Conoco Tower Station (15 mi.)

From: Shamrock to McLean

Leave Shamrock westwards along Bus I-40 (West 12th St.) which becomes State Spur 556. Ignore the road that leads (16 miles) to the right to I-40's north service road and keep on straight along the southern service road of I-40. Caution at the exit from I-40 (16.5 mi.) Head straight, at the crossing of Farm to Market Rd. 1547 (20.3 miles) is the access which leads into Lela on the north side of I-40 (Exit 157).

Phillips 66 service station at McLean
Source

Head west, and (34 mi.) pass under I-40 to the north side frontage and turn left along 1st St. into McLean.
Visit its Historic Commercial District (Listed in the National Register of Historic Places) on First St., its old gas stations, specially the cottage style Phillips Service Station (36 mi).

Head west. At TX-273 (37 miles) turn left along TX-273 and pass I-40 (Exit 142). Take the south service road of I-40 westwards (37.2 miles) turn right at Co. Rd. 26 and left to go west on I-40s South Frontage Rd. The service road becomes TX-271 Loop W. at I-40 Exit 135 (44 mi.), and then 3rd Street of Alanreed. Visit its Texaco station and (45 miles)

Now take the S. Frontage Rd. at Exit 132 you must leave the old road; the Jericho Gap begins here and it is very difficult to follow the old US 66 (a dirt road). Go west on I-40 to Exit 124 (55 mi.) and there take TX-70, cross to the south side of I-40 (here is the old Jericho Cemetery, a few miles SW of the Exit and some ruins of a motel). Otherwise keep with I-40 westbound and take the overpass at Exit 121 to continue along the south frontage road of I-40 west.

Groom

It is famous for its 198 foot tall Giant Cross, and its Leaning water tower. At Exit 114 (66 mi.) the I-40 Frontage Road becomes I-40BUS and goes into Groom (Front St.), then it meets I-40 at Exit 110 (70 mi).

Tourist Court in Jericho, Route 66, Texas Gap. Source

Leaning Water Tower in Groom TX.
Click for St. view

Bug Ranch April 2021

Conway

Head West on the South service road westwards, at CR-O (to your right which heads to I-40's Exit 98), begins the Historic US 66 segment, which now is TX-207 and heads straight towards the west.

Just ahead (83 miles) you meet FM 2161 (old US-66) which goes to Amarillo. Here is Conway. Turn right on TX-207 towards I-40 to visit (at Exit 96) the "kitschy" Buggy Farm.

From Conway to Amarillo on Historic US 66

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places

Cowboy Motel neon sign. Amarillo. Click for St. view, Source

This segment of US 66 was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. Head west along FM 2161, (Historic U.S. Highway 66), it meets I-40 at Exit 89, end of the historic segment.
Stay on FM 2161, cross I-40 and drive west on the N. Frontage Rd. (93 mi.) at Exit 85 head NW into Amarillo:

Cross BL 40 towards the south, and keep on FM 2575 (which runs on the north side of I-40), cross CR A (94 miles), which then becomes NE 8th Ave. follow it until it ends (918 miles) with a sharp right curve becoming B Ave.
The original alignment of US hwy 66 kept straight west but the airport was built and the road no longer exists. You have to detour around the airport by taking B Ave. north until it meets BL-40 ⁄ US 60 - E. Amarillo Blvd. (99.2 mi.) turn right along it.

At Folsom Rd. (102 miles) take a left along Folsom and go south until Triangle Drive (old U.S. 66) which is cut ahead by Lakeside Drive ⁄ TX 335 (103 miles), go right to E. Amarillo Blvd and head west along it.

On Tirangle and Amarillo Blvd. is the Historic Triangle Motel. Stay on Amarillo Blvd. which at N. Pierce St. (US 87) reaches downtown Amarillo (28.5 mi.)

Amarillo

Keep on straight along Amarillo Blvd till you reach Pierce St. (US 87) in the center of the city (107 mi.) of Amarillo.

Turn south on Pierce St. (US 87) take a left, bridge over railroad and (108 mi.) turn right onto SE 6th Ave. (TX-279) it becomes SW 6th Ave. and goes through the Historic Sixth Street District.

Cities Service (Moe) station. Click for St. view

Taylor's Texaco Station. Click for St. view

Go left onto Bushland Ave (113 mi) pass the Golf Course and under Bell St. (114 mi.) to head left onto W. Amarillo Blvd. (I-40 Buss).

The road curves softly until crossing Coulter St. (5.8 miles), adopting a westward direction. After crossing TX-335 it reaches Soncy, passes in front of the Historic Helium Plant (8.5 miles) and before reaching the "S" curve under the old railway line, the old alignment takes a right 118 miles) onto Indian Hill Rd.

Cadillac Ranch

The Cadillac Ranch is to the south of I-40 (119 mi.) You can only reach it from I-40 (See how to reach Cadillac Ranch).

Front view of the Cadillacs

At Hill Dr. (121 mi.) turn left, haed west on I-40 westwards. At Exit 57, (14.7 mi.) you will reach Bushland. Stick to the North frontage road of I-40 passing Wildorado (131 miles), at Exit 49.

Vega

Head west and at Exit 37, the road goes on straight, as I-40 Business W ⁄ US-66 reaching Vega (145 mi), keep straight along Vega Blvd., passing I-40's Exit 35. At Exit 28, (152 mi.) are the remains of what once was the town of Landergin.

Texaco on Route 66 in Vega TX

Adrian

Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas
Source

Midpoint of Route 66

After Exit 23 - 22, the road becomes I-40 Business again, entering the small town of Adrian (158 mi).
It is roughly the midpoint between Chicago and Los Angeles. Cafes and gas stations catered to travelers here. Good spot for pictures.

After Adrian, at Exit 18, Co. Rd. 18 was Gruhlkey if you keep west on the Service Road it will end and as a dirt track head north; this is the old alignment of US hwy 66, which followed the now abandoned Rock Island Railway. It curves south again meeting I-40 at Exit 15, in the past, the road crossed what is now the Interstate, following the railway tracks south and then west.

You should get on I-40 at Exit 18. To the south of the Interstate you will see the old road next to the now lifted railway tracks.

Keep on I-40. You will see the dirt Route 66 to the south, as the South Service Road. Take Exit 0 (72.5), cross over I-40 and on the south side.

Glenrio

After the overpass you will meet ("T" crossing) US 66 running east - west. Take a right and reach Glenrio (73.1 mi from Amarillo) at the Texas - New Mexico State Line.

A view of vintage cars, a Route 66 diner, and gas station in Glenrio

Total Texas Route 66 mileage: 183 mi.

>> Book your Hotel in Texas

New Mexico

Read all about Route 66 in NM in our New Mexico webpage

NM Towns on US 66

Towns located on the New Mexico segment of Route 66, from East to West

Towns along the Santa Fe Loop

Route 66 in New Mexico

Current mileage: 392 mi.

New Mexico is the state with most mileage along Route 66. It is followed by Arizona with 388 mi.

At Albuquerque, two alignments of Route 66 cross each other, The the "Old" Santa Fe Loop went through Vegas and Santa Fe, the other (after 1938), bypassed them.

Route 66 crosses the state of New Mexico from Glenrio on the Texas border to Gallup in the higher region of western NM. The old alignment runs mostly parallel to I-40.

Glenrio

The journey starts here on the state line, mile zero.

State Line Bar Glenrio NM. Source

From Glenrio (Historic Site and Ghost Town) on the Texas state line (mile zero), follow the gravel surfaced Route 66 westwards. The town in both Texas and New Mexico has the same name!

You'll cross San Jon River (7 miles), meet I-40 and follow its South Service Road (15 mi). Paved road starts just west of San Jon enter the town (18 mi.)

Old 1950s service station in San Jon

Tucumcari

Blue Swallow Motel, New Mexico

At Exit 335 (38 mi.) go into Tucumcari via I-40 Bus. Loop (E. Tucumcari Blvd).

A drive along Route 66 will take you past almost all of its "Must-see places": the Blue Swallow Motel, Cactus Motor Lodge, Odeon Theater, Mesalands Dinosaur Museum and the famous Teepee Curio Shop.
Tucumcari is a place to savour the vintage feeling of Classic Route 66, packed with gas stations and motels.

Tee-Pee Curios neon sign, Source. Click for street View

From downtown (41 miles) keep west and at US 54, take a left and get onto I-40 westwards at Exit 329 (44 miles).

Old Route 66 continues but is cut off: to the North of I-40, as W. Tucumcari Blvd. and later at mile 70, you can spot it as the South Frontage Road which is inaccessible here.
Get off I-40 at Exit 321 take South Service Road, west it passes to the north side of the freeway (56 mi.)

Drive past Montoya (63 miles) see the Historic Richaredon Store. Next is Newkirk (75 mi.) followed by Cuervo where it passes to the south side again (Exit 291 - 84 mi.) here cross I-40 and turn right after the bridge.
The road forks, the right branch heads back to I-40 (Frontage road). Take the left fork Dirt road, poor conditions we describe it. But you can take I-40 and skip the dirt road. The original roadway takes a SW course leaves I-40 behind. Turn right onto NM-156 (91 mi.) also in poor conditions. Further west, you'll reach I-40 and U.S. 84 (100 miles) at Exit 277. Follow US 84 to enter Santa Rosa (102 mi.)

Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa Route 66 Museum, Source

In Santa Rosa see theSun and Sand motel neon sign, the Route 66 Auto Museum. Head north on U.S. 84 and west along I-40 at Exit 273. At Exit 267 (119 miles) to your right is NM 379: the original 1920s alignment through Santa Fe. At the next Exit 256, NM 219 departs north to Santa Fe with US. 84, following the 1930s Route 66 alignment, We describe it below.

Original Route 66 through Santa Fe: "Santa Fe Loop"

The 1926 to 1937 Route 66 ran in a wide circle heading north to Romeroville, Pecos, crossing Glorieta Pass, reaching Santa Fe and then curving south, through Pueblos like Santo Domingo, and onwards through Algodones to reach Albuquerque and continue south to through Isleta and Los Lunas to Suwanee.

We decribe this original alignment in detail in our Santa Fe Loop web page.

Santa Fe

Historic Place: Oldest Church in the US, San Miguel Mission, Santa Fe. A. Whittall

Santa Fe adobe buildings. P. Eichenblat

In the city's webpage, we list the Attractions & sights in Santa Fe. It is an ancient Spanish colonial town from the late 1600s. Visit St. Francis Cathedral and the Palace of the Governors. Take in its typical building style with austere brown adobe and timber beams or "vigas". From Santa Fe you can visit the pueblos and enjoy nature. It is a full day tour from Santa Fe to Taos Pueblo visiting Native Pueblos along the way. These are eight Indian Pueblos located in the mountains between Santa Fe and Colorado. Buy souvenirs and experience the Native culture and foods. Check out some of their feast days to witness their celebrations and dances.

Getting back to the 1937 alignment:

Clines Corners Sign. Source

From the crossroads where U.S. 84 heads north, continue west by staying on I-40. It meets U.S. 285 (158 mi.) at Clines Corners.

Trivia: 158 miles to the SW along U.S. 285 is Roswell, of UFO ⁄ UAP fame.

Continue on I-40 west until Exit 197 (179 miles) to enter Moriarty along I-40 Bus. Loop. Visit the Sunset Motel and the Whiting Bros. gas station. At Exit 194 take a left and a right to follow NM-333 west, it runs south of I-40. Drive by Edgewood (189 mi.) and at Montezuma Heights hills begin. Take the 1930s-40s alignment by crossing to the north of I-40 (Exit 181 - 194 miles). Follow Sedillo Hill Rd. (NM-306) which arches north, and then south, crossing I-40 again (198 miles), get on I-40 at Exit 178 go west.

At Exit 175, cross south again and take N-M-333 west, it is the "Old US 66" through Tijeras (202 mi.) Here US 66 crosses the Cibola National Forest and the Salt Missions Trail. At (225 mi.) drive by Carnuel and again, to the south of I-40 head into Albuquerque.

Albuquerque

El Vado neon sign nowadays. Source

US 66 becomes Central Ave. NE (229 miles) as it enters Albuquerque.
The city has so many stops, sights and landmarks that we have split the town into six separate webpages to be able to describe them in detail.
This first page gives a general overview of the city, Route 66 maps, its history, weather, and its lodging and accommodation options as well as the Best Top 5 things to see and do in ABQ. The other five pages cover the town's districts from east to west:

Premiere Motel 1960s neon sign, Albuquerque
Click image for St. view

Index to our six pages on Albuquerque & Route 66

1. Albuquerque (this page: an overview)
2. Eastern Albuquerque
3. Nob Hill
4. Downtown
5. Old Town & Western Albuquerque
6. 4th St. Route 66 - 1926-37 Sights

Keep along Central Avenue, which crosses I-25 (217 mi.) to enter the oldest part of the city; it Becomes Central Ave NW, and on the corner of 47h St (219 miles) Route 66 crosses itself: it crosses the old 1920s alignment that came from Santa Fe. This is the "Old Town" of Albuquerque. The highway crosses the Rio -Grande River (221 mi.) and climbs west out of town along the Nine Mile Hill; it approaches I-40, but don't enter it. Cross to its north side along Atrisco Vista Blvd. and follow the N. Frontage Road west at Exit 149. (228 miles). Enter I-40 at Exit 140 (238 mi.). Leave I-40 at Exit 126 (251 miles) and go south until meeting Old roadway US Hwy 66, at Suwanee; here you'll meet NM-6 from the east; it is the 1926-37 US66 alignment coming from Albuquerque through Los Lunas, Peralta and Isleta.

Dead Man's curve at Laguna

The road heads NW course crosses to the north of I-40 (261 mi.) becoming Indian Service Rd 522. Drive by Mesita along this Old Route 66 and see two landmarks: the Owl Rock and the 180° Dead Man's Curve before reaching Laguna.

Dead Man's Curve between Mesita and Laguna

Laguna Pueblo

Stop at the historic (1699) Laguna Pueblo and Saint Joseph Church both listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Cross San Jose River (268 mi).

Budville Trading Co., Budville NM

Pass by Paraje, the "eastern gateway" to "Sky City": the historic Acoma Pueblo.

Avoid I-40, stick to NM-124 to drive by Budville and Cubero (277 mi.) and reach San Fidel (281 mi.)

San Fidel

Stop by the Historic Acoma Curio Shop and the Ruins of the Whiting Bros. Gas Station.

Abandoned Whiting Brothers Service Station near San Fidel, Route 66, New Mexico

Go west, cross I-40 at Exit 96 along NM-124, passing McCartys. At mile 289 black basaltic lava flows and Anzac Rd. (dirt and gravel) forks to the left; it is the 1920s alignment, you can drive it or keep to NM-124 and merge with Anzac Rd. further west, where NM-124 crosses I-40 again and heads into Grants (296 mi.)

Grants

Sands Motel Neon sign, Grants

The "Uranium Capital of the World" has many spots to stop and see. Route 66 runs along its Main Street.

After Grants comes Milan (302 mi.) US 66 is now NM-122, and is I-40s North Frontage Rd. To the south is Bluewater with the Historic Bowlin's Old Crater Trading Post, followed by Prewitt and Thoreau.

Thoreau & Continental Divide

Dead End Sign on Route 66, Continental Divide. A. Whittall

At Exit 53 (329 mi) is Thoreau. See Roy T. Herman's Garage and Service Station and go west on NM-122 at Exit 47 you will reach Continental Divide.

At 7,245 ft. (2.209 m) is is the continental watershed: rainfall goes west to the Pacific or east to the Atlantic from this point.

The 1930s alignment merges with I-40 here take the freeway till Exit 36 (346 mi.) and at Exit 33: Wingate with its Historic Old West Fort Wingate. Close by are two ghost towns: Coolidge and Perea.

Pass Church Rock village (352 mi.) and Rehoboth and at Exit 26 (357 mi.) head into Gallup.

Gallup

Blue Spruce Neon Sign, Gallup. Click for St. view

Lariat Lodge Neon Sign, Gallup. Click for St. view

Route 66 crosses the town, intersects its Main street (361 mi.) as Route 66 (I-40 Bus. Loop).

There is plenty to see: Red Rock Park, venue for rodeos, bull-riding, the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial and the Red Rock Balloon Rally, the Classic Route 66 El Rancho Hotel, the 1928 El Morro Theatre and the Lariat Lodge.

Take a day tour to Visit Zuni Pueblo and Grants via El Morro National Monument and the "Badlands".

The town's name is mentioned in the song Route Sixty-six (Get your kicks on Route 66).

Final Leg in NM

Come Again Arch at NM AZ state line. US 66 Lupton, 1938. Source
Click image to enlarge

At Exit 16, I-40 to the north, follow NM-118 west (366 mi.) through Defiance, take a sharp right (388 mi.) to cross I-40 and go west along NM-118. At Exit 8, US 66 crosses to the north side again passing Manuelito at Surrender Canyon. Becoming I-40 Service Road again (378 miles). Here it leaves New Mexico to enter Arizona at the state Line; where it becomes Grant Rd.
Mileage to this point (379 mi.).

Disclaimer

Aerial view of Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica.

Mileage indicated above is approximate. These itineraries do not substitute for a roadway map. Road Trip Journeys takes no responsibility nor can be made liable for any errors, omissions, nor for user's safety and in no way warrants the safety or suitability of the suggested routes. Always drive carefully and obey road signs, Highway Code and police officers indications.
Although we have made an effort to make all information as accurate and updated as possible due to the diversity of changes that can occur anytime in an area we apologize for any inaccuracy you may come across.
When driving these itineraries, carefully compare information mentioned in them, or displayed on any pertinent maps, to all available navigation sources, including information from street signs, visual sightings, and GPS. We welcome you sending us information whether for an update or a suggestion.

See the Eastern part of this Itinerary

We describe the eastern itinerary along Route 66 in Itinerary Page 1

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Credits

Banner image: Hackberry General Store, Hackberry, Arizona by Perla Eichenblat.

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