Historic Route 66
Historic Route 66
Historic Route 66
14 Days Starting in Chicago and ending in Los Angeles
Visiting: Southwest USA, USA
Tour operator:
Tour code:
P6X
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 13
Physical rating:
Leisurely / Moderate
Age range:
16 to 99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Immortalised in folklore, film and song, Route 66 remains the iconic symbol of the great American road trip. This is a journey of adventure, discovery and the freedom of the open road. Cruise along 'America's Main Street', the first paved highway linking Chicago with the West. On this Route 66 tour you'll cross eight states and make a small detour for the biggest sight in the West, the magnificent Grand Canyon. From snow-cones and corndogs, to cowboys, country music and rock 'n' roll - it's classic Americana all the way, as you travel from the heartland to the coast on the world's most famous road.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : P6x: 1: Chicago
You've arrived in Chicago, the official start of Route 66. A welcome meeting
will be held at 18:00 hrs in your hotel for you to meet your tour leader and
fellow travelling companions. If you arrive earlier in the day why not kick
off your Route 66 holiday by grabbing a slice of deep-dish pizza before
venturing up the Willis Tower, or take to the streets for your very own
walking tour along the shores of Lake Michigan.
*Accommodation: Hotel Audrey (or similar)*
Day 2 : Pontiac - Springfield
After leaving Chicago, your first stop on your Route 66 holiday is the town
of Pontiac to see the fantastic Main Street murals celebrating Route 66, the
Pontiac automobile brand, and local cultural and political history. A
collection of more than 150 artists known as the `Walldogs' painted a
collection of 18 murals in just four days in the summer of 2009. Then you'll
head south to the iconic Route 66 stop of Springfield, the capital of
Illinois. Springfield's favourite son was Abraham Lincoln and you'll pay a
visit to the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the home that he lived in
with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, from 1844 until 1861 when he became US
President. Springfield is also the birthplace of the corndog and drive-thru
restaurants, so make sure you arrive with an empty stomach!
*Accommodation: The State House Inn (or similar)*
Day 3 - 4 : St Louis
From Springfield, Illinois, it's only a couple of hours drive to St Louis,
Missouri. St Louis is one of the largest cities in the USA with a
metropolitan population of over 2.8 million. Founded in 1764, it became a
major port on the Mississippi River and even hosted the Olympic Games in
1904. The Gateway Arch commemorates the settlement of America's West and it
was from here that countless pioneers set out to conquer the wild frontier.
Stop at Ted Drewes, an iconic Route 66 tour attraction, where you can try a
'Concrete' - an extremely thick, creamy milkshake made from vanilla frozen
custard. Spend the evenings checking out the city's vibrant bar and
restaurant scene at your leisure.
*Accommodation: Drury Plaza Hotel St Louis at the Arch (or similar)*
Day 5 : Branson
Meals Included: breakfast
Home to Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede and considered an alternative version
of The Strip, country music is to Branson what gambling is to Las Vegas. With
over 50 dinner theatres, shows and other entertainment oddities, Branson is
where it's at in Missouri. It unleashes a hefty dose of pure Americana and a
wonderful playlist to enjoy it to.
Optional Activities:
* Meramec Caverns US$22
* Dixie Stampede dinner US$50
*Accommodation: Grand Plaza Hotel Branson (or similar)*
Day 6 - 7 : Oklahoma City
Meals Included: breakfast
Oklahoma, with more driveable miles of the old highway than any other state,
is a mecca for fans of the 'Mother Road'. Oklahoma City is the capital and
the largest city in the state. We'll spend a couple of nights here and can
enjoy a full day discovering some of the city's many cultural attractions.
Visit the Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum and the historic Coleman
Theatre - built in the late 1920s in the era of vaudeville and silent films.
Oklahoma is also the gateway to cowboy country so what could be a better
introduction to the 'Wild West' than an optional visit to the National Cowboy
and Western Heritage Museum. Originally established in 1955 as the Cowboy
Hall of Fame and Museum, it has broadened its scope to encompass both Western
and Native American artwork and artefacts as well as historic photographs.
Oklahoma City is a great place to see a baseball game and if you're
interested, please mention this to your leader early on. A top tip is to
swing by the many food trucks scattered around the city and sample some local
flavours at reasonable prices.
Optional Activities:
* National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum US$11
*Accommodation: Sheraton Oklahoma City Downtown Hotel (or similar)*
Day 8 : Amarillo
Meals Included: breakfast
Amarillo in the state of Texas is your destination for today. Before you
leave Oklahoma and get on your 'Way to Amarillo', you'll visit the 'official'
Route 66 Museum to learn about the legends surrounding the road you're
travelling on, and make a short stop at Lucille's Service Station &
Roadhouse. Then you make your way to the Big Texan Steak Ranch for a steak
meal (optional). If you can eat a 72-oz. steak in less than one hour, you get
it for free! This is 'Man Vs Food' for real!
*Accommodation: Drury Inn & Suites Amarillo (or similar)*
Day 9 : Albuquerque
Our Route 66 road trip continues with a visit to the Cadillac Ranch, where
10 classic cars are buried nose-down in the dirt. The owners encourage
graffiti, so you can grab a spray can and leave your mark! After a short
driving time, we'll reach the Midpoint Café, the midway point between
Chicago and Los Angeles, which is famous for hot coffee and rolls. Today we
make a stop at Tucumcari Post and Curios, an eccentric souvenir store and
drive through the Tijeras Canyon which cuts the Southern Rocky Mountains from
east to west.
Optional Activities:
* Acoma Indian Reservation & Sky City Pueblo US$25
*Accommodation: Nativo Lodge Albuquerque (or similar)*
Day 10 : Gallup
Drive along the Rio Puerco Valley to Inscription Rock, a cliff face at El
Morro National Monument where you can observe Native American petroglyphs.
Cross the Continental Divide en route to Gallup. Stay at the El Rancho Hotel,
a little slice of history which counts John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn
amongst its famous guests.
*Accommodation: El Rancho Hotel & Motel (or similar)*
Day 11 - 12 : Grand Canyon (South Rim) - Route 66
Stop at the Petrified Forest National Park to see the different colours of
rock layered on top of each other. Pass through Winslow and see the location
mentioned in The Eagles' lyric, "standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona".
The Grand Canyon is the ultimate symbol of the Desert Southwest and a
spectacle not to be missed. It's not on the original Route 66, but it's so
close it would be a crime to pass it by! This incredible natural wonder is
difficult to comprehend. You'll have plenty of opportunity to explore the
park at your own pace. In your free time, we highly recommend a scenic
helicopter flight over the canyon, which offers perspectives that you simply
can't see visiting on foot. Venture down the Bright Angel Trail to Plateau
Point, or stroll along the more leisurely West Rim Trail and catch a shuttle
bus out to Hermit's Rest. Finish your day by watching the amazing IMAX film,
'The Grand Canyon Experience', and enjoy a spectacular sunset over one of the
world's natural wonders!
Optional Activities:
* Helicopter flight US$289
* IMAX Theater US$10
*Accommodation: Holiday Inn Express - Tusayan (or similar)*
Day 13 : Las Vegas
The historic Route 66 town of Seligman and its Snow Cap Diner makes for a
quirky pit-stop, especially since it’s filled to the brim with pure
Americana. Next up is Vegas and if it's gambling you want, you’ve come to
the right place, as nowhere else in the world will you find so many casinos
per square metre. In Las Vegas, we enjoy a driving city tour to discover some
of the best things that epitomise this city, as well as learning about some
of its colourful history. In the evening, we stay in Downtown Las Vegas,
known for its captivating old Vegas charm.
Optional Activities:
* Limo ride US$25-$30
* Helicopter flight US$104
* Roller coasters US$25-$40
*Accommodation: Golden Nugget Hotel (or similar)*
Day 14 : Las Vegas - Los Angeles
On our final day the endless sunshine of California is in our sights, as we
follow Route 66 across the great Mojave Desert to the city of Los Angeles.
We'll toast farewell to an epic American road trip and new friends from the
iconic Santa Monica Pier.
This tour ends at our gateway hotel at approximately 17:00 hrs. We can book
you post-tour accommodation at our gateway hotel if required. If you are
planning to fly tonight, please do not book a flight that departs before
21:00 hrs.
What's Included
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We can include flights from the UK. Please contact us for a quote.
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All accommodation
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4 breakfasts
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All transport and listed activities
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Tour leader throughout
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Meals
3 breakfasts, 0 lunches, 0 dinners.
What's Not Included
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Optional activities
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Flights
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Travel insurance
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Single accommodation (available on request)
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Visas or vaccinations
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Arrival & departure transfers
Accommodation
Food
8 breakfasts are included on this trip On this tour we eat most meals in local restaurants. To help you budget for your meals on average hotel breakfasts cost from US$6-12, lunches from US$8-15 and dinners from US$13-30; this does not include alcoholic beverages. Wine costs approximately US$5 per glass and beer US$4 per bottle. Please also be aware that a tip of approximately 15%-20% is added to group meals in North American restaurants. Applicable taxes will also be added to all listed menu prices. Your tour leader may offer your group the option to operate a ‘lunch only’ food kitty, this has proven to be a popular alternative to three daily restaurant meals. Leaders will explain this option while on your tour, and the whole group will have to agree for this system to run. Please make sure we are aware of any special meal requirements before travelling. We will do all we can to accommodate for various dietary requirements but in certain parts of North America certain food types can be limited.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
Reviews of this Operator
Book with Confidence
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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