If you are preparing for the all-American Route 66 road trip, it's important to know exactly how long the tour is going to take. You'll need to plan clothes to pack, save up enough money and alert others about your time away.
So how long does a Route 66 tour take? Keep these things in mind before nailing down your trip dates.
Know the mileage
Visitors can spend anywhere from a couple of weeks to a month on the historic American highway. The total length of Route 66 is around 2,400 miles, so if you plan to do between 200 and 300 miles per day, give yourself at least two weeks. If you plan to do less driving every day to take in the sights, give yourself a month. You'll need to make regular stops, like gas stations or restaurants in the small towns.
Figure out sightseeing musts
Make a list of your must-sees. Research places like the Wigwam Hotel or special roadside attractions in the Mojave Desert to see exactly how much time you want to spend off the highway.
If you want to have more than one day at a historic landmark, like Santa Fe or the Santa Monica Pier, give yourself more time. You'll likely have to cut out a few landmarks or towns to leave room for the things you really want to see, like the Grand Canyon.
Keep your budget in mind
If you have your heart set on a longer tour, but don't yet have the budget, continue saving and try for next summer or decide on an alternative experience you can afford. If you want to spend a month on Route 66 but have budgeted for two weeks, don't stretch yourself thin. Route 66 Tours has several tour length options, including our Route 66 Express Tour, which is just 14 days on the highway, or our Fall Route 66 tour, which is 20 days. This will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so make sure you don't miss out on anything you definitely want to see.
Whether you want to take the minimum two weeks to drive the Main Street of America or a full month to really experience each historic location, you have options. Plan out how many miles you want to cover each day, figure out what sightseeing is most important to you, and keep your budget in mind when planning. Route 66 Tours has many options, so contact us now for more information about your dream vacation.
