Cruising the Legendary Route 66 – San Fran to San Fran

After picking up your campervan rental in San Francisco, head south via I-5 for LA- the original endpoint of Historic Route 66. From there, you’ll hop on I-15 N, one of the five interstates that replaced Route 66 in the 1950s and 1980s.

The trip from San Francisco to Sin City is a long one, but you can break it up by stopping for the night in LA. We also recommend checking out the California Route 66 Museum in nearby Victorville, where you can browse the constantly changing exhibitions against the haunting backdrop of the Mojave Desert.

One of the best places to camp your van near Las Vegas is the Lake Mead RV Village in Boulder City. You’ll be about an hour away from Vegas, as well as Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area and Valley of the Fire State Park.

Get back on the road bright and early to make the trek from Las Vegas to Arizona’s Grand Canyon. It’ll take you about four hours without stopping, but then you’ll miss the Historic Route 66 attractions along the way.

It’s a short detour to get to Oatman, Arizona. This Wild West ghost town marks the beginning of one of the most scenic stretches of old Route 66. About halfway through your trip, you’ll reach Kingman, home of the Arizona Route 66 Museum. Check out vintage cars and dioramas for a glimpse into US history.

When you arrive at Grand Canyon National Park, you’ll come in on the park’s south rim. The south rim is convenient to Trailer Village RV Park. Use this campground as your base camp from where you can hike South Rim Trail, bike Hermit Road, or get a selfie at one of the many local viewpoints.

The next leg of your journey will take you south down AZ-64 toward I-40. Williams marks the start of I-40, the interstate that replaced Arizona’s portion of US Route 66.

If you aren’t in a hurry, backtrack a few miles to Seligman- the Birthplace of Historic Route 66. From there, it’s only an hour’s drive to Flagstaff. At an altitude of 7,550 feet, this Arizona city is Route 66’s highest point.

You can stay at the Route 66 RV Resort or Albuquerque KOA Journey campground, which is right off Historic Route 66 near the Sandia Mountains. While you’re in the area, check out the Route 66 Casino Hotel near the Route 66 Travel Center to eat, gamble, and check out the themed decor.

Amarillo, Texas, is a straight shot east on the I-40 section of Historic Route 66. The drive is only four hours without stopping, but then you’d miss the local highlights of Route 66 along the way.

Get out and stretch your legs at the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, NM. The museum is home to Route 66 memorabilia, as well as one of the best car museums the roadway has to offer. Next, take a quick detour down Route 66 South toward Sumner Lake State Park, where you can stay the night.

Grab a few souvenirs at the Route 66 Welcome Center and Gift Shop before finishing the drive. Just outside of Amarillo, you’ll reach the Route 66-inspired Cadillac Ranch art installation. From there, you’re only a few miles away from the Amarillo KOA campground.

Continue your drive east on I-40 toward Oklahoma City. This stretch of old US Route 66 is speckled with dozens of art installations, shops, and museums dedicated to the most famous highway in the world.

Your first stop is the VW Slug Bug Ranch, a tribute to Cadillac Ranch with multiple classic VW Beetles buried nose-deep in the ground. The Leaning Tower of Texas, Devil’s Rope Museum, Sandhill Curiosity Shop, and Old Town Museum are other popular stops on this stretch of Route 66.

When you reach the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, you’re about an hour’s drive from OKC. We recommend camping at Twin Fountains RV Park in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District. You’ll be close to town and fun local attractions like the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

After so many stops from Amarillo to OKC, you may be glad for some relief. It’s seven hours to St. Louis, and we recommend driving three hours straight until you reach the Missouri state line.

Missouri is home to some of the most incredible natural caverns in the country. There are the beautiful Fantastic Caverns outside of Springfield and the massive Onondaga Cave State Park in Leasburg. Meramec Caverns is also a must-see just outside of West St. Louis.

Campgrounds in St. Louis include the Historic Route 66 KOA and Lakeside Park RV Campground. You’ll be close to Lone Elk Park, the 105-acre Laumeier Sculpture Park, and the Magic House Children’s Museum.

Chicago is considered the original starting point of Historic Route 66. Getting there will require a quick four-and-a-half-hour trek from St. Louis. But you won’t be bored with so many landmarks to stop and see.

On Old Route 66 North, you’ll run into the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. Abe Lincoln fans may want to stop at one of the many dedicated museums in Springfield, but you can’t miss the 12-foot Lincoln statute at the World’s Largest Railsplitter Covered Wagon.

Pontiac is a small town just southeast of Chicago and home to the nostalgic Route 66 Association of Illinois. Then, it’s only about an hour and a half to your campground in Chicago. Some of the top places to park your campervan include Illinois Beach State Park on the shores of Lake Michigan or the nearby Starved Rock State Park.

Buckle in for the longest part of your Route 66 road trip. It takes over 20 hours to get from the Windy City to Utah’s capital. You’ll travel across four state lines- Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, and Wyoming- to get to Salt Lake City.

Make sure to keep your eyes peeled as you drive through America’s midwest. In addition to the rolling fields, you’ll pass by historic landmarks like the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum, John Wayne Birthplace Museum, and Great Platte River Road Archway Monument.

Arrive in SLC feeling exhausted and head straight to your camping spot. Salt Lake City’s best campgrounds are concentrated in its nearby canyons, including Millcreek and Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons.

After getting some R&R in Utah, pack up your campervan and head west toward Reno on I-80. On the way, you will pass many monuments you can see by car, but there are also many museums to stop at if you have time.

Wave to the Tree of Life sculpture as you pass through Barro and the Wendover Will Neon Cowboy on the Nevada border. The Northeastern Nevada Museum marks your halfway point, and the Thunder Mountain Monument means you’re almost there.

The best place to camp is at nearby Lake Tahoe, North America’s largest alpine lake. About 45 minutes away from Reno, Lake Tahoe’s many campgrounds include Tahoe Valley Campground, Coachland RV Park, and historic Camp Richardson Resort.

Are you exhausted from your Route 66 cross-country adventure? Then there’s good news and bad. The good news is that you only have a few hours until you head back home to your own bed.

The bad news is that you’ll have to say goodbye to the Golden Gate City. So, plan to spend one last night camping in San Francisco and exploring all the city has to offer.

Now, it’s time to turn in your travel van rental and start planning your next trip with Traveller’s Autobarn!

If a Route 66 road trip is on your bucket list, this itinerary is for you. Follow our guide to traverse over 2,000 miles of this US highway, making your way through classic American towns and famous stops along the way.

Are you searching for the best travel van rental for cruising Route 66? Traveller’s Autobarn offers complimentary free unlimited miles, 25/7 roadside assistance, and more great perks with every campervan rental.

Get a quote from our San Francisco location to see available vehicles, and start planning your Route 66 adventure today!