I’d like to share our Route 66 adventure with the hope to help others plan an adventure along the Mother Road.
Our plan was to rent a vehicle in Detroit and drive to Chicago and west to Santa Monica, drop off the car and fly home.
We figured we would spend $3000.00 to $3400.00 each for 21 days away.
Flight $200.00 each
Car $1700.00 for both
Fuel $500.00 for both
Lodging $2200.00 for both
Food/beverage Entertainment $2200.00 for both
We quickly found flying to Los Angeles, one way, renting a vehicle and dropping it off at Detroit’s Metro airport was much cheaper.
We used Kayak.com and found one way tickets from Detroit to LA for $156.00 each.
Autoslash.com for the car was $1063.00 for 21 days for a midsize car through Hertz and was up graded for free to a Ford Escape. LA to Detroit
We booked all lodging before we left Detroit thru Booking.com and Air BnB with two full or two queen beds. We booked Air BnB with hopes to do laundry and rudely found out washer and dryer doesn’t mean in the unit but possible on the property.
Even though the route has GREAT signage I HIGHLY recommend doing a ton of research before leaving and taking along a copy of EZ 66 Guide for travelers, turn by turn route 66 directions, dining and lodging R66 guide, all available on amazon.com, and a smart phone for Google maps.
We were amazed at the freight trains, one to two miles long following and passing us on Route 66. The rail road laid tracks, Route 66 runs parallel to the tracks and Interstate 40 followed both of those paths from Santa Monica to Oklahoma City

Days One and Two: landed in LA picked up the car drove to Santa Monica Pier sight see and took pictures of the last mile marker on Route 66. We bought a cooler for water, lunchmeat and various items needing to be chilled. Days on the road we stored leftovers from dinner, bring along Ziploc, for lunch the next day. Hung around LA for a day and half and hit the road Monday morning.
We stayed with my nephew for the two nights in LA

Day Three: Sleep Inn Barstow, CA $90.38 The inn is behind a major freight train yard and amazed with the activity going on. We ate sandwiches for dinner that night along with a few adult beverages. Breakfast was included at Sleep inn so we ate and off to Needles.

Day Four: RIO DEL SOL - NEEDLES, CA $95.40 We got into Needles early afternoon, took a ride up to Hoover Dam which was simply amazing and onto Needles. Ate dinner at the bar at Giggling Cactus and had great conversations with train engineers waiting for their train to be ready for return trip back to LA. Breakfast at the Wagon Wheel in Needles was GREAT.

Day Five: STAGECOACH 66 MOTEL - SELIGMAN, AZ $88.25 This is a Route 66 original and a must, a throwback to the past. Leaving Needles take the route up to Oatman, where the donkeys roam. If you’ve been on the Road to Hana on Maui, the road from Oatman to Seligman will look familiar. On the Stagecoach’s property is the Pizza Joint locals hang out for dinner and adult beverage. Great place to hang with the locals. We ate breakfast at Westside Lilo’s, another great meal, and hit the road.

Day Six and Seven: Air BnB Flagstaff, AZ $227.00 We spent two days in Flagstaff with hope to do laundry but no washer and dryer and stated. Very disappointed with the false advertising and washed a few things in the kitchen sink. We did drive up to the Grand Canyon for a full day of fun. In those two days we went to Mother Road Brewery, Fratelli Pizza, Beaver Street Brewery and Toasted Owl.

Day Eight: ECONO LODGE - WINSLOW, AZ $62.24 on the way we stopped at Meteor Crater, Jack Rabbit Trading Post-sat on the rabbit and took pictures. Took pictures at “Standing on the corner in Winslow AZ” and had another great meal at Relic Brewery. Breakfast included at Econo Lodge.

Day Nine: WETHERILL INN 411207 - KAYENTA, AZ $168.37 We detoured from the Route in Winslow and north to Monument Valley and Mexican Hat and ate an authentic Navajo meal at the Olde Bridge Grille. Breakfast was included at the Wetherill and off to Four Corners, Ship Rock and Gallup NM.

Day Ten: EL RANCHO HOTEL, NM $141.64 Another original Route 66 hotel and a MUST. Movie stars from the day would stay here, tons of history and great place for dinner and breakfast.

Day Eleven: BEST WESTERN SANTA FE NM $138.36 This was the only burp with reservations on the trip, had booked at the Sage Inn but they had no record when we arrived. With the booking,com app we booked at the BEST WESTERN SANTA FE. Great burger at Santa Fe Bites and Best Western offered breakfast in the morning.

Day Twelve: BLUE SWALLOW M Tucumcari NM $101.98. Because of scheduling we had to head east to the Blue Swallow and back track west back to Albuquerque. No matter what you do you if you drive any part of Route 66 in New Mexico you must stay at the Blue Swallow. This is a classic original Route 66 motel with refrigerated rooms and garages for your vehicle. We had carry out from Cornerstone Deli for dinner and a great breakfast at Kix on 66. Across the street from the Blue Swallow is Mother Road Photos where you can dress up as a gambling drunk cowboy or bar room hussy and have your picture taken. This is a great time and worth the hour of time.

Day Thirteen and Fourteen: Air BnB Albuquerque, NM $219.00 Spent two days in Albuquerque Air Bnb and yes no washer and dryer as stated. Good thing I did laundry at the Blue Swallow for $4.00. We ate breakfast in the Old Town, Church Street Deli. Other than Old Town Albuquerque was the low part of my trip.

Day Fifteen: BIG TEXAN INN, AMARILLO TX $90.85 So far this was the longest drive day because we drove east from Santa Fe to Tucumcari to stay at the Blue Swallow, and back to Albuquerque.
The Big Texan is another original Route 66 motel and a definite stop with great atmosphere for both dinner and breakfast.
Make sure you stop at Mid-Point Café for photo opt and Cadillac Ranch.

Day Sixteen: Air BnB Bethany, OK $91.00 On the way to Bethany we stopped a Bug ranch, Tallest Cross and the tilted water tower. A must is the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial

Day Seventeen: MUNGER MOSS MOTEL, LEBANON, MO $76.94 This drive was another long one stopped at the East Meets West in Tulsa and the Blue Whale. There was a detour on Route 66 which sent us ten miles out of the way to the interstate. It was getting dark we stayed on the interstate to Lebanon. We ate breakfast at Elm Street Eatery.

Day Eighteen: MISSOURI ATHLETIC CLUB ST LOUIS, MO $188.53 We stayed in downtown St Louis the Arch was five minute walk and ten minute walk to Busch Stadium. We were fortunate to see the Cards and Cubs play. Dinner and drinks at the MAC before the game and breakfast at Snarf Sandwich Shop waking distance from the MAC.

Day Nineteen: Harrah's Joliet, IL $143.53 Another long drive, eager to get home. We didn’t gamble at Harrah’s, ate dinner and a few adult beverages with nice conversation among other guests.

Day Twenty: Air BnB Kalamzoo, MI $91.44 Once we got to Chicago it took us a bit to find Route 66 Mile Marker Number One. Around the block a few times and up and down Lakeshore Drive and we finally came across it. We double park near by jumped out of the car, took a couple selfies and off to Michigan. Had dinner, adult beverage at Arcadia Brewery and breakfast at the Blue Dolphin

Day Twenty One: Home and the final tab
Miles driven 4386 (210 average daily miles driven)
Fuel $395.00
Lodging $2097.00 including a gift card and dinner out for our LA host
Food/Beverage $1680.00
Auto rental $1063.00
Misc. expenses $550.00
The whole trip cost us under $3000.00 each and came home under budget.
While following Route 66 we guestimate driving 75% of the time on the route and 25% on the interstate.