How long does it take to drive Route 66? The flippant answer would be "how long have you got?" but I'm guessing that you're reading this article because you were hoping for a more helpful and pragmatic response!

So here goes...

Assuming that you don't have months to set aside to meander through every historical alignment, soaking up the atmosphere in every cafe/bar in every town, you should try to set aside at least two weeks for a great Route 66 road trip - but preferably three or four if you're hoping for a richer, more leisurely trip.

At this point I should mention that this advice is aimed at those travelling one-way and not for return journeys.

While it's true that the journey from Chicago to LA can be completed in 4 days if you’re prepared to spend all day on the Interstates, this is NOT the same as driving Route 66. If someone tells you they drove the I40 and thoroughly enjoyed their "Route 66" trip then they've missing the point - Route 66 isn't a case of getting from Chicago to Los Angeles by any means possible. Route 66 is an historical route that follows a complex road network through the many small towns and minor roads that were bypassed by the introduction of the Interstate system.

However, while on the subject of Interstates, it's worth keeping in mind that they're not your enemy. If you're pushed for time and have to follow a strict itinerary then occasionally hopping onto the I40 is a practical consideration if you're pushed for time - sometimes you've just got to be pragmatic.

If you're on a time-limited schedule and you already know which areas you'd like to spend more time in then don't be afraid to use the Interstate to help you get the best out of your trip. In an ideal world you won't feel pushed for time as you certainly don't want to rush your Route 66 experience.

Ultimately the amount of time you need to set aside for a Route 66 road trip is dependent on several factors: 

• Do you plan on taking any side-trips?
• How often do you plan on stopping the car and exploring the towns/sights?
• How true to the original alignment do you wish to be?
• How spontaneous / scheduled do you want your trip to be?

Let's take a look at how some of these factors might influence your trip.

Taking side trips

As you get deeper into planning your Route 66 trip you’ll find it increasingly tempting to make the most of the opportunities for great side-trips; the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Monument Valley… If this is the case then you should definitely set aside an extra day or two for each.

One night at the Grand Canyon would allow you to admire the views both as the sun goes down and during its spectacular sunrises. I'd also recommend more than one night for Las Vegas particularly if you wish to spend time catching a show. If you wish to follow the Santa Fe loop this needn't be treated as a side trip and will comfortably fit within your regular itinerary.

Making stops

Route 66 is every bit as much about the stops as it is the journey. If you intend on getting the most out of the experience then you’ll be stopping frequently along the Route to explore towns, museums and roadside attractions. Of course, all of this takes time and will limit your day’s mileage.

Sometimes you might just stop off to stretch your legs or grab a coffee in a local cafe, whereas there will also be occasions when you will want to see an attraction that will require several hours of your day (for example Acoma Pueblo or the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum).

There are many roadside attractions that are simple curiosities that won't impact greatly on your progress (Cadillac Ranch, the Illinois Giants etc...) and these won't impact significantly on your daily mileage.

Alignments

If you wish to follow each variant of each alignment then you are certainly not going to be doing this trip in two weeks as this is a very particular way of approaching the Route. One for the purists maybe but certainly not a common approach. Most people don't plan their road trip in this way and instead follow a more generally accepted route and it's occasional variants as outlined in the EZ6 Guide. This alignment is achievable in a minimum of two weeks whilst still having a great trip.

Occasionally, if you are able to look ahead a little, you may find that there are times when all you are doing is criss-crossing the I40 on the frontage road. It's times like these that you might benefit from hopping on the I40 to save time. This may feel like you’re cheating but there are times when you’re on the interstate that you’ll be less than 50 feet from Route 66! By following the EZ66 Guide these occasions are made obvious and the choice is yours. Remember – driving Route 66 shouldn’t be stressful and it’s okay to tailor the journey to your own requirements. There's no shame in making time occasionally!

Ultimately, the length of your trip comes down to your own personal circumstances. I'd recommend no less than a fortnight to cover the full length - three or four would be preferable - whilst at the same time pointing out that if you only have two weeks you're still going to have a great road trip!