Tips and Tricks for International Travelers on Route 66

The allure of the Mother Road is a powerful thing, drawing travelers from every corner of the globe to experience a slice of pure Americana that feels almost like it exists outside of time.

For international visitors, this nearly 2,500-mile stretch of pavement between Chicago and the Pacific Coast represents more than just a highway—it's a sprawling, living museum of 20th-century culture, neon-soaked diners, and the vast, shifting landscapes of the American heartland.

Welcome to Route 66's Centennial

There has never been a better time to plan this journey, as 2026 marks the official Route 66 Centennial, celebrating 100 years of this iconic trail with special events and restored landmarks all along the way. Navigating this legendary route requires a bit more than just a sense of adventure, especially when you're coming from outside the U.S. and are faced with different driving rules and the logistical puzzle of a cross-country journey. Worry not, though, we're here to help.

Finding Your Ride for the Mother Road

One of the first major decisions you'll face is how you want to actually traverse the eight states along the route, and for many international travelers, the classic choice is a recreational vehicle. Renting an RV offers a unique level of freedom that driving from motel to motel doesn't. You carry your kitchen and bedroom with you as you move from the prairies of the Midwest to the high deserts of the Southwest, stopping when you like and avoiding expensive meals out.

Cruise America is one of the most reliable sources for RV rentals, offering a range of vehicle sizes and convenient rental centers near major international airports, including Chicago O’Hare and Los Angeles International. If you choose to rent an RV, keep in mind that many of these vehicles are significantly larger than the camper vans common in Europe or Australia, so you'll want to take advantage of the instructional opportunities provided by the rental company before you hit the road.

Whether you book an RV or a standard rental car, make sure your paperwork is in order before you arrive at the rental counter. While most U.S. rental agencies will accept a valid driver’s license from your home country if it's in English, the best way to avoid any potential confusion with local law enforcement or insurance providers it to obtain an International Driving Permit.

Mapping Out Your Route 66 Journey

Traveling the length of Route 66 is an undertaking that covers nearly 4,000 kilometers. Importantly, to appropriately experience the Mother Road's magic, you can't rush through the journey. Experienced travelers recommend taking 14 to 21 days—at least—to complete the full trip from Chicago to Santa Monica. This comes down to a manageable pace of around 200 miles per day, which leaves plenty of room for spontaneous stops, visits to roadside attractions, meals at the route's historic eateries. The traditional direction is east to west, starting in the shadow of the skyscrapers in Chicago and ending at the iconic "End of the Trail" sign on the Santa Monica Pier.

When planning your daily mileage, remember that the historic route often parallels—or has been replaced by (remember Cars?)—multilane highways, like Interstates 40 and 55. While the interstates may be faster, the true spirit of the Mother Road is found along the old two-lane sections that wind through small towns and down forgotten main streets. To stay on the right track, you pick up a set of Rand McNally maps before you start. They released an official Centennial map specifically for this journey. The map offers clear directions for the historic alignments that your GPS may struggle to find. Moreover, having a physical map is a practical necessity in many of the remote desert stretches where cell service can be nonexistent.

Reserving Your Stay Along the Way

While the early travelers of Route 66 had to rely on luck and neon "Vacancy" signs—when they were available—you have much more sophisticated tools at your disposal when it comes to finding lodging along the Mother Road.

Booking.com  is an official partner of the Route 66 Centennial and an invaluable resource for reserving your nightly stays, whether you're looking for a modern hotel in Oklahoma City or a charming historic inn in Tucumcari. The beauty staying along Route 66 is its vintage motels, and many of the most famous ones, like the Blue Swallow in New Mexico or the Wigwam Motel in Arizona, can book up months in advance. If you have your heart set on staying in one of these iconic hostelries during the Centennial year, you'll want to make those reservations as early as possible.

For those traveling in an RV, advance reservations are equally important, but you'll want to search for campgrounds and RV parks along the way. The U.S. favors RV camping, so many parks offer full hookups for water, electricity, and sewer, along with amenities like swimming pools and game rooms. If you're planning to visit natural wonders along Route 66, like the Grand Canyon or Petrified Forest National Park, be aware that campgrounds in or near national parks are extremely popular and often book up as soon as reservations become available. Balancing a few nights of "roughing it" in a scenic park with a few nights in a comfortable, air-conditioned (or heated, as the case may be) motel is a great way to experience the full range of Mother Road hospitality.

A Cross-Country Tour by Region

The geography of Route 66 changes dramatically as you move west, effectively dividing your trip into chapters. The journey begins in the Midwest, starting among the Chicago skyscrapers on Lake Michigan's shoreline, then across the prairies and through the charming small towns of Illinois before you cross the Mississippi River into Missouri. After passing through historic St. Louis, you'll roll into the hills and forests of the Ozarks, where you'll find some of the most scenic and winding sections of the Mother Road.

As you move out of Missouri, clipping a corner of Kansas before entering Oklahoma, the landscape flattens and opens up, signaling your arrival in the Great Plains. This region offers a glimpse of the country's agricultural heart, while the Texas Panhandle provides the wide-open horizons and big-sky vistas that many international visitors associate with the American West.

Once you cross into New Mexico and Arizona, you enter the high desert and the heart of the Southwest. You'll find red rock mesas, ancient Native American heritage, and the most beautiful mountain passes on the entire route here. You'll also encounter the highest elevations of the trip and some of the most dramatic temperature shifts, so be prepared for chilly nights—even in the middle of summer.

Finally, the route snakes into the Mojave Desert of California before descending into the sprawling urban landscape of the Los Angeles basin. End your trip with a walk on the sunny sands of the Pacific Coast—it's a perfect reward for the long journey across the U.S. that you've just completed during the Mother Road's historic Centennial celebration.

When you're ready to start mapping out your Route 66 trip in the U.S., start with a visit to Only In Your State’s itinerary planner, which will help you find the best sites and attractions along the way.