10 day itinerary
Santa Monica
Personalized with:Historical route 66Starting from Chicago
Itinerary
Here's an ideal itinerary for 10 days in Santa Monica, starting from Chicago and following the historical Route 66:
Day 1: Chicago
- Arrive in Chicago and check into your hotel
- Spend the day exploring the city's famous landmarks, such as the , Millennium Park, and Navy Pier
- In the evening, head to Lou Malnati's Pizzeria for some authentic Chicago-style deep dish pizza
Day 2: Chicago to St. Louis
- Drive from Chicago to St. Louis, stopping at the , Illinois along the way
- In St. Louis, visit the Gateway Arch and take a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River
- For dinner, try some St. Louis-style barbecue at Pappy's Smokehouse
Day 3: St. Louis to Springfield
- Drive from St. Louis to Springfield, stopping at the Meramec Caverns and the Route 66 State Park along the way
- In Springfield, visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and the Old State Capitol
- For dinner, try some classic American fare at the Cozy Dog Drive-In
Day 4: Springfield to Tulsa
- Drive from Springfield to Tulsa, stopping at the Route 66 Drive-In Theater and the Blue Whale of Catoosa along the way
- In Tulsa, visit the Philbrook Museum of Art and the Tulsa Zoo
- For dinner, try some authentic Tex-Mex cuisine at El Rio Verde
Day 5: Tulsa to Oklahoma City
- Drive from Tulsa to Oklahoma City, stopping at the Round Barn in Arcadia and the Pops Soda Ranch in Arcadia along the way
- In Oklahoma City, visit the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
- For dinner, try some classic Oklahoma-style barbecue at Leo's BBQ
Day 6: Oklahoma City to Amarillo
- Drive from Oklahoma City to Amarillo, stopping at the Cadillac Ranch and the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian along the way
- In Amarillo, visit the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum and the Palo Duro Canyon State Park
- For dinner, try some authentic Texas-style steak at the Big Texan Steak Ranch
Day 7: Amarillo to Santa Fe
- Drive from Amarillo to Santa Fe, stopping at the Tucumcari Historical Museum and the Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa along the way
- In Santa Fe, visit the Santa Fe Plaza and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum
- For dinner, try some traditional New Mexican cuisine at The Shed
Day 8: Santa Fe to Albuquerque
- Drive from Santa Fe to Albuquerque, stopping at the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway and the Sandia Peak Tramway along the way
- In Albuquerque, visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center and the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History
- For dinner, try some authentic New Mexican-style enchiladas at El Modelo
Day 9: Albuquerque to Flagstaff
- Drive from Albuquerque to Flagstaff, stopping at the Petrified Forest National Park and the Meteor Crater Natural Landmark along the way
- In Flagstaff, visit the Lowell Observatory and the Museum of Northern Arizona
- For dinner, try some classic American burgers at Diablo Burger
Day 10: Flagstaff to Santa Monica
- Drive from Flagstaff to Santa Monica, stopping at the Grand Canyon National Park and the Route 66 Museum in Kingman along the way
- In Santa Monica, visit the Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade
- For dinner, try some fresh seafood at The Lobster
That's an ideal itinerary for 10 days in Santa Monica, following the historical Route 66. I hope you find it helpful!