Can I see all of Route 66 in one trip?

The full Chicago-Santa Monica historic alignment is 2,448 miles. The western section is 970 miles. Pick one section per trip.

Where do I find original alignment?

AZ-66 Seligman-Kingman is the longest continuous original-alignment section. NM US-66 segments through Tucumcari and Gallup similar.

Scenic bywayCited official sources

Route 66 — western section (Albuquerque to Santa Monica)

The most intact RV-driveable Route 66 segment. Where the Mother Road still feels like itself.

Route 66 was decommissioned as a US highway in 1985. Substantial fragments survive in driveable form, particularly through New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The western section — Albuquerque to Santa Monica — has the densest concentration of preserved alignment, intact roadside architecture, and continuous business history. For RV travelers, the western Route 66 is a multi-day immersion in mid-century American highway culture.

Frame: a highway in New Mexico — not this route.

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By PickRV·Cited primary sources·Updated May 18, 2026

Elevation

7,300ft

highest point · climbs from 200 ft

05k10k14.5k

Elevation range — drawn from this page's surveyed low and high points

Quick answer

Is Route 66 a single road today?

No — Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 and is now a discontinuous patchwork of state and local roads. The most intact RV-driveable segments are: New Mexico (Tucumcari to Gallup via NM-117 and old US-66), Arizona (Holbrook to Kingman via I-40 service roads and AZ-66), California (Needles to Barstow via National Trails Highway, Barstow to Santa Monica via various). I-40 closely parallels the historic alignment through New Mexico, Arizona, and into California — modern I-40 + Route 66 service-road exits is the practical multi-day drive.

Not a single road today — decommissioned 1985
Western section has best-preserved alignment
I-40 parallels alignment through NM, AZ
AZ-66 segment Seligman to Kingman is iconic intact
RV-friendly throughout the western route

At a glance

Route facts worth checking before you roll out

Conservative, source-minded numbers for planning — always confirm against current conditions and state DOT 511 before you depart.

Distance

970 mi

Albuquerque to Santa Monica via preserved Route 66 alignment

Drive time

18–30 hr

7-10 days savoured

Elevation

200–7,300 ft

RV compatibility

RV-friendly

Best season

April through October. Summer heat in Mojave brutal. Spring and fall ideal.

Cell coverage. Generally good. Better in towns; spotty in Mojave stretches.

Elevation profile

Ranges 200 ft (LA basin) to 7,300 ft (Continental Divide).

Vehicle restrictions

No posted RV restrictions on parallel I-40 or service roads
Some preserved-alignment segments narrow but driveable
AZ-66 Seligman section: rough surface in places

Key segments worth seeing

Albuquerque (Central Avenue): historic NM-66 through Old Town. Multiple original motels (now hotels), the El Vado Motel, the De Anza Motor Lodge. Multiple RV-friendly campgrounds.

Tucumcari NM: peak Route 66 motel concentration. Blue Swallow Motel, Motel Safari, multiple original neon signs preserved.

Gallup NM: El Rancho Hotel, Native American trading post district. Adjacent to Navajo Nation.

Holbrook AZ: Wigwam Motel (concrete teepees), Petrified Forest National Park gateway.

Seligman to Kingman AZ-66: the most intact stretch — 90 miles bypassed by I-40 in 1978. Hackberry General Store, Snow Cap Drive-In, Delgadillo's Snow Cap.

Oatman AZ + Sitgreaves Pass: tight switchback section in the Black Mountains. Small rigs only beyond Cool Springs.

Needles CA: Mojave Desert gateway. El Garces Hotel preserved.

Barstow to Santa Monica: National Trails Highway. Calico Ghost Town, Bagdad Cafe site, Amboy.

Real warnings

Sitgreaves Pass switchbacks
Oatman segment is small-rig only.
caution
Mojave summer heat
100°F+ routine June-September. Plan night driving or skip the season.
Limited services intact sections
Plan fuel + water. Cell coverage thin.

What Route 66 tourism + nostalgic blogs doesn't tell you

Route 66 nostalgia coverage often glosses over the fact that the road is no longer continuous. Honest framing for RV travelers: this is a curated set of fragments, not a single drive.

What's underdiscussed: Indigenous communities along the route. The Navajo and Hopi nations have significant presence along the route in northeastern Arizona. The Native American trading post culture preserved along Route 66 is a complex history worth engaging with critically — not just as nostalgia.

NPS Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program: Federal preservation initiative.[source]
Visit Arizona Route 66: State tourism page.[source]

Frequently asked questions

Can I see all of Route 66 in one trip?: The full Chicago-Santa Monica historic alignment is 2,448 miles. The western section is 970 miles. Pick one section per trip.
Where do I find original alignment?: AZ-66 Seligman-Kingman is the longest continuous original-alignment section. NM US-66 segments through Tucumcari and Gallup similar.

Authoritative sources

America's Byways — Federal Highway Administration scenic byway program FHWA National Scenic Byways
National Park Service — find a park National Park Service
Arizona ADOT — AZ511 State DOT

Verify current conditions with state DOT 511 systems before departure. RV restrictions may change. Weather may close roads.

Planning an RV trip along Route 66?

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Rent an RV in the 3 states Route 66 crosses

This drive spans more than one state. Pick up where the road starts, or wherever the trip suits you.

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