Join us for the ultimate American road trip on U.S. Highway 66, popularly known as Route 66 or the “Mother Road.” Feel like you are traveling back in time as we visit historic places that evoke images of simpler times, mom and pop businesses, and the icons of a mobile nation on the road. From St. Louis to Santa Monica Pier, travel this famous road and see the well-preserved motels, diners, gas stations, and roadside attractions of a bygone era.
- The Blue Whale of Cartoosa
- National Route 66 Museum
- Cadillac Ranch
- Amarillo guided tour
- Petrified Forest National Park
- Mother Road Museum
- Santa Monica Pier
- Iconic photo opportunities
Day 1: JOPLIN, MO
Our journey on the Main Street of America stops at the Rt 66 Rocker (formerly the World’s Largest Rocking Chair) in Cuba, MO. Stop in Springfield to pick up more friendly Sunrise Travelers before a visit to the 163-foot-wide waterfall at Grand Falls. Arrive in Joplin for a guided tour of the town’s history, Route 66 Mural Park, and the hideout apartment of infamous outlaws Bonnie & Clyde. Overnight in Joplin. D
Day 2: OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Continue into Oklahoma for a day filled with more classic Route 66 roadside attractions. Stop in Chelsea to marvel at the World’s Largest Concrete Totem Pole. Stop in Chandler to visit the Rt 66 Interpretive Center featuring artwork and memorabilia that showcases the beauty of Rt 66. Learn about the life of humorist Will Rogers as you visit his memorial museum in Claremore. Take photos of the famed roadside wonder The Blue Whale of Catoosa and the Old Round Barn in Arcadia before arriving in Oklahoma City for dinner and an overnight stay at the 4-star Wyndham Grand. B, D
Day 3: AMARILLO, TX
Capture the spirit of Route 66 at the National Route 66 Museum, the ultimate way to experience our nation’s most revered highway. Stop in Shamrock, TX, to visit the U-Drop-Inn Café before learning about the history of barb wire at the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean. Join a local guide for a tour of Amarillo, including the must-stop at Cadillac Ranch to see 10 Cadillacs buried nose down and covered in spray paint graffiti. B, D
Day 4: GALLUP, NM
You’ve reached the halfway point of Route 66! Stop in Adrian, TX, for a photo at the iconic mid-point sign before continuing along the Mother Road to Albuquerque, NM. Enjoy a classic 50s-style blue plate special lunch at the 66 Diner, complete with their famous milkshake. Explore the history of racing during a guided tour at the Unser Racing Museum. Unpack for a 2-night stay at the historic El Rancho Hotel, which served as home base to movie stars who came to the desert for their films. B, L
Day 5: PETRIFIED FOREST
Spend the day exploring the Petrified Forest National Park, the world’s largest and most colorful collection of petrified wood, dating back 225 million years. Part of a natural travel corridor used for over 10,00 years, historic Rt 66 is its most famous road! After a stop at the Painted Desert Visitor Center and lunch on-your-own at the Painted Desert Diner, head out for a scenic drive through the park’s 28 miles, enjoying breathtaking views of the park’s Painted Desert vistas and colorful badlands. B, D
Day 6: KINGMAN, AZ
Our tour continues west to Arizona, home to the longest original stretch of Route 66. Enjoy photo stops at the classic Jack Rabbit Trading Post and “Standing on the Corner in Winslow, Arizona” before another diner-style lunch at Cruiser’s Route 66 Café. This evening, we visit Peach Springs, the inspiration for the Pixar movie Cars, before an overnight stay at the Route 66-themed Ramada Kingman in Kingman, AZ. B, L
Day 7: LAS VEGAS, NV
Explore Arizona’s Route 66 Museum, located on Andy Divine Road in historic Powerhouse before it’s full speed ahead to glittering Las Vegas. Visit the Hoover Dam before leisure time to explore the Strip. Take a group photo at the iconic “Welcome to Vegas” sign before arriving for dinner and an overnight stay at the iconic Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino. B, D
Day 8: LAS VEGAS, NV
Today is yours to explore Las Vegas at leisure! Your Sunrise Tour Director will help you plan a perfect day. B
Day 9: SANTA MONICA
Time for your last leg of this Rt 66 journey. In Barstow, visit the Mother Road Museum and Murals. Snap a picture at the official “End of the Trail” sign and visit the Last Stop Shop on iconic Santa Monica Pier. Enjoy breathtaking views, ocean breezes, and amusement park fun! Overnight in Los Angeles. B, D
Day 10: RETURN HOME B
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Night 1: Hampton Inn, Joplin, MO
Night 2: Wyndham Grand, Oklahoma City, OK
Night 3: Fairfield Inn, Amarillo, TX
Nights 4-5: El Rancho Hotel, Gallup, NM
Night 6: Ramada, Kingman, AZ
Night 7-8: Golden Nugget Hotel, Las Vegas, NV
Night 9: Renaissance Hotel, Los Angeles, CA
Dates
- Departure: September 10, 2025
- Return: September 19, 2025
Price Per Person
- Double: $2,799
- Triple/Quad: $2,569
- Single: $3,339
*This tour departs via coach from STL and returns via flight from LAX to STL
Helpful Hint
Step back in time and experience the exquisite architectural details and richly colored walls of the Painted Desert Inn. Highlights include the Trading Post Room, which has six hammered-tin, Mexican-style chandeliers, an enormous skylight that has multiple panes of translucent glass painted in Indian pottery designs. The inn still has the original Fred Kabotie murals. Discovered in the 1930s, a large and stunning mountain lion petroglyph is on display inside the inn. The petroglyph is considered one of the finest, most vividly animated and lifelike depictions of mountain lions in the region.
Challenge your linguistic skills in new way by trying to decipher petroglyphs rock art designs on the Puerco Trail and Pueblo Ruin within the Petrified National Forest Park.
If interested in learning more about the coastal waters in Greater Los Angeles, the Heal the Bay Aquarium is located at the Santa Monica Pier!
See a few song lyrics come to life while "Standing on the Corner" in Winslow, Arizona, as there's a bright red 1960 Ford flatbed truck parked in the street and the "girl slowing down to take a look" located in the mural behind the statues...perfect for unique photo ops!
You will have time to hop in the "Standing On The Corner" RT66 Gift Shop to listen to continuous Eagles classic music and pick up a unique souvenir.
Be prepared for a wildlife sighting as a glimpse of Bighorn Sheep is a common sight at the Hoover Dam.
Itinerary Disclaimer
We visit small attractions and restaurants throughout this tour to capture the essence of classic Route 66. In the event of a closure, we will replace it with a comparable activity. In addition Route 66 is constantly adding new attractions, which may be added without prior notice.
Weather
This tour covers a long stretch of land and temperatures can vary greatly throughout the trip. We recommend being prepared for warm days and cool evenings.
Luggage & Dress
Make sure you have comfortable shoes! This tour requires a lot of walking.
Other General Information
We will send 3 key communications for your tour; “Get Ready” is your email confirmation and initial tour information sent upon registration, “Get Set” email will be sent about two months before departure, “Go” trip documentation mailing is sent via USPS 3-4 weeks before departure and will include your daily itinerary, luggage tags and final departure information.
Travel Protection is optional and highly recommended and can be purchased until the day before departure. We offer Travel Guard from AIG, which costs 8.5% of your tour, information about which will be sent with your Get Ready email.
Unless otherwise noted, your Sunrise Tour includes: Professional Sunrise Tour Director, meals as indicated, local step on guides including gratuity (international tour guide gratuity inclusion vary by tour), deluxe motorcoach transportation w/rest room, admission to activities and events as indicated, airfare from designated airports, transportation to/from designated airports from our convenient local pickup points*, luggage handling at hotels when available
We believe tipping is a personal and discretionary interaction between our guests and our staff. A typical gratuity for your Sunrise Tour Director and motorcoach driver may be $5-$7per person, per day on tour. Sunrise Shuttle drivers appreciate gratuities (suggest $5 per person) for excellent service as well. Our staff will not solicit gratuities or pass out envelopes.
We are happy to offer refreshments on most motorcoach travel days on tour. We recommend you bring a refillable water bottle to maintain healthy hydration.
If less than 4 people request a pickup point, we may ask that you choose another pickup point from which to join your Sunrise Tour.
If you would like to join a tour from a city not listed as a departure point, we would love to have you along! Please discuss arrangements with our friendly reservation team. From a departure city not listed, typical airfare will be +$100 higher than our published fare for domestic tours, and +$200 for international tours.
If you have a TSA precheck or Airline Rewards numbers, you MUST give those numbers to our reservations team at least 60 days before departure, otherwise they may not be applied.
Preferred seating may not be available on group air. In some cases, seats are not assigned until the airport. Your tour fare includes an economy seat on the flight; it does not include seat selection. Seat upgrades may be available at an additional cost.
To help make our tours the most comfortable in the business, we limit Sunrise Tours motorcoaches to 80% capacity, or 44 passengers on a coach built for 55. We reserve the right to amend this practice.
Your Tour Director will rotate seats on the motorcoach each day of your tour. A single fare does not guarantee two seats on the coach; you may be seated next to another friendly Sunrise Tours guest.
Terms and Conditions
Please refer to our policies HERE for more information on our terms and conditions.
