VAN-COMPARATOR Guide
Route 66 by RV from Chicago: the guide to the mother of all road trips
Driving Route 66 in an RV from Chicago: 2,450 miles to Santa Monica, the essential stops, one-way fees, mileage maths, budget and the ideal duration.
“Get your kicks on Route 66”: 2,450 miles between Chicago and the Santa Monica Pier, eight states, and the greatest density of diners, neon motels and vintage gas stations in the country. In an RV it is the trip of a lifetime — provided you plan it as a one-way, not a loop.
One-way: condition number one
Nobody drives the 66 back the other way. Pick up in Chicago, drop off in Los Angeles: rental firms charge a $500-800 one-way fee on this route, comfortably offset by the two weeks of return driving you save. Second thing to watch: mileage. With detours (Grand Canyon, Santa Fe), plan on 2,700-3,000 miles; at $0.35/mile with firms that bill distance, that is $950-1,050 — look for mileage packages or unlimited deals, and read our guide to renting an RV in the USA.
The stops you don’t skip
- Illinois-Missouri: the “Begin Route 66” sign in Chicago, Springfield, then St. Louis and the Gateway Arch.
- Oklahoma-Texas: Tulsa and Oklahoma City, then Amarillo — Cadillac Ranch and its cars planted nose-down in the prairie.
- New Mexico: detour to Santa Fe, adobe and galleries, then Albuquerque and the neon of Central Avenue.
- Arizona: Petrified Forest (the only national park the 66 crosses), Winslow, the Grand Canyon detour (2 h), then Seligman and Hackberry, the villages that inspired Cars.
- California: the Mojave Desert, Bagdad Café, and the finish at Santa Monica.
Duration, budget, season
Two weeks is a realistic minimum (about 180 miles a day on average), three weeks is real comfort. Budget for two over 15 days: $2,200-3,500 for the rental (Class C at $150-250/day), $500-800 in one-way and mileage fees, $600 in fuel, $400-700 in campgrounds (KOAs and state parks line the route). Best windows: April-June and September-October — in summer the Mojave tops 45°C.
Compare before the big departure
Van-Comparator queries Yescapa, Goboony, Roadsurfer and Indie Campers, and will soon add Cruise America and RVshare, unavoidable on this route. One tip: book 6-9 months out — Chicago-LA one-ways sell out fast in spring.