The Great American Diagonal Motorcycle Tour

Day 4

St-Louis - Joplin

Leaving St. Louis, Route 66 gradually moves away from major infrastructure to return to a more human scale. Miles pass through a succession of small towns and typical Midwest agricultural landscapes.

This is where you understand that Route 66 is not just a mythical road, but also a daily life axis, used for decades by families, workers, and anonymous travelers.

Arrival in Joplin marks an interesting transition. The city has preserved and highlighted several elements of its Route 66 heritage, particularly through its murals and restored signage.

A free walk allows you to follow the Route 66 Mural & Neon Photo Tour, a true open-air journey telling the local story, the golden age of the road, and its recent revival.

Recommended break at Joplin Avenue Coffee, an independent café with a contemporary aesthetic, appreciated by locals and travelers alike.

Free evening to explore the streets or simply enjoy the calm after a day on the road.

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450 km

Day 5

Joplin - Oklahoma City

Entering Oklahoma happens smoothly. The landscapes open up, the straight lines stretch out, announcing the vast spaces of the country’s center. Tulsa appears as a key stop to understand the cultural impact of Route 66.

Visiting the Woody Guthrie Center is a highlight of the day. Woody Guthrie, a major figure of American folk music, accompanied Dust Bowl migrants through his songs, many of whom traveled Route 66 to escape hardship.

The museum connects music, social history, and the road, giving deeper meaning to the miles traveled.

Then head to 11th Street, the former Route 66 alignment in Tulsa. Neon signs, old motels, and diners tell the story of a time when the road was a constant meeting place.

We recommend eating at Mother Road Market, a modern food hall reinterpreting the spirit of Route 66 through a diverse culinary offering.

Depending on your mood, the evening can continue in a bar with live music, in a country or rockabilly atmosphere.

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200 km

Day 6

Oklahoma city - Amarillo

This stage highlights the importance of Route 66 in the development of Oklahoma. The landscapes remain wide and open, dotted with small towns that owe much of their existence to the Mother Road.

The key stop of the day is Clinton, considered the beating heart of Route 66 in Oklahoma. A visit to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is highly recommended. It is one of the few museums along the route truly worth your time, even on a fast-paced itinerary. The visit is smooth and well-designed, offering a complete understanding of the evolution of Route 66 from its pioneering days to its decline and eventual revival.

After Clinton, the road fully reveals its horizontal dimension. The scenery becomes drier and more mineral, gradually announcing the approach of Texas.

Arrival in Amarillo marks a real shift in atmosphere. By the end of the day, the low light enhances the vast landscapes and reinforces the feeling of having crossed a symbolic frontier.

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330 km

Day 7

Amarillo - Santa Fe

The road gradually leaves the great plains behind and enters a more mineral environment. The colors shift, the light becomes harsher, signaling the approach of New Mexico.

Arrival in Santa Fe marks a true change of atmosphere. One of the oldest cities in the United States, it stands out for its adobe architecture and its strong ties to Native American and Hispanic cultures.

The day is dedicated to wandering through the historic center: Native American art galleries, ancient churches, and peaceful streets.

You may enjoy the sunset from the surrounding hills—an iconic vision of the American Southwest.

Dinner can be enjoyed at Upper Crust Pizza, located in a traditional building. Overnight in a city that fully embodies the spirit of the Southwest.

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440 km

Day 8

Santa Fe - Gallup

This is one of the most pleasant days to ride. Leaving Santa Fe happens quickly, and the road leads through increasingly open landscapes. Villages become rare, and traffic almost disappears in some sections. Riding becomes smooth, almost meditative.

Along the way, the scenery alternates between desert plateaus and rock formations. Route 66 blends into the landscape—sometimes discreet, sometimes clearly visible through remnants along the road.

You pass through Grants, with its retro neon signs and typical restaurants, perfect for a quick break without losing momentum.

Arrival in Gallup reinforces the feeling of being far from everything. A true railway and road town, Gallup embodies a raw, passing America, perfectly aligned with the Road Runner spirit.

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120 km

Day 9

Gallup - Williams

Leaving Gallup, Route 66 crosses a region where the landscape begins to tell a different story of America.

First possible stop in Lupton at the Yellowhorse Trading Post, an emblematic place of exchange between travelers and Navajo communities. Here you will find turquoise jewelry, local crafts, and traditional objects, but above all a direct connection between the road and the people who have lived here for generations.

The road then follows the Petrified Forest before crossing Holbrook, a town deeply tied to Route 66 history, known for its old motels and preserved roadside atmosphere.

In Winslow, a must-stop at the famous corner immortalized by the Eagles song, now a cultural landmark.

The afternoon is dedicated to the Grand Canyon. The gradual approach prepares you for the visual impact. At sunset, the viewpoints reveal the immensity of this landscape, often considered one of the defining images of the American West. Optional helicopter flight available.

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350 km

Day 10

Williams - Kingman

The day begins in Williams, the last town to be bypassed by the Interstate, which explains its strong attachment to Route 66. Stop at Pete’s Gas Station Museum, a perfectly preserved 1940s service station that reflects the era when the road dictated the rhythm of the town.

The road continues to Seligman, often considered the birthplace of Route 66’s revival. It was here that Angel Delgadillo worked to save the road from being forgotten. His barbershop has become a pilgrimage site for enthusiasts.

Break at the Black Cat Café, a historic establishment once frequented by cowboys, railway workers, and truck drivers, still maintaining a simple and authentic atmosphere.

Continuing toward Kingman, the road crosses more arid landscapes, marked by long straight lines and distant reliefs.

Upon arrival, visit the Powerhouse Route 66 Museum, located in a former power plant, retracing the history of the road in Arizona.

For those interested, a detour to Oatman is possible. This former mining town is now known for its wild donkeys roaming freely through the main street, a reminder of the gold rush era.

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185 km

Day 11

Kingman - Las Vegas

Leaving Kingman, Route 66 gradually gives way to a more direct desert crossing. The landscapes become more mineral, shaped by heat and long straight lines that have defined the American road trip imagination.

This stretch allows you to fully grasp the contrast between the rural America explored in previous days and today’s destination. Las Vegas suddenly appears, like a complete rupture from the world of Route 66.

The city represents another American myth, born later: excess, entertainment, and illusion.

Check-in at Caesars Palace, a global symbol of extravagance, marble, and cinema-inspired grandeur, perfectly illustrating Las Vegas’ ability to recreate entire worlds.

On request, you may enjoy a limousine tour of the Strip, immersing yourself in the spectacle of neon lights and iconic casinos. This optional two-hour experience captures the essence of luxury and excess in the world capital of gaming.

After several days of riding through natural landscapes, this stage acts as a deliberate contrast before returning to the Route 66 spirit the next day.

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170 km

Day 12

Las Vegas - Barstow

Leaving Las Vegas, the road quickly escapes the urban energy and enters the Mojave Desert, one of the most iconic landscapes of Route 66.

First stop in Amboy, a former roadside stop now made iconic by Roy’s Motel Café. Its gas station, motel, and neon sign—almost unchanged since the 1950s—tell the story of how essential these stops were in the desert.

The journey continues to the legendary Bagdad Café, made famous by cinema. This simple and isolated place perfectly embodies the Californian Route 66 imagination.

Arrival in Barstow marks the end of the desert crossing. A visit to the Route 66 Mother Road Museum, located in a former railway depot, provides valuable historical insight into this stage.

End the day with a night walk to discover the last illuminated neon signs still shining.

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250 km

Day 13

Barstow - Santa Monica

This day marks the approach to the ocean and the official end of Route 66. Leaving Barstow, the landscape gradually evolves: the desert fades, relief becomes more pronounced, and urban density increases.

Passing through San Bernardino, considered one of the gateways to Los Angeles. It is here that the very first McDonald’s opened, symbolizing modern roadside America.

Arrival in Santa Monica is a powerful moment. The photo at the “End of the Trail” sign on the pier symbolizes the completion of the journey, from Chicago to the Pacific Ocean.

The contrast between the ocean and the thousands of miles traveled gives full meaning to the experience.

Free time at the end of the day to explore Venice Beach, Sunset Boulevard, or Griffith Observatory, depending on your preferences.

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250 km

Day 14

Los Angeles

This is the final highlight of your journey.

Last day in Los Angeles with no driving constraints. Breakfast can be enjoyed at Cindy’s, a retro diner opened in 1948, perfect for extending the Route 66 atmosphere to the very end.

Enjoy your final moments in California, or let us organize a last guided visit in Beverly Hills before heading to Los Angeles airport for your return flight.

Route 66 officially ends here.

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