Route 66 in Reverse

Touch down in Los Angeles and make your own way to your airport hotel. Chill out or take a taxi to the beach. Relax and get ready for your ride!

Pick up your motorcycle and take the short ride through Los Angeles to Santa Monica Pier. Grab a bite to eat, stretch your legs, dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean, look for the end marker plaque at Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard. If you have time, wander through downtown Santa Monica. Take in the ocean breeze and familiarise yourself with your bike for the adventure ahead. Being self-guided means you decide when to begin each riding day and how long to soak up the Californian coast before heading out onto the legendary Mother Road. Roll out from Santa Monica, through the LA suburbs and the first identifiable stretches of ‘old’ Route 66 to Victorville to rest up. There’s so much more ahead of you!

Today’s ride takes you into the dramatic, desolate, and hot Mojave Desert landscapes. Choose your own pace and photo stops. Look out for the quirky sculpture at Elmer’s Bottletree Ranch, take a break in Barstow, detour to Calico Ghost Town, Peggy Sue’s or Baghdad Cafe before making your way to Fenner and Amboy, located in the middle of nowhere, to check out Roy’s Motel and Café. End the day in Needles, sitting on the edge of the Colorado River.

Cross into Arizona, ride through the iconic desert vistas. Along the way you’ll ride what we refer to as the “curviest” part of Route 66. Pass through Oatman, one of the few remaining authentic old west gold mining towns. Bring some carrots or buy some alfalfa cubes from one of the local shops to feed the local burros, left behind when the miners abandoned their claims. Ride the Oatman Highway and through the Black Mountains on a twisting & turning roller-coaster ride via the Stigraves Pass. Make your way to Kingman, the self-described ‘Capital of Route 66’ and then the small town of Seligman and experience some of the best home-cooking at Lilo’s Westside Café. You’ll stay in Williams — your gateway to the Grand Canyon – this evening.

Today is Grand Canyon day! You have the freedom to head out early to the Grand Canyon South Rim — either by bike, riding the 55 miles to the south rim or, via the scenic train. Explore viewpoints, wander the rim. Be sure to go to Desert view on the Eastern edge of the park for the best views from the stone tower. Linger as long as you like before taking a sunset ride back to your hotel. This will be a day you’ll always remember!

Ride east through rugged desert terrain alongside towering sandstone formations toward New Mexico. Stop in Winslow for a “Standin’ on the Corner” moment  and then Holbrook to see the classic Wigwam Motel and it’s tepee-shaped rooms. Take your time riding through Painted Desert & Petrified Forest National Park, stopping to take in its natural geologic multi-coloured hues and colours. Soak up the open road feeling as the landscape gradually shifts toward Gallup — a historic rail town steeped in Native American culture. Be sure to stop by the historic El Rancho hotel for dinner and a look around the property.

Ride alongside the Navajo sandstone mesas, through the splendour of New Mexico’s natural beauty. Ride down to Albuquerque’s Old Town for lunch, then follow the ancient Santa Fe Trail into picturesque Santa Fe — where you’ll spend two nights exploring at your own pace.

Enjoy a rest day in historic Santa Fe, one of the oldest and the highest, (2194 m) state capitals in the USA. Explore Santa Fe’s numerous art galleries, specialty shops and museums, all within easy walking distance of your hotel. Or roam around the beautiful downtown plaza’s unique combination of Native American and Spanish colonial architecture. If you want a gentle ride, we recommend a visit to Taos. Lots of bends to ride as you take the valley road to get there and the alpine forest road back. Taos is famous as an artist colony and some beautiful art and native American crafts await you. Be sure to sample the local restaurants selection of New Mexican cuisine, a fusion of Mexican and Native American foods.

Depart Santa Fe and ride back onto the wide open plains and enjoy the natural splendour of the southwest following the old Santa Fe cattle drive trail through Pecos National Historic Park. Stop at the iconic Midpoint Café in Adrian, grab some pie and continue east through sprawling farmlands toward Amarillo. En route stop at the Cadillac Ranch, an ever-changing art exhibit started in 1974 by a group of eccentric artists called the “Ant farm”. Be sure to bring a can of spray paint, and release your inner hoodlum leaving your mark on one of the cars (encouraged by the artists). Tonight, test your appetite with the famous 72-oz steak challenge at the Big Texas Steak Ranch. The challenge here is to eat, or attempt to eat, the 72-oz (2 kg) steak dinner in an hour or less. If so it’s free. Are you hungry enough?!

Today’s ride carries you over the Texas Panhandle and into Oklahoma. through vast cattle ranches and small farming towns. Stop at the iconic art-deco U-Drop Inn in Shamrock, featured in the film “Cars” as Ramone’s Body Shop. The old Route 66 here is wide open, giving you plenty of options for stops. In Clinton, at the Route 66 Museum you can learn more about the route and its importance in American history, and do a bit of souvenir shopping. Look out for quirky roadside attractions. End your day in the ranching and college town of Weatherford. Take it easy before tomorrow’s miles.

Oklahoma has more miles of Route 66 than any other state, and they’re in better condition. Ride through endless prairies and rolling landscapes as you make your way toward Tulsa. Stop at the Round Barn in Arcadia, Seba Station Motorcycle Museum in Warwick or visit the Route 66 Interpretive Centre in Chandler. Today you’ll enjoy riding the “Old 66” and the longest remaining stretch of the original alignments of the route. Linger at road side stops or breeze through — that’s the beauty of riding self-guided.

This longer day takes you into Missouri’s textured scenery of oak forests and winding roads and then into Kansas. There’s just under 14 miles of Route 66 in Kansas. Check out the Route 66 welcome centre in Baxter Springs or the old train depot in Galena.  Explore small towns- Carthage, Springfield, Joplin – along the way and  visit historic museums. Enjoy the freedom to customise stops as you traverse your way toward Rolla.

Ride through rolling Ozark hills and past farmlands, stopping at the Missouri Route 66 State Park or Jesse James’ hideout Meramec Caverns if you choose. Enjoy an easy pace as you meander through picturesque farming towns and countryside until you arrive at the Mississippi river, the border between Missouri and Illinois. Cross the Mississippi River back into Illinois, heading toward Springfield. Along the way look for the Chain of Rocks Bridge which became a part of original Route 66 in 1936.

Your last riding day takes you through the heart of Illinois back toward Chicago. Follow the old Pontiac Trail and pop into charming towns along the way but arrive in Chicago with time to explore. Discover the “Windy City” of Chicago with all it has to offer: Famous blues clubs, Navy Pier, Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), fine dining restaurants and a vibrant nightlife. Take a stroll to the starting point of Historic Route 66 at East Adams St and South Michigan Ave. before you wrap up your self-guided Route 66 adventure.

You’ve done it! And today is the day to celebrate as you make your way home. You’ve ridden one of the world’s most famous roads in reverse, at your own pace and on your own terms — memories made entirely your way.