Route 66 Self-Launched: Chicago to Los Angeles Independently
16 days · USA
Cosmos charges £2,790
No-markup version: ~£2,565 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, budget-friendly version of Cosmos' 16-day "Highlights of Route 66" coach tour. Instead of a 42-50 person motorcoach with a tour director, you ride the same legendary highway under your own steam — Amtrak's Lincoln Service, Greyhound and FlixBus for the long legs, a cheap rental car (split if you're travelling with others) for the classic Mother Road stretches, and hostel/budget motel beds along the way. You'll hit the same landmarks — the Route 66 start sign, Pontiac's Hall of Fame, the Gateway Arch, Cadillac Ranch, the halfway point at Adrian, the Grand Canyon's South Rim, Vegas and Santa Monica Pier — booking each museum, arch ticket and trolley ride yourself. Realistic all-in cost runs around £2,350–£2,700 including domestic transport, roughly a third of the coach tour price before flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Chicago — Route 66 begins
Chicago
Land at O'Hare or Midway and take the CTA Blue Line 'L' train into the Loop (~£4, 45 mins) — no need for a taxi. Check into a hostel or budget hotel near the Loop or River North. Spend the evening walking the Chicago Riverwalk and Michigan Avenue, getting your bearings before the road trip starts tomorrow. Buy a Ventra transit card for the day.
🚌CTA Blue Line train from airport (~£4)
🛏HI Chicago Hostel or budget hotel near the Loop (£28-40)
- →CTA Blue Line into the city
- →Evening walk on the Chicago Riverwalk
- →Michigan Avenue window shopping
Chicago sights and the Route 66 start sign
Chicago
Do a self-guided walking/architecture loop in the morning — the Chicago Architecture Center's river cruise is bookable via GetYourGuide or directly (~£35-45) if you want the guided version. Then walk to the famous Route 66 Begin sign at Adams & Michigan and grab a photo. Optionally pay to go up the Skydeck at Willis Tower (~£30) or the 360 Chicago observation deck. Free time in Millennium Park and the Bean.
🚌Walking and CTA day pass (~£4)
🛏HI Chicago Hostel or budget hotel near the Loop (£28-40)
- →Route 66 start sign at Adams Street
- →Self-guided Loop architecture walk or river cruise (~£40)
- →Optional Willis Tower Skydeck (~£30)
- →Millennium Park and the Bean
Chicago to Springfield via Pontiac
Springfield, IL
Take an early Amtrak Lincoln Service train from Chicago to Pontiac (~£15, 1h45), visit the free Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum (donation-based) and the huge Route 66 mural, then continue by Amtrak or Greyhound to Springfield (~£12). In Springfield, walk to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum (book ticket online, ~£12). Overnight in a budget motel near downtown. Note: for this opening leg public transport works well; from Springfield onwards you'll want wheels.
🚌Amtrak Lincoln Service Chicago–Pontiac–Springfield (~£27 total)
🛏Budget motel in downtown Springfield (£40-55)
- →Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum, Pontiac
- →Route 66 mural photo stop
- →Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum (~£12)
Springfield to St. Louis — Gateway Arch
St. Louis
Pick up a cheap rental car in Springfield (a compact for 10 days runs ~£250-350 total — split with travel companions brings it right down), or take the Amtrak Lincoln Service to St. Louis (~£20, 2h). Cross the Mississippi and drive a stretch of original Route 66 alignment. Ride the Gateway Arch tram to the top (book online in advance — timed tickets ~£14). Finish with a frozen custard at Ted Drewe's, the legendary Route 66 stand.
🚌Amtrak Lincoln Service (~£20) or rental car pickup
🛏Budget motel or hostel near downtown St. Louis (£40-55)
- →Original Route 66 alignment drive
- →Gateway Arch tram to the top (~£14)
- →Ted Drewe's frozen custard
- →Self-guided orientation of downtown St. Louis
St. Louis to Joplin — roadside Americana
Joplin, MO
Drive Route 66 south-west through the Ozarks, stopping at the Meramec Caverns billboards, the Route 66 State Park and small-town diners. In Joplin, learn about Bonnie and Clyde's 1933 shootout at the free downtown historical markers and the Joplin Museum Complex (~£4). Pick a classic Route 66 motor court or budget chain motel for the night.
🚌Rental car, ~250 miles (~£12 fuel share)
🛏Route 66 motor court / budget motel in Joplin (£35-48)
- →Meramec Caverns stop
- →Route 66 State Park
- →Bonnie & Clyde history markers and Joplin Museum Complex (~£4)
Joplin to Oklahoma City via Tulsa
Oklahoma City
Drive to Tulsa (~2h) and see the East Meets West sculpture and the Blue Dome District, then stop at the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center in Vinita (free). Continue to Oklahoma City. Grab dinner in the Plaza District or Bricktown. Overnight near downtown.
🚌Rental car, ~220 miles (~£10 fuel share)
🛏Budget motel/hostel in Oklahoma City (£40-52)
- →East Meets West sculpture, Tulsa
- →Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center (free)
- →Bricktown and Plaza District evening
Oklahoma City to Amarillo — National Route 66 Museum
Amarillo, TX
Self-guided morning loop of OKC (Memorial, Bricktown, state capitol), then drive west via Elk City where the National Route 66 Museum charges ~£5 entry. Arrive Amarillo by evening — go for the steak challenge at the Big Texan Steak Ranch (~£40, or free if you finish the 72oz beast) and stay in a classic Route 66 motel. This is where the flat Texas panhandle begins.
🚌Rental car, ~260 miles (~£12 fuel share)
🛏Route 66 motel in Amarillo (£35-50)
- →OKC self-guided loop
- →National Route 66 Museum, Elk City (~£5)
- →Big Texan Steak Ranch dinner (~£40)
Amarillo to Albuquerque via Cadillac Ranch and Adrian
Albuquerque, NM
Spray-paint your name at Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo (free, bring a can), stop at Adrian, Texas — the exact midpoint of Route 66 for a photo at the halfway sign — then Tucumcari for Teepee Curios and a shot of the neon Blue Swallow Motel. Arrive Albuquerque and stroll Central Avenue's original Route 66 buildings into Old Town in the evening.
🚌Rental car, ~290 miles (~£14 fuel share)
🛏Hostel or Route 66 motel in Albuquerque (£30-48)
- →Cadillac Ranch (free)
- →Adrian midway point of Route 66
- →Teepee Curios and Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari
- →Central Avenue and Historic Old Town Albuquerque
Albuquerque — Old Town and museums
Albuquerque
A full day without driving. Do the open-air Albuquerque trolley tour (~£25, book direct) or just walk Old Town, then pick a museum — the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (~£8) is the standout; the Albuquerque Museum and Natural History Museum are both ~£8. Lunch on green chile at a local cafe. Stock up for the desert stretch tomorrow.
🚌Walking / local bus (~£3)
🛏Hostel or Route 66 motel in Albuquerque (£30-48)
- →Albuquerque trolley tour (~£25) or Old Town walk
- →Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (~£8)
- →New Mexico Museum of Natural History (~£8)
Albuquerque to Williams or Flagstaff via Gallup and Winslow
Williams, AZ
Long driving day west on I-40. Stop at El Malpais National Monument's lava fields (free), then Gallup for Navajo trading-post shops, and Winslow, Arizona to stand on the corner made famous by the Eagles' 'Take It Easy'. Push on to Williams or Flagstaff for the night — Williams is slightly closer to the canyon and has a walkable historic Route 66 main street.
🚌Rental car, ~420 miles (~£20 fuel share)
🛏Budget motel in Williams or Flagstaff (£42-58)
- →El Malpais National Monument lava flows (free)
- →Gallup trading posts
- →Winslow 'Standin' on the Corner' park
Grand Canyon South Rim
Grand Canyon National Park
Drive to the South Rim (~1h from Williams; £25 park entrance covers 7 days, or £60 America the Beautiful annual pass if you'll hit other parks). Walk the Rim Trail between Mather Point and Yavapai, spot elk and ravens, and catch sunset at Hopi Point. Optional helicopter flightseeing (~£180-250) can be booked via GetYourGuide. Return to Williams or stay in a park lodge if you booked early.
🚌Rental car, ~120 miles round trip (~£8 fuel share) + £25 park entry
🛏Budget motel in Williams (£42-58)
- →South Rim Rim Trail self-guided walk
- →Hopi Point sunset
- →Optional helicopter flightseeing (~£200)
Williams to Las Vegas via Seligman — Route 66 classic
Las Vegas
This is the most famous surviving stretch: Route 66 via Seligman, the birthplace of the historic-highway revival, complete with the Snow Cap Drive-In and Angel Delgadillo's barbershop. Stop at the Grand Canyon Caverns if you fancy it (~£15), then drive into Las Vegas via Hoover Dam (~1h detour, free to walk the bridge). Evening self-guided Strip walk — Bellagio fountains, the Venetian canals, a cheap slice and a gamble-free wander.
🚌Rental car, ~250 miles (~£12 fuel share)
🛏Budget Strip-area motel or hostel (£35-55 midweek)
- →Seligman Route 66 historic district
- →Snow Cap Drive-In stop
- →Hoover Dam viewpoint (free)
- →Self-guided Las Vegas Strip walk
Las Vegas free day
Las Vegas
No car needed. Hit Fremont Street Experience downtown for the free light show, explore the Bellagio Conservatory and Venetian canal walk, or take a cheap public bus day trip to Hoover Dam (Gray Line-ish shuttles ~£30-45, or the free bridge walk if you have the car). Optional evening show (~£40-100 on discount sites like Vegas.com). Or just rest — you're over halfway.
🚌Walking / Deuce bus day pass (~£6)
🛏Budget Strip-area motel or hostel (£35-55)
- →Fremont Street Experience light show (free)
- →Bellagio Conservatory and Venetian canals
- →Optional Hoover Dam excursion (~£40)
- →Optional Vegas show (~£60)
Las Vegas to Los Angeles via Victorville and Santa Monica
Los Angeles
A drive-heavy day: head south-west across the Mojave, stop at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville (free, small donation), then push to Santa Monica. Drop the car at the airport or downtown rental return. End the journey on Santa Monica Pier where Route 66 meets the Pacific — the 'End of the Trail' sign is right there. Take the Expo Line metro back to your hostel in Hollywood or downtown.
🚌Rental car, ~290 miles (~£14 fuel share) + LA Metro Expo Line (~£2)
🛏HI Santa Monica or Hollywood hostel (£32-50)
- →California Route 66 Museum, Victorville (free)
- →Santa Monica Pier End of the Trail sign
- →Pacific sunset on Santa Monica Beach
Los Angeles — Hollywood and Beverly Hills
Los Angeles
Self-guided LA day via the Metro: walk Hollywood Boulevard's Walk of Fame, look up at the Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory (free, best at sunset), and take a bus to Beverly Hills and Sunset Strip. Optional Warner Bros. Studio tour (~£55-65, book direct) if you're a film buff — it's the one thing everyone back home asks about. Finish with a taco truck dinner.
🚌LA Metro day pass (~£5)
🛏HI Santa Monica or Hollywood hostel (£32-50)
- →Hollywood Walk of Fame (free)
- →Griffith Observatory and Hollywood sign view (free)
- →Beverly Hills and Sunset Strip
- →Optional Warner Bros. Studio Tour (~£60)
Depart Los Angeles
Los Angeles
Morning for last-minute souvenirs or a beach walk, then take the FlyAway bus from Union Station to LAX (~£8) or the LAX Metro connector. Plan a late-afternoon departure so you can squeeze in breakfast at a diner — the whole trip should feel like one long diner crawl, and that's the correct way to end it.
🚌LA Metro + FlyAway bus to LAX (~£10)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Beach walk or downtown LA last wander
- →FlyAway bus to LAX
Self-launched vs. Cosmos
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Cosmos | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,565 | £2,790 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £225 per person (8%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Cosmos-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,565
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Route 66 Self-Launched: Chicago to Los Angeles Independently cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,565 per person for 16 days in USA. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Cosmos?+
Yes — Cosmos charges around £2,790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,565 — a saving of roughly £225 (8%) per person.
How long is the USA trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through USA.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a road-trip, culture, adventure trip through USA, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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