It’s powerful to get a extra basic highway journey than Route 66. And this 12 months, the Mom Street celebrates her a centesimal birthday (!). A legendary freeway stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 is a chunk of residing historical past. It passes by basic Americana, desert landscapes, nationwide parks, and quirky (but iconic) roadside sights alongside the best way.
It’s, additionally, a protracted, lengthy drive — that’s, if you deal with the entire thing. That’s why many highway trippers choose to take to it in segments. However even segments can really feel prolonged when it’s essential to save time, vitality, and cash for the return journey.
Enter the one-way RV highway journey. Right here at RVshare, we lately launched one-way RV leases, which may actually change the sport on the subject of longer journeys and routes that merely name for extra detailed, up-close-and-personal exploration. Whenever you solely need to drive a technique, you may spend all of your assets on totally residing up that have, quite than budgeting round the necessity to return to the place you began from.
And, you guessed it: We now have all the main points beneath that will help you do it proper.
Why Take a One-Approach RV Journey on Route 66?
Route 66 is all concerning the spirit of the open highway. As a substitute of feeling constrained by must-dos, a one-way RV highway journey lets you begin off in a single main metropolis and finish in one other, taking on a regular basis it’s essential to department off Route 66 to achieve among the West’s most unforgettable locations.
A one-way RV rental provides you the liberty Route 66 was constructed for:
- No have to loop again to your start line. (Simply fly out of your terminal metropolis.)
- Extra time exploring the cities, parks, and sights that introduced you to the Mom Street within the first place.
- Simpler logistics for longer, cross-state highway journeys (no nameless lodge rooms!).
- Splendid for vacationers flying into one metropolis and out of one other. See extra in much less time!
Whether or not you’re chasing neon indicators, desert landscapes, or Pacific Coast sunsets, one-way RV journey enables you to preserve shifting ahead similar to the unique Route 66 vacationers did. And with one-way RV leases from RVshare accessible between main hubs like Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Salt Lake Metropolis, San Francisco, and Seattle, you may design a Route 66–impressed itinerary that matches your timeline, journey model, and bucket record.
Let’s take a more in-depth look.
Denver-Primarily based Route 66 One-Approach RV Journeys
The Mile Excessive Metropolis is a well-liked launching level for longer western highway journeys of many stripes — and particularly for vacationers who need to join Route 66 with nationwide parks, mountain excursions, desert surroundings, or the West Coast.
Whereas the world (or at the least the U.S. map) is really your oyster on this situation, we’ve damaged down some fashionable segments beneath, together with main, must-do highlights.
Denver to Las Vegas
Whereas many will take routes additional north to attach these two cities, if you happen to swing south, this route can pair historic Route 66 stretches in New Mexico and Arizona with a dramatic end in Las Vegas. Alongside the best way, you’ll move by the beautiful San Juan Nationwide Forest, studded by cities that sit even larger than Denver (like Ouray).
Different highlights embody:
Denver to Los Angeles
Lots like Denver-to-Las Vegas, however much more epic: Connecting these two cities is a basic Route 66-inspired journey. After weaving by the Southwest (don’t miss stops in Santa Fe or Grand Canyon Nationwide Park), you’ll reconnect with Route 66’s official western endpoint on the Santa Monica Pier.
Denver to Salt Lake Metropolis
Whereas this route doesn’t comply with Route 66 instantly, it’s splendid for vacationers combining Route 66 historical past with:
- Utah’s purple rock landscapes
- Scenic desert highways
- Nationwide parks like Arches and Canyonlands
Denver to San Francisco
As a substitute of following Google Maps’ suggestion to swing north into Wyoming, head south by Colorado Springs (don’t miss Crimson Rock Canyon or the Manitou Incline). Then, take Route 66 west by New Mexico and Arizona earlier than heading north into California for a end in San Francisco. An totally epic highway journey, with alternatives to cease at almost half a dozen nationwide parks (Grand Canyon, Joshua Tree, Demise Valley, and Yosemite, simply to call a number of), this one is ideal for vacationers who need desert attraction adopted by coastal tradition.
Denver to Seattle
We’ll be actual: This one is fairly far out of the best way of Route 66 if you happen to’re touring instantly. However with a one-way RV journey, it could be attainable to make this into an epic journey that features Route 66 Americana in southern California with all of the quirky delights of the Pacific Northwest. After swinging south by the southwestern desert and finishing your Route 66 stretch in California, you’d head all the best way north by California earlier than exploring Oregon and Washington.
Potential highlights embody:
Las Vegas Route 66 One-Approach RV Journeys
Whereas Las Vegas isn’t alongside Route 66 itself, it’s only a stone’s throw away — and effectively price slightly detour to pair its shiny lights and big-city really feel with among the most scenic and well-preserved desert stretches of the Mom Street. Listed here are a few of our favourite segments.
Las Vegas to Los Angeles
This trek lets you discover among the hottest segments alongside your complete stretch of Route 66:
- Kingman and Oatman, Arizona (you’ll have to backtrack a bit, however it’s price it; say hello to the burros for us!)
- Mojave Desert landscapes you’ll always remember
- The chance for a basic end at Santa Monica’s Route 66 signal
Las Vegas to Denver
In case you swing south into Arizona and New Mexico, you’ll hit basic Route 66 cities as you journey east earlier than reducing north towards and into Colorado. This can be a wild-west journey that mixes epic desert historical past with beautiful mountain surroundings.
Las Vegas to Salt Lake Metropolis
Take this path to commerce neon indicators for red-rock canyons, providing a quieter, scenic different that also connects simply with Route 66 highlights in western Arizona.
Plus, you’ll additionally move by many Utah must-hit locations, together with Zion Nationwide Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante Nationwide Monument, and Fishlake Nationwide Forest. In a one-way RV highway journey, it wouldn’t be too arduous to attach within the different Utah nationwide parks, as effectively.
Las Vegas to San Francisco
Good for vacationers who desire a contact of Route 66 nostalgia adopted by California wine nation or coastal highways. After seeing the western terminus of the Mom Street comply with southern California’s desert to its coast, select your journey between touring up the central valley or meandering alongside U.S. Freeway 101 (aka the Pacific Coast Freeway). There’s actually no incorrect technique to go.
Las Vegas to Seattle
It doesn’t get extra epic than this! Whenever you begin in Las Vegas, you may dip instantly south (and even slightly east) to attach basic Route 66 desert-scapes together with your northward trek. Relying in your time, price range, and vitality stage, you can do that journey in as little as every week or actually stretch it out for an unforgettable month on the highway, actually familiarizing your self with the American west.
Los Angeles Route 66 One-Approach RV Journeys
Los Angeles marks the official western finish of Route 66, however that doesn’t imply you may’t begin your journey there. (Or finish it there, for that matter.) Listed here are a few of our favourite Route 66-adjacent journeys with a terminus within the Metropolis of Angels
Los Angeles to Las Vegas
A brief however iconic Route 66 journey, this section is good for first-timers who need basic roadside sights and not using a lengthy timeline. (Which basic roadside sights, you ask? Don’t miss Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch, Roy’s Motel & Café, or the Calico Ghost City.)
Los Angeles to Denver
Whereas essentially the most direct route from L.A. to Denver will wind you largely by Nevada and Utah, which is an unbelievable journey in its personal proper, lengthen your keep and revel in Route 66 nostalgia by following the highway east by California, Arizona, and New Mexico earlier than heading north into Colorado. Beginning and ending in two of essentially the most iconic cities within the American West, this one’s a real cross-country-style expertise.
Los Angeles to Salt Lake Metropolis
One other one which’ll require you to linger additional south for some time to benefit from the Route 66 landmarks in Southern California and the desert southwest, this journey simply lets you join quirky roadside sights with breathtaking, alien landscapes — to not point out Utah’s can’t-miss nationwide parks.
Los Angeles to San Francisco
Is there one other highway journey in your complete United States as basic as connecting these two California mega-cities? We don’t assume so — and whereas, once more, you’ll need to exit of your method so as to add some Route 66 nostalgia into the combo, we extremely advocate slowing right down to get pleasure from California’s coastal freeway if that is the principle occasion of your route.
Highlights could embody:
- Gum Alley in San Luis Obispo
- Massive Sur (we advocate a visit Esalen)
- The Monterey Bay Aquarium (probably the greatest in your complete nation)
- A photograph on the Golden Gate Bridge
Los Angeles to Seattle
In case you’re fortunate sufficient to have the chance to see your complete West Coast of the U.S. by driving from Los Angeles to Seattle… what can we are saying? You must do it. Add as a lot or as little Route 66 as you’d like when you’re in SoCal, then head north after snapping an image on the Santa Monica Pier signal.
That is what we name a mega highway journey, and it’s one other one you can simply spend a month (or extra!) on if you happen to needed to. No matter you do, be certain to not shortchange your self: There’s so, a lot in these elements of the nation to discover and revel in.
Salt Lake Metropolis Route 66 One-Approach RV Journeys
Since we’ve already gone into many of those segments in depth, we received’t repeat ourselves beneath. However we are going to say that Salt Lake Metropolis works effectively for vacationers who need to mix Route 66 historical past with nationwide parks and wide-open western landscapes — and it’s straightforward to fly into.
Simply because it makes an excellent vacation spot, Salt Lake Metropolis can be the start line for a Route 66-adjacent highway rip, together with segments like:
- Salt Lake Metropolis to Denver
- Salt Lake Metropolis to Las Vegas
- Salt Lake Metropolis to Los Angeles
- Salt Lake Metropolis to San Francisco
- Salt Lake Metropolis to Seattle
These routes let you dip into Route 66 by Arizona and California whereas having fun with Utah’s dramatic surroundings alongside the best way.
San Francisco Route 66 One-Approach RV Journeys
Whereas San Francisco isn’t on Route 66 itself, it’s a preferred endpoint for vacationers who end Route 66 in Southern California and proceed north. In case you’ve acquired an extended highway journey in you, think about making one of many following iconic treks:
- San Francisco to Los Angeles
- San Francisco to Las Vegas
- San Francisco to Denver
- San Francisco to Salt Lake Metropolis
- San Francisco to Seattle
These routes are perfect for vacationers who need each Route 66 historical past and basic California coastal or mountain drives, to not point out a vineyard or two.
Seattle Route 66 One-Approach RV Journeys
Sure, Seattle is about as far-off from Route 66 as you may get. However for a lot of vacationers, Seattle is the start line for a for much longer journey — one which, if you happen to play your playing cards proper, can start surrounded by evergreen forests and waterfront views earlier than reworking into that otherworldly Route 66 desert panorama additional south.
To get one of the best of each worlds, think about one of many following for a one-way RV highway journey:
- Seattle to Los Angeles
- Seattle to Las Vegas
- Seattle to Denver
- Seattle to Salt Lake Metropolis
- Seattle to San Francisco
This feature works particularly effectively for long-haul adventurers trying to expertise a number of areas in a single seamless RV journey.
Ideas for Planning a One-Approach Route 66 RV Journey
A one-way Route 66 RV highway journey is usually a actually unforgettable expertise — however we need to make certain we imply that within the good method, not within the uh oh method.
In terms of a drive this epic, slightly little bit of planning can do quite a lot of work. Happily, our workforce is skilled and expert, which suggests you may be taught from our experiences with out having to repeat any newbie errors of your individual!
Among the bare-bones fundamentals:
- Plan gasoline stops and campgrounds prematurely, particularly in desert areas. We additionally advocate fueling up greater than you strictly have to. Take into account half a tank to be empty — in case your upcoming deliberate station is out of gasoline, that method, you received’t be stranded.
- Carry further meals and water, too! These are extraordinarily distant stretches, usually with out cell sign.
- Enable flexibility. Route 66 is about detours and discoveries, not “getting it completed.” Give your self as a lot time as attainable, and resist the temptation to overplan.
- Combine it up. Whereas the highway itself is the spotlight for a lot of up to date vacationers, the entire level of it was to assist Individuals get between cool locations. Mix your basic Route 66 city stopovers with nationwide parks, trendy cities, and extra.
- Select your RV rigorously. Smaller rigs could make navigating slender alignments simpler (and could also be extra beginner-friendly on the subject of driving), however a bigger RV gives luxurious and area for the lengthy haul. Right here at RVshare, you may select from all the above!
Begin Your One-Approach Route 66 RV Journey
With one-way RV leases between main western cities, you may expertise the Mom Street your method, with out speeding or retracing your steps.
Whether or not you’re chasing desert sunsets, neon indicators, or Pacific Coast views, a one-way RV highway journey enables you to flip a legendary freeway into a contemporary journey — by yourself phrases. And naturally, we’ll be there to assist each step of the best way!
