Journey on the Legendary American Route 66

In the morning, our dreams of a long journey on Route 66 come true and we hit the road.

Our journey will start from the historic Route 66 sign in Chicago. In the first part of our adventure, which will continue all the way to the Pacific Ocean coast, we travel along the Interstate 55 highway. Along the way, we will find places for meals and service stations.

Heading south from Chicago, we will see the old truck stop at McLean, though we won’t linger here for long. Instead, we enter Illinois’ coal mining region. Then, passing through Pontiac, we arrive in Springfield, the capital of Illinois, and check into our hotel. After some rest, we move on to dinner. After the meal, we will go to see Abraham Lincoln’s home in Illinois.

Today we continue heading south. On our way to St. Louis, a town rich in history, we will also be entering the state of Missouri.

We’ll pass through a series of highway towns that are great places to stop along the way. Among these, we shouldn’t miss the famous Dixie Truck Stop, the Virgin Mary statue by the highway, Litchfield, and the Ariston Café.

We’ll also take some time to visit the Meramec Caverns and the Chain of Rocks Bridge on our way to the Mississippi River.

At the end of our 200 km journey today, we’ll be in Missouri, the state where the Mississippi River meets the Missouri River.

After checking into our hotel, we’ll head out in the evening to see the Gateway Arch, also known as the Gateway to the West.

Afterwards, we’ll continue to explore the city. St. Louis is one of the top places in the United States for live music and barbecue varieties.

Since today's journey is about 540 km, we'll wake up a bit early. First, we'll take a morning walk around the Gateway Arch and the Mississippi River, optionally. Then, we’ll leave the city to head for the hills of Missouri. We’ll be driving along the winding roads we’ve seen in movies. On the way, we’ll look for another barbecue spot for lunch (in a place you could call the middle of nowhere).

At night, we stay in Joplin, a town that survived a major tornado in 2011.

After breakfast, we leave Joplin and start heading west toward Oklahoma amidst beautiful scenery. Today, we will enter lands once known as Native American territory in the Old West.

The Five Civilized Tribes, who originally lived in the southeastern states, were relocated to these areas in the 1860s. These peoples are known for having adapted to the lifestyle of white settlers. The region still has a large Native American population. The name "Oklahoma" is derived from the Choctaw language, which is one of these five tribes.

As we continue west, we pass through El Reno and arrive in Oklahoma City. Tonight, we’ll stay in this area, the heart of Route 66. After settling into the hotel and having a rest, we will explore the surroundings and head to the Bricktown District, famous for its shops, restaurants, and nightlife.

We will wake up early and enter the vast prairie region known as the Great Plains, stretching from southern Canada all the way to the Mexican border.

First, we will head to the Panhandle, often referred to as the real Texas. Here, we will get an impression of what Texas is truly supposed to look like.

Passing through regions once roamed by buffalo and inhabited by Native peoples, we arrive in Amarillo. The area gained significant value after the 1870s due to its natural resources.

Although Amarillo may look like it was cut off from the rest of Oklahoma and attached to Texas on paper, its lifestyle is indistinguishable from that of Texas. Home to some of the world’s largest cattle ranches, Amarillo, like many settlements in the Sunbelt, takes its name from Spanish, meaning 'yellow.'

For dinner, we might make a stop at the “Big Texan Steakhouse” where we can taste the best steak in Texas.

Today we leave Texas and cross into New Mexico, known as the Land of Enchantment. Our first stop is the eccentric and colorful art installation known as Cadillac Ranch. Next, we visit the highly atmospheric ghost town of Glen Rio, where you can stand with one foot in Texas and the other in New Mexico.

At this stage of the trip, we enter the fifth state, with three more states left to visit ahead. The journey continues through the lands of the Comanche Native Americans to Tucumcari, the largest town between Albuquerque and Amarillo. We then head to the High Plains in the center of New Mexico and continue on to the exhilarating altitudes of Santa Fe, one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the United States. Once we arrive in Santa Fe, we tour the area known as the Old Town.

Today, we continue heading west and are traveling to Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico. Albuquerque, home to a third of the state’s population, is the crossroads of New Mexico. It’s situated at the intersection of the main east-west highway and railroad, where both the old southern route and the magnificent Rio Grande pass through. As we journey along the legendary waterway, get ready to encounter sheer cliffs and the shapes and colors of the wild landscape of the Navajo region. Our journey today

ends in the charming Route 66 town of Gallup, which we reach after passing through Grants and the Cibola National Forest. This is a former railroad town and also an ancient Native American settlement. After checking into our hotel, we immediately take some rest. Tomorrow, more long roads await us.

After about a 30-minute drive from Gallup, we reach Arizona, our 6th state. However, we don’t speed up too much, taking breaks here and there to enjoy the awe-inspiring journey along the Petrified Forest in Petrified Forest National Park.

The colorful terrain with its many layers may seem unfamiliar to us, but what we actually see is the fossilized remains of a prehistoric forest made up of giant trees exposed over centuries through erosion.

After entering Arizona, we pass through Holbrook and Winslow, two old Route 66 towns. Then, we settle into our hotel near the Grand Canyon. Afterward

We leave the hotel again to watch the sunset over the Grand Canyon and enjoy the breathtaking scenery.

After waking up in the morning, we leave Route 66 and head once again to the Grand Canyon, one of the world's seven natural wonders. We will have plenty of time to stop, take in the stunning views, and make the most of the photo opportunities. First, we visit the Hualapai Indian reservation. Then, we enjoy lunch accompanied by a spectacular view from an altitude of 1,400 meters while gazing at the Grand Canyon and photograph the canyon from different vantage points. Afterward, we return to Route 66 and continue westward, stopping at must-see famous Route 66 towns like Kingman, Peach Springs, Seligman, and Hackberry. Then, we arrive in Las Vegas, the nation's premier tourist destination, home to the world's largest hotels and the city of nights and entertainment capital. As soon as we enter the city, we check into our hotel. In the evening, there will be a chance to stroll along the Las Vegas Strip and watch the impressive outdoor visual shows at the hotels.

After waking up in the morning, we will visit Red Rock Canyon, which resembles the Grand Canyon, welcomes more than a million visitors every year, and dates back 400 million years. After leaving the canyon, if desired, we can stop by Best Buy, America’s largest electronics chain, on our way back to Las Vegas.

Then we’ll take a panoramic tour introducing the famous Las Vegas Boulevard and its hotels. Afterwards, those who wish can relax by the pool. In the evening, there is free time to watch Las Vegas’s world-renowned shows, explore the hotels, and visit the casinos. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.

Today we set off for Los Angeles, completing Route 66. Our first stop is Ghost Town, an old silver mining town located between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, where $20 million worth of silver was extracted in 1850. The town was later abandoned after the value of silver dropped, leaving behind a place with a tragic story. Here, we’ll find ourselves in a town reminiscent of old cowboy movies and have plenty of opportunities for photos. Afterwards, we continue toward Los Angeles. Upon entering Los Angeles, we head straight to the final point at Santa Monica and complete Route 66. Then, we check into our hotel and rest. Afterwards, those who wish can spend time in Los Angeles, while those interested can join us for a trip to Universal Studios. At this park, Disneyland's biggest rival, you'll have the chance to see up close how the films that helped shape the American Dream were made and meet their heroes.

You will gain a much better understanding of why Universal Studios—where the world-famous director Steven Spielberg served as creative consultant—is recognized as the world’s number one studio and amusement park. However, this park is not just for entertainment; it is also the product of a century of cinematic history and technological advancement. With over 40 shows, movie sets, and attractions, you will be captivated—not only entertained but made to feel like you are inside the movies themselves. After leaving Universal Studios, we return to our hotel.

After breakfast, we'll take a tour to discover Los Angeles. Our first stop is Beverly Hills, where we'll drive past the mansions of LA's wealthy residents and see the city's famous Beverly Hills sign. Next, we'll take a short walk along the iconic Rodeo Drive, home to some of the world's most luxurious shops and featured in the movie “Pretty Woman.” Here, we'll also see the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, where stars like Elvis Presley and John Lennon lived for years. After leaving Rodeo Drive, we'll continue down the famous Sunset Strip to Hollywood Boulevard. Sights here include the Kodak Theatre (now known as the Dolby Theater), where the Oscars are held; the Chinese Theatre, famous for movie premieres; the handprints and footprints of cinema and music celebrities; and of course, the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Next, we'll head by car up to the Hollywood Hills, giving you the opportunity to photograph the city's iconic giant letters. Afterward, we'll drive to Downtown, the center of Los Angeles, where you'll see Olvera Street, the city's skyline defined by high-rise buildings, and the historic centers that make up the city's origins. At the end of the tour, we'll start a journey in our private vehicle to visit the coastal cities featured in many movies and TV shows: Los Angeles, Orange County, and Long Beach. In Long Beach, home to America's second-busiest port, we'll have the chance to photograph the famous Queen Mary ship and see the IndyCar racetrack (Grand Prix of Long Beach). Along the coast, we'll see the surfers at Huntington Beach, and stroll through Newport Beach, Seal Beach, Corona Del Mar, and Laguna Beach. After visiting the beach towns, we'll head to Santa Monica for dinner. Here, you can unwind at stylish cafés, enjoy lively performances by street artists in dazzling Santa Monica, or dine at one of the wonderful restaurants in this beautiful area.

After breakfast, we set off for San Diego, located on the Pacific Ocean coast at the America-Mexico border and known as one of America's most beautiful cities. Our first stop after arrival will be the outlet stores. After finishing our final shopping here, we will visit Sea Port Village, located on the oceanfront with its charming cafes and souvenir shops, the Midway aircraft carrier where the Top Gun movie starring Tom Cruise was filmed, the Star of India ship once used by the Spanish for slave trade, and the Gaslamp Quarter, which is considered the heart of Downtown and has become San Diego's symbol. Next, we’ll head to Old Town, known as the birthplace of California, which features architecture from the 1800s. After having dinner at one of the colorful and lovely Mexican restaurants here, we’ll explore Little Italy, a district influenced by Italian architecture and home to many Italians, before going to our hotel.

After breakfast, we continue touring the city of San Diego. Our first stop is La Jolla, famous for its seals and beaches. Next, we head to Coronado Island, home to San Diego’s wealthy residents, the historic 125-year-old Hotel Del Coronado—which features the largest wooden structure in America and was the filming location for Marilyn Monroe's famous movie "Some Like It Hot." Here, we’ll take a break at the best spot to capture photos of San Diego’s skyline. Afterwards, we head to Los Angeles Airport, return our vehicles, and proceed to our flight procedures. We return via the THY 18:35 Los Angeles–Istanbul Airport flight. We bid farewell until another BUKLATUR trip.