Historic Route 66

Standin' on the Corner ParkAZ1 mile offRoadside oddity

Statues and truck mural honoring the Eagles' 'Take It Easy'

Walnut Canyon National MonumentAZ2 miles off

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

FlagstaffAZon the road

In our guide: 4 animal attractions · 1 lake

Keepers of the Wild Nature ParkAZon the roadAnimals

Bearizona Wildlife ParkAZon the roadAnimals

Drive-through park plus walk-through area

Hours

daily 9–4

Season

year-round

WilliamsAZon the road

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

St. LouisMO1 mile off

In our guide: 6 animal attractions · 1 park

Fair Saint LouisMO1 mile offAnnual event

cultural festival at Gateway Arch National Park

When

July (Independence Day)

Since

First held 1981 (as V.P. Fair)

Runs for

more than one day

Lake SpringfieldIL2 miles offLake

reservoir

Swimming

yes - designated areas only

Boating

Motorboats, pontoons, jet skis, sailboats, canoes allowed; no boats near Spaulding Dam

Fishing

yes - about 15 sport fish species; from boats or public shoreline

Cost

Watercraft license required, renewed yearly (Apr 1-Mar 31)

Henson Robinson ZooIL3 miles offAnimals

Season

seasonal

SpringfieldILon the road

Knight's Action ParkILon the roadFun park

2026: Splash Kingdom water park season ended Sep 7; rides and go-karts weekends through October

Miller Park ZooILon the roadAnimals

Paul Bunyon Hot Dog GiantIL1 mile offRoadside oddity

Muffler Man clutching a giant hot dog.

American Giants MuseumILon the roadRoadside oddity

Museum devoted to fiberglass Muffler Men and roadside giants.

Lincoln, IllinoisILon the road

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

Illinois State FairILon the roadAnnual event

fair at Illinois State Fairgrounds

When

August

Since

First held 1853

Runs for

more than one day

Gemini GiantILon the roadRoadside oddity

Space-helmeted Muffler Man holding a rocket, relocated to a park.

GIGANTARILon the roadRoadside oddity

24-foot guitar shaped like a Route 66 shield, lit at night.

ChicagoIL2 miles off

In our guide: 6 historic sites · 4 animal attractions · 4 parks

Riot FestIL1 mile offAnnual event

music festival at Douglass Park

When

September

Since

First held 2005

Runs for

more than one day

Brookfield Zoo ChicagoIL1 mile offAnimals

Parking $17-$20 per day depending on gate; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas

Hours

Mon-Fri 10am-5pm; Sat-Sun 10am-6pm (fall listing)

Adult

29.95

Child

$20.95 (ages 3-11)

Season

year-round

Parking

fee

Cloud Gate (in Millennium Park)ILon the roadHistoric site

Cloud Gate, nicknamed "The Bean", is an Anish Kapoor sculpture in Millennium Park that the park's foundation describes as mixing architecture with optical illusion. The park is free and open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Hours

Open Daily 6 a.m. - 11 p.m., Free Admission

Admission

Open Daily 6 a.m. - 11 p.m., Free Admission

Run by

City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) runs Millennium Park

The Art Institute of ChicagoILon the roadHistoric site

An art museum on South Michigan Avenue where children under 14 get in free; its Ryan Learning Center has hands-on creative activities, including making a custom museum tour with JourneyMaker. Free guided gallery tours run daily at 1:00 and 3:00.

Hours

Mon 11–5 Tue Closed Wed 11–5 Thu 11–8 Fri–Sun 11–5

Admission

Adult $32 Seniors (65+) $26 Students $26 Teens (14-17) $26 Children Free

Run by

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago Blues FestivalILon the roadAnnual event

music festival at Millennium Park

When

June

Since

First held 1984

Runs for

more than one day

The RookeryILon the roadHistoric site

An 1888 downtown office building by Burnham and Root whose skylit central light court was remodelled by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905; the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust runs weekday guided tours. The Trust says it does not recommend its interior tours for children under 8.

Hours

Monday - Friday Tours from: 10 am - 1 pm Shop Open: 9 am - 5 pm

Admission

$15 General, $13 Trust member

Season

Closed: Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year's Day and January 2.

Run by

Tours: Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Building: private office building (therookerybuilding.com footer reads 'MANAGED BY' with a link to Golub & Company)

Lincoln Park ZooIL3 miles offAnimals

No tickets needed for general entry; some add-on experiences cost extra

Hours

Daily 8am-5pm (buildings close 4:30pm)

Child

Free

Season

year-round

Shedd Aquarium (John G. Shedd Aquarium)IL1 mile offAnimals

Hours

9am-5pm (fall/winter 2026 listing)

Season

year-round

Chicago Lakefront TrailIL1 mile offSki or bike

Skyline and beach views the length of the city

Kind

Scenic Bike Trails

Surface

Paved

LollapaloozaILon the roadAnnual event

music festival at Grant Park

When

July-August (recent editions span end of July into early August)

Since

First held 1991; Chicago-based since 2005

Runs for

more than one day

Dickerson Park ZooMO2 miles offAnimals

Hours

9am-5pm (current day listing)

Adult

19

Child

$14 (ages 3-12)

Jesse James Wax MuseumMOon the roadRoadside oddity

Wax museum claiming Jesse James wasn't killed in 1882

Butterfly House (Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House)MO9 miles offAnimals

Hidden ValleyMO2 miles offSki or bike

St. Louis-area hill; Vail-owned

Kind

Ski Areas

Mid America AdventureMO1 mile offFun park

renamed from Six Flags St. Louis in Aug 2026; Fright Fest through Nov 1

Grant's FarmMO1 mile offAnimals

General admission free; some events need advance tickets; closed on day of check

Child

Free (general admission)

Season

seasonal

Saint Louis ZooMO4 miles offAnimals

General admission free; some attractions charge

Hours

9am-4pm (current day listing)

Child

Free

Season

year-round

AlbuquerqueNMon the road

In our guide: 3 animal attractions · 1 park

ABQ BioPark ZooNM1 mile offAnimals

NM residency needs ID or utility bill

Hours

daily 9–5; closed Mondays Veterans Day–Presidents Day; closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25, Jan 1

Adult

19.50

Child

$11 non-resident (3–12); $5 NM resident; 2 and under free

Season

year-round

Gathering of Nations Pow WowNM2 miles offAnnual event

cultural festival at Expo New Mexico

When

April

Since

1983

Runs for

more than one day

Hinkle Family Fun CenterNM2 miles offFun park

site states open

Tinkertown MuseumNM4 miles offRoadside oddity

Bottle-walled maze of hand-carved miniature towns

Wildlife West Nature ParkNM4 miles offAnimals

Hours

summer (Mar 9–Nov 1) 10–6; winter (Nov 2–Mar 7) 12–4

Season

year-round

Atalaya Mountain (via Atalaya Trail #170, Santa Fe National Forest)NM2 miles offHistoric site

A mountain whose summit is reached by the Forest Service's Atalaya Trail #170, which starts from a parking lot at St. John's College in Santa Fe; the lower trailhead has no restrooms or drinking water.

Run by

USDA Forest Service, Santa Fe National Forest

Santa FeNM3 miles off

In our guide: 4 historic sites

White's CityNM2 miles off

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

Santa Fe Plaza (Plaza Park)NM3 miles offHistoric site

The central square of Santa Fe, laid out in 1610 and now a National Historic Landmark; the city describes it as surrounded by museums, galleries and vendors from nearby Native American communities.

Hours

City of Santa Fe parks and plazas are open daily from sunrise to sunset.

Run by

City of Santa Fe Parks & Open Space Division (Public Works)

Burning of ZozobraNM4 miles offAnnual event

cultural festival at Fort Marcy Park

When

Late August/early September (Friday before Labor Day)

Since

1924

Santa Fe Indian MarketNM3 miles offAnnual event

cultural festival at Santa Fe Plaza

When

August

Since

1922

Runs for

more than one day

Santa Fe Opera summer seasonNM9 miles offAnnual event

music festival at Crosby Theatre

When

Late June/July-August

Since

1957 (first season)

Runs for

more than one day

The High Road to Santa FeNM3 miles off

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

MadridNM8 miles off

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

Sandia CrestNM8 miles off

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

Albuquerque International Balloon FiestaNM1 mile offAnnual event

other at Balloon Fiesta Park

When

October

Since

1972

Runs for

more than one day

Cliff's Amusement ParkNM3 miles offFun park

site says thanks for a great 2026

Season

Seasonal

ABQ BioPark AquariumNMon the roadAnimals

Shares ticket with Botanic Garden. Timed-entry tickets, sold online up to two weeks ahead, with a limited number each day; the BioPark urges booking in advance and warns the popular Combo Tickets can sell out. Once in you may stay as long as you like. No refunds and no rain checks, weather included, unless the City closes the park. The shuttle between the Aquarium/Garden and the Zoo does not run Mondays or Tuesdays. The City says it is the sole ticket seller and will not accept third-party or resale tickets.

Hours

Daily 9-5, last entry 30 minutes before closing; closes at 4pm during River of Lights. Closed Mondays between Veterans Day and Presidents Day. Closed 1 Jan, Thanksgiving and 25 Dec.

Adult

21.50

Child

13

Season

year-round

Parking

Free

Sandia PeakNMon the roadSki or bike

Reach by tram or road; skiing returned 2025-26

Kind

Ski Areas

Blue Swallow MotelNM2 miles offRoadside oddity

Classic 1939 neon motel sign glowing after dark

Elk City, OklahomaOK1 mile off

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

National Route 66 & Transportation MuseumOK1 mile offRoadside oddity

Route 66 museum complex with giant roadside-style rocket

Claremore, OklahomaOKon the road

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

Blue Whale of CatoosaOKon the roadRoadside oddity

Grinning 80-foot concrete whale in a pond; gift shop seasonal

Meadow Gold signOKon the roadRoadside oddity

Restored vintage neon dairy sign on its own pavilion

Golden DrillerOK3 miles offRoadside oddity

75-foot oil worker leaning on a derrick

Tulsa ZooOK6 miles offAnimals

Early closures on some HallowZOOeen dates

Hours

9am-5pm; last admission 4pm

Adult

22.99

Child

$19.99 (3-11); 2 and under free

Parking

fee ($6; members free)

Tulsa State FairOK3 miles offAnnual event

fair at Expo Square

When

late September-October

Runs for

more than one day

TulsaOK1 mile off

In our guide: 3 lakes · 2 animal attractions

Tulsa Botanic GardenOK5 miles off

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

Oklahoma AquariumOK7 miles offAnimals

300 Aquarium Dr

Arcadia Round BarnOKon the roadRoadside oddity

Rare 1898 round barn with a domed loft

Frontier CityOK4 miles offFun park

Seasonal Six Flags-operated park; site live. Late-Oct 2026 dates not confirmed.

Season

Seasonal

Blue Zoo Aquarium (Oklahoma City)OK3 miles offAnimals

Interactive aquarium in a shopping mall

Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical GardenOK2 miles offAnimals

Hours

9am-5pm (check-date hours); last entry 4pm

Adult

20

Child

$17 (3-11); 2 and under free (ticket needed)

Oklahoma CityOK2 miles off

In our guide: 5 animal attractions · 3 parks · 1 lake

OKANA Resort & Indoor WaterparkOK3 miles offFun park

Resort with indoor and outdoor water park; opened 2025. Indoor water park access tied to resort.

Opened

2025

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Oklahoma CityOK3 miles offFun park

Seasonal water park; Six Flags site live for 2026.

Season

Seasonal

Weatherford, OklahomaOKon the road

No guide of our own yet — the name is here so you can find it.

Clinton (Route 66 Museum)OKon the road

In our guide: 2 animal attractions · 1 lake · 1 park

Oklahoma Route 66 MuseumOK1 mile offRoadside oddity

Decade-by-decade Mother Road museum with neon out front