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Highlights of Route 66 with Mother Road Festival & Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2026
16 days from Chicago to Los Angeles
Tour Description:
Get your kicks on Route 66 and help celebrate “The Mother Road’s” 100th anniversary with a legendary trip across America. This historic route, which was called the “Main Street of America” for more than 30 years before the advent of the US Interstate system, begins in Chicago, travels through eight states, and ends in Los Angeles. Take a trip down memory lane while traveling along much of Route 66, stopping in small towns and major cities, visiting Route 66 museums, and stepping back to a time when the journey truly was the destination! Experience twice the fun with the two very special events included on your tour—the 25th Annual Mother Road Festival and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta! The annual Mother Road Festival in Springfield, Illinois, brings automobile and motorcycle enthusiasts with hot cars, cool trucks, and vintage bikes together to salute Route 66 and the tradition of the open road. Enjoy classic cars, live entertainment, and other scheduled activities. Then, hit the road for St. Louis for amazing views of the city and the Mississippi River from atop the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch. Visit the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City to view antique cars and historic documents that evoke the feeling of traveling this historic road in years gone by. Then time to look up at the International Balloon Fiesta where a colorful spectacle of hundreds of hot-air balloons rise into the sky above Albuquerque. On to Williams Arizona, listed in the National Register for Historic Places, where you’ll see neon signs of the preserved circa 1940s “Motel Row.” Take a detour from Route 66 to see breathtaking scenery at one of the Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon! Then hit Las Vegas to explore The Strip, take an optional trip to see the engineering marvel, Hoover Dam, or just relax by the pool. Visit the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville which reminisces with exhibits including a 50’s diner, VW Love Bus, and a 1917 Model T Ford. Arrive in Los Angeles and visit Santa Monica and the “End of the Trail” sign denoting the end point of Route 66. Then enjoy a tour of famous landmarks like Hollywood, the Sunset Strip and Beverly Hills. So, sit back, relax, and let Cosmos handle the driving and details while you enjoy the ride during this special centennial year of Route 66!
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Dates & Pricing
| Thursday 24 Sep 26 — Friday 09 Oct 26 | Starting at $4,019 |  SPECIAL | Get a Quote |
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
Destination & Sightseeing
Destination & SightseeingThe world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!Your Tour Includes:• Guided city sightseeing in Chicago and Los Angeles• Visit to Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum• Visit to the Mother Road Festival in Springfield, IL• Orientation tours of St. Louis, Joplin, Oklahoma City, Albuquerque, and Las Vegas• Entrance fee to Gateway Arch National Park including trip to the top of the Arch• Visit to Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Welcome & Cultural Center• Admission to National Route 66 Museum• Stop at Cadillac Ranch• Admission to the Balloon Glow & Mass Ascension at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta• Visit to Russell’s Car Museum• Entrance Fee and guided sightseeing at Grand Canyon National Park• Visit to California Route 66 Museum
Notes:
• Guests should be prepared for sustained walking (approximately 1/2 mile) and standing while at the Balloon Fiesta. • On vacations that include an overnight stay in Las Vegas, at least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.• Maximum elevation on tour: 7,262 ft
• Guests should be prepared for sustained walking (approximately 1/2 mile) and standing while at the Balloon Fiesta. • On vacations that include an overnight stay in Las Vegas, at least one member of the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older.• Maximum elevation on tour: 7,262 ft
MEALS
MEALS ITINERARY
ITINERARYDay 1 CHICAGO
Welcome to Chicago, the start of Route 66! Your Tour Director is on hand from 3pm-6pm to answer questions.
Once settled into your hotel, perhaps start exploring the city via the 1.25-mile Riverwalk along the Chicago River or do some shopping at the many well-known retail destinations along Michigan Avenue, better known as the Magnificent Mile
Day 2 CHICAGO
Known as the “Windy City,” Chicago is home to iconic architecture including one of America’s tallest buildings, notorious gangster Al Capone, and countless jazz and blues clubs. Oh, and deep-dish pizza, of course! Get to know this exciting city on a morning sightseeing tour that includes the sign marking the start of historic Route 66. Spend a free afternoon exploring Chi Town—perhaps visit the 103rd-floor Skydeck of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) for spectacular city views, admire amazing works of art at the Art Institute of Chicago or take an optional river cruise for a different view of the city’s celebrated architecture
Day 3 CHICAGO–PONTIAC–SPRINGFIELD-INTERNATIONAL ROUTE 66 MOTHER ROAD FESTIVAL
This morning, take a spin through Route 66 memorabilia with a visit to the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac. Housed in a historic fire station, this collection of fascinating items includes large maps to sketch out your upcoming Route 66 adventure, as well as nostalgic photos and postcards from the Mother Road’s” heyday. Then on to Springfield, the capital of Illinois, to enjoy the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, where the streets come alive with the rumble of engines from hotrod cars, cool trucks, and vintage motorcycles. There is free live entertainment featuring R&B, Motown, and chart-topping tunes of the 50s to 80s and more. There are also various exhibitors, vendors, and dozens of specialty food stalls
Day 4 SPRINGFIELD–ST. LOUIS
Cross the mighty Mississippi River and continue to St. Louis, “Gateway to the West.” Your orientation tour includes the towering Gateway Arch National Park. Ascend to the top of the 630-foot-tall arch for a panoramic view of the city and river. Then drive along an original stretch of Route 66 and get the chance to savor some Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, a Route 66 treat since 1929! (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 5 ST. LOUIS–JOPLIN
Travel through the Missouri countryside, exploring interesting quaint towns and quirky roadside attractions along Route 66. Arrive in Joplin and learn about this city where a couple of infamous outlaws named Bonnie and Clyde once hid out. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 6 JOPLIN–TULSA–OKLAHOMA CITY
After a quick drive through Kansas, enter Oklahoma, once known as Indian Territory and home to the Cherokee Nation. Visit the Cherokee Nation Anna Mitchell Cultural & Welcome Center and get an overview of Cherokee history, art, and culture. In Tulsa, see the “East Meets West” sculpture that pays tribute to Cyrus Avery, “The Father of Route 66.” Later, arrive in Oklahoma City. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 7 OKLAHOMA CITY–ELK CITY–AMARILLO
Start the day with a sightseeing tour of Oklahoma City, the capital and largest city in Oklahoma. From here, travel to Elk City and visit the National Route 66 Museum for a journey through each of the eight states Route 66 passes through. Continue into the Texas Panhandle en route to Amarillo, "The Yellow Rose of Texas." This evening, join an optional dinner for a delicious taste of Texas at a local steakhouse. (B)
Breakfast
BreakfastDay 8 AMARILLO–TUCUMCARI–ALBUQUERQUE
On the way out of Amarillo, stop at Cadillac Ranch, a quirky art sculpture consisting of a collection of 10 colorful Cadillacs planted nose-first in the ground. Before crossing into New Mexico, reach Adrian, the halfway point on Route 66. Across the New Mexico border, visit Russell’s Car Museum, featuring classic cars and memorabilia. Next, stop in Tucumcari and shop for souvenirs at Teepee Curios, a mainstay on Route 66 since 1944. See the iconic Blue Swallow Motel that has been serving travelers of Route 66 since 1939, along with many original signs from the town’s heyday. Visit Central Avenue in Albuquerque, where many of the original Route 66 buildings and businesses still stand. (CB)
Day 9 ALBUQUERQUE
Enjoy a day at leisure in this Southwestern city of diverse cultures, authentic art, and rich history. Consider spending time in Old Town, site of the city’s original settlement or visit one of the city’s many museums, like the New Mexico Museum of Natural History, Albuquerque Museum, or the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center
Day 10 ALBUQUERQUE–GALLUP–WINSLOW–WILLIAMS
Enjoy an unforgettable experience at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta’s early morning Balloon Glow followed by the Mass Ascension, where hundreds of colorful hot-air balloons fill the morning sky. Then depart Albuquerque and continue to Gallup, homeland of Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and many other tribes who comprise a large percentage of the population. Then we’ll be “Standing on the Corner of Winslow, Arizona”, the sleepy Route 66 town made famous by The Eagles in their hit song “Take It Easy”. The next two nights are in Williams, gateway to the Grand Canyon, and listed in the National Register for Historic Places. The Historic Downtown District covers six square blocks and boasts a heritage that features the Old West and Route 66
Day 11 WILLIAMS. EXCURSION TO GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Take a detour from Route 66 to see one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World—Grand Canyon National Park. Wander along the canyon rim for breathtaking views and wildlife with the chance to spot elk grazing in the forested areas on the South Rim. For an unforgettable experience, consider an optional helicopter flightseeing tour for an awe-inspiring bird’s-eye-view of the canyon. Return to Williams where the evening is free to explore the historic Americana-style shops and restaurants dating back to the early 1900s. Be sure to take note of the neon signs of the preserved circa 1940s “Motel Row.” (CB)
Day 12 WILLIAMS–SELIGMAN–LAS VEGAS
Depart Williams for Seligman, home to the rebirth of Route 66. Detour once again from Route 66 to visit the bright lights of Las Vegas. An orientation tour upon arrival shows off many of the themed casino resorts along the glittering “Strip.” This evening, join an optional night on the town featuring an extravagant dinner followed by a dazzling live show that pays tribute to the stars who made Vegas the “Entertainment Capital of the World.” (CB)
Day 13 LAS VEGAS
A day at leisure to relax by the pool or explore the legendary Las Vegas Strip. Float through a Venetian canal, visit jaw-dropping horticultural displays, or test your luck at one of the many world-famous casinos—it’s all possible in Las Vegas! Don’t miss downtown Las Vegas, where you’ll find the Fremont Street Experience, five city blocks enclosed in a glass atrium and filled with dazzling lights, sounds, and action. History and engineering buffs won’t want to miss an optional excursion to nearby Hoover Dam. Learn about the massive undertaking in building this towering engineering marvel known as the “Greatest Dam in the World.”
Day 14 LAS VEGAS–VICTORVILLE–LOS ANGELES
Today, depart the man-made oasis of Las Vegas, and cross the natural beauty of Mojave Desert and the San Bernardino Mountains en route to Los Angeles. Visit the California Route 66 Museum to see its nostalgic 50’s diner, VW Love Bus, and the 1917 Model T Ford exhibits. Overnight in Los Angeles, where you’ll visit Santa Monica, the ending point of Route 66
Day 15 LOS ANGELES
Explore the exciting “City of Angels” with a morning tour of legendary Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, and Hollywood, where you’ll walk along the stars on Hollywood Boulevard, and get a photo of the iconic Hollywood sign. With a free afternoon, get a real taste of Hollywood on an optional Warner Bros. Studio tour for a behind-the-scenes look at how TV and movies are made, including famous sets from the big and small screen
Day 16 LOS ANGELES
Your vacation ends this morning. Consider extending your vacation with extra nights to explore Los Angeles further.
Accommodations
Accommodations| Chicago | Springfield | St Louis | Joplin | Oklahoma City | Amarillo | Albuquerque | Williams | Las Vegas | Los Angeles |
Courtyard Chicago Downtown/Magnificent Mile
First-Class
First-Class
Disclaimer: Prices listed are per person, based on double occupancy, and in USD. All promotions are valid for new bookings only, capacity controlled and valid on select dates and departures. Individual Terms and Conditions will apply to all promotions. Any promotion can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please speak with your Pavlus Travel Planner for complete vendor terms and conditions, including eligible tour and cruise dates.
