Highlights

U S Tours Flexible Pricing:

• Customizable Comps
• Luxury or First Class Hotels & Meals
• Motorcoach Transportation & Professional Tour Managers are available

Whatever you want, U S Tours will be happy to structure tour prices to match your needs.  Just let us know!

Itinerary

Day 1 – Amarillo, TX

Arrive in Amarillo, TX for a two night stay at the Drury Inn Amarillo, TX.  Dinner is on your own this evening.

Day 2 – The Giant Cross – The Leaning Tower of Texas – Route 66 Historic District – Bill’s Backyard Classics – Dinner at Big Texan Steak House

This morning, visit the nearby town of Groom, TX located on Historic Route 66.  Here you will see a couple some unique Route 66 attractions.  The Giant Cross stands at 190 feet tall and is visible up to twenty miles away! Surrounding the base of the cross are life-sized statues of the 14 Stations of the Cross.

Groom, TX is also home to the Leaning Tower of Texas.  Originally a functioning water tower and slated for demolition, the leaning water tower was bought by Ralph Britten and moved to serve as a sign for his truck stop and tourist information center. The leaning water tower still remains a popular target for cameras, and the town of Groom turns on a large colored star mounted on the top around Christmas time.

Returning to Amarillo, TX this afternoon, enjoy free time and lunch on own at the Route 66 Historic District.  Here you will find over one mile of art galleries, antique and collectible stores, restaurants, and bars in historic buildings. Not only was Route 66 the Mother Road of America, but this district was one of the first residential and business districts in Amarillo. People came from miles around to visit the stores and restaurants located on the strip and dance on the best ballroom floor around at The Nat Ballroom which is now home to over 100 vendors.

Dinner is included this evening at the Big Texan Steak House. Enjoy the atmosphere as well as the food in another unique restaurant along the iconic Route 66. (B,L,D)

Day 3 – Cadillac Ranch – Tucumcari, NM – New Mexico Route 66 Museum – Albuquerque, NM – Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway

Did you know there’s a Cadillac Ranch on Route 66?  Ten graffiti-covered cars half-buried, nose-down, facing west at the same angle as the Cheops’ pyramids. Built by a group of art-hippies imported from San Francisco, by Amarillo billionaire Stanley Marsh 3.  He wanted a public art piece that would baffle the locals. So, ten Caddies were driven into one of his fields, and half-buried, nose-down.

You then drive to Tucumcari, NM often called “The Heart of the Mother Road.”  There are nearly 100 murals in town.  You can spot most of them along Tucumcari Boulevard, while others are down side streets, decorating shops, restaurants and even the grocery store.  There are also plenty of vintage Route 66 Motels to see.  You will have time for lunch on own here. Make sure you stop at Teepee Curios. Originally a gas station (back in the 1940s), Tepee Curios is a souvenir shop famed for its teepee entrance and bright neon sign.

This afternoon, visit the New Mexico Route 66 Museum.  Current exhibits include: Michael Campanelli’s Route 66 Photo Exhibit with over 166 photos of Route 66 from Chicago to L.A.  and a vintage diner display with Rock-Ola juke box, gas pumps, porcelain signs, memorabilia and more.

End the day in Albuquerque, NM, the only place on Route 66 where the famous highway intersects itself. In a “that’s so meta” move, the original Route 66 meets the new stretch at the corner of Fourth and Central Avenues in Downtown ABQ.

Home to eclectic shops and unique restaurants, Route 66 is adorned with buzzing neon signs, vintage artifacts, and epitomizes our unique ABQ attitude. You can experience an authentic fusion of old and new along Route 66 in Nob Hill, the University area, Downtown, and Historic Old Town.

Take a ride on the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. It stretches from the northeast edge of the city to the crest line of the Sandia Mountains. It is the longest aerial tram in North America.

Lodging tonight is at the Albuquerque Drury.  Dinner is on your own and you can take advantage of Drury’s 5:30 Kickback Happy Hour featuring a rotating menu of hot food and cold beverages. (B, HH)

Day 4 – West Central Route 66 Visitor Center – Gallup, NM – Gallup Cultural Center – Free Time for Shopping – Neon Sign Tour

This morning, the new West Central Route 66 Visitor Center. Located in the heart of Albuquerque, this visitor center is dedicated to preserving the rich history and vibrant spirit of the legendary Route 66. Whether you’re a road trip enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious about this iconic American highway, the center is the perfect place to delve into the fascinating stories and experiences of the Mother Road.

Departing Albuquerque travel to Gallup, NM your last stop on Route 66. Route 66 and Coal Avenue are the principle sites of most gallery and trading post activity in Gallup. A stroll down Route 66 will give you a sense of the historic and harmonious blend of cultures for which Gallup is well known.

Start with a visit to the Gallup Cultural Center.  The museum’s exhibits convey the message that Indian cultures are complex diverse, steeped in tradition, and very much alive. The museum also highlights points in Gallup’s history related to the trains, coal mining, the Gallup-Intertribal Indian Ceremonial. The museum also hosts a small collection of items and history related to the Navajo Code Talkers.

Then you will have some free time for shopping and explore Gallup on your own.  Here you will find Route 66’s well-preserved, still-vibrant charms in the form of shops, restaurants, and more. Enjoy time for some shopping and lunch on own.  There are 110 trading posts, shops and galleries in Gallup, making the town the undisputed Southwestern center for authentic Native American art.

Check into your Gallup hotel for the night.  Dinner is included at a local restaurant.  If you are visiting in the Sumer, Gallup holds nightly Indian dances at the McKinley Courthouse Square Plaza.

After dinner, enjoy a driving tour of Route 66 Neon Signs.  Gallup’s stretch of Route 66 (both current and historic) contains some beautiful neon signs. Features to look out for are first the colors: many are yellow, red, and blue. You’ll also find a pattern in how the signs are constructed- there is often a script word, a blocky word, and some stand-out letters, especially vertically. (B,D)

Day 5 – Petrified Forest National Park – Winslow, AZ – Old Trails Museum – Flagstaff, AZ – Black Bart’s Steakhouse, Saloon & Musical Revue

The day starts with a stop at the Painted Desert Visitors Center in Petrified Forest National Park.  Then take a drive on the Northern loop of Petrified Forest Road.  Experience one of the world’s largest and most vibrantly colored assemblies of petrified wood, historic structures and archeological sites. Here, 200-million-year-old fossils tell the tale of the earth – and its prehistoric inhabitants – amongst the picturesque wonders of Arizona’s Painted Desert. Petrified Forest is a surprising realm of fascinating landscape and science.

Next, travel to Winslow, AZ located on Route 66.  The town gained fame through songs and cultural references. Winslow is also known for its rich history, including Native American culture, railroad history, and Route 66 nostalgia.  You will also have time for lunch on own here.

One of the main attractions in Winslow is the “Standin’ on the Corner Park”, which features a statue of Jackson Browne standing on a corner, as well as murals and other artwork depicting the famous song “Take it Easy” by the Eagles.  This is a “must see” stop on Route 66.

Your visit to Winslow also includes a tour of the Old Trails Museum.  The museum explores the history of Winslow, Arizona, and the surrounding area through exhibits and programs. The collection is used to interpret the Santa Fe Railway, Harvey Girls, US Route 66, and much more. The museum is located in the heart of Winslow’s historic district and across from the Standin’ on the Corner Park.

Your day ends in Flagstaff, AZ for an overnight stay at the Drury Inn.  Dinner is included at Black Bart’s Steakhouse, Saloon and Musical Revue. It’s a great meal and a truly unique dining experience. The talented waiters and waitresses perform a Musical Revue with songs from the 60s and 70s. (B, D)

Day 6 – Depart for Home

After breakfast, depart for home. (B)

Tour Map