About 325 miles (five hours) west of Albuquerque (check out the highlights in between here), here the vibe switches from mid-size city to small town. Plus with around 3,500 residents, this is one of the best preserved on the Route 66 towns, and it definitely leans into its Mother Road heritage, with a historic downtown still lined with neon signs, vintage diners, "motor lodges," and souvenir shops that evoke the golden age of automobile travel, and walking tours are available. It´s also home to the historic Grand Canyon Railway, which carries passengers on scenic excursions to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, two hours and 15 minutes away. During summer evenings, classic cars often cruise the streets, reinforcing the town's nostalgic atmosphere. And then from Williams, the final leg of the journey covers some 460 miles to Santa Monica (6½ to seven hours, give or take; for the top destinations in between, click here).

Read more in my post Route 66 at 100: 5 Key Destinations on the USA´s Iconic, Historica "Mother Road."

Domenico Convertini