Tag: travel

The Journey of a Lifetime with RouteTrip USA

There are journeys that take you from point A to point B. And there are holidays filled with memory making experiences. And then there’s Route 66. 

Legendary Route 66 can be a destination. And it can be a portal to a world of adventure. The Grand Circle that includes the very best of the American southwest – Bryce and Zion Canyon, Arches National Park, picturesque Lake Powell, and Monument Valley – borders Route 66. 

Vibrant, exciting Los Angles and Chicago are a part of the Route 66 experience. And there is the unique blending of modern metropolis, vintage neon, and western frontier heritage that is found in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. In Albuquerque time is measured in centuries as the Old Town district along Route 66 dates to the 18th century. 

In 2026, Route 66 that linked two of America’s largest and most dynamic cities will turn 100 years old. That is a centennial milestone that invites travellers from around the globe to experience the ultimate road trip adventure. 

With celebrations, festivals, and a once-in-a-generation infectious excitement along Route 66, this is the perfect year to cross this holiday off every bucket list. Add festivities that celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States and this will be a holiday adventure that will provide opportunities for a lifetime of memories. 

And there’s no better way to experience it than with RouteTrip USA. We are the bespoke American road trip specialists who know that a memory making holiday adventure isn’t just about mileage. It’s about moments you will treasure for a lifetime.

A century ago, Route 66 that stretched more than 4,20 kilometers from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California was marketed as the Main Street of America. In towns, villages, cities and even a few ghost towns it still is!

Wagon Wheel Motel – A colorful sunrise and the glow of at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri heralds the dawn of a new day of adventure on Route 66. 

Neon signs glowing bright and colorful, roadside curiosities, classic diners, and time capsule motels add a sense of time travel to the Route 66 experience. In 2026, communities from Tulsa to Kingman to Springfield are planning festivals, car shows, exhibits, parades, and community celebrations that honor not just a road, but America.

From classic Route 66 Museums to unforgettable photo ops under the “End of the Trail” sign in Santa Monica, the centennial year brings new reasons to return even for seasoned road trippers. Driving this time capsule highway through the heartland of America during its 100th anniversary blurs the line between past and present. 

What makes a Route 66 holiday truly unforgettable? It’s attention to detail, expertly crafted logistics, and that personal touch that turns a road trip into a memory-making adventure. That’s where RouteTrip USA shines.

Personalized itineraries are our specialty. Whether you’re driving the full Chicago–Los Angeles route or a scenic western half with side trips to the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, and Monument Valley, our team of knowledgeable specialists design a bespoke self-drive holiday with flights, car or motorbike rental, handpicked hotels, and itinerary support from start to finish.

You’ll have your details at your fingertips, from flight info to dining recommendations and directions. We deliver a professional, trustworthy experience backed by global tourism networks. This is why we are the recipients of multiple trusted service awards that highlight RouteTrip USA’s commitment to exceptional service and customer satisfaction. This allows you to travel with confidence and peace of mind.

Abandoned house – The emptiness of ghost towns along Route 66 in the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona add a unique dimension to a Route 66 holiday. 

Check out our online store and enhance your Route 66 holiday. Pick up a copy of EZ66 Guide For Travelers by Jerry McClanahan. For decades, this beloved printed guidebook has been the go-to source for accurate, easy-to-follow directions and historic insights. With its spiral binding and comprehensive maps, it’s a road trip essential. Then add a Route 66 Passport, the ultimate customisable souvenir. 

RouteTrip USA doesn’t just plan your route. With a few of our exclusive add-ons and arrangements, we help you write your own story. 

As an example, imagine a neon lit evening under a desert sky that includes dinner and walking tour with Route 66 author, historian, and humorist Jim Hinckley in Kingman, Arizona. To ensure your stop in Kingman is unforgettable, we can arrange for a unique lodging option like Tin Can Alley on 66.

Side trips to the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Las Vegas or the red rock canyons of Sedona will add a new dimension to your bucket list holiday. And to make it even more unforgettable, let us arrange the schedule to include a local festival, rodeo, or car show. 

Neon and vintage car – The glow of neon, a vintage car, a blurring of the line between past and present. This is a Route 66 holiday. 

With centennial celebrations being held in every community from Chicago to Santa Monica, 2026 isn’t just another travel year. It’s the year to make history your destination.

Whether you’re a lifelong Route 66 fan or just discovering its legend, the timing has never been better to see America at its scenic, nostalgic, and soulful best. Let the Main Street of America be your guide. And let RouteTrip USA make sure you see it in style.

When the road calls you this year, don’t just answer. Embrace the journey with open roads, open hearts, and plenty of stories to tell when you return home.

Speak to one of our Travel Experts on 01234 938066 or visit our website here

Jim Hinckley’s Destination Spotlight: Arizona – A wonderland for any season

The American southwest is an almost magical place where myth, legend, history, stories of larger-than-life characters, and awe-inspiring landscapes unfold on a holiday as a rich and colourful tapestry. Who isn’t familiar with Wyatt Earp and the OK Corral, the exploits of Buffalo Bill Cody, or the story of Olive Oatman? 

But for every Jesse James or Billy the Kid, there are a dozen people like Tap Duncan, Jeff Davis Milton or Black Mary whose stories have been forgotten. Tombstone is a town with a name as recognizable as Detroit or New York City. But who remembers Fairbank, Rhyolite, or Dos Cabezas?

Aubry Valley and Route 66 west of Seligman, Arizona

A road trip through southern Arizona is an adventure of epic proportions. And it is also a journey through time, and a voyage of discovery. 

Tucson, Arizona is a modern metropolis built around an ancient Spanish presidio. Within a few miles of the city’s congested heart is a vast wilderness and a forest of towering saguaro. Tucson. And yet the southernmost ski resort in the United States is less than an hours drive. 

Within site of the city’s towering, modern skyline is the treasure of San Xavier del Bac known as the White Dove of The Desert. This National Historic Landmark and World Heritage Site that still serves the Tohono O’odham reservation was established as a Catholic mission by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692. Construction of the current church began in 1783 and was completed in 1797. 

Nearby is the picturesque village of Tubac that is an artists colony filled with historic landmarks. Dating to 1725 this is the oldest European settlement in Arizona. 

Tucson. Tombstone. Bisbee. Nogales. Sierra Vista. Douglas. Dos Cabezas. Hiking trails in a desert wilderness or urban exploration. Historic sites, scenic wonders above and below ground, five-star dining and quaint cafes, luxury resorts or historic hotels. You can easily fill a dozen holidays with memory making adventures in southern Arizona. 

The Painted Desert

But the entire state is a holiday paradise in any season. At the recent Route 66 Info Fair in Needles, California, just across the river from Oatman, Arizona on iconic Route 66, the temperature was a delightful 23 degrees. And yet just 370 kilometers to the east at the Grand Canyon, it was snowing, and the ski resorts were doing a booming business. 

And in the months of summer when temperatures in the Colorado River Valley soar to 50 degrees or more, a scenic drive of just 90 miles is all that is needed to escape the heat to the pine forested oasis in a sea of desert that is Hualapai Mountain Park. 

A hiking trail in Hualapai Mountain Park

Are you ready for a memory making holiday in the Grand Canyon State? Contact RouteTrip USA. We will build a bespoke trip just for you. After all, we are the bespoke holiday specialists. 

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