The Ultimate Guide: Best Places to Stay on Route 66 for Every Budget

Familiarly known as “The Mother Road,” Route 66 is the road that spans from Chicago to Santa Monica, with all its adventurous symbolism of the great American road trip. From what once was a lifeline of a roadway for travelers and migrants, Route 66 has now turned into a nostalgic drive through the heart of America that eventually reveals odd roadside attractions, historic landmarks, and varied landscapes. You don’t need a fat wallet to see the beauty that is experienced on Route 66. Of the bargain, mid-range, and deluxe early digs—the accommodations for every traveler in this guide.

Planning Your Route 66 Adventure

Understanding Route 66

Established in 1926, Route 66 used to stretch over 2,400 miles and pass through eight states, connecting small towns with big ones. Legally, it hasn’t been in existence since 1985, but the designation “Historic Route 66” has been attached to many of the remaining portions as a way to help sustain the essence of the open road—encouraged by devotees and sojourners still attempting to reclaim the golden era of the American road trip. The highway itself is distinguished into two main sections:

East Section (Chicago to Oklahoma City): Charaterized by rolling plains, bustling urban centers, and historic towns. Among the attractions to be found in this area are St. Louis’ Gateway Arch and the Chain of Rocks Bridge.
West Section (Oklahoma City to Santa Monica): Boasts diverse landscapes, stretching from the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona to the mountains of California. Major attractions include Petrified Forest National Park and Santa Monica Pier.

Charting Your Course

Planning is quite important prior to any trip on Route 66. When designing your travel plan, make sure to consider time, interest, and budget. Here are some realistic tips:

Driving Distance: Keep daily driving limits in mind to avoid fatigue. Plan for 200-300 miles per day—that is considering sightseeing and rest.
Desired Stops: Identify key attractions and take detours in accordance with the list made.
Rest days: Zero days in case you plan to walk significant sections or if you visit major cities where you wish to remain longer.
Resources: Use tourist guides which can be found on the Internet, mobile apps, print maps. Resources like National Historic Route 66 Federation and Roadtrippers with help you through your journey.

Budget Considerations

This trip of your life needs to be budget-friendly, and you can do that if you plan carefully. Some of the ways to save money are:

Accommodation: budget motels, beach huts, cheap hostels, camping.
Food: Some budget-friendly food options are local restaurants and casual eating joints. It will also help to carry some food options with you.
Fuel: Some apps help you get the cheapest fuel rates on your way to your destination.
Attractions: Do look for free attractions or discounted ones. Many museums and historic sites have student, senior, or AAA discounts on entrance fees.
Travel Off-Season: Don’t go during the major summer travel season or holidays. You will find cheaper places to stay and less traffic.

How to Choose Your Perfect Route 66 Accommodation

Budget-Friendly Options

Motels: America’s Original

It’s hard to think about Route 66 and not picture a motel. They are typically large, inexpensive, clean, comfortable, and very retro. You’ll know them by the neon signs, retro décor, and lots of Route 66 memorabilia. Here are some famous budget motels:

Blue Swallow Motel, Tucumcari, NM: a famous neon sign adorns this vintage-rich motel.
Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, MO: yet another historic but very up-to-date motel with a great atmosphere.
Resources: AAA listings, discount websites, and local “mom & pop” motel directories.

Camping & RV Parks: Sleeping in the Great Outdoors

Staying in camps and RV parks is another practical and fun way to wind down your trip. Many of the camps and parks have full hookups, laundry facilities, and pleasant surroundings with amenities like swimming pools and picnic areas.

KOA Campgrounds: Located conveniently across Route 66, these campgrounds feature full hookups, laundry facilities and pleasant surroundings with amenities like swimming pools and picnic areas.
BLM Land: Most of the free camping occurs on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land; follow local regulations.

Hostels & Budget Motels State by State along Route 66

One can, in point of fact, travel the Route 66 without spending too much money. If one had a little planning, he would find pocket-friendly accommodations which can help him feel the charisma and history of this road without costing him too much money. Here is a detailed guide comprising some of the best low-budget hostels and motels along Route 66 by state.

Illinois

Chicago: HI Chicago Hostel

Located in the heart of downtown, HI Chicago Hostel ensures a comfortable stay for travelers on a budget without compromising quality or location. Clean and secure, it boasts free Wi-Fi, breakfast, and activities. It’s easily accessible on foot to many of the city’s highlights, such as Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Willis Tower.

Joliet: Red Roof Inn

This branching Red Roof Inn can offer travelers in Joliet a good value and cozy space to spend the night on their Route 66 journey. The complimentary amenities include free Wi-Fi, pet-friendly rooms, and complimentary coffee in the lobby. Though the hotel is just outside of the city, it’s near to Joliet Prison and the Rialto Square Theatre, so travelers can stay in one place for history and culture.

Missouri

St. Louis: St. Louis Hostel

St. Louis Hostel is a comfortable, convenient place to stay for any budget traveler. It is close to attractions downtown, has dormitory and private rooms, free Wi-Fi, and features a common kitchen. Close to the Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, and the City Museum.

Springfield: Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven

Representing a historic motel with current-day comforts, Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven in Springfield bridges nostalgia with comfort. It features vintage charm along with modern facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, free breakfast, and Wi-Fi. With the local attractions, such as the Springfield Cardinals baseball stadium and the Route 66 Car Museum, just nearby, no wonder it becomes a favorite among many.

Joplin: Days Inn

The Days Inn in Joplin offers budget stays with necessary amenities like free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor pool. With a location right off of the Route 66 attractions, the Route 66 Mural Park and the Joplin Museum Complex, this is a great value budget option.

Kansas

Wichita: Hostel Wichita

The Wichita Hostel is a budget choice with a social atmosphere. The hostel offers shared dormitory-style and private accommodation with complimentary Wi-Fi as well as a shared kitchen. It is located near downtown Wichita and has easy access to local points of interest, including the Keeper of the Plains and Old Town Wichita.

Dodge City: Super 8 by Wyndham

This budget option in Dodge City offers affordable rooms with basic amenities, such as complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, and a swimming pool. This makes it the perfect base to explore historic Dodge City attractions, including Boot Hill Museum and Dodge City Trail of Fame.

Oklahoma

Tulsa: Tulsa Hostel

Tulsa Hostel provides budget travelers with an amicable and cheap place to lay their heads. The hostel has dormitory-style rooms and private ones with free Wi-Fi and a common kitchen for residents. It is thus with very great ease that various places of interest in the city, such as the Philbrook Museum of Art or the Tulsa Zoo, are accessible from here.

Clinton: Econo Lodge

The Econo Lodge in Clinton has accessible rates and accessible rooms, including free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor pool. It’s located close to the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and Acme Brick Park, making it an easy and convenient stop on your journey down Route 66.

Oklahoma City: OKC East KOA

OKC East KOA Campground provides a range of affordable accommodations, including tent sites all the way to RV sites and cabins; the campground boasts a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and a convenience store. It is hence a great option for budget travelers and those desiring outdoor adventures close to the Oklahoma City excitement, which covers the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum and Bricktown.

Texas

Amarillo Route 66 Inn

This budget-friendly, retro-styled accommodation along Route 66 in Amarillo offers free Wi-Fi, with pet-friendly rooms and proximity to such attractions as Cadillac Ranch and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum.

Shamrock Country Inn

Shamrock Country Inn offers reasonable rates and a homely atmosphere. The motel also offers complimentary amenities like free Wi-Fi, free breakfast, and pet-friendly rooms. A great place to stop on Route 66, travelers will find the iconic U-Drop Inn and Tower Station nearby to remember this tip along the Mother Road.

CANYON Palo Duro RV Park.

An affordable camping option located just steps from Palo Duro Canyon. The RV park has full hook-up RV sites, some tent sites, and facilities such as a clubhouse, laundromat, and playground. This would be a great base for access to Palo Duro Canyon State Park as well as the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. NEW MEXICO

Albuquerque: Route 66 Hostel

Albuquerque cheap accommodation by way of a location. That was a dormitory style accommodation infrastructure with great private rooms, free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and a shared kitchen. That’s conveniently walkable to the many attractions that downtown Albuquerque offers, such as Old Town, the Albuquerque Museum, and the BioPark.

Santa Rosa: La Quinta Inn

This La Quinta Inn in Santa Rosa offers affordable rates and comfortable rooms with amenities such as free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and an outdoor pool. It’s also located close to the Blue Hole and the Route 66 Auto Museum, making it a perfect place to stop while traveling along Route 66.

TUCUMCARI: Budget inn

The Budget Inn at Tucumcari is a classic motel with inexpensive rooms to rent that come with free Wi-Fi and parking. You can bring pets as well. It’s pretty convenient for other things in Tucumcari along Route 66, the Mesalands Dinosaur Museum, and the Tucumcari Historical Museum, to name a few.

Arizona

Holbrook: Motel 6

Located in Holbrook, it is probably one of the cheapest motels available on this list. The Motel 6 offers onsite wireless, parking, and an outside pool and is located near the Petrified Forest National Park and Wigwam Hotel. This is a nice location for people driving on Route 66.

Williams: Grand Canyon Hotel Hostel

The Grand Canyon Hotel Hostel is in Williams, offering an inexpensive place to stay near the Grand Canyon. Dorm-style or private rooms are offered, a communal kitchen, and free Wi-Fi from the hotel. This is all situated in the historic district of Williams, so you are close to many of the attractions of the old Route 66 and an easy day trip to the Grand Canyon.

Flagstaff – Hostel in the Woods

The Hostel in the Woods offers some inexpensive rooms surrounded by trees with plenty of sociability. The place provides dormitory as well as private rooms, free Wi-Fi as well as a common room. Also, it’s located not far from Flagstaff’s historic downtown, places like the Lowell Observatory and the Museum of Northern Arizona, making it a great spot to start exploring the area.

California

Barstow: Route 66 Motel

Situated close to the city, Route 66 Motel offers budget lodging complemented with a retro flair, free Wi-Fi, parking, and even pet-friendly rooms. The accommodations serve well as a stopover place on Route 66, as it is near the Route 66 Mother Road Museum and the Mojave River Valley Museum.

San Bernardino: Knights Inn

Knights Inn In San Bernardino, the Knights Inn offers affordable rates for very basic amenities like free breakfast, Wi-Fi, and parking. This makes it an affordable option for travelers on Route 66 who are interested in experiencing the San Bernardino History & Railroad Museum and the Original McDonald’s Site & Museum.

LA: HI Los Angeles Hostel

HI Los Angeles Hostel is a budget-friendly place to stay that’s ridiculously close to Los Angeles. Amenities to this hostel include dorm-style and private rooms, free breakfast buffet, Wi-Fi, and scheduled activities. It’s also centrally located – walking distance to many of the main attractions – the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Griffith Observatory, and the Getty Center.

Mid-Range Options

Boutique Hotels & Motels: A More Modern Take on the Retro

Many of the boutique hotels and motels along Route 66 have both the charm of history and up-to-date amenities. Accommodations feature local theme and are filled with Route 66 memorabilia. The rooms are comfortable with updated features.

The Drake Hotel (Chicago, IL) A historic hotel with luxe accommodations and modern amenities
Hotel Monte Vista (Flagstaff, AZ) A boutique hotel with an interesting history and one-of-a-kind rooms
Getting Those Mid-Priced Accommodations

Resources: Online travel agencies and boutique hotel chains help out users find mid-priced accommodations.

Bed & Breakfasts: A Personalized Route 66 Experience

Bed and breakfasts offer that home atmosphere with personalized service and great breakfasts. Staying at a place like this allows a guest to interact with their hosts and better learn Route 66 history and some of the local lore.

The Gables Inn, St. Louis, MO: Cozy B&B offering plush rooms and a very welcoming atmosphere
Canyon Rose Suites, Bisbee, AZ: Personal and historic B&B offering comfortable stays.

Resources: Specialty online travel websites and travel blogs for B&Bs along Route 66.

Luxury Options:

Historic Hotels: Immerse Yourself in the Legacy of Route 66

Luxury travelers would have an opportunity to immerse themselves in the legacy of Route 66 by staying in the iconic historic hotels that offer luxurious accommodation and services while also stepping back in time.

The Elms Hotel (Excelsior Springs, MO): This is one of the prime historic hotels that would immerse its visitors in classy accommodations while offering spa services.
The La Posada Hotel (Winslow, AZ): The epitome of refurbished grace with all the obvious upscale elements.
The Hotel Monte Vista (Flagstaff, AZ): An adorable historical hotel with classy guest rooms decked with old photos and a long history.

Upscale Resorts & Spas: Temptation with Luxury in Your Vacation

And, for truly indulging, there will be luxurious resorts and spas located within or near the natural wonders and major cities.

Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs Resort & Spa, Ojo Caliente, NM: Luxury resort with mineral hot springs and spa treatments.
The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles, CA: The higher-end hotel with the most luxurious accommodations; fully inclusive and top-of-the-shelf amenities.

Making the Most of Your Route 66 Accommodation

How to Book Accommodation

Book in Advance: peak season is summer; holidays are also peak times of the year.
Use your tools: web travel agents and hotel-booking applications to compare the prices on different network sites.
Loyalty Programs: Take advantage of loyalty programs and membership perks for seasoned travelers, like AAA discounts, hotel chains reward programs

Packing Essentials of Route 66

Clothing: You should pack clothes for various weather such as ensuring you are prepared for the sun and have something on hand for the rain and for staying cool and warm.

Personal Hygiene and Medication: Bring just the personal hygiene essentials and any medications required.
Navigation Tools: Carry maps and a GPS.
Car Care Basics: These must always include jumper cables, a first-aid kit, and a roadside assistance kit.
Entertainment: Books, music players, and games should be carried in case of extended downtime.

On the Road: Your Route 66 Trip of a Lifetime Starts Now

A trip on the Route 66 highway is a boisterous celebration full of fun and hope. Here are some of the best inspirational quotes and mottos that may encapsulate the adventure spirit:

“Get your kicks on Route 66.”
“Life is a journey, not a destination.”

Conclusion

From the most reduced kind of stay, budget motels and hostels, to middle-classedly priced boutique hotels and luxuriously historic accommodation, there is something available on Route 66 for every pocket, proper planning and budgeting must be done to make the road trip smooth and enjoyable. Feel the adventure, stop at the many hidden gems that are part of the journey, and create memories on the “Mother Road.” Use the guide below to get started in planning out your Route 66 adventures today, and get ready to hit the road on one of America’s most iconic highways.