Planning a Motorcycle Road Trip on Route 66: Route, Days, Helmet Laws and the 2026 Centennial

A motorcycle trip on Route 66 follows the old US highway for 2,448 miles (3,940 km), from Chicago to Santa Monica. It crosses eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. The road was removed from the US Highway System in 1985, so there's no single numbered road to follow. You'll ride preserved Historic Route 66 segments joined by other roads. Plan your daily distance, then check each state's helmet law: the eight states have five different rules.

This guide is part of our motorcycle touring destinations series. It covers planning a Route 66 motorcycle road trip on your own bike or a rental.

Key takeaways- 2,448 miles (3,940 km), Chicago to Santa Monica, through 8 states.- Helmet laws change at state lines. California requires one for all riders, and Illinois has no helmet law.- 2026 is the route's centennial year. It was established on November 11, 1926.- The NPS lists more than 250 Route 66 sites on the National Register of Historic Places.

Where Route 66 starts and ends

Route 66 runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. You can ride it in either direction.

The road you'll ride today is a patchwork. After the highway was decommissioned in 1985, many segments were preserved as Historic Route 66, a National Scenic Byway, and became part of state and local road networks. Some old alignments were bypassed decades ago. In Arizona, for example, the steep, winding stretch through the Black Mountains near Oatman was bypassed in 1953 by a more direct road between Kingman and Needles. Steep, winding old alignments like this one need the most care.

How long does Route 66 take on a motorcycle?

That depends on how far you ride each day. Here's our arithmetic for the full 2,448 miles:

Add rest days and time for sightseeing. The NPS travel itinerary alone highlights more than 100 historic sites along the route. Whether 200 miles is a long day depends on the road and your experience. On slow, old alignments, 200 miles can take a full day.

Helmet laws state by state (October 2026)

Source: IIHS helmet law table, October 2026. If you ride without a helmet in the states that allow it, you'll still need one by the California line. The simplest plan is to wear one the whole way.

Lane splitting in California

California's DMV sources don't agree on how they describe lane splitting. The Driver Handbook says it's legal. The Motorcyclists Guide says state law neither allows nor prohibits it. We explain this in more detail in planning a motorcycle trip in California. Ride as you would at home if you're unsure.

The 2026 centennial

Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926. To mark the centennial in 2026, the US Postal Service issued Forever stamps featuring Route 66 designs. We haven't sourced centennial event dates, so we don't list any. If you're riding in 2026, book rooms early in the towns you most want to see.

What to see from the saddle

The National Park Service (NPS) Travel Route 66 itinerary lists historic hotels, filling stations and restaurants. More than 250 buildings, bridges, road alignments and other Route 66 sites are on the National Register of Historic Places. Use it to plan where you'll stop.

Planning the ride

1. Direction and dates. Pick east-to-west or west-to-east, and decide on your daily distance using the table above.
2. Bike. Ride your own, or rent one-way. One-way rental fees vary, so get the drop-off cost in writing.
3. Rules. Check the helmet table and California's lane-splitting guidance.
4. Weather. For riding in desert heat, see the National Park Service riding advice in our California guide, linked above.
5. Scanning. Old alignments can be rough. The California motorcycle handbook says to look 10 to 15 seconds ahead.

Thinking about a longer crossing? See planning a coast-to-coast motorcycle trip and planning a motorcycle road trip across the USA. For a guided Route 66 tour, use our checklist for choosing a motorcycle adventure tour.

Gear for heat and long days

Long hot days mean you'll want a layer you can open up. Leather Collection's motorcycle vests are mostly cowhide, for men and women, with snap, zip and side-lace fronts, and each is made to order in a custom size. A vest doesn't protect you like a jacket does, so wear it over protective gear or in towns, not as a replacement.

FAQ

Where does Route 66 start?

In Chicago, Illinois. It ends in Santa Monica, California.

How long does it take to drive all of Route 66?

It's 2,448 miles (3,940 km). At 200 miles a day, that's 13 riding days, before you add rest days. That figure is our own arithmetic.

What is the 12-second rule for motorcycles?

It's a scanning habit. The California handbook says to look at least 10 to 15 seconds ahead.

Is 200 miles a long motorcycle ride?

It depends on the road and the rider. On Route 66, 200 miles a day turns the full route into about 13 riding days. Slow old alignments and frequent stops make each mile take longer.