Get Your Kicks RVing on Route 66
The historic U.S. Route 66, at 2,448 miles, is a must-see when traveling across the country. Of course, you will want to take your time, see the sites, and stop at a few Route 66 RV parks along the way.
History of Route 66
Starting in Chicago, Route 66 originally ran through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California.
U.S. 66 served as a primary route for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and the road supported the economies of the communities through which it passed.
In June 1985, it was officially removed from the United States Highway System and replaced by segments of the Interstate Highway System. Portions of the road that passed through Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated a National Scenic Byway with the name “Historic Route 66.”
Route 66 RV Parks That You Won’t Want to Miss
There is still plenty to see along the route and some great Route 66 RV sites as well. You might want to start your trip at Chicago’s Grant Park. This marks the eastern terminus of Route 66. Several relics of Route 66’s heyday remain near the park, including Route 66 signage and the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain. The fountain has lights at night and live music is performed there as well. Alternatively, you may want to kick off your road trip from the western terminus in Santa Monica.
Wherever you start your Route 66 RV adventure, these RV parks add to the fun.
1. St. Louis West/Historic Route 66 KOA – Eureka, Missouri
As you begin your journey, don’t miss this Route 66 RV park near St. Louis. The St. Louis West KOA offers spacious pull-through sites with full hookups. With lots of trees and a nearby creek, this park also offers an off-leash dog park, bike rentals, a basketball court, ping pong and more. Enjoy the natural hot springs spas, playground, or pickleball courts. Kids will love the heated pool, the gem mining station, and the jumping pillow.
Open year-round, this KOA is within 30 miles of downtown St. Louis and just one mile from Six Flags St. Louis and I-44. It is also close to other attractions such as the Gateway Arch, The Zoo in Forest Park, Missouri Botanical Garden, City Museum, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, and Grant’s Farm.
While you’re there, check out the “Chain of Rocks Bridge.” This famous bridge was a mile long and more than 60 feet above the Mississippi River. It is a significant landmark for travelers who drove down Route 66. Today, the bridge is linked to more than 300 miles of trails on both sides of the river and has become part of the Route 66 bikeway. It has also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 2006.
St. Louis West/Historic Route 66 KOA – Photo via RV LIFE Campgrounds
2. Springfield /Route 66 KOA – Springfield, Missouri
This Route 66 RV park offers the chance for visitors to explore landmarks throughout the city of Springfield, as well as many campground amenities.
This big-rig friendly campground offers a shady retreat in the heart of the Ozarks with long pull-thru sites and full hookups. Amenities include pickleball courts, bike rentals, a pool, playground, and camp store. Also enjoy the ice cream socials or let Fido run at Kamp K-9.
Check out the nearby lakes, golf course, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Wilson’s Creek Civil War Battlefield, Fantastic Caverns, the Dickerson Park Zoo, or the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Take a drive along Route 66 and see the historic Route 66 landmarks throughout the city.
“Stayed just one night passing through area. We did not plan on the stay, so staff was nice and accommodating a last minute reservation. Easy to find of the interstate. They got us right in and led us to the pull-through site. Did not use many of the amenities. I will say that the site was gravel and level. Shaded. The entire campground looked clean and the facilities that we used were very clean. Individual bathrooms and showers that were close to us were very clean. Wifi was ok. From what we saw, there were things to do for the kids. We camped at Springfield / Route 66 KOA in a Motorhome.” – RV LIFE Campgrounds user Mm1407
Springfield /Route 66 KOA – Photo via RV LIFE Campgrounds
3. Big Red Barn RV Park – Carthage, Missouri
Big Red Barn RV Park is located right off the historic Route 66 (now I-44) in Southwest Missouri. The campground is open year-round with spacious pull-thru sites and full hookups. The sites include concrete patios, WiFi, cable TV, and access to their laundry and bathhouse facilities.
History buffs will not want to miss the nearby Battle of Carthage Civil War Museum. The area also has several local restaurants with all types of cuisine from pizza and BBQ to burgers and Mexican food.
Big Red Barn RV Park – Photo via RV LIFE Campgrounds
4. Elk City / Clinton KOA – Canute, Oklahoma
Just off I-40 and halfway between Elk City and Clinton, this Route 66 RV park is also near two museums dedicated to all things Route 66. The National Route 66 Museum in Elk City is one of the most comprehensive with a journey through all eight states and plenty of memorabilia, including antique cars and Popeye memorabilia.
At the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, located in Clinton, you can learn about the road’s construction, see vehicles from the time period, and take part in interactive activities. At the end of the museum, you can stop by the drive-in theatre or check out the gift shop.
The Elk City / Clinton KOA has long, level sites with full hook-ups, a pool, camping kitchen, playground, and dog park. The campground is a short walk to Clinton Lake for sand bass and crappie fishing, as well as 11 miles from Foss Lake, known for bass fishing.
Nearby Lucky Star Casino and golf courses are a short distance away. Visit Stafford Air & Space Museum or Washita Battlefield National Historic Site, both within an hour’s drive. In season, you can dine on-site.
Elk City / Clinton KOA. Photo via RV LIFE Campgrounds
5. Texas Route 66 RV Park – Shamrock, Texas
Texas Route 66 RV Park is easy to access off the historic Route 66 (now Interstate 40) in the Texas Panhandle. They offer long, wide pull-through sites with full hookups, picnic tables, and free WiFi.
Other amenities include a camp store, dog run, play area, restrooms and showers, and laundry. Explore nearby Shamrock, Texas where there are many restaurants, historic sites, and notable attractions.
Texas Route 66 RV Parks – Photo via RV LIFE Campgrounds
6. Amarillo KOA – Amarillo, Texas
Take a few days to enjoy the campground amenities and some great Route 66 historic venues near the Amarillo KOA. This family-friendly campground features well-groomed sites with full hook-ups and lots to see and do nearby.
Visit the gift store, take a limo ride to the World Famous Big Texas Steakhouse, or play ladder ball. Enjoy the KOA’s Western metal art displayed within the campground. Within a quarter mile of the campground, airplane enthusiasts can see Aviation Bluffs, featuring a wide variety of aircraft.
Be sure to wander the famous highway and see Cadillac Ranch, one of Route 66’s most popular attractions. The sculpture is made up of ten old Cadillacs, half buried nose down, standing as a monument to America’s “Golden Age of the Automobile.” Graffiti is encouraged with passersby allowed to leave their mark. Don’t miss the galleries, antique shops, and historic saloons in the Route 66 Historic District just west of downtown Amarillo.
Also check out the American Quarter Horse Heritage Center & Museum or drive to the bottom of the second largest canyon in the U.S. for hiking, biking, and Jeep or horseback rides. You can also see the musical drama “Texas” at the outdoor amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon or visit the largest historical museum in Texas, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.
Amarillo KOA. Photo via campgroundreviews.com
7. Route 66 RV Resort – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Located just outside Albuquerque, Route 66 RV Resort offers spacious sites with pickleball courts, a swimming pool, putting green, and an open-air kitchen with gas grills and plenty of picnic space. The Route 66 Casino Hotel is just steps away with its Route 66 themed memorabilia, casino games, entertainment venues, and nightclub.
Resort activities include the Amenity Center with a flat screen TV, billiards, card tables, exercise room, horseshoe pit, pickleball courts, volleyball court, and dog park. The Rally Barn features 16 picnic tables, a full outdoor kitchen with four gas grills, two sinks, and counter space for meal prep.
The Route 66 Casino hotel features a Vegas-style casino themed with Route 66 memorabilia and has 1,300 slot and video poker machines, table games, a 500-seat bingo hall, a dedicated poker room, five restaurants, five bars, a 2,800-seat indoor theater, a 154-room hotel, nightclub, convention center, and Kids Quest and Cyber Quest arcade.
Indulge in the world famous half-pound Laguna Burger, served up fresh daily at the 66 Pit Stop location at exit 140. Route 66 shuttles provide complimentary rides.
Route 66 RV Resort. Photo via campgroundreviews.com
8. Holbrook/Petrified Forest KOA – Holbrook, Arizona
The Holbrook / Petrified Forest KOA is located right off Route 66 in Holbrook, AZ. Amenities include a camp store, dog walk, basketball court, volleyball court, playground, and fire pits. Enjoy a chuckwagon dinner or relax and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
If you are wanting to see the Petrified Forest or Painted Desert, this is the perfect place to stay. Fossils that are found here indicate that natives inhabited this land some 10,000 years ago. It was also home to creatures such as dinosaurs and other ancient life forms. These sites are about a 20-minute drive from the park. You can also take a day trip to the Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, Monument Valley or Fort Apache.
Stop at the Hubbell Trading Post on the Navajo Reservation or drive through Holbrook and see the Wigwam Motel, a museum of Historic Route 66 and the Hashknife Outfit, one of the west’s largest cattle ranches.
Holbrook KOA. Photo via campgroundreviews.com
9. Grand Canyon Railway RV Park – Williams, Arizona
The Grand Canyon Railway RV Park offers 134 spacious pull-through sites with full hookups. Amenities include a dog park, fitness trails, a camp store, pool, and playground. Located near the historic Grand Canyon Railway Station, visitors can catch the train into Grand Canyon National Park. It is also within walking distance of Goldie’s Route 66 Restaurant and the Grand Canyon Brewery.
Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, still run by the original owner’s family, features Juan Delgadillo’s idea to lure visitors. He sliced off the top of his 1936 Chevrolet hardtop and adorned it with trinkets and an artificial Christmas tree. This restaurant takes on a funhouse vibe with fake doorknobs and outhouse bathrooms behind the building.
Photo via campgroundreview.com
10. Los Angeles/Pomona/Fairplex KOA – California
As your trip comes to an end, check out the Los Angeles/Pomona/Fairplex KOA with full hook-up sites, free Wi-Fi, a pool, hot tub, sauna, and tour shuttle to explore the area. Visit nearby Disneyland, Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Universal Studios and more.
Downtown Los Angeles was the original western terminus of Route 66, but the route was extended to Santa Monica in 1935. A sign at the end of the Santa Monica Pier marks the “End of the Trail” with a Ferris wheel, arcades, street performers, and plenty of restaurants and bars.
Also near the end of the route is the original McDonald’s Restaurant in San Bernardino. A museum marks the first restaurant. The restaurant does not serve the food that made it famous but showcases the rise of McDonalds from a small restaurant in the 1940s to what it is today.
Other features include a sign from the old McDonald’s a Hamburglar jail, Ronald McDonald Statues, and Route 66 plaques.
Plan your Route 66 road trip
Of course, there are plenty more Route 66 RV parks along this historic cross-country route. Plan your trip with the RV LIFE Pro tools to get RV-safe GPS directions and to find more campgrounds and points of interest along the way. You may also want to check out these 18 Kick-Ass Places To Visit On Route 66 highlighted by Do It Yourself RV.
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Terri and her husband, Todd, are full time RVers and work campers. They have been living full time in their RV for nearly three years with their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Newton, and their Mini Aussie puppy Remi. They are currently wintering in Arizona with plans to continue their travels next summer. Writing is Terri’s passion but she also loves hiking, kayaking and anything she can do outside.
One restaurant not to be missed is Del’s in Tucumcari
Shameful…The Needles, Ca KOA is wonderful.
Camping yards from the original highway it is iconic route 66.
There are many other parks along Route 66, other than KOA. Give the independent parks some mention…..6 out of 10 were KOA. While we do like them, we give the others a chance t make us want to recommend them as well. We keep a trip journal and even include the site number we had.
I agree with Mike Bena; we do not stay at KOA’s much.
We have stayed one night in the Amarillo KOA. It is sandwiched between the Interstate, a busy railway just north of it, and a nearby airport.
I was surprised you didn’t mention oatmen az
How come my post was deleted? Because I had bad experiences with KOA
SORRY I can’t agree with you on some of the campgrounds
The Los Angeles/Pomona/Fairflex KOA is, according to reviews, no longer a KOA. And, according to the reviews, it does not merit the designation “RV Parks you won’t want to miss.”
Thanks ! This would Bee a Great trip!
The KOA in Springfield is next to a train track and has a signal crossing. Very loud and not an asset. We like KOAs, but not this one.
The KOA in Amarillo is also noisy, but they are up front about it – train, helicopter facility, truck yard and airport – our stay was lucky as only the train was objectionable. Nice staff.
The KOA to the East of Elk city is noisy in the front – get a back of park site.
The Albuquerque KOA is a favorite. There is some traffic noise, but it is not objectionable. It works for us and we are a bit picky. The staff is very supportive. This is our GOTO.
There is a KOA on the East side of OKC. We found it by accident. Quiet and great staff. It’s a winner and our GOTO.
I know there’s been a bunch of KOA’s listed here, but if’n you’re running on Route 66, then a stay at SELIGMAN / ROUTE 66 KOA JOURNEY (N. Arizona) seems like a must stay (at least for a night). It’s a pretty basic park, and yes there’s a rail line near by, but Seligman is ground zero for the Pixar move Cars. Seligman is basically the genesis of Radiator Springs (the town in the movie).
https://www.travelinusa.us/seligman-route-66/
Apart from KOA, there’s a diverse array of parks that dot the landscape along Route 66. While KOA holds a notable presence with 6 out of 10 spots, we find it essential to shine a light on the independent parks that deserve recognition. While we do appreciate KOA, we believe that these other parks also hold the potential to capture our hearts and earn our endorsement. Our travel journal meticulously records each of these experiences, even down to the specific site numbers we occupied.