A road trip along Route 66, affectionately known as the Mother Road, should be on every RVer’s bucket list. This state-by-state guide lists recommended campgrounds for stays along the way as you pass through some of the most iconic sites across the U.S.
Some of these stops sit right on the historic roadway, while others are short detours worth the extra miles. Before you lock any of them in, search the route on Campendium and filter by rig length and hookups. Then read what RVers who’ve actually stayed there have to say. Confirm operating dates and reservations directly with the campground, especially outside peak season.
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: Illinois
If you’re planning to drive the entirety of Route 66 you’ll either start or end in the Windy City, Chicago, Illinois. Then you’ll head southwest through rural Midwestern towns with plenty of classic motel neon, vintage filling stations, roadside giants, historic bridges, and more. Keep driving until you hit the Mississippi River and East St. Louis.
Here are RV campgrounds along Route 66 in Illinois:
- Camp Bullfrog Lake, Willow Springs
- IBMC International Livingston County 4-H Park, Pontiac
- Camp a While, Lincoln
- Double J Campground, Chatham
- Kamper Kompanion RV Park & Campground, Litchfield
- Country Bend Campground, Litchfield
- Casino Queen RV Park, East St. Louis
- Cahokia RV Parque, Cahokia
Route 66 Leg 1: Chicago to St. Louis
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: Missouri
From St. Louis toward Joplin and the Kansas border, Missouri serves up the Mother Road’s classic mix of diners, neon, and roadside attractions. Choose an overnight stop that leaves time to explore rather than simply cover miles.
Here are RV campgrounds along Route 66 in Missouri:
- Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resort: Six Flags, Eureka
- St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA Holiday, Eureka
- Meramec State Park, Sullivan
- Pheasant Acres RV Park, St. James
- Lamplight RV Park, Waynesville
- Lebanon / Bennett Spring KOA Holiday, Lebanon
- Bennett Spring State Park, Lebanon
- RV Express 66 RV Park, Marshfield
- Cooks RV Motorpark, Springfield
- Camp Mi Casa on the Route, Carthage
- Big Red Barn RV Park, Carthage
- Coachlight RV Park, Carthage
Route 66 Leg 2: St. Louis to Tulsa
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: Kansas
Kansas packs a memorable stretch of the Mother Road into about 13 miles, passing through Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs. Build in time for the roadside stops, then choose a verified campground in nearby southwest Missouri or northeast Oklahoma from the options below and above.
Check your route and overnight arrangements before driving on.
- Baxter Springs Riverside Park, Baxter Springs
- Four Oaks RV Park, Pittsburg
- Big Brutus Museum / RV Park, West Mineral area
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: Oklahoma
Oklahoma is home to the most drivable portions of the old Mother Road with plenty of fun things to see along the way. Tulsa is a landmark city on Route 66—plan enough time to visit museums, restored buildings, and historic sites—and don’t miss the iconic Blue Whale in nearby Catoosa.
Here are RV campgrounds along Route 66 in Oklahoma:
- Buffalo Run Wild RV Resort, Miami
- Twin Bridges at Grand Lake State Park, Fairland
- Water’s Edge RV and Cabin Resort, Vinita
- Claremore Expo Center, Claremore
- Tulsa NE / Will Rogers Downs KOA Journey, Claremore
- Click RV Park (formerly Warrior RV Park), Tulsa
- Twin Fountains RV Resort, Oklahoma City
- The Campground Collective (formerly Mustang Run RV Park), Yukon
- Territory Route 66 RV Park & Campground, Bridgeport
- Foss State Park, Foss
- Bobcat Creek RV Park, Sayre
Route 66 Leg 3: Tulsa to Amarillo
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: Texas
The panhandle of Texas is filled with vintage gems, from filling stations to motels and diners. Nearly 180 miles of the old Route 66 run parallel to the new route so you can easily hop on and off.
Don’t miss a stay in Amarillo, known for the famous 72-ounce steak dinner at The Big Texan Steak Ranch and Cadillac Ranch nearby. If you want a detour, Palo Duro Canyon State Park’s Juniper Campground is one of the best parks in the Lone Star State.
In Adrian, pause at the celebrated Route 66 midpoint marker. MidPoint Cafe is a classic stop when it is open; check seasonal hours before counting on a meal, especially outside the spring-through-fall travel season.
Here are RV campgrounds along Route 66 in Texas:
- Texas Route 66 RV Park, Shamrock
- Big Texan RV Ranch, Amarillo
- Fort Amarillo RV Park, Amarillo
- Amarillo RV Resort (formerly Oasis RV Resort), Amarillo
- Amarillo KOA Journey, Amarillo
- Midpoint Campground, Adrian
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment offers hot springs, forests, desert, and mountains, as well as interesting small towns and big cities—the most iconic is Tucumcari, home to dozens of famous landmarks and kitschy attractions.
Here are RV campgrounds along Route 66 in New Mexico:
- Blaze-in-Saddle RV Park, Tucumcari
- Santa Rosa Campground & RV Park, Santa Rosa
- Santa Fe KOA Journey, Santa Fe
- Santa Fe Skies RV Park, Santa Fe
- Coronado Campground, Bernalillo
- Albuquerque KOA Journey, Albuquerque
- Route 66 RV Resort, Albuquerque
- Grants KOA Journey, Grants
- USA RV Park, Gallup
Route 66 Leg 4: Amarillo to Albuquerque
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: Arizona
You know you’re entering Arizona when you see the Teepee Trading Post and souvenir shop. Continue along the route to see famous landmarks and restored hotels before entering the outdoor adventure hubs of Flagstaff and Williams, the gateway of the Grand Canyon.
Before you leave Arizona, stop in Seligman, hometown of Angel Delgadillo, the barber known as the “Guardian Angel of Route 66.” Then continue to Kingman for the Arizona Route 66 Museum.
West of Kingman, the original alignment climbs over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman on a narrow road full of tight switchbacks and steep grades. It’s unforgettable in a car and a real workout in a big rig. Many RVers stay on I-40 and visit Oatman as a side trip, or unhook and take the tow vehicle.
To see what you’re climbing before you commit, RV PRO members can use the elevation view in the Trip Planner to see the ups and downs along your route. Older stretches of the Mother Road can also come with low clearances and weight-restricted bridges, which RV-Safe Navigation (RV PRO) routes around based on your rig’s height and weight.
Here are RV campgrounds along Route 66 in Arizona:
- OK RV Park & Red Rock MPH, Holbrook
- Meteor Crater RV Park, Winslow
- Flagstaff KOA, Flagstaff
- Grand Canyon Railway RV Park, Williams
- Railside RV Ranch, Williams
- Williams / Exit 167 / Circle Pines KOA Holiday, Williams
- Route 66 General Store, Seligman
- Blake Ranch RV Park & Horse Motel, Kingman
Route 66 Leg 5: Albuquerque to Flagstaff
Route 66 RV Campgrounds: California
Finish with the traditional oceanside celebration at Santa Monica Pier; the historic Route 66 terminus is at Lincoln and Olympic boulevards. Along the way you’ll encounter plenty of worthy pit stops including museums, diners, restored motels, historic sites, and funky art displays such as Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch.
Note: Check visiting information before detouring to Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch; opening can be irregular.
Here are RV campgrounds along Route 66 in California:
- Pirate Cove Resort, Needles
- Needles KOA Journey, Needles
- Newberry Mountain RV Park, Newberry Springs
- Fairplex RV Park, Pomona
- Bonelli Bluffs RV Resort & Campground, San Dimas
- Dockweiler RV Park, Playa del Rey
- Leo Carrillo State Park Campground, Malibu
Route 66 Leg 6: Flagstaff to Santa Monica
Plan Your Route 66 RV Trip
On Route 66, the drive is the destination. The hard part is figuring out where your rig spends each night.
Start by saving the campgrounds from this guide that fit your preferences, then use our Trip Planner to pull it all together. Map the miles between stops, build realistic travel days, check the elevation along each leg, plan alongside the crew, and use RV GPS when it’s time to hit the road. Start your 7-day free trial to plan your Route 66 trip around these campgrounds.
