Route 66 stretches 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, offering endless photography opportunities. From towering fiberglass spacemen to neon-lit motels glowing against desert nights, the Mother Road delivers iconic American imagery at every turn. 

Traveling in an RV from El Monte RV gives photographers ultimate flexibility. Arrive at landmarks during golden hour, return for sunset shots, and stay nearby to capture different lighting conditions. 

Golden Hour (one hour after sunrise/before sunset) provides warm, directional light perfect for vintage neon, roadside sculptures, and painted deserts. 

Blue Hour (30 minutes before sunrise/after sunset) creates dramatic skies behind neon signs when artificial lights contrast with deep blue twilight. 

Essential Gear: Wide-angle lens (16-35mm), standard zoom (24-70mm), tripod for low-light shots, polarizing filter, and extra batteries. 

Gemini Giant (Wilmington)

The Gemini Giant stands 28 feet tall with a silver rocket ship. Shoot from low angles to emphasize height. Morning light illuminates the figure's face best. 

Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum (Pontiac)

Pontiac's museum sits amid downtown murals. Afternoon light works best for east-facing murals. Allow an hour for the dozen-plus murals. 

Cozy Dog Drive In (Springfield)

The Cozy Dog features iconic signage and memorabilia-covered walls. Capture the sign at dusk when neon glows brightest. 

Ariston Cafe (Litchfield)

The Ariston Cafe's spectacular neon sign photographs beautifully at blue hour. Park across the street for unobstructed shots. 

Chain of Rocks Bridge (Madison)

The Chain of Rocks Bridge features a dramatic 22-degree bend mid-river. Walk to the bend for unique compositions. Morning light illuminates the St. Louis skyline. 

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard (St. Louis)

Ted Drewes’ bright red building photographs best at blue hour. Capture servers turning "concretes" upside down for classic action shots. 

Cuba Route 66 Murals

Cuba's dozen-plus murals depict highway history. Morning light works for west-facing murals, and afternoon light for east-facing murals. Vivid colors pop in overcast conditions. 

Wagon Wheel Motel (Cuba)

The Wagon Wheel's vintage neon glows magnificently at dusk. Long exposures during blue hour create dramatic images. 

Meramec Caverns (Sullivan)

Meramec Caverns offers spectacular cave formations. Interior photography requires a tripod and slow shutter speeds to capture colorful mineral deposits. 

Blue Whale of Catoosa

The Blue Whale ranks among Route 66's most photographed attractions. Shoot from the pond's opposite side for water reflections. Bright blue paint pops against Oklahoma skies. 

Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios (Tulsa)

Buck Atom's towering spaceman photographs best from low angles. Late afternoon light highlights metallic surfaces. 

POPS (Arcadia)

POPS’ 66-foot LED soda bottle changes colors throughout the day. Blue hour creates dramatic images. Long exposures capture color-changing effects. 

Rock Cafe (Stroud)

The Rock Cafe's creek bed stone construction photographs beautifully in morning light, showing texture and depth. 

U-Drop Inn Cafe (Shamrock)

The U-Drop Inn's Art Deco architecture photographs beautifully in morning or late afternoon light. The tower rises dramatically against Texas's big sky. 

Devil's Rope Museum (McLean)

The Devil's Rope Museum offers unique barbed wire photography. Detail shots showcase a surprising variety in this simple invention. 

Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo)

Cadillac Ranch features ten Cadillacs buried nose-down. Visit during golden hour when warm light illuminates the painted metal. Ever-changing graffiti produces unique images on each visit. 

Midpoint Cafe (Adrian)

The Midpoint Cafe marks Route 66's exact midpoint. Photograph the distance signs in morning or late afternoon light. 

Blue Swallow Motel (Tucumcari)

The Blue Swallow's neon sign represents Route 66's most iconic signage. Blue hour provides rich sky color behind glowing tubes. Long exposures create a smooth, vibrant glow. 

Santa Fe Plaza

Santa Fe's plaza features adobe architecture and the Palace of the Governors. Morning light illuminates the adobe buildings beautifully. Always ask permission before photographing artisans. 

Canyon Road (Santa Fe)

Canyon Road stretches through the arts district. Morning or late afternoon light creates perfect conditions for adobe architecture and artistic details. 

Albuquerque Old Town

Old Town preserves Spanish colonial heritage. The plaza's arches and portals create natural framing. Morning light illuminates San Felipe de Neri Church's facade. 

El Malpais National Monument

El Malpais protects volcanic badlands. Early morning or late afternoon creates dramatic shadows on black lava formations, contrasting with the blue sky. 

Petrified Forest National Park

Petrified Forest protects rainbow-colored petrified logs. The Painted Desert photographs spectacularly during golden hour. Blue Mesa offers dramatic landscape photography. Original Route 66 pavement preserved in the park creates perfect desert road shots. 

Wigwam Motel (Holbrook)

The Wigwam Motel's fifteen concrete teepees are best photographed from the front entrance. Golden hour provides warm light on concrete surfaces. 

La Posada Hotel (Winslow)

The La Posada Hotel features Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. Gardens photograph beautifully in morning light. Ask permission for interior shots. 

Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff)

Lowell Observatory's historic domes are photographed dramatically against clear skies. Evening viewing sessions offer telescope photography opportunities. 

Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In (Seligman)

Delgadillo's building, covered with vintage signs, provides rich visual textures. Capture staff-customer interactions for candid moments showing the playful personality. 

Oatman Wild Burros

Wild burros roam Oatman's Main Street. Photograph burros interacting with tourists. Old West buildings provide an authentic backdrop. Morning light works best before crowds arrive. 

Santa Monica Pier

The Santa Monica Pier marks Route 66's official endpoint. The "End of the Trail" sign draws crowds, so arrive early in the morning. Sunset over the Pacific provides spectacular golden light. Pier neon glows beautifully at blue hour. 

Timing and Equipment

Consider 14-21-day itineraries for optimal photography time. Traveling in an RV from El Monte RV provides secure equipment storage, climate control for gear protection, power for charging, and flexibility to return to locations for different lighting. 

Best Seasons

Spring (April-May): Desert wildflowers, comfortable temperatures, clear skies. 

Fall (September-October): Spectacular light quality, comfortable temperatures, fall colors in the Midwest. 

Summer (June-August): Longest daylight, but extreme heat requires early/evening shooting. 

Winter (November-March): Lowest crowds, though snow is possible in Flagstaff. 

Essential Photo Checklist

• Route 66 "Begin" sign (Chicago)
• Gemini Giant
• Chain of Rocks Bridge
• Cuba murals
• Blue Whale of Catoosa
• POPS soda bottle
• Cadillac Ranch
• Blue Swallow Motel neon
• Petrified Forest landscapes
• Wigwam Motel teepees
• Santa Monica Pier "End of the Trail"

Route 66 offers photographers unmatched opportunities to document American roadside culture, vintage architecture, and spectacular landscapes. From neon-lit motels to desert vistas, every mile provides worthy subjects. 

Traveling in an RV from El Monte RV gives photographers ultimate flexibility. Monthly rentals include up to 1,500 miles with additional miles available through Travel Extras. For extended journeys, explore Long-Term Rental Deals. 

Check current promotions at Rental Deals and start planning your Route 66 photography adventure.