Route 66 New Mexico Loop — 18-Day Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour
Ride a 3,160-mile loop from Albuquerque to Chicago on historic Route 66, then return through the Great Plains, Badlands, Black Hills, and Colorado Rockies. The tour crosses New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado over 18 days, with 14 riding days, 17 nights, and rest days in Chicago and Denver.
Begin with the Turquoise Trail from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, passing the old mining towns of Cerrillos and Madrid. Turn east into the Route 66 corridor through Santa Rosa and Tucumcari, then cross the Texas Panhandle to Amarillo and Cadillac Ranch. Continue through Shamrock and Oklahoma City before riding the Mother Road to Tulsa, the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Springfield, Missouri, St. Louis, and Chicago.
After a full day in Chicago, the return heads northwest on a 490-mile stage to Sioux Falls. Continue across South Dakota to the Badlands, Wall Drug, Rapid City, and the Black Hills. A 410-mile ride then runs south through Wyoming and Cheyenne to Denver, where a rest day precedes the mountain finale.
From Denver, cross Independence Pass to Aspen, continue through Gunnison and Montrose to Ouray, and ride the Million Dollar Highway through Silverton to Durango. The final 215-mile stage follows US-550 through the high desert and San Juan Basin back to Albuquerque.
This is a substantial long-distance tour with desert heat, Great Plains storms, remote highways, mountain passes above 12,000 feet, sparse fuel, and limited cell coverage. The booklet advises layers, waterproof gear, sun protection, offline maps, careful fuel planning, and checks of Colorado pass conditions.
The itinerary is deliberately asymmetric. The first half follows the Mother Road east through classic diners, neon towns, museums, roadside attractions, and preserved highway alignments. After Chicago, the tour becomes a continental return through open prairie, South Dakota formations, Wyoming plains, and Colorado high country. Daily distances vary from 65 miles between Albuquerque and Santa Fe to 490 miles from Chicago to Sioux Falls, making preparation for both sightseeing days and long transit days essential.
This is a self-guided tour with no fixed group schedule. Booking the Experience includes a detailed tour booklet with the complete itinerary, daily routes and mileage, recommended stops, restaurants, lodging suggestions, rider tips, and Google Maps links with scenic waypoints.
18 Days · 3,160 Miles · Albuquerque · Route 66 · Chicago · Badlands · Black Hills · Colorado Rockies · Self-Guided
