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There are five National Parks on Route 66 that are worth making a day trip out of while driving Route 66. This list is written as if your starting point is in Chicago, but if you plan to start in California, read the list in reverse for the perfect list of your National Park destinations along Route 66.

Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana)

While Indiana Dunes National Park is technically not on the route of Route 66, it is very close to your starting point in downtown Chicago. You would likely spend less time driving from Indiana Dunes to Chicago than you would driving from Route 66 to the Grand Canyon, so it is well worth adding to the list of National Parks on Route 66!

A beach with rugged rocks cracking from the edge of a sand bank.
The beach of Lake Michigan near Mount Baldy at Indiana Dunes National Park

Indiana Dunes is a beautiful park made up of sand dunes along the shore of Lake Michigan. This is a great spot to get some hiking in before spending any amount of time sitting in your car.

Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri)

You will drive directly past this National Park on your route, which means you know you can make this a quick stop along the way. If you have some time to spare, I would highly recommend checking out the Old Court House. The Old Court House is also on the Gateway Arch grounds, and gives you more history of the area.

A tall courthouse building with a light green colored dome and two wings jetting out to either side.  A sign at the front reads "Gateway Arch National Park - Old Courthouse"
The Old Court House in Downtown St. Louis at the Gateway Arch National Park

There is a museum under the Arch is new and fully renovated as of last July (2018). However, the pods to get to the top of the Arch are the same as always: small and a little squeaky, but well worth the claustrophobic feelings.

If you’d like to know more about visiting Gateway Arch National Park, I wrote an entire post about everything you need to know about visiting!

Click here to read "your ultimate guide to gateway arch national park"

Petrified Forest National Park (Arizona)

Again, you’ll have a hard time missing this stop along Route 66. The highway bisects the park grounds, passing right in between the “forest” part and the painted desert part. There is even a small patch of the original Route 66, marked by an old car and a plaque.

Bright Red Colored sand as far as you can see.  There are stripes of darker and lighter red, but the entire ground is red.  The sky is bright blue and it is a clear day at this National Park on Route 66.
The Painted Desert at Petrified Forest National Park

You will have to pay admission to pass through the Petrified Forest, but this is a great place to get out and stretch your legs. There are lots of short, easy to walk paths, but very little shade (the forest is not actually a forest) so please come prepared with lots of water and proper protective gear.

If you’re looking for a great place to stay while you’re visiting the Petrified Forest National Park, check out another iconic piece of Route 66 history and visit the Wigwam Village Motel.

Click here to read "Visiting the Wigwam Village Motel in Holbrook Arizona"

Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona)

Visiting the Grand Canyon is a little ways off the route, but when you are this close to the South Rim of one of the most iconic destinations in the United States, you have to make the stop, even if it is only for a moment.

The Grand Canyon South Rim at sunrise.
The Grand Canyon at Sunrise

We visited the Grand Canyon’s South Rim during sunrise on our Route 66 journey. There were minimal crowds early in the morning. There was also a beautiful fog that lifted over the Canyon as the sun rose. While we didn’t have time on our trip to hike into the Canyon, you could easily spend a few days hiking at the Grand Canyon.

If you’re looking to make the Grand Canyon a quick stop, like we did when we visited it while driving Route 66, you’re going to want to check out my post: How to Spend Two Hours At the Grand Canyon.

Click here to read "How to Spend Two Hours at the Grand Canyon"

Channel Islands National Park (California)

Much like the beginning of our trip, Channel Islands National Park isn’t exactly along the Route, but it is nearby and very much worth taking a day trip to.

A few jagged islands poke out of the pacific ocean.  The clear blue water crashes against the dark rocks.  There is a haze across the whole image.
Inspiration Point at the Anacapa Island at Channel Island National Park

Channel Islands is off the coast of Los Angeles, a 50 minute boat ride into the Pacific. These chartered boats travel to the island on a regular schedule. You will need to check to see which days it is running before you visit. The boats travel to certain islands on certain days. Be sure to research this one in advance.

On our boat ride out to the island, we saw multiple pods of dolphins swim alongside our boat. On the island, we saw sea lions, and we snorkeled and saw some large orange fish.

The National Parks on Route 66

Few things pair better than road trips and National Parks. The next time you hit the road, be sure to check which parks are nearby and pay them a visit! Not having enough time to see the entire park is always better than never seeing it at all, so even if you’re short on time, stop in! It will be even more incentive to come back next time!

21 thoughts on “Five National Parks You Must See When Driving Route 66

  1. What are some of the main features of the Indiana Dunes National Park? When I think of dunes I think of the beach or a desert, is that with this is?

    1. Hi Dave! — Indiana Dunes is a Lakeshore at the very bottom of Lake Michigan. The Dunes that give this National Park it’s name are very large sand dunes. The park is known for its three large dunes, and host a “3-Dune Challenge,” giving a completion sticker for anyone who successfully climbs all three.

  2. Love this! Have been planning a road trip out west, will have to make note of this awesome list!

    Thank you!!!!

    1. A Route 66 Road Trip is so much fun!! You should absolutely make that drive happen! I have lots of other posts about my favorite stops along Route 66, be sure to check those out, too! There are so many great things to see!

  3. The St. Louis Arch was an amazing site when we visited 2 weeks ago. We didn’t know much about the area and just decided to see this treasure before we left to come home and was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get to and that there was the museum underneath!

    1. Glad you enjoyed your stay in my favorite city in the world! St. Louis is the place we call home and we have a lot of pride for it. The changes they’ve made to the arch grounds are truly remarkable. There used to be a highway that ran right in front of it! Now, that’s all covered up by parks grounds. They’ve made it a beautiful place to visit. Glad you were able to see it!

  4. Driving Route 66 is on our bucket list once we retire. Thanks for pointing out all the National parks along the way. I see you also have other posts on Route 66 that I need to also check out.

    1. Thanks for checking out my posts, Kathy! I do have lots of other Route 66 posts that I hope you check out before taking your trip. I absolutely love all things Route 66. I hope you enjoy your drive!

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