Route 66 - 8 Day Tour - Chicago to Albuquerque

Information

Package overview

Our World famous Route 66 motorcycle tour travels the original Route 66, known as the “Mainstreet of America” or “Mother Road”, is 2400 miles long from Chicago to Los Angeles, crosses three time zones and 8 States: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Route 66 has been the path of migrants, dreamers, desperadoes and an entire generation of vacationers discovering the way west. The 1950’s were the Route 66 glory days, when thousands of cars rode bumper to bumper behind each other to experience the Western frontier. Hotels, motels, gas stations, classic restaurants, and the “New” America sprang up everywhere. Much of Route 66’s classic roads, restaurants, gas stations, and nostalgic landmarks are preserved just as they were in the 1950’s. The famous and nostalgic Route 66 is the road created in heaven for motorcycle touring. Simply stated, this is the guided tour of America!

Included in this package

Flights Dublin – Chicago/ Albuquerque – Dublin
Late Model Motorcycle Rental
Bike Model Guarantee
3-4 Star Motorcycle Friendly Hotels
Breakfast on Riding Days
Fuel on Riding Days
Custom Armoured Riding Jacket
Hosted Welcome Dinner
Half-Shell Helmets for Rider & Pillion
EagleRider Legendary Farewell Dinner
Experienced Multilingual Tour Guide
Support Vechile Equipped for Luggage and Spare Bike
Door to Door Luggage Service
Mobile Tour Guide App
Custom Tour Completion Patch
National Park Entrance Fees
Hotel Parking Fees
Toll Fees
Transportation between Tour Hotel and EagleRider locations
SLI Insurance (liability cover up to US$300,000)
VIP-Zero Insurance cover for your motorcycle

NOT included in this package

Flight Taxes @ €279.00 – Prices can vary according to Flight availability and exchange rates
Personal souvenirs
Beverages
Food and snacks (except welcome and farewell meals, as described)
Tips
Personal travel insurance (see below)

Additional info

2 persons / 1 bike / 1 room from * €3,139.00 pps
2 persons / 2 bikes / 1 room from * €4,245.00 pps
1 person / 1 bike / 1 room from * €4,869.00

Prices can vary according to Flight availability and exchange rates

Insurance is a very important matter for everybody travelling by motorcycle. We feel therefore, that it is important that you clearly understand matters and set out the relevant information below.

1. Supplemental Liability Insurance (SLI)

All packages include a basic insurance for which the amount of cover varies from State to State. in addition, we also automatically include SLI as this increases your liability insurance Benefit up to US$3000,000. This insurance protects the renter against claims made by a Third Party for bodily injury and/or property damage sustained as a result of an accident.

2. EVIP Insurance

This policy is applicable to the motorcycle ONLY. It limits the liability of the renter:

in the event of any and all accidental damage to the motorcycle and its accessories.
the loss/theft of the vehicle provided the motorcycle was locked with all locks provided by the rental company.
in the event of mechanical breakdown requiring repair for more than 12 hours, the renter is provide with up to $75/day for a replacement rental + refund of daily rate.
covers the cost of tire repair/labour, but towing is NOT covered.
A Security Deposit of $300 will be taken upon collection of the motorcycle

IMPORTANT: A police report is required for all damages or accidents. All damages to rented motorcycle without a police report is considered the Renter’s fault.

3. Personal Travel Insurance

Your travel insurance policy must include repatriation to Ireland of patients by Air Ambulance or other medically approved means of transportation where it is deemed as preferable by the Medical Adviser of the Insurance Underwriters.

Please check closely the terms of cover provided by any travel insurance policy that you are offered or already hold. In our experience, most policies only provide cover for motorcycles up to 125cc which is not sufficient as most motorcycle models in use on the EagleRider tours range between 1200cc and 1800cc.

Celtic Horizon Tours will be happy to assist in obtaining quotations for suitable travel insurance cover should you require our assistance in this matter.

What to Bring

Warm Weather Riding Gear

* Mesh Riding Jacket
* Neck Cooler/ Bandana
* Hydration Pack

Cold Weather Riding Gear

* Leather Jacket
* Wind Proof Jacket
* Wind Proof Pants

Wet Weather Riding Gear

* Waterproof Jacket
* Waterproof Pants

Protective Riding Gear

* Goggles
* Sun Glasses
* Riding Boots
* Riding Gloves

FAQ

How many people are in a group?

We allow a maximum of 15 bikes per group. At rare occasions there can be a few more bikes but if the number exceeds 15 we may add a second tour guide on a motorcycle to the group.

Will there be enough photo stops on a guided tour?

While one just likes to ride and is hardly to be kept off his bike another may want to stop every five minutes to get this very special photo shot. We try to find a good average of stops to accommodate everyone’s needs.

Can I book additional nights before or after the tour through Celtic Horizon Tours?

Yes, we are happy to book additional accommodation before or after the tour for you. Please be aware that once an additional reservation has been made any changes or cancellation will result in a €50 handling fee per occurrence. Reservations for additional nights must be made at time of booking.

What is the weather going to be like?

If you’ve all been good the weather will be too…honestly, we can never be certain; this is one factor on our tours that we still haven’t been able to influence. In general you can say that during mid summer months you have a 90% chance of staying dry and hot weather on any of our tours. It’ll always be a little cool along the west coast and you can always expect some rain along Route 66. Please come prepared, bring your raingear and a variety of clothing to be armed for all weather conditions.

Do I have to wear a helmet?

For your own safety we require you to wear a helmet at all times when you ride a motorcycle.

Do all bikes have a windshield?

The only models that are equipped with a windshield are Electra Glide, Road Glide, Road King and Heritage Softail, and BMW. Especially during mid summer you will face very hot temperatures on your rides. A windshield will not only hold off dust and stones but also keep away direct hot air to your body.

Extras

Depart Dates;

28th April
05th, 11th, 12th, 26th May
01st, 02nd, 23rd, 30th June
28th July
11th, 25th August
01st, 07th, 08th, 22nd September

Please contact our office for prices on the above dates.

We also have Motorcycle Tours available in Australia, South Africa, Italy and Morocco – please contact our office for details.

IMPORTANT

PRICES CAN VARY ACCORDING TO FLIGHT AVAILABILITY AT TIME OF BOOKING.

Rates of exchange can also fluctuate and cause prices to alter.
If a person decides to travel without any travel insurance cover, they do so explicitly at their own risk, against our advice, and are deemed to absolve Celtic Horizon Tours Ltd, its employees, agents, suppliers and various affiliates of all and any responsibility and/or liability.
The prices shown are in respect of 2 pax + 1 bike sharing a twin / double room. Prices are also available on request for 2 pax + 2 bikes sharing a twin / double room, or 1 pax + 1 bike staying in a single room.

Itinerary

General Information

No of touring days: 8 days
No of nights in package: 7 nights
Arriving airport: Chicago, IL
Departing airport: Albuquerque, NM

Please note you arrive back in Ireland the day after the last day of the tour.

DAY 1 Chicago, IL – Arrival 0.0 mi / 0.0 km

Welcome to the Windy City! Nicknamed the ‘Paris of the Prairie’, Chicago is the biggest and most exciting of the Great Lake cities. It includes a stunning skyline along Lake Michigan, and a gamut of top-rated museums, restaurants and cafes, and innumerable bars and nightclubs that pay homage to the city’s strong jazz and blues heritage. Tonight you will get to meet your fellow riders and Tour Guides at an Orientation Meeting at the tour hotel, followed by a great Welcome Dinner to kick-off your dream Route 66 journey!

DAY 2 Chicago, IL – Springfield, IL 187.0 mi / 299.2 km

This morning you pick up your bike and are off to the ultimate American road trip. The legendary Route 66 begins at the doorstep of our EagleRider location, cutting through the state of Illinois before running all the way to the Pacific Coast. From Chicago you head south along the Pontiac Trail, the original name for this bit of the road here, passing through Joliet, checking out the Launching Pad Giant, stopping at the amazing RT 66 Museum in Pontiac and generally getting a feel for the rubber on the Mother Road.

DAY 3 Springfield, IL – St. Louis, MO116.0 mi / 185.6 km

Today we head towards St. Louis! We will stay primarily on the 2-lane sections of the Mother Road, traversing cornfields and small towns that represent the heartland of America. Our arrival into St. Louis will be over the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the original bridge where RT 66 crossed the Mississippi River. Enjoy the short ride today into the “Gateway to the West,” St. Louis. This amazing city rests along the shores of the mighty Mississippi River and is home to some of the best live music and BBQ ribs in the country.

DAY 4 St. Louis, MO – Joplin, MO 335.0 mi / 536.0 km

Try to get up early to walk across the street today and enjoy an early morning view of the St. Louis Arch and Mississippi River before we hit the road. We quickly leave the city in mirrors as we settle in to enjoy the rolling Missouri hills that make this area so beautiful and fun to ride in. We will stop and see the famous World’s Largest Rocking Chair in Fanning, wind our way on the twisting roads of Devil’s Elbow, and stop at other Route 66 icons. Tonight we will enjoy a stay in Joplin, a city that was hit very hard in 2011 by a massive tornado. Maybe tonight we’ll hang with the locals and hear some amazing stories about what it was like to be in the eye of a massive tornado!

DAY 5 Joplin, MO – Oklahoma City, OK 255.0 mi / 408.0 km

Today is all about the route! From Joplin we will head west through the hills and horse country through Oklahoma, crossing Miami, Claremore and Catoosa, home of the legendary Blue Whale before passing through Tulsa, We will also go through the reservations of several Native American tribes. In the 1830s, much of this land was considered “unusable” by the Federal Government, so various Indian tribes were “settled” there after colonization, including the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, Creek and Cherokee. This evening we will stay in Oklahoma City, the heart and soul of Route 66.! At night you can enjoy at Bricktown, the neighborhood in the heart of the city full of lively restaurants, bars and shops.

DAY 6 Oklahoma City, OK – Amarillo, TX 266.0 mi / 425.6 km

This morning we travel along some of the oldest stretches of Oklahoma’s Route 66. Once the land of vast buffalo herds, this section of 66 traverses some of the great cattle trails which were used in the 1860s to drive herds of cattle from Texas up to the railhead in Abilene, Kansas. We will ride along a section of the Chisholm Trial, which passes through Yukon and El Reno, and stop at the amazing Route 66 Museum in Clinton. After lunch we cross the border into the Texas Panhandle, the southernmost portion of the Great Plains. At the Big Texan Steakhouse in Amarillo you have the opportunity to enjoy the best steaks in Texas, guaranteed!

DAY 7 Amarillo, TX – Santa Fe, NM 303.0 mi / 484.8 km

Today you leave Texas and are on your way into “The Land of Enchantment”, New Mexico. After passing through the world famous Cadillac Ranch, we’ll stop at the midway point of RT 66 in Adrian, Texas! And how about the ghost town of Glen Rio, where you can stand with one foot in New Mexico and the other one in Texas? From there we enter the land of the Comanche Indians, where mesas, mountains, cactus and pines define the landscape as we head up into the High Plains and altitude of Santa Fe in central New Mexico. Santa Fe is one of America’s oldest and most beautiful cities and will be our base for your last night of the tour.

DAY 8 Santa Fe, NM - Free Day 0.0 mi / 0.0 km

All good things must come to an end, and our exciting trip concludes this morning with the bike drop off in Albuquerque. Please be sure to let us know if you need an extra night or two in Albuquerque to enjoy the sights. We can even arrange a discounted motorcycle rental! We hope you enjoyed your tour, and please let us know whenever you are ready for your next grand motorcycle adventure! As you have now seen for yourself, EagleRider makes dream rides come true.