10 of the Most Memorable Places to Camp Along Route 66

Since its inception in 1926, Route 66 has transformed travel in the United States, making the journey itself the primary focus, rather than just the destination. This iconic highway provided families and travelers the opportunity to explore a variety of attractions along the way, traditionally offering stays in neon-lit motels and themed accommodations to entice motorists.

However, the appeal of Route 66 extends beyond these classic motels. In contemporary times, many travelers opt for modern interstate highways, resulting in reduced traffic on the historic route. This shift creates ideal conditions for vintage, dispersed, and secluded camping experiences that can often be arranged on short notice. The original alignment of Route 66 features diverse landscapes, including rivers, plains, mountain ranges, canyons, high deserts, and forests, each harboring its own campgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts.

Camping along Route 66 redefines the road trip experience, swapping urban parking lots for expansive natural spaces and allowing travelers to enjoy the night sky rather than the glow of neon lights.

Here are ten of the top camping destinations along Route 66, ranging from well-equipped campgrounds to remote desert hideaways where solitude is paramount.

Meramec State Park (Sullivan, Missouri)

• Detour off Route 66: 2 miles
• Nightly rate: From $12
• Reservable online? Yes

Meramec State Park encompasses 6,896 acres, featuring the Meramec River wandering past impressive bluffs. This park boasts over 40 caves, the most of any state park in Missouri. Visitors can take advantage of swimming and floating opportunities, while Fisher Cave stands out as a notable attraction, featuring ancient bear claw markings on its walls, accessible through guided tours only. The campground offers various options, including standard tent sites, RV sites, and furnished cabins. The most popular waterfront campsites are numbered six through 20 in Section 2, alongside sites 114 to 125 in Section 1. While Campground Section 1 has fewer amenities, it is closest to the park's accessible caves.

Flagstaff KOA Holiday (Flagstaff, Arizona)

• Detour off Route 66: None
• Nightly rate: From $55
• Reservable online? Yes

Camping along Route 66 can also mean escaping to a lush, forested environment. The Flagstaff KOA offers a serene setting among tall pines and mountain air, an unexpected find in Arizona. Situated at approximately 7,000 feet elevation at the base of the San Francisco Peaks, it boasts a more alpine feel due to its dense ponderosa pine backdrop.

Although the setting promotes tranquility, the campground may feel crowded during peak season, with closely spaced sites accommodating many RV families. The campground provides a wide array of amenities, including tent and RV sites, cabins, modern restroom facilities with hot showers, bike rentals, a camp store, and access to stunning hiking trails. Visitors are advised to pack a jacket, as mornings and evenings can be quite cool.

While not particularly remote or rugged, this KOA serves as a picturesque and convenient camping option close to attractions like the Grand Canyon, Sunset Crater, and Walnut Canyon, allowing a refreshing change of pace from traditional roadside accommodations.

Bennett Spring State Park (Lebanon, Missouri)

• Detour off Route 66: 15 miles
• Nightly rate: From $15
• Reservable online? Yes

Bennett Spring offers an authentic Ozark camping experience, featuring 12 miles of hiking trails, including a seven-mile route leading to a dramatic 296-foot natural tunnel formed by a cave collapse. Much of the picturesque infrastructure was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, highlighted by a rustic dining lodge adorned with wrought-iron chandeliers. Campers enjoy access to a public swimming pool, canoe rentals on the Niangua River, a nature center, and nearly 200 campsites. Cabin rentals are also available for those who prefer to avoid carrying heavy camping gear. This location is particularly renowned for fishing opportunities, but the stunning blue-green waters of the spring are captivating for all visitors.

Two Guns Ghost Town (Two Guns, Arizona)

• Detour off Route 66: None
• Nightly rate: Free
• Reservable online? No

Two Guns offers a unique and somewhat eerie experience—definitely not for everyone. Once a peculiar roadside attraction, it housed a zoo featuring exotic animals, operated by a con artist known as "Chief Crazy Thunder," who falsely claimed Apache heritage. He would take tourists to the Apache Death Cave, the site of a tragic historical event, and sold purported skeletal remains as souvenirs. This bizarre venture ceased following a gas station fire in 1971.

Today, remnants of the ghost town remain, allowing for free camping amidst crumbling ruins, an abandoned KOA from the 1970s, stone zoo enclosures, and the death cave. Dispersed camping is available here with no amenities, so visitors must be self-sufficient, including bringing their own water. It is advisable to remain vigilant for rattlesnakes and to use an eye mask, as the location is in proximity to I-40. Ensure you camp on BLM land to avoid settling on neighboring private properties.

Santa Rosa Lake State Park (Santa Rosa, New Mexico)

• Detour off Route 66: 7 miles
• Nightly rate: From $10
• Reservable online? Yes

The standout feature of Santa Rosa Lake is its extraordinary appearance amidst the arid landscape of high desert New Mexico. After hours of driving through ochre-colored terrain, the lake emerges as a striking oasis. Located in the upper Pecos River, just outside Santa Rosa—dubbed 'the City of Natural Lakes' due to its notably blue sinkholes and spring-fed lakes—the spot looks almost Caribbean rather than desert.

For wildlife enthusiasts, this location serves as an excellent campsite, as it provides ample opportunities for nature observation.