The Ultimate Route 66 Casino Road Trip

When it comes to iconic road trips across the US, there are very, very few that can compare to the legendary Route 66. Beloved by bikers and car enthusiasts alike, this historic road takes drivers all the way from Illinois to California, accompanied by spectacular views and phenomenal natural wonders.

Of course, one of the other main highlights along Route 66 are the stylish casino locations that line the roadside in every state, making it the ideal road trip for the avid gambler who’s also a bit of a petrolhead.

So, if you’re planning on visiting Route 66 anytime soon, and intend to stop off at one of the many casinos along the way, then you can streamline your journey so that you only visit the best places on your trip by following our ultimate Route 66 casino road trip guide.

That’s right! We pulled together a list of every casino on Route 66 worth laying your chips down at and ranked them based on the number of machines, tables, hotel rooms, nearby restaurants, Google reviews, and online popularity from yearly search volume to reveal which casinos are worth leaving the road for!

Route 66’s Top 5 Casinos

In total, we found 18 casinos along Route 66 that have the potential to serve as great rest stops along the way. But only 5 of them can claim the top spots in our ranking:

1. Rivers Casino Des Plaines

Coming in at number one, we have the Rivers Casino Des Plaines in Chicago, Illinois. The perfect way to start your trip, not only does the Rivers Casino have over 177 game tables (the most on our list), but over 1900 machines as well!

In fact, the only one of our ranking stats that sees the Rivers Casino fold is in hotel rooms – by which we mean it doesn’t have any. So, while that does mean you’ll have to lay your head elsewhere after a hand or two of poker or blackjack, you still have over 6 restaurants to choose from for that fine dining experience.

2. Yaamava’s Resort and Casino

Next up, we have Yaamava’s Resort and Casino in San Bernardino, California. Much like how the Rivers Casino is a great place to start your road trip, Yaamava’s Resort is the best place to end it, especially if you like slot machines – as it turns out, Yaamava’s has over 7,200, which puts it in the top spot for this specific ranking criteria.

But the good news doesn’t stop there! Yaamava’s also boasts 432 hotel rooms, so you can head straight to bed after your long ride to get there, as well as 20 restaurants and diners around the resort. All of which is to say, it’s pretty impressive that Yaamava’s landed second place, given that’s only been searched for around 3,600 times in the last year.

3. Riverwind Casino

In third comes the Riverwind Casino in Oklahoma City, which, shockingly, is located in Oklahoma. Having the highest yearly search volume out of all the casinos on our list (33,100 in the last year), Riverwind Casino certainly appears to be a popular venue despite its humble number of game tables, which sits at a low 32.

However, Riverwind Casino more than makes up for this by providing customers with over 2,800 machines, 100 hotel rooms, and a choice of 5 different restaurants should you need a bite to eat between spins.

4. Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort

Fourth comes the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort in Flagstaff, Arizona, which is currently rocking a Google Stars rating of 4.5 – one of the highest online review scores for all the casinos on our list.

And the Twin Arrows is by no means a large casino, especially when compared to those ranked above it, but perhaps it’s their modest 1,100 machines and 30 tables that lend it such a high score. Simply put, it offers a much more intimate gambling experience, one that’s a lot harder to get in larger venues.

5. River Spirit Casino Resort

Finally, taking our fifth and final spot, we have the River Spirit and Casino Resort. Located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the River Spirt has the second-highest number of machines in our top ten at 3,100, as well as 45 tables for those wanting specific card games.

Top this off with 483 hotel rooms and it makes for a nice pitstop mid-way through your journey, giving you time to unwind and relax before embarking on the second leg and the other casinos on your list. 

Other Route 66 Casinos to Visit

Although our top 5 casinos are certainly the best places to hit on your Route 66 road trip, that’s not to say you shouldn’t stop and roll the dice on the other thirteen we’ve noted along the way, especially if you have certain destinations in mind.

For example, if you plan on stopping off for a day or two in Albuquerque, New Mexico, you’ll have over 4 casino options to choose from while you’re there. Though we’d recommend avoiding The Downs Racetrack and Casino as it has only 700 machines and no tables or no hotel rooms on offer.

Alternatively, if you’re more interested in table games like roulette, then you almost certainly want to stop off at the River City Casino Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, which has 50 game tables, the Hollywood Park Casino in LA (50), and the Horseshoe St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri (55).

Find Your Favorite Casino With Casinos.com

So, now you know exactly what casinos to stick your head in and lay down a dollar or two on your next Route 66 road trip. Of course, if you can’t wait till then to test your luck, then why not head over to Casinos.com today to try our slots and free games?

From Live Casino dealer streams to our dedicated guides around the gambling world, we’re your one-time stop for all your gambling news. Give us a spin today.