GeorgeK Loc: NNJ

My adult son and I will be doing this drive next week. We are planning to spend 3 to 4 days on the road. Any suggestions for an interesting route or landmarks along the way?

We enjoy hiking, interesting food and I like photographing landscapes.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

There's thousands of things to do and see. Arrange an afternoon or morning around the Arch in St Louis, taking the old-time cars to the top and watching the construction movie.

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

Wherever practicable/possible, take the Mother Road, US 66. In other words, "Get Your Kicks on Route 66".

banders26 Loc: Illinois

Take Route 66 we’re possible. I live on part of it in Illinois and there are many attractions along the way, Lauching Pad restaurant in Wilmington IL, they have a large robot out side you can not miss it, museum in Dwight IL, and various gas stations along the way that have been restored.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

consult AAA, if you don't have AAA, then ask google on your phone,if you don't have a phone, and then go to tripadvisor.com. If you don't have a computer, good luck.

Tea8 Loc: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plain.

I would also add to the taking the Mother Road when possible. There will be a lot to see and do along the way, though with only 3-4 days it would be hard to take the mother road the whole way. So, maybe see what some of the highlights are in each state where you'll be traveling that might also be close to the major interstate you want to travel and just hop off the interstate for a bit to do something and then you can get right back on and keep going.

clickety

Am aware of museum in Pontiac, how does Dwight compare?

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Alas, if our OP is on more of a trip than a travel, try to find some of those great neon signs just around dusk / blue hour as the lights come on against the darkening (not yet black) sky. If need be, get back on the road and keep moving. Gallup, New Mexico has a wealth of the old neon signs, if you start late out of Santa Fe using I-40 initially.

banders26 Loc: Illinois

It is a old gas station and is much smaller, the hours open area during the week and spotty, open by volunteers. A lot of people stop and take pictures of there cars at the old station.

jackm1943 Loc: Omaha, Nebraska

If your drive takes you thru the Denver area, you might want to stop and see the Garden of the Gods. This side trip would take only 1-2 hours.

clickety

Assuming Santa Fe, NV or Santa Fe, NM? To Chicago ?

clickety

Not from Santa Fe, NM to Chicago.

hankm1 Loc: Mount Prospect IL

A couple years back we were making the trip from Chicago to
Sedona AZ. Unbearably hot day so we decided to stop somewhere
in Oklahoma City OK for a break and a cool down. We discovered the
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Hadn't known anything
about it before the chance decision to stop. What a delightful afternoon!!
Unbelievably gorgeous art in all its forms. Be safe!!

photonaut Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA

Assuming you will be starting from Santa Fe, NM, you can look for Rt 66 signs on I-25 at Algodones, north of Albuquerque as you head south to I-40. They will direct you to a stretch of old Rt 66 when it actually ran through the Santa Fe area before it was moved south to approximately the I-40 current route. If you follow Highway 47 from Algodones south, you will eventually get to 4th Street in Albuquerque. There are several old Rt 66 motels still standing, but in disrepair, on 4th Street. Some still have the old signs standing. You can still drive sections of Rt 66 through downtown Albuquerque if you follow Central Ave. east then get on I-40 at the east edge of town.
One major Rt 66 stopping place is Tucumcari, NM. There are several restored original motels there with wonderful neon signs. The Blue Swallow is a great place to stay, and you will experience what it was like to stay in a motel in the 50's. Santa Rosa also still has some original Rt 66 stops and is right on the way to Chicago. This is a great drive, and you can have a lot of nostalgic Rt 66 fun on the way.

hookedupin2005 Loc: Northwestern New Mexico

If they are going to Chicago, from Santa Fe, Gallup is WAY out of the way. You would be backtracking.