Day 1 Fly from the UK to Dallas Fort Worth

On arrival collect your hire car. Known as the City of Cowboys and Culture, Fort Worth is a great place to begin your trip. Just as you would imagine a city in the American West, Fort Worth is also rich in arts and culinary treasures. Don’t miss the daily cattle drive and a visit to the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame. Sample some unique nightlife in some of the bars and honky-tonks of the Stockyards, or take in the excitement of a rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum (Friday and Saturday evenings). The heart of downtown is Sundance Square, a 35-block shopping and entertainment district where charming, beautifully restored buildings stand alongside glittering skyscrapers. Here, you’ll find locals, restaurants, shops, galleries, the Sid Richardson Museum and performance venues.

Stay two nights in Fort Worth.

Day 3 Fort Worth to Dallas, TX, approx. 30 miles

Head east to the neighbouring city of Dallas. Explore the city’s many diverse neighbourhoods, the largest urban arts district in the nation, 13 entertainment districts and the famous Pioneer Plaza with the world’s largest bronze monument of 3 cowboys driving 40 long-horn steers. Visit Wild Bill’s Western Store, where you can enjoy a cold Texas beer while you get a hat steamed to fit you perfectly, or get measured for custom-made boots. No trip to Dallas would be complete without a visit to Southfork Ranch, made famous by the Ewing family in the TV series Dallas.

Stay one night in Dallas .

Day 4 Dallas to Grapevine, TX, approx. 25 miles

Step back in time in Historic Downtown Grapevine with its collection of charming shops, restaurants, and art galleries. Check out the Grapevine Public Art Trail, a walking tour of Historic Downtown or if you are looking for something a bit more active at Lake Grapevine you can hike, bike, kayak or canoe. Not surprisingly, Grapevine is also known for its wineries and tasting rooms – the city name was inspired by the region’s native wild grapes – so you can count on great wine and fabulous food to be part of the experience, too. Whether you’re after Texas barbecue, Southern comfort food or international cuisine you’re bound to find it in one of Grapevine’s over 200 restaurants.

Stay two nights in Grapevine.

Day 6 Grapevine to Sulphur, OK, approx. 130 miles

Begin your First American’s experience at the Chickasaw Cultural Center. This state-of-the-art complex shares the story of the Chickasaw Nation through exhibits including Spirit Forest, Removal Corridor and the Chickasaw Village. In nearby Tishomingo visit the Chickasaw Council House Museum where you will find the Chickasaw’s original Council House as well as the largest collection of Chickasaw art and artefacts. Next, visit the Chickasaw National Capitol Building. Opened in 1898, this building served as the Chickasaw Nation’s government until 1907. Springs, streams, lakes - whatever its form, water is the attraction at Chickasaw National Recreation Area. The park is on located in the Central migratory flyway and offers bird watching opportunities year-round, as well as places for swimming, canoeing and kayaking, hiking, guided horse riding, fishing and wildlife watching. We recommend you stay at the Artesian Hotel, Casino and Spa in Sulphur – built to replicate the grandeur of a turn-of-the-century luxury hotel that once existed on the spot.

Stay one night in Sulphur.

Day 7 Sulphur to Lawton, OK, approx. 95 miles

Head west towards the Old Chisholm Trail. Arrive in Duncan at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center and experience the sights and sounds of the West at this multisensory attraction that celebrates North America’s great cattle drives. Continue west to Oklahoma’s first resort community – Medicine Park. Enjoy lunch along Bath Lake and take in the quirky shops and galleries in town before continuing into the adjacent Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. See Bison and Long Horn freely roaming the prairie. Outdoor lovers can hike, rock climb or just simply enjoy the sights and sounds of the wildlife. Travel into Lawton Fort Sill and explore the Museum of the Great Plains. Experience a simulated tornado, tuck inside a tepee and explore the lives of the early day communities on the plains. 

Stay one night in Lawton or Medicine Park.

Day 8 Lawton to Oklahoma City, approx. 85 miles

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma’s Capital is home to Historic Stockyards City. See working cowboys going about their daily lives, shop at a custom boot or hat maker and visit the catwalks and auction arena where all the action really happens (live cattle auctions occur every Monday and Tuesday – visitors are welcomed). Make sure you visit the city’s newest premier Smithsonian affiliated attraction, the First American Museum. Learn about the 39 tribes headquartered in Oklahoma. Enjoy interactive exhibits, see artefacts dating back hundreds of years and most of all experience America’s true history. The National Cowboy and Western Museum highlights many aspects of the Western experience. Galleries include Western performers, Native American culture, the sport of rodeo, fine arts and the latest outdoor experience – Liichokochkomo. For some true Americana, head to Arcadia, just a short 20 minute drive up Route 66. Visit the Round Barn and then call in at POPS to sample your choice of over 700 options of soda pop. The Chicken Shack, is a great spot to grab some food, and offers live music at the weekend.

Oklahoma City is becoming known as a culinary mecca, with food from around the globe, as well as firm Midwest favourites such as barbeque, steak and Cattleman’s, Oklahoma’s oldest continuously run restaurant. And you’ll find great nightlife, especially in Bricktown, the Paseo Arts District, and Western Avenue area.

Stay two nights in Oklahoma City .

Day 10 Oklahoma City to Tulsa, OK, approx. 205 miles

Your journey today takes you north to Ponca City and Standing Bear Park, Museum and Education Center where you can listen to the story of Chief Standing Bear and what lead up to the first Civil Rights trial heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. At Marland Mansion discover more about Oklahoma’s oil baron territory and the wealth of the 1920s in the state. Visit the Osage Nation Cultural Center and learn one of the most unique stories of the First Nations; and Woolaroc (standing for woods, lakes and rocks) which was the ranch retreat of oil baron Frank Phillips. Tulsa, Oklahoma's second-largest city, is a town enriched by its oil heritage, boasting world-class cultural attractions, including the Philbrook Museum of Art and Gilcrease Museum and magnificent art deco treasures. You’ll also fine Route 66 gems such as Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curious, where you can pose for a photo with Buck, a colourful space cowboy! Gathering Place is Tulsa’s newest outdoor space where you can kayak on the lake or stroll through the gardens, or head to the city's Arkansas River trails and outdoor recreation areas. You’ll find plenty of places to eat and drink, with lots of local fare and some lively entertainment districts with live music.

Stay two nights in Tulsa.

Day 12 Tulsa to Sequoyah State Park, OK, approx. 195 miles

Head out of Tulsa on Historic Route 66 north-east, stopping at the Will Rogers Memorial and Museum in Claremore and laugh at some of the many famous quotes from this satirist that are still relevant today! Another great stop is Waylan’s Ku Ku Burger in Miami – a Mother Road ‘must’ for a nostalgic burger and shake, and thought by many to be the best burger spot on the Route! Your journey will now take you south to Tahlequah, the Capital of the Cherokee Nation, where you can learn about the tribal traditions of the Cherokee at the National History Museum, National Prison Museum and National Supreme Court Museum. End your day in Sequoyah State Park, nestled in the pine trees of Northeast Oklahoma, and where you can take your foot off the pedal from your road-trip and get out in the open. Hike around the lake or just sit back and enjoy the sunset.

Stay one night in Sequoyah State Park.

Day 13 Sequoyah State Park to Durant, OK, approx. 160 miles

Stop in Muskogee, a crossroads of cultures thanks to the three rivers that converge there. What began as a trading post became a destination for Native Americans who survived the Trail of Tears. Then came the arrival of the railways and Muskogee exploded. Today, this centre of trade is still full of the characters that make Muskogee an intriguing all-American city to visit. Today’s scenic drive continues through the tiny town of Checotah, home of Carrie Underwood, and on to Durant, headquarters of the Choctaw Nation. Visit the Choctaw Cultural Center for an insight into the traditions of this tribe who originated in Mississippi. Stroll around the downtown for an American Main Street experience with a selection of local shops and eateries.

Stay one night in Durant.

Day 14 Durant to Shreveport, LA, approx. 230 miles

Cross the border into north-west Louisiana today, to Shreveport and neighbouring Bossier City, both rich with Cajun character and Texan influences. Sights, sounds and flavours will surround you here – art galleries and museums, jazz bars and night clubs and an array of amazing restaurants dishing up Cajun-style seafood, po-boys and gumbo, as well as local breweries offering their flagship beers.

Stay one night in Shreveport. 

Day 15 Shreveport to Alexandria, LA, approx. 125 miles

Make sure you stop in Natchitoches, a beautiful small town where the Historic Landmark District includes many historic homes, churches and commercial structures, with a mixture of Queen Anne and Victorian architecture, along with Creole style cottages.

Alexandria is in the ‘heart of Louisiana’ and the area offers a vibrant arts scene, historic landmarks and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. Walk through history at the Kent Plantation House, a pristine Creole plantation home from the early 1800s, or visit the two Civil War forts on the opposite side of the Red River in Pineville. In the upbeat Cultural District set on the Red River, you will find art museums and galleries, turn of the century architecture and the downtown area also hosts a weekly farmers’ market and is home to a great selection of local restaurants. Go horseriding or take a hike through Kisatchie National Forest, a 240,000-hectare wilderness (and Louisiana’s only National Forest) where you’ll experience bayous, cypress groves and an array of native plants and animals.

Stay one night in Alexandria.

Day 16 Alexandria to Lafayette, LA, approx. 90 miles

Lafayette mixes all the amenities of urban life with the unmistakable influence of the region's venerable Cajun and Creole cultures. Lafayette is said to have more restaurants per capita than any other American city. Numerous music clubs feature home-grown talent, including both traditional and contemporary Cajun and Zydeco performers. Make sure you visit the Blue Moon Café or McGee’s Landing. Admire the many murals in downtown Lafayette which depict some of the region’s history and life, as well as statues and sculptures, mostly by local artists. Explore the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette which tells stories of the origins, migration, settlement, and contemporary culture of the Acadians (Cajuns) and other area groups, with displays of local tradition including music, story-telling, dance, and food, and explore the mysteries of the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana's wildest place.

Stay one night in Lafayette .

Day 17 Lafayette to New Orleans, LA, approx. 135 miles

New Orleans is a city that marches to the beat of its own drum. A stop at the French Quarter Visitor Center unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park introduces you to the traditions and life in the area. Rangers lead daily walks to tell the story of this special place and its ties to the Mississippi River, or you could take a guided walking tour of the French Quarter for an insight into the history, architecture and vibe of the area. There is music playing every evening in the French Quarter. Try the Maison Bourbon Jazz Club or the House of Blues for music. Also check to see if there are performances scheduled for Preservation Hall. Magazine Street is a great place for shopping, including antiques. Explore the Garden District which gets its name from the huge homes and gardens that fill block after block, or take a trip on the Steamboat Natchez and discover more about the history and life on the Mississippi River.

Stay two nights in New Orleans

Day 19 Depart from New Orleans