EV Charging Along Route 66
Route 66 runs from Chicago to Santa Monica through some of the most EV-hostile territory in the country. But buried in the middle of that corridor is a surprise: Missouri, where 13 state parks allow campsite charging and make the heartland the friendliest stretch on the entire route.
The Route
Route 66 is 2,400 miles of American mythology. Chicago to LA, through eight states, across three time zones. The original road is mostly gone, replaced by interstates, but the route itself is one of the most popular road trips in the country.
For EV drivers, the route is a study in extremes. Missouri is loaded with EV-friendly campgrounds. Illinois has solid options. Oklahoma and Texas are sparse and mostly hostile. New Mexico and Arizona offer just enough to get by. California, predictably, picks things back up.
We track 62 parks across the Route 66 corridor states. Thirty-two are EV-friendly (51%). But that average masks huge regional variation. Missouri alone accounts for 13 parks with campsite charging. Oklahoma has one.
Illinois: A Solid Start
Route 66 starts in Chicago and heads southwest through Springfield to East St. Louis. Illinois has seven parks in our directory, and four of them have EV charging stations. The state recreation areas are the standouts.
| Park | City | Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area | Carlyle | Stations Available | Large state park on Carlyle Lake. |
| Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area | Chandlerville | Stations Available | Central Illinois. Between Springfield and Jacksonville. |
| Washington County State Recreation Area | Nashville | Stations Available | Southern Illinois, between St. Louis and Carlyle. |
| Frank Holten State Park | East St. Louis | Stations Available | Right across the river from St. Louis. Good transition point into Missouri. |
The three Illinois parks that do not allow charging are Chicago Northwest KOA Holiday in Union, Galesburg East / Knoxville KOA Holiday, and I-55 RV Park & Campground in Edwardsville. Plan accordingly if those are on your route.
Missouri: The Heart of the Route (and the Best State for EV Camping)
Missouri is the real story here. The state has 30 parks in our directory, and 13 of them allow campsite charging. That is more "allowed at campsite" parks than any other state in the country. Nearly all of them are Missouri state parks, which means consistent quality, reasonable rates, and reliable electrical hookups.
Route 66 enters Missouri at St. Louis and cuts southwest through Springfield to Joplin. The state parks are scattered across the state, not all on the Route 66 corridor itself, but many are close enough for a worthwhile detour.
| Park | City | Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington State Park | De Soto | Allowed At Campsite | Near St. Louis. Good first Missouri stop. |
| Hawn State Park | Ste. Genevieve | Allowed At Campsite | Southeast Missouri. Scenic hiking. |
| Onondaga Cave State Park | Leasburg | Allowed At Campsite | On the Meramec River. Classic Ozarks. |
| Graham Cave State Park | Montgomery City | Allowed At Campsite | Central Missouri, near I-70. |
| Arrow Rock State Historic Site | Arrow Rock | Allowed At Campsite | Historic site on the Missouri River. |
| Lake of the Ozarks State Park | Kaiser | Allowed At Campsite | Largest state park in Missouri. |
| Table Rock State Park | Branson | Allowed At Campsite | Branson area. Table Rock Lake. |
| Treasure Lake RV Resort | Branson | Allowed At Campsite | Also Branson. Private park with campsite charging. |
| Pomme de Terre State Park | Pittsburg | Allowed At Campsite | West-central Missouri. |
| Stage Stop Campground | Neosho | Allowed At Campsite | Southwest Missouri, near Joplin. Close to the Route 66 corridor. |
| St. Joe State Park | Park Hills | Allowed At Campsite | Southeast Missouri. Former mining land. |
| Long Branch State Park | Macon | Allowed At Campsite | North-central Missouri. |
| Watkins Mill State Park | Lawson | Allowed At Campsite | Near Kansas City. |
Missouri Parks With Charging Stations
Beyond the 13 campsite-charging parks, Missouri also has parks with dedicated EV charging stations, mostly in the Branson area.
| Park | City | Policy |
|---|---|---|
| America's Best Campground | Branson | Stations Available |
| Hunters Friend Resort | Branson | Stations Available |
Missouri has 14 parks in our directory that prohibit EV charging, including several KOA locations and Lake of the Ozarks area resorts. The state parks are your safest bet. For the full list, check our Missouri parks page.
Oklahoma and Texas: The Tough Stretch
This is where the route gets honest. Oklahoma has seven parks in our directory. Six say no to EV charging. Texas has five, and only one allows campsite charging (in Alpine, which is nowhere near Route 66). This is the segment where DC fast chargers are your lifeline, not campgrounds.
| Park | City | State | Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavanal View RV Park | Poteau | Oklahoma | Allowed At Campsite | The one bright spot in Oklahoma. Eastern part of the state. |
| Stillwell Store and RV Park | Alpine | Texas | Allowed At Campsite | Far west Texas. Not on Route 66 but notable for Big Bend travelers. |
| Port Lavaca / Matagorda Bay KOA | Port Lavaca | Texas | Stations Available | Gulf Coast, not Route 66 corridor. |
| Lost Maples RV and Camping | Vanderpool | Texas | Stations Available | Hill Country, not Route 66 corridor. |
The Southwest: New Mexico, Arizona, and California
The Route 66 corridor picks up again in the Southwest. New Mexico has two parks, both allowing campsite charging. Arizona is split. California finishes strong.
| Park | City | State | Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edgington Garden RV Park | Alamogordo | New Mexico | Allowed At Campsite | Southern NM. White Sands nearby. |
| Carlsbad RV Park & Campground | Carlsbad | New Mexico | Allowed At Campsite | Near Carlsbad Caverns National Park. |
| Kaibab Camper Village | Fredonia | Arizona | Allowed At Campsite | Near the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. |
| Rancho Sedona RV Park | Sedona | Arizona | Not Allowed | Sedona is gorgeous, but no EV charging at this park. |
DC Fast Charging by Segment
Route 66 states have robust DC fast charging along the interstates, even if campground charging is sparse. Here is the situation by state.
- Illinois (238 fast charging stations): Excellent coverage along I-55 and I-44. Chicago, Springfield, and East St. Louis all have multiple networks including Tesla Supercharger, Electrify America, and ChargePoint.
- Missouri (170 stations): Good coverage along I-44 (the Route 66 interstate). St. Louis, Springfield, and Joplin are well-served. Branson has options too.
- Oklahoma (169 stations): Better than the campground situation suggests. Oklahoma City and Tulsa have strong fast charging. I-44 has stations at regular intervals. Electrify America and Tesla Supercharger lead.
- Texas (major market): Amarillo, the Route 66 city in Texas, has Tesla Supercharger, Electrify America, and others. Walmart is expanding fast charging at Texas locations.
- New Mexico (92 stations): Albuquerque and Santa Fe are well-covered. I-40 has stations at regular intervals. Gaps exist in rural southern New Mexico.
- Arizona (180 stations): Flagstaff, Kingman, and the Phoenix metro area have strong coverage. bp pulse opened new Arizona locations in late 2025. I-40 across northern Arizona is manageable.
The Oklahoma and Texas campground gap is less scary when you factor in DC fast charging along I-40. You will not be able to camp and charge in these states, but you can fast-charge during the day and use campgrounds for sleeping only. Budget 30 to 45 minutes of fast charging per day through this stretch.
Planning Your Route 66 EV Trip
- Front-load your campground charging in Missouri. With 13 state parks allowing campsite charging, you can charge every night in the heartland without worrying about finding a public charger.
- In Oklahoma and Texas, switch to a "fast charge by day, camp by night" strategy. Use DC fast chargers along I-40 to maintain range, and accept that campground charging will not be available.
- New Mexico's two parks (Alamogordo and Carlsbad) are both in the southern part of the state, off the main Route 66 corridor. If you detour to Carlsbad Caverns or White Sands, you can camp and charge. Otherwise, stick with DC fast chargers along I-40.
- Kaibab Camper Village near the Grand Canyon's North Rim is a gem. If your route swings through northern Arizona, it is worth the detour for both the camping and the charging.
- California coverage depends on where you end up. Our Pacific Coast Highway guide covers the California coast in detail.
- Book 50-amp sites at Missouri state parks whenever available. We do not recommend TT-30 (30-amp) adapters due to auto-reset safety risks. If a site only has 30-amp service, use the standard 120V outlet with your Level 1 charger instead. See our outlet guide for details.
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