Route 66 Bus Schedule: Times, Stops & Map
66 bus schedule is a broad search because many transit agencies operate a Route 66. CTA in Chicago, MBTA in Boston, LA Metro, VTA in Santa Clara County, Houston METRO, OCTA in Orange County, NJ TRANSIT, and Montgomery County Ride On all use Route 66 for different services.
This guide helps you match the correct city and agency first, then check the official timetable, map, ticket price, live arrival tool, service alerts, accessibility, and stop direction before you leave.
There Is No Single “Route 66 Bus Schedule”
Route 66 is reused by many transit agencies. The right schedule depends on your city, operator, direction, stop, date, and service day. A CTA Route 66 time in Chicago does not apply to MBTA Route 66 in Boston, LA Metro Line 66, VTA Route 66, Houston METRO Route 66, OCTA Route 66, or NJ TRANSIT Route 66.
Start with where you are boarding.
CTA, MBTA, LA Metro, VTA, METRO, OCTA, NJ TRANSIT, Ride On, or another operator.
Check destination sign, terminal, branch, and stop side.
Ticket price and transfer rules vary by agency.
Live arrival can change on the same day.
Route 66 Bus Schedule Guide
Which Route 66 Bus Are You Looking For?
Use the cards below to identify common Route 66 services. Open the official route page, select the travel date, choose direction, and check your exact stop before leaving.
CTA 66 Chicago — Chicago, Illinois
CTA Route 66 is the Chicago bus. The official CTA page shows service from Chicago/Austin east to Navy Pier and west from Navy Pier to Chicago/Austin. Overnight owl service operates on part of the route.
Rider tip: CTA’s first/last-bus spans are terminal-based. First and last buses reach mid-route stops later, so use CTA Bus Tracker or the trip planner for your exact stop.
MBTA 66 — Harvard Square to Nubian Station
MBTA Route 66 runs between Harvard Square and Nubian Station, serving Cambridge, Allston, Brookline, Mission Hill, and Roxbury travel patterns.
Rider tip: this is a busy urban route. Use the official MBTA route page for service alerts, direction, and stop-level departure information.
LA Metro Line 66 — Wilshire Center to Montebello
LA Metro lists Line 66 as Wilshire Center – Montebello Metrolink Station via 8th St and Olympic Blvd. Use the official Metro schedule PDF for exact timepoints and current service notes.
Rider tip: Metro fares use TAP/contactless fare capping. Check the current line PDF and Metro alerts before travel, especially for Downtown LA and Montebello connections.
VTA 66 — North Milpitas to Santa Teresa Station
VTA Route 66 is the North Milpitas – Santa Teresa Station route. Official timepoints include Santa Teresa Station, Snell Station, Monterey corridor stops, Downtown San Jose area stops, Milpitas BART, and North Milpitas.
Rider tip: VTA says riders should plan to arrive at least 5 minutes early and notes that some rapid service may depart early when traffic allows. Route 66 also had posted stop closure/reroute alerts.
Houston METRO 66 Quitman — Houston, Texas
Houston METRO Route 66 is the Quitman local bus. METRO lists Route 66 as running about every 60 minutes during most operating hours, with approximate first trips between 5 AM and 6 AM and last trips before 10 PM.
Rider tip: because Route 66 is low-frequency, arrive early and use METRO’s stop-by-stop schedule or next-bus tools before walking to the stop.
OCTA 66 — Huntington Beach to Irvine
OCTA lists Route 66 as Huntington Beach – Irvine. Riders should use OCTA’s route listing, route PDF/bus book, trip planner, Text4Next, and Rider Alerts for exact stop times.
Rider tip: OCTA schedule changes and proposed route changes can affect endpoints. Always open the current OCTA route page or bus book before using an old PDF.
NJ TRANSIT 66 — Newark to Mountainside
NJ TRANSIT Route 66 serves the Newark – Mountainside corridor. Use the official PDF schedule, MyBus, and NJ TRANSIT fare tools because fares are zone-based and exact stops matter.
Rider tip: NJ TRANSIT Route 66 may show variants such as 66V. Match the destination sign, zone, and MyBus stop before boarding.
Ride On 66 — Montgomery County, Maryland
Montgomery County Ride On Route 66 is a local bus route with schedule information published by MCDOT Transit Services. The official page references Route 66 schedules and Traville Transit Center guidance.
Rider tip: Ride On pages often explain destination signs. Read the exact sign shown on the top/front of the bus before boarding.
How to Read Route 66 Times Correctly
Do not use one city’s Route 66 time for another city. Route 66 timing changes by agency, direction, stop, weekday, Saturday, Sunday, holiday, branch, traffic, detours, and the exact boarding point.
| Route 66 example | What to check | Timing guidance | When to arrive |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTA 66 Chicago | Chicago/Austin vs Navy Pier direction, owl service segment, Bus Tracker, alerts. | CTA shows terminal spans, but mid-route stops are later. Use the schedule or Bus Tracker for stop-specific time. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early and recheck CTA Bus Tracker. |
| MBTA 66 | Harvard Square vs Nubian Station direction, service alerts, busy urban stops. | MBTA lists Route 66 as frequent service, but traffic around Harvard, Allston, Brookline, and Roxbury can affect arrivals. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early; use alerts during events or bad weather. |
| LA Metro Line 66 | Wilshire Center vs Montebello Metrolink direction, PDF effective date, Downtown LA congestion. | Use the official Metro line PDF and trip planner for exact timepoints and transfers. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early; allow more for rail or Metrolink transfers. |
| VTA 66 | Northbound/southbound, Milpitas BART bay, Santa Teresa Station, route alerts. | VTA publishes weekday, Saturday, and Sunday/Holiday tables. Check stop-level times and posted reroutes. | Arrive at least 5 minutes early; more if connecting with BART or light rail. |
| Houston METRO 66 | Quitman stop-by-stop schedule, 60-minute frequency, next-bus text, transfer options. | METRO shows approximate service from early morning to before 10 PM, but exact times require stop selection. | Arrive 10–15 minutes early because missing a 60-minute route can cause a long wait. |
| NJ TRANSIT 66 | Newark/Mountainside direction, 66/66V pattern, zones, MyBus stop. | Use the official PDF and MyBus because zone, variant, and destination sign matter. | Arrive 5–10 minutes early and confirm your fare zone. |
Route 66 Ticket Price Depends on the Agency
There is no national Route 66 fare. Ticket price, cash rules, transfers, passes, reduced fare, youth fare, and mobile payment are controlled by the agency operating your bus.
CTA bus fare is listed at $2.25 with Ventra or contactless payment. Cash bus fare is listed separately at $2.50 and does not include transfers.
MBTA lists local bus one-way fare at $1.70. Transfers and reduced fares depend on payment method and rider eligibility.
Metro fare capping applies when tapping to ride. Transfers are free within two hours when using TAP/contactless payment.
METRO local bus fares are the same on local routes. Fare-card users may receive transfer and loyalty benefits.
Use VTA’s fare page for current adult fare, youth/senior rules, passes, regional transfers, and Clipper options.
Use OCTA’s current fare page for OC Bus fare, reduced fare, youth programs, passes, and payment changes.
NJ TRANSIT bus fare depends on zones and ticket type. Check the official schedule/fare tools before boarding.
Use Montgomery County Ride On fare information for current local fare, SmarTrip, reduced fare, and transfer rules.
First match your city and operator.
Card, app, contactless, pass, ticket, or cash.
Transfer windows depend on payment type.
Youth, senior, disability, student, or income rules vary.
Load fare or prepare exact cash before the bus arrives.
Route 66 Stops: Confirm the Correct Direction
Route number alone is not enough. You must confirm the city, operator, direction, destination sign, stop side, stop ID, branch, terminal, and platform or bus bay before boarding.
Example Terminal Map: Navy Pier for CTA Route 66
This map is included only as a practical example because CTA Route 66 uses the Navy Pier area as one end of the route. For any other Route 66 city, use that agency’s official route map and stop locator instead of this Chicago example.
- Confirm your city before using any map.
- Check whether you need eastbound, westbound, northbound, southbound, or a branch direction.
- Use official route maps for the final stop pattern.
- Use Google Maps as walking/navigation support, not the final timetable source.
Scheduled Time vs Live Arrival
Scheduled time is the planned timetable. Live arrival is a same-day prediction based on vehicle location or real-time information where available. Traffic, detours, cancellations, weather, events, GPS issues, and operator availability can change live arrival.
Use the agency’s official or endorsed live bus tool.
Make sure the city and agency match your trip.
Match the bus headsign, terminal, branch, or destination.
Use stop name, stop ID, nearby landmark, bay, or map pin.
Check again before leaving because live predictions can change.
Check Route 66 Alerts Before You Leave
Service alerts can change the stop location, route path, departure bay, travel time, owl segment, or branch pattern. Always check the official alert page on the same day you travel.
Accessibility Details to Check
Accessibility is both route-specific and stop-specific. A route may use accessible vehicles, but a stop can still be affected by curb conditions, snow, construction, slope, sidewalk blockage, shelter placement, elevator outages near transfer stations, or temporary relocation.
How to Avoid Missing or Boarding the Wrong Route 66
- Confirm your city and transit agency.
- Open the official Route 66 page, not only a search result snippet.
- Select today’s travel date and service day.
- Choose the correct direction, branch, or destination sign.
- Find your exact stop name, stop ID, or boarding bay.
- Check ticket price and accepted payment method.
- Check live arrival shortly before leaving.
- Arrive 5–10 minutes early; use 10–15 minutes for terminals, transfers, owl service, or low-frequency service.
- Check alerts for detours, closed stops, route changes, or tracker outages.
- For late return trips, verify the last bus from your actual stop.
Official Route 66 Sources
Use these official pages to confirm current schedules, fares, maps, live arrivals, and alerts. Third-party tools can help with discovery, but the operating agency controls the current rider information.
Official Chicago route page with schedule brochure, stop list, route map, first/last-bus spans, owl service note, accessibility note, and alerts.
Open CTA Route 66Ventra, contactless, cash fare, passes, transfers, student fare, and reduced fare details.
Open CTA faresOfficial Boston-area route page for Harvard Square – Nubian Station service, alerts, and schedule access.
Open MBTA Route 66Official Metro schedule index listing Line 66 as Wilshire Center – Montebello Metrolink Station via 8th St and Olympic Blvd.
Open LA Metro schedulesRegular fare, TAP/contactless payment, fare capping, two-hour transfer rule, and reduced/free fare programs.
Open LA Metro faresOfficial Santa Clara County route page with current/effective schedule, weekday/Saturday/Sunday tables, route alerts, and PDF.
Open VTA Route 66Official route page with frequency, approximate hours, destinations, transfer options, accessible-vehicle note, Wi-Fi note, and next-bus tools.
Open METRO Route 66Local bus fare, discounted fare, RideMETRO card/app, virtual fare card, transfers, and loyalty program details.
Open METRO faresOfficial Orange County route listing for Route 66 Huntington Beach – Irvine, bus book, schedule tools, and rider information.
Open OCTA routesOfficial Route 66 Newark – Mountainside PDF schedule and zone-based rider reference.
Open NJT Route 66 PDFOfficial Montgomery County Ride On Route 66 page with schedule PDF, destination sign guidance, and route information.
Open Ride On Route 66Use this page for Route 66 reroutes, stop closures, service alerts, and current disruption notices.
Open VTA alertsRoute 66 Bus Schedule FAQs
What is the Route 66 bus schedule?
There is no single Route 66 bus schedule. The correct timetable depends on the city and transit agency operating that specific Route 66 bus.
How do I find the correct 66 bus schedule?
Start with your city, then confirm the agency, route name, direction, stop, service day, official schedule, and live bus tracker.
Is Route 66 the same in every city?
No. CTA Route 66, MBTA Route 66, LA Metro Line 66, VTA Route 66, Houston METRO Route 66, OCTA Route 66, NJ TRANSIT Route 66, and Ride On Route 66 are different services.
What time does Route 66 start?
Start time depends on the agency, terminal, direction, and service day. Use the official route page for the first bus from your actual boarding stop.
What time is the last Route 66 bus?
The last bus depends on direction, terminal, stop, weekday, weekend, holiday, owl service, and branch pattern. There is rarely one universal last bus for the entire route.
How much is the Route 66 bus fare?
Fare depends on the agency. Examples include CTA bus fare, MBTA local bus fare, LA Metro regular fare, Houston METRO local fare, VTA fare rules, OCTA fare rules, NJ TRANSIT zone-based fares, and Ride On fare rules.
Can I pay cash on Route 66?
Some Route 66 buses accept cash, but cash rules vary. Some systems require exact fare, and cash may not include transfer, loyalty, or fare-capping benefits available with fare cards or mobile apps.
Where can I see live Route 66 arrival times?
Use the official or agency-endorsed tracker, such as CTA Bus Tracker, MBTA alerts/schedule tools, LA Metro tools, VTA route tools, Houston METRO Next Bus, OCTA Text4Next, or NJ TRANSIT MyBus.
How early should I arrive for Route 66?
Arrive 5–10 minutes early for most local bus stops. Use 10–15 minutes for unfamiliar stops, terminals, transfers, low-frequency service, owl service, bad weather, or when buying/loading fare.
Where can I find the Route 66 map?
Use the official route page or PDF map from your transit agency. A generic map search can show the wrong city, wrong direction, old route pattern, or unofficial stop information.
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