Main Street USA. The Mother Road. The Will Rogers Highway. Known by many names, Route 66 is an American icon that has inspired a 1946 hit song, a 1960s television series and the 2006 animated movie Cars, as well as countless dreams and road trips.
Route 66, which measured some 2,200 miles in its prime and crossed eight states, turns 100 next year, so now is the perfect time to dive into the history of the roadway and perhaps plan your own adventure.
A highway’s highs and lows
Route 66, created by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads in 1926, is part of the first federal highway system and a network of existing roads connecting Chicago and Santa Monica, CA, ran parallel to railway lines and between established transportation hubs. Route 66 in 1938 became the first highway in the U.S. to be completely paved.
The Dust Bowl, caused by droughts and dust storms in the Midwest and southern Great Plains, along with the Great Depression of the 1930s, helped significantly develop US 66, as farm workers and their families migrated on the route to seek work in California. The highway, featured in John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel (and the 1940 movie) The Grapes of Wrath, also served as a crucial route for soldiers and supplies during World War II.
The post-war period saw more Americans buying cars and taking vacations, which made automotive travel for leisure — particularly heading West — more popular. As car traffic increased, neon signs, souvenir shops, motels, restaurants, gas stations and roadside attractions sprang up along Route 66.
Business boomed for the towns along the roadway through the mid 1950s. But the popularity of automotive travel on a large scale ironically contributed to Route 66’s downfall: It drove a push toward better roads and more efficient ways of traversing the U.S.
President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to create a national system of interstate highways, which provided faster ways to get to the major cities. As a result, five new interstates (I-55, I-44, I-40, I-15 and I-10) replaced U.S. 66 between the 1950s and the 1980s. After the 1984 bypassing of the last section of U.S. 66 by I-40, Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985.
The forgotten highway was left to deteriorate, but interest in and nostalgia for the route brought about numerous efforts to preserve, protect and promote Route 66. A century after its development, the Mother Road continues to fascinate people with its connection to American history, pop culture and the spirit of adventure.
Ready to plan your own cruise on Route 66 to celebrate its centennial? Here are some travel resources and things to see, eat, and drink along the way, organized by state.
Resources: National66.org,
NPS.gov/subjects/TravelRoute66
ILLINOIS (301 miles)
Going from east to west, your journey begins in Chicago. If you really want to go back in time, visit the speakeasy-style Potter’s Bar (potterschicago.com) in The Palmer House hotel for Prohibition-style cocktails.
Head to the “Historic 66 Begin” sign at the corner of Adams St. and Michigan Ave. Fuel up for the journey at the Lou Mitchell’s restaurant (LouMitchells.com) or The Roadhouse 66 Gas N’ Grill (Roadhouse66Gas-n-Grill.com).
The first 100 miles of Route 66 is known as the Heritage Corridor (TheFirstHundredMiles.com). In Joliet, IL, visit the Route 66 Welcome Center at the Joliet Area Historical Museum (JolietMuseum.org) and the Old Joliet Prison (JolietPrison.org), made famous by The Blues Brothers movie.
A new area attraction is PENN Entertainment’s $185 million Hollywood Casino Joliet (Hollywoodcasinojoliet.com), opened in August 2025. If you’re feeling lucky, hungry or thirsty, the land-based casino features about 1,000 slots and 43 live table games, an ESPN BET sportsbook and several restaurants and bars.
You can see American bison grazing at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (FS.USDA.gov/r09/midewin), the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, and the Ambler Becker Texaco Station in Dwight, the longest-operating filling station on Route 66.
In Pontiac, visit the Pontiac-Oakland Auto Museum (PontiacOaklandMuseum.org) and take in the massive Route 66 shield mural downtown behind the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum (IL66Assoc.org).
Springfield (VisitSpringfield Illinois.com) boasts several worthy stops, from the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum to the Illinois State Museum, the Ace Sign Company Museum, and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Dana Thomas House.
Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill and Museum (66Motorheads.com), designed with car and racing enthusiasts in mind, is home to a variety of motorcycle rallies, car shows, and other events throughout the year.
The last 100 miles of Route 66 in Southwest Illinois is part of the Great Rivers & Routes region (RiversAndRoutes.com), going from Virden just outside Springfield to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, which was part of the old Route 66 and crosses the Mississippi River. Here, Route 66 connects with another legendary highway, the Great River Road.
Resources: IL66Assoc.org, EnjoyIllinois.com
National Park Sites: Chicago Portage National Historic Site, Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Landmarks: Gemini Giant (Wilmington), Sprague’s Super Service Station (Normal), Cozy Dog Drive In (Springfield)
MISSOURI (292 miles)
In St. Louis, after visiting the Gateway Arch, check out Schlafly Beer (Schlafly.com), the city’s original craft brewery, which boasts more than 70 styles of beer and runs multiple brewpubs. It’s working on a line of low-ABV beers that don’t sacrifice flavor and recently released a 2.5% IPA at its tap room.
The Pulaski County (VisitPulaski County.org) portion of Route 66 marks the halfway point between St. Louis and Joplin and boasts breathtaking views of rivers cutting through limestone and dolomite rock, leaving dramatic bluffs and fertile valleys. The George M. Reed Roadside Park is one of the few remaining original roadside parks on Route 66 in Missouri, while St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park offers multiple restored neon signs lit from dusk till midnight daily.
Resources: Missouri66.org,
National Park Sites: Gateway Arch
National Park, Ulysses S. Grant
National Historic Site
Landmarks: 66 Drive-In (Carthage), Ted Drewes (St. Louis),
Meramec Caverns (Stanton)
KANSAS (13 miles)
After crossing into Kansas, visit the Galena Mining and Historical Museum (GalenaMuseum.com) for a glimpse of the town during its 1920s-era mining heyday, while Cars on the Route, inside the old Kan-O-Tex gas station, serves sandwiches and sells souvenirs related to Pixar’s animated Route 66 movie Cars.
Resources: TravelKS.com,Facebook.com/KSHistoricRoute66
Landmarks: Baxter Springs Service Station (Baxter Springs), Rainbow Bridge (Riverton)
OKLAHOMA (376 miles)
For a respite when you reach Tulsa, OK, check out the Ambassador Hotel Tulsa (Ambassadortulsa.com). Once a haven for oil barons awaiting their mansions, the 1929 hotel still carries the glamour of the city’s boomtown days. Locals and travelers alike flock to The Chalkboard Kitchen + Bar, a cozy spot downstairs for refined comfort food and craft cocktails.
Most historic hotels await in Oklahoma City, such as The National, Autograph Collection (TheNationalOKC.com). Housed in the 1931 First National Bank building, the hotel embraces its history with The Vault, a speakeasy cocktail lounge in the old bank vault, and Tellers, an Italian-inspired eatery that uses the original teller stands as booths.
Next door to The National, the Colcord Hotel (Colcordhotel.com) — housed in the city’s first skyscraper — blends early 20th-century elegance with modern comforts including locally inspired cuisine at Flint, botanical cocktails on Flora’s outdoor patio, and pet-friendly “paw-tio” menus.
Check out the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum (OKHistory.org/sites/Route66) in Clinton for a deep dive into the history of the Mother Road with interactive exhibits. The museum offers visitors a personal journey through the revered highway, showcasing the iconic ideas, images, and myths of Route 66.
Resources: OklahomaRoute66.com, TravelOK.com
National Park Sites: Oklahoma City National Memorial
Landmarks: Blue Whale (Catoosa), Round Barn (Acadia), Rock Cafe (Shroud)
TEXAS (178 miles)
In addition to Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo boasts The Big Texan Steak Ranch & Brewery (BigTexan.com), famous for the 72-oz. steak challenge: If you can eat a salad, a baked potato, a shrimp cocktail, and 72 oz. of beef in one hour, it’s free. If you can’t, you’ll have to pay the $72 price of the meal. The Big Texan also offers lodging at its RV park, cabins, wagons, Airstreams, and Airbnbs on property.
Resources: Rt66ofTexas.com,TravelTexas.com
Landmarks: Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo), Leaning Tower of Texas (Groom), U-Drop Inn (Shamrock)
NEW MEXICO (380 miles)
Santa Fe, which was part of the original Route 66 before being bypassed in 1937, was founded in 1610 and has a walkable historic district. Milk of the Poppy (MilkOfThePoppyBar.com) is a new immersive apothecary-meets-craft cocktail bar that evokes the experience of stumbling into a traveler’s tavern in the modern era. Its beverages draw inspiration from historical and fictional libations, and its limited menu features dishes influenced by the region and taverns of the Middle Ages.
Heading into Albuquerque, Vara Winery and Distillery (VaraWines.com) has several tasting rooms to enjoy after a long day of driving. Vara aims to redefine how and when Americans enjoy sparkling wine, positioning it as a value-driven, everyday option with a high-quality domestic alternative with Spanish character and French winemaking.
Resources: Rt66NM.org, NewMexico.org
National Park Sites: Pecos National Historic Park,
Petroglyph National Monument, El Malpais National
Monument
Landmarks: Blue Swallow Motel (Tucumcari), El Rancho Hotel & Motel (Gallup), Maisel’s Indian Trading Post
(Albuquerque)
ARIZONA (401 miles)
Stop at the Flagstaff Visitor Center (FlagstaffArizona.org) at the train depot and ask for the Arizona Historic Route 66 Passport. There are numerous eateries and bars in the historic downtown district, including Lumberyard Brewing Co. (LumberyardBrewingCompany.com), with an outdoor patio overlooking the train tracks.
If you’re looking for nightlife, The Museum Club (MuseumClub.net) in Flagstaff is a former Route 66 roadhouse and taxidermy shop turned country western nightclub, complete with line dancing and live music.
And if you need a place to stay in Flagstaff, the Americana Motor Hotel features 89 artful rooms with design touches such as 1970s skiwear-inspired headboards and disco balls. It also boasts a year-round heated pool, an expansive backyard with firepits, telescopes for stargazing, rentable bikes, EV chargers and a fenced-in “barkyard” for pets.
Other historic towns along Route 66 in Arizona include Holbrook, Winslow, Williams, Seligman, and Kingman, all of which have classic shops, restaurants and attractions.
The final stretch of Route 66 in Arizona runs through the Black Mountains and Oatman, a Wild West mining town with staged shootouts, wooden sidewalks and free-roaming burros. The historic Oatman Hotel houses a bar and restaurant on the ground level and a museum on the second floor – including the Clark Gable/Carole Lombard honeymoon suite.
Resources: AZRt66.com, VisitArizona.com
National Park Sites: Grand Canyon National Park, Petrified Forest National Park, Walnut Canyon National Monument
Landmarks: Wigmam Hotel #6 (Holbrook), Standin’ on the Corner Park (Winslow), Jack Rabbit Trading Post (Joseph City), Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In (Seligman)
CALIFORNIA (315 miles)
After Route 66 goes over the Colorado River, it crosses the barren Mojave Desert before entering the megalopolis of Los Angeles, where it ends at the Santa Monica Pier. What now?
You might take a stroll through Third Street Promenade, where you can browse popular shops, catch a street performance or simply take in the vibrant outdoor energy.
You’ll also find 1212 Santa Monica (1212SantaMonica.com), which offers a vibey seaside escape in a vintage-chic, two-story restaurant and lounge with elevated New American cuisine and creative cocktails.
Finally, reward yourself after a long journey with a stay, meal or drink at one of the posh hotels the near the pier. One is The Georgian (TheGeorgian.com), an Art Deco landmark that first opened in 1933. It includes the colorful Sirena restaurant and the Italian steakhouse, The Georgian Room.
Just on the other side of the pier is the Sandbourne Santa Monica (SandbourneSantaMonica.com), where you can enjoy a signature cocktail at the oceanfront Lobby Bar or the California cuisine at its Marelle restaurant. The Lobby Bar’s Matcha Martini is a fun twist on the Espresso Martini. And if you’ve just finished a cruise down Route 66, you’ve earned it.
Resources: Route66CA.org,VisitCalifornia.com
National Park Sites: Mojave National Preserve, Mojave Trails National Monument
Landmarks: Old Trails Bridge (Needles), Roy’s Motel & Cafe (Amboy), Barstow Harvey House (Barstow)