Seventeen years after the western terminus of Route 66 was moved 1 mile west to the Santa Monica Pier, the eastern terminus in Chicago has now been moved nearly 2 miles, from the intersection of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue to the Navy Pier on Lake Michigan, making the full Route 66 experience a journey from pier to pier.
The new location will provide travelers with a fitting and celebratory beginning or end of their Route 66 journey. The Navy Pier, which opened in 1916 as a shipping and recreation facility, now stretches more than six city blocks and is home to 50 acres of parks, restaurants, shopping, cruise boating experiences, and more. The pier continues to facilitate community and connection as a nonprofit organization with ongoing development efforts including new accommodations, dining options, and attractions.
“This move symbolizes how Route 66 continues to evolve while honoring its roots,” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “From the shores of Lake Michigan to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Route 66 represents the ultimate American journey.”
On March 25, 2026, a dedication ceremony was held to celebrate the new starting point, coinciding with the opening day of baseball season and the 28th annual Worldwide Toast to Harry Caray, a Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster. Throughout the daylong celebration, attendees enjoyed live music and entertainment, classic car displays courtesy of the Volo Auto Museum, Route 66 memorabilia, and more.
Visit NavyPier.org to discover things to do and see at the new official beginning of Route 66.
Part of the experience of a Route 66 road trip is discovering the many iconic roadside attractions along the way. In 2026, travelers have even more to explore with various centennial celebrations and installations.
The Route 66 Centennial Celebration ART Quilt Project showcases 66 individual quilts, each one depicting a location or attraction along the route. The exhibit will be on display at the Red Cedar Inn in Pacific, Missouri, from July to September, as well as at the History Museum on the Square in Springfield, Missouri, from Oct. 6 to Nov. 13.
Vortex Immersions is hosting Route 66 Immersive Experiences that take visitors on a journey along historic Route 66 within a 360-degree projection dome, with locations in Springfield, Missouri; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Santa Monica, California. Dates are to be announced.
Celebrating the 1928 footrace staged to market Route 66 in its early days, runner Zachary Fiske invites travelers to join his Bunion Derby run for 1 mile or many from Chicago to Los Angeles from Aug. 4 to Nov. 11. If you’re riding the route instead of running it, be sure to wave at Fiske and his companions if you pass by them.
There are also plenty of opportunities to celebrate Route 66 from home. The Route 66 Centennial Speaker Webinar Series is hosted on the second Tuesday of each month, featuring authors, historians, researchers, and advocates. And riders can check out the Travel Native America app to discover the art, cultures, and histories of Native American peoples along Route 66 and add some stops to your itinerary.
However you choose to celebrate the centennial, make the experience a memorable one. Route 66 only turns 100 once!
The United States Postal Service is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with the release of Route 66 stamps. The set includes eight stamps, one for each state that Route 66 passed through on its 2,448-mile journey from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Each stamp features photography by David J. Schwartz. The photos capture iconic Route 66 landmarks and scenes, including the Munger Moss Motel in Missouri, the now-disappeared Grants Cafe sign in New Mexico, the U-Drop Inn in Texas, the Oil Capital Motel sign in Oklahoma, and others.
A first-day-of-issue ceremony was held at the National Postal Forum in Phoenix in May 2026 and was presented by Jeff Adams (USPS vice president of corporate communications), Rod Reid (chairman of the United States Route 66 Centennial Commission), and David J. Schwartz (the stamps’ photographer). The stamps were designed by Greg Breeding.
“The Postal Service and Route 66 both played historical roles in our nation’s expansion, as conduits for goods and communication – moving hundreds of thousands of letters and packages for Americans as they journeyed westward,” said Adams. “These stamps feature many sights that travelers or transport drivers would have seen in the Mother Road’s heyday…sights that have become popular stops for tourists today.”
Available in a pane of 16 stamps, the Route 66 stamps are Forever stamps, meaning they will remain equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price. You can order a pane for $12.48 from Store.USPS.com.
Connie Echols, former owner of the oldest continuously operating motel on Route 66, passed away May 2, 2026. Connie was widely loved by countless travelers who stayed at the iconic site and for her dedication to restoring and maintaining the Wagon Wheel Motel.
In 1936, the Wagon Wheel Cabins, Cafe & Service Station was opened by Robert and Margaret Martin. It featured buildings made by stonemason Leo Friesenhan from locally sourced Ozark stone, giving it a unique character and allowing it to stand the test of time. Over the years, the property passed through several hands but remained a safe haven for travelers. Connie Echols bought the property in 2009 and operated it until 2026, welcoming travelers and preserving this unique piece of Route 66 history.
On April 8, 2026, Connie sold the property to Rich and Christina Dinkela. Rich was a president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri, and the Dinkelas also own the Shamrock Court in nearby Sullivan, Missouri. On the day of the sale, Rich posted to Facebook announcing the sale and thanking Connie for her dedication to the motel.
In addition to owning the Wagon Wheel, Connie was also a wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, as well as a passionate equestrian who loved training, showing, and trail riding horses. She also found joy in ceramics, sewing, gardening, canning, and golf.
Connie will long be remembered not just by her friends and family but also by the many travelers she welcomed at the Wagon Wheel.
What better way to commemorate a centennial Route 66 drive and the 250th birthday of our nation than to listen to “America the Beautiful” while rolling through Springfield, Illinois? Thanks to some clever mathematics, you can do that without even needing to turn on your audio system.
Musical roads are stretches of pavement that use precisely measured rumble strips to cause vibrations throughout your vehicle to play a certain tune. One such installation is located on St. Louis Street in Springfield, Illinois. Those driving or riding the road at exactly 30 mph will be greeted by the tune “America the Beautiful.” Musical roads not only make the journey special; they also encourage travelers to maintain the speed limit, making the roads safer.
A similar musical road playing “America the Beautiful” at 45 mph was installed near Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2014, and can still be experienced today, although some parts aren’t as clear as they were when it was first installed. The Route 66 Musical Roads project is seeking to develop multiple installations across all eight states along Route 66, from Illinois to California.
The musical road section in Springfield is just a small stretch of pavement along the nearly 2,500 miles of Route 66, but it’s one not to be missed. Add it to your Route 66 itinerary, and stay tuned for more Route 66 Musical Roads projects.