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!

Top left and bottom right: Route 66 Immersion Experiences. Top right: Squares from Route 66 quilts. Bottom left: Zachary Fiske.

10 / AUGUST 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM