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The historic Route 66
ADOBE STOCK
Route 66
The Most Iconic Road Trip of 2026
Drive the Mother Road and celebrate its centennial.
By Stacey Zable
This year, get your kicks on Route 66 and recall the iconic road’s 1950s heyday while recognizing its 100th anniversary. Attend special events and snap photos beside the always-fun-and-funky roadside attractions to mark this special commemoration, a milestone for the highway that began in 1926 when the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads cobbled together a network of existing roads connecting Chicago to Santa Monica, California. Initially, Route 66 was an all-weather route that carried people going from farms to markets and, during the 1930s, job seekers hoping to find work in California. After World War II, it became the vacation route for which it is now known and beloved, stretching 2,448 miles across eight states.
International Route 66 Mother Road Festival
VISIT SPRINGFIELD
Kick Off in Illinois
Start where it all began, in Chicago, where a sign located across from the Art Institute of Chicago on Michigan Avenue marks the eastern origin of the “Main Street of America.” The route’s first nearly 300 miles are in Illinois, and as you drive through the state, stop in Joliet to see the 24-foot Gigantar—a large guitar structure mounted to the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66. In Wilmington, get some Route 66 goodies at The Landing Pad souvenir shop behind the Gemini Giant Muffler Man statue that recently had a makeover. Route 66 events include Springfield’s International Route 66 Mother Road Festival on Sept. 25–27, an annual event of classic cars, music and this year special centennial programming. The “Route 66: The Main Street of America” documentary makes its world premiere Sept. 3–10 in Chicago before traveling across all eight Route 66 states for more than 40 screenings through Nov. 7.
A mural located in Joplin’s Route 66 Mural Park
JOPLIN TOURISM
Rev Your Motors in Missouri
There are 317 miles of Missouri’s Route 66, with several attractions worth braking for. Eureka’s Route 66 State Park visitor center (formerly the 1935 Bridgehead Inn roadhouse) outside of St. Louis presents Route 66 exhibits and walking trails to stretch your legs. The Route 66 Museum in Lebanon displays replicas of a 1950s gas station and diner, and exhibits of antique cars and Route 66 books, magazines and videos. Springfield’s Route 66 Car Museum is home to more than 75 vintage sports cars, classic automobiles and several movie and celebrity cars. Check out Joplin’s Route 66 Mural Park’s three murals and the red mock 1964 Corvette that sits just below them.
Cars on the Route in Galena, Kansas
KANSAS TOURISM
Short But Sweet Drive Through Kansas
Though only 13 miles of Route 66 run through Kansas, they are filled with interesting stops, including Cars on the Route in Galena. The former Kan-O-Tex service station is the home of the truck that is said to have inspired Tow Mater in the Disney Pixar animated film “Cars.” Visit the gift shop and restaurant. Also, stop at the Gearhead Curious souvenir shop, if only to see its unique bathroom. Come during the Gearhead Curios Pin-Up Contest on Sept. 26 and watch the contestants go all out in retro outfits from the 1940s to the 1960s, as well as to see classic cars. Riverton’s Old Riverton Store, in operation since 1925 and on the National Register of Historic Places, is a general store selling sandwiches, snacks and Route 66 memorabilia.
AAA ROUTE 66 ROAD FEST
The Long Road in Oklahoma
The Route 66 Passport can guide you through Oklahoma’s 400 miles of Route 66. Tulsa even has a copyright on the term “Capital of Route 66.” Stop at the Mother Road Market, where more than 20 food and retail shops; a nine-hole, Route 66-themed mini golf course; and murals by local artists are found. A BIG photo op in the city comes in the form of the Meadow Gold Mack Friendly Lumberjack, Rosie the Riveter, Space Cowboy Muffler Man and Cosmic Cowgirl statues that share space with a neon sign, murals, shops and dining in the nearby Meadow Gold District. The AAA Route 66 Road Fest takes place in Tulsa June 27–28, featuring classic cars, vintage RVs and family-friendly fun. Route 66 museums throughout the state include the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, the Elk City National Route 66 Museum & Complex in Elk City and the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler.
BIG TEXAN STEAK RANCH, 72 OZ STEAK CHALLENGE
Midway in Texas
Your next 178 miles through Texas take you to the midpoint of the route, so grab a piece of homemade “ugly” pie with a side order of 1950s vibe at Midpoint Cafe and Gift Shop in Adrian. Take a photo by the sign with a double arrow noting “Los Angeles 1139 miles” to the left and “Chicago 1139 miles” to the right.
Two of Amarillo’s top Route 66 stops are on I-40: the Cadillac Ranch, 10 colorfully painted Cadillacs buried nose-down in a field, and the Big Texan Steak Ranch, featuring the 72-ounce steak challenge. Eat not only the steak, but also shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, roll and butter in one hour and it's free! The annual Texas Route 66 Festival throughout the Texas Panhandle takes place on June 4–13 this year. It’s filled with classic cars, live music and art walks, with Amarillo’s Route 66 Historic District as the place for the grand finale.
Exterior wall of the 66 Diner, Albuquerque
GETTY IMAGES
Vintage Stops of New Mexico
New Mexico’s more than 600 combined miles of both the contemporary and original Route 66 start at the eastern gateway of Tucumcari. Here, renovated mid-century Route 66 motels with neon signs dot the route, as well as photo ops with murals and the Route 66 Monument. Albuquerque’s historic Central Avenue also features restored vintage motels and neon signs, like those of the 66 Diner and El Vado Motel. The Route 66 Remixed project celebrates the centennial with 18 large-scale public art installations and digital activations. The Route 66 Summerfest takes place in Albuquerque on July 18 with multiple live music acts and food trucks
Route 66 Drive Thru Shield in Kingman, Arizona
Sing Your Way Into Arizona
What’s a car trip without great music to guide you? Winslow added a custom-designed singing road as part of the centennial celebration. Driving over the synthetic asphalt material at the exact speed of 35 miles per hour makes car tires vibrate, creating the tune of this verse in The Eagles song “Take it Easy”: “Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, and such a fine sight to see.”
Drive into Kingman for a retro vibe and a photo op at the Route 66 Drive-Thru Shield. It is near the Arizona Route 66 Museum, which has added new features for the centennial, such as a 3D map, interactive kiosks and immersive vinyl wall displays of historic Route 66. The Kingman I ♥ Route 66 Fest on Oct. 16–17 will celebrate the road with live music, beer garden, food, crafts, classic cars and vintage trailers.
Route 66 sign at the Santa Monica Pier.
End of the Trail in California
Access a digital passport through the Visit California website or grab a pre-printed one at select tourism and welcome centers and businesses along the way for what to see on California’s 315 miles of the route.
Santa Monica is the official end of Route 66, so go ahead and take a proud moment with a photo by the city’s Route 66 “End of the Trail” sign near the Santa Monica Pier. Then, enjoy a meal across from the sign at the retro Mel’s Drive-In. Housed in a historic 1950s building, the diner features a Route 66 mural and memorabilia.
The annual Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion in downtown Ontario, about 55 miles from Santa Monica, takes place Sept. 18–19 this year. More than 1,000 classic cars cruise 22 square blocks of historic Euclid Avenue. There is also plenty of live music and kids’ activities.
Finally, celebrate your road trip journey with a free Certificate of Completion available at the three Santa Monica Visitor Information Centers.
Ready to plan your Route 66 road trip? Get started today at AAA.com/TripCanvas or speak to a knowledgeable AAA Travel Agent.
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