Byways Route 66 Centennial Issue

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THE MAIN STREET ACROSS AMERICA Travel the Lincoln Highway in Illinois and discover the diversity of the state’s people and places along the way.

Your Guide to the Coast to Coast Rock Highway • LINCOLNHIGHWAYILLINOIS.COM

The Hayley Mansion, Will County

I&M Canal, Joliet

Van Buren Sisters Mural, University Park

Batavia Depot Museum, Batavia

Celebrate 100 years of road tripping in the only place in America where the Mother Road of Route 66 meets the scenic beauty of the Great River Road.

Follow the neon signs to the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park, dine at historic Route 66 roadside cafes, take a walk through the river bluffs and prairies and relax with a glass of locally crafted wine beside the Mighty Mississippi River.

Photo courtesy of Batavia Park District

Your one-of-a-kind adventure begins at www.RiversandRoutes.com.

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Byways Magazine

stephen.kirchner@gmail.com https://bywaysmagazine.com

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Preview

By Stephen Kirchner, Editor & Publisher here are few roads in the world that carry as much history, heart, and humanity as Route 66.

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For 100 years, the Mother Road has stood as the ultimate symbol of America’s journey -- a road that once carried farmers and families westward, soldiers homeward, and generations of travelers toward adventure and opportunity.

As Byways Magazine celebrates the centennial of Route 66, we honor not just a highway, but the stories it tells and the people who keep those stories alive.

From Chicago’s lakefront to the Santa Monica Pier, this 2,400-mile ribbon of asphalt ties together eight states, hundreds of small towns, and nearly a century of dreams.

It’s been called “America’s Main Street,” and for good reason. Route 66 is where history and memory intersect -- where diners, motels, and gas stations became landmarks of the open road, and where travelers from around the world still come to find a piece of that timeless freedom.

Even today, driving it feels like stepping into a living museum of Americana: the neon glow of Tucumcari, the red rocks of Arizona, the gateway arches of Missouri, the roadside murals of Oklahoma.

Along the way, it’s the unexpected moments that define the journey, a slice of homemade pie at a Byways 4

family-run diner, a conversation with a shop owner who’s watched generations pass by, or the quiet stillness of a desert stretch where the horizon seems to stretch forever. Route 66 invites travelers to slow down, to look closer, and to rediscover the simple joy of the road itself.

In an age of interstates and instant destinations, the Mother Road offers something increasingly rare: connection. Not just between places, but between past and present, traveler and town, memory and experience. It’s a reminder that the true value of travel isn’t measured in miles, but in moments — the kind that linger long after the journey ends.

This special issue is our tribute to the Mother Road at 100. Inside, you’ll find features on each of the eight states that helped define Route 66 -- Illinois to California -- exploring how the road began, how it changed the American landscape, and how it continues to inspire travelers a century later.

As we look ahead to the celebrations of 2026, one truth remains: Route 66 endures because it captures something essential about who we are. It reminds us that the journey still matters, that the spirit of discovery is still alive, and that sometimes the best roads are the ones that take us not just across the country, but back in time.

So here’s to a hundred years of the Mother Road — and to all the highways and byways that still lead us home.

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Route 66 Museums Worth the Stop Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum — Pontiac, Illinois Located in a restored historic firehouse, this museum celebrates the people who preserved the Mother Road.

Murals, classic cars, and Route 66 memorabilia highlight Pontiac’s role as one of the most enthusiastic Route 66 communities.

migration years to the heyday of roadside diners and motels.

Texas Devil’s Rope Museum — McLean, Texas Located in the historic Brass Lantern Inn, this unusual museum explores the history of barbed wire while also featuring an extensive Route 66 exhibit about travel and ranch life along the highway.

New Mexico New Mexico Route 66 Museum — Tucumcari, New Mexico Inside the Tucumcari Convention Center, exhibits showcase classic neon signs, vintage travel artifacts, and stories from one of Route 66’s most colorful roadside towns.

Missouri Route 66 State Park Visitor Center — Eureka, Missouri Just west of St. Louis, this visitor center sits along the original Route 66 alignment and features exhibits on the highway’s construction, roadside culture, and the families who traveled it.

Kansas Cars on the Route — Galena, Kansas A restored Kan-O-Tex service station houses vintage automobiles and memorabilia tied to Route 66. The site helped inspire characters in the animated film Cars and remains one of Kansas’ most photographed Route 66 stops.

Oklahoma National Route 66 Museum — Elk City, Oklahoma One of the most comprehensive Route 66 museums anywhere, this complex recreates different decades of travel along the highway, from the Dust Bowl Byways 8

Arizona Arizona Route 66 Museum — Kingman, Arizona Part of the Powerhouse Visitor Center, this museum traces the highway’s story through the Black Mountains and the rugged desert landscapes of western Arizona.

California California Route 66 Museum — Victorville, California Located along the historic highway in the Mojave Desert, the museum features vintage vehicles, roadside artifacts, and exhibits celebrating the golden age of Route 66 travel.

Volume 43, Issue No. 2 2026 On the cover. Roy’s Motel & Café glows along historic Route 66 in Amboy, California. Opened in 1926, the legendary “Mother Road” continues to draw travelers across the Mojave Desert nearly a century later. Join us for the Ultimate Mother Road Journey. Photo courtesy California office of Tourism.

Features Route 66 at 100, The Road that Built America .................................................................................... 10 The Commissioner's Message ............................................................................................................ 15 Illinois, Where the Route 66 Journey Begins ...................................................................................... 16 Missouri, the Heart of Route 66 ........................................................................................................... 30 Kansas, Short Road, Long Legacy on Route 66 ................................................................................. 40 Oklahoma, the Heart & Soul of Route 66 ............................................................................................ 50 Texas, Wide Open Skies on the Mother Road .................................................................................... 62 New Mexico, the Southwest Heartbeat of Route 66 ............................................................................ 70 Arizona, Red Rocks, Roadside Icons, and the Soul of the Southwest ................................................ 78 California, The End of the Road -- and the Start of a Dream ............................................................. 86

Departments Byways Instant Connect ........................................................................................................................ 3 Byways Preview .................................................................................................................................... 4 Advertiser/Sponsored Content Index ................................................................................................ 100

What’s Happening 8 Iconic Route 66 Photo Stops ........................................................................................................... 96 Classic Diners Along Route 66 ............................................................................................................ 97

Coming in Future Issues Future issues of Byways will feature America’s 250th Birthday, Mountains and Valleys, Great American Roads and more . . .

Up Next: America250 Right. This year the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Byways America250 edition spotlights drive-to destinations, historic sites, scenic corridors, and communities across six regions of the country -connecting travelers with the places where America’s story continues to unfold.

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s the sun sets over the high desert, the fading light catches the glint of chrome on an old Ford parked beneath a neon sign that still hums “Vacancy”.

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Somewhere between Chicago and Santa Monica, the open road stretches endlessly ahead -- a ribbon of asphalt that has carried dreamers, travelers, and drifters for nearly a century. This is Route 66 -- the Mother Road -- a journey, a legend, and a living symbol of the American spirit.

For almost 100 years, Route 66 has been more than just a highway. It has been a stage where America’s story has played out -- from hardship and hope to freedom and discovery. Now, as the country prepares to celebrate its centennial, the road that built America is as alive as ever, calling to travelers who still long to roll down the windows, follow the sun, and see what lies beyond the next bend.

The Birth of the Mother Road The story of Route 66 begins in 1926, when the newly established Federal Highway System sought to Byways 12

link America’s growing cities with its remote towns.

Among those who saw the potential of a transcontinental highway was Cyrus Avery of Tulsa, Oklahoma, a visionary known today as the “Father of Route 66”. Avery understood that roads meant opportunity. He championed a diagonal route connecting Chicago to Los Angeles, passing through the Midwest’s farms, the Great Plains’ grasslands, and the desert plateaus of the Southwest.

When it opened, Route 66 became known as “The Main Street of America”. Unlike other highways that skirted small towns, this one ran right through them.

Farmers sold produce to travelers. Mechanics, restaurateurs, and motel owners found steady business. A national economy built on mobility was taking shape -- and Route 66 was the lifeline that carried it west.

The Road to Opportunity By the 1930s, the Great Depression had gripped the country, and the Dust Bowl forced thousands of families to flee their desolate farms in search of work. Route 66 became a road of migration and hope, the westward path to California’s fertile valleys and new beginnings. John Steinbeck immortalized it

in The Grapes of Wrath, calling it “the Mother Road”, a name that endures to this day.

During World War II, Route 66 served another purpose: moving troops, vehicles, and supplies to military bases in the West. Convoys of trucks rumbled across its miles, carrying not just goods but the promise of victory. After the war, prosperity followed and Route 66 became the road to leisure.

Families packed up their cars for vacations out west. Diners, motor courts, and roadside attractions sprang up, offering everything from homemade pie to giant neon cowboys. The highway became a living postcard of postwar optimism.

Icons of the Open Road Every stretch of Route 66 tells a story, and every state contributes its icons. In Illinois, travelers begin their journey under the Chicago skyline and find classic diners and restored filling stations in places like Pontiac and Springfield.

Missouri brings the Meramec Caverns, once advertised on countless barn roofs, and the famous 66 Drive-In Theatre in Carthage. Kansas contributes just 13 miles, but they’re among the most authentic, featuring the Rainbow Bridge and the friendly towns of Galena and Baxter Springs.

Arizona’s Petrified Forest National Park and Standin’ on the Corner Park in Winslow remain essential stops, and finally, California offers the symbolic end of the journey -- the Santa Monica Pier, where the “End of the Trail” sign marks the Pacific horizon.

Each of these stops represents not just a destination, but a piece of American identity -- a time when the road itself was part of the adventure.

In Oklahoma , where Cyrus Avery’s dream took shape, Route 66 truly comes alive with history, from Tulsa’s Blue Dome District to the Round Barn of Arcadia.

The Texas Panhandle adds a flavor all its own, with the kitschy Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, where visitors still plant spray-painted tributes in the upturned tailfins. In New Mexico, Tucumcari’s neon signs glow against desert skies, while Santa Fe and Albuquerque blend ancient Pueblo heritage with classic roadside Americana.

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for convenience, but for connection. Local Route 66 Associations formed, preservation groups restored neon signs, and enthusiasts around the world rediscovered the highway through car clubs, festivals, and music. Bobby Troup’s 1946 song, Get Your Kicks on Route 66, found new life, as did the television show Route 66 in the 1960s, which helped cement the road’s mythic status.

Today, Route 66 is recognized as a National Scenic Byway and an enduring piece of cultural history. The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program continues to fund restoration projects along the route, ensuring that its unique character, from vintage motels to art deco gas stations, remains intact for future generations.

Route 66 Today: A Living Highway In many ways, Route 66 has entered its renaissance.

Travelers from around the world still flock to the highway to experience its blend of history, Americana, and authenticity.

The Fall — and the Resurrection By the mid-1950s, the dream of faster, safer travel gave rise to the Interstate Highway System. New routes bypassed the small towns that had thrived on Route 66 traffic. By the 1970s, motels stood empty, diners closed, and once-busy downtowns grew quiet.

In 1985, Route 66 was officially decommissioned, erased from federal highway maps. For many, it felt like the end of an era.

But the road refused to die. Nostalgia runs deep in American veins, and travelers began returning -- not

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Towns once left behind have reinvented themselves as nostalgic waypoints, full of murals, diners, and classic cars. Businesses like Lou Mitchell’s in Chicago, Pops 66 Soda Ranch in Oklahoma, and Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman, Arizona, continue to welcome visitors with humor and hospitality.

The road also serves as a cultural bridge between generations. Baby boomers retrace their childhood vacations, while younger travelers discover the

romance of analog adventures -- paper maps, roadside motels, and conversations with locals. The centennial has inspired festivals, restoration campaigns, and renewed pride among the communities that keep Route 66 alive.

And for those who drive its full 2,448 miles, the experience remains transformative. From the skyscrapers of Chicago to the palm trees of Santa Monica, the journey is as much about inner discovery as outer scenery.

Eight States, One Story Route 66 runs through eight states and three time zones, connecting big cities, small towns, and countless personal histories. Each state along the route adds its own flavor -- Illinois’ urban energy, Missouri’s Ozark charm, Kansas’ small-town friendliness, Oklahoma’s heartland hospitality, Texas’ big-sky bravado, New Mexico’s cultural blend, Arizona’s natural grandeur, and California’s coastal glamour.

Together, they form a cross-section of America -diverse, enduring, and deeply human. As Byways Magazine takes readers on a state-by-state journey through each of these eight chapters, the common thread will remain clear: Route 66 is not just a road. It is a living story that continues to unfold with every traveler who sets out upon it.

The Road Ahead As Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary, the “Mother Road” is once again at the center of attention. Preservationists, tourism boards, and local businesses are preparing for a wave of centennial events, from car rallies and festivals to museum exhibits and historic restorations. But even without fanfare, Route 66 endures as a pilgrimage -- a road that invites reflection as much as movement.

For some, it’s nostalgia. For others, it’s discovery.

But for everyone who drives it, Route 66 represents the essence of American freedom -- the open road, the unexpected detour, and the joy of simply going.

A Message from the Commissioner rom its birth in 1926 to its centennial in 2026, Route 66 has been more than a line on a map. It is America’s Main Street: a 2,400-mile thread stitching together small towns and big dreams, neon nights and wide-open days, generations of travelers and the communities that welcomed them.

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As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, we are working to ensure that this legendary highway is not only remembered but renewed. The Centennial is an invitation to preserve endangered landmarks, restore classic roadside architecture, and invest in the mom-and-pop businesses that give the road its soul. It is also a chance to tell a fuller story— honoring the Native, Black, Latino, immigrant, and Dust Bowl families for whom Route 66 meant work, escape, or a new start.

By promoting heritage tourism, educational programs, and community projects along the corridor, the Centennial seeks to inspire a new generation to discover the freedom of the open road -- responsibly, sustainably, and inclusively. One hundred years on, Route 66 still points west, toward possibility. The Centennial simply asks us to follow, and to keep America’s most storied highway alive for the next hundred years.

Bill Thomas Commissioner - U.S. Route 66 Centennial Commission Chairman - Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership https://www.route66centennial.org

A hundred years after the first traveler rolled west, Route 66 still whispers to the dreamer in all of us: pack light, keep moving, and never lose sight of the horizon.

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rom the heart of downtown Chicago, where towering skyscrapers rise beside the waters of Lake Michigan, a legendary road begins its journey west. It’s here, at the corner of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, that travelers find the first Route 66 sign -- a small marker that points the way toward adventure.

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Much of the original alignment through Illinois still exists, offering visitors a drive through living history.

The route cuts southwest through Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington, Springfield, Litchfield, and Collinsville before crossing the Mississippi River at East St. Louis. Along the way, it reveals a mix of urban energy, small-town charm, and pure Americana.

For nearly a century, this has been the starting line of America’s most famous road trip, a stretch of asphalt that winds from the Windy City through rolling farmland, small-town diners, and roadside icons that capture the soul of the open road.

Chicago: The Gateway to the Road

The Birthplace of the Mother Road llinois holds a special place in Route 66 history.

When the route was officially designated in 1926, Chicago was chosen as its eastern terminus, linking the industrial heart of the Midwest to the promise of the American West. For early travelers, the road offered a way out of the city and into opportunity.

Farmers hauled goods to markets, families sought new beginnings, and adventurers loaded their Model Ts with maps and dreams.

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Chicago’s role as the eastern anchor of Route 66 gives travelers a dramatic starting point. Before setting out, many begin with breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s, a legendary diner on Jackson Boulevard that’s been serving hungry travelers since 1923.

Known as the “First Stop on the Mother Road,” Lou Mitchell’s remains one of the most enduring connections to the highway’s earliest days.

Downtown Chicago also offers several ways to trace the road’s beginnings. The Route 66 Start Sign near the Art Institute of Chicago marks the official launching point. From there, drivers can follow the classic route past the old Harpo Studios and into the

city’s vibrant neighborhoods before the skyline gives way to open country.

The Heritage Corridor, Joliet to Pontiac: Neon, Nostalgia, and Classic Cars Stretching from the Chicago suburbs to the Mississippi River, Illinois’ Route 66 Heritage Corridor captures the spirit of the Mother Road at its most authentic, where roadside Americana, industrial history, and small-town character come together mile by mile.

Along this nationally recognized corridor, travelers encounter classic Route 66 icons -- vintage diners, restored gas stations, historic motels, and neon signage -- set alongside canals, railroads, and river towns that tell the deeper story of how transportation shaped the Midwest.

Communities such as Joliet, Pontiac, and Dwight preserve both the romance and the reality of Route 66, offering museums, murals, and walkable downtowns

that reward those who linger. Guided by the work of Illinois Route 66 Heritage Corridor, this stretch of Route 66 invites travelers to experience Illinois not as a pass-through state, but as a destination where history, culture, and the open road are inseparably linked.

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THE MAIN STREET ACROSS AMERICA Travel the Lincoln Highway in Illinois and discover the diversity of the state’s people and places along the way.

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The Hayley Mansion, Will County

I&M Canal, Joliet

Van Buren Sisters Mural, University Park

Batavia Depot Museum, Batavia

Photo courtesy of Batavia Park District

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Joliet is home to the Route 66 Welcome Center and Museum inside the historic Joliet Area Historical Museum. Exhibits here highlight the role the road played in shaping America’s car culture.

Travelers exploring Illinois soon discover that the state sits at a crossroads of America’s most historic highways. While Route 66 carries visitors westward from Chicago, another legendary road -- the Lincoln Highway -- also passes through the region. The two iconic routes intersect near Joliet, creating a unique meeting place of early American road travel.

Today, communities throughout the Illinois Heritage Corridor celebrate this rich transportation history, offering travelers the chance to experience two of the nation’s most famous highways in one memorable destination.

Just outside town, the restored Gemini Giant, a towering fiberglass “Muffler Man,” stands watch over the old Launching Pad Drive-In, welcoming visitors with a smile straight from the 1960s.

Further down the route, Dwight and Odell offer glimpses of classic service stations lovingly preserved for visitors.

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The Odell Standard Oil Station, built in 1932, is now a small museum , a picture-perfect example of the mom-and-pop businesses that thrived when Route 66 was in its heyday.

In Pontiac, the Route 66 experience comes to life in full color. The Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of the people and places that defined the Mother Road, with vintage cars, memorabilia, and the world’s largest Route 66 shield painted on the side of a downtown building. Pontiac also boasts the PontiacOakland Automobile Museum, and murals throughout town celebrate both Route 66 and America’s automotive heritage.

Springfield: The Heart of Illinois and of Route 66 As the road rolls south, travelers reach Springfield, the state capital and one of the most vibrant stops along Route 66. Here, the connection between history and hospitality runs deep. Abraham Lincoln lived and worked in Springfield, and visitors can tour the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Old Byways 24

State Capitol, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

But Springfield’s connection to Route 66 is equally rich. The Cozy Dog Drive In , home of the original corn dog on a stick, has been serving travelers since 1949.

In Litchfield, the Ariston Café stands as one of the oldest continually operating restaurants on Route 66.

Established in 1924, the café serves hearty Midwest fare in a vintage setting that embodies the golden age of highway dining.

The restaurant remains in the founding family, and the walls are lined with Route 66 memorabilia and photos from the road’s early days. Just outside of town, the Route 66 Drive-In Theater at Knight’s Action Park still offers double features under the stars, continuing a tradition of open-air entertainment that defined midcentury America.

Litchfield to Staunton: The Golden Age of Travel Between Springfield and the Mississippi River, the road feels frozen in time. The towns of Litchfield, Mount Olive, and Staunton showcase some of the best-preserved roadside attractions in the Midwest.

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A short drive south brings travelers to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center, filled with local memorabilia and photographs chronicling the town’s connection to the highway. Further along, in

Staunton, the Country Classic Cars showroom and museum features a collection of restored vintage automobiles -- the perfect homage to the road that made America fall in love with the car.

For a nostalgic rest stop, the Soulsby Service Station in Mount Olive and the Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton offer plenty of photo ops and stories from the days when Route 66 was the main street through town.

The Crossroads of Route 66 Alton, Illinois, sits at one of the most dramatic crossroads along the Route 66 journey, where the Great River Road meets the legacy of the Mother Road at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

Long before Route 66 carried motorists west, Alton was already a river town shaped by movement, commerce, and history—and that layered past still defines the visitor experience today.

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reminding travelers that on Route 66, even condiments can achieve legendary status.

Crossing the Mississippi: The Road West The Illinois stretch of Route 66 ends dramatically at the Chain of Rocks Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River into St. Louis.

Built in 1929, this mile-long bridge is famous for its unique 22-degree bend midway across the river.

Today, it’s open to pedestrians and cyclists -- a fitting gateway between the Midwest and the West.

Standing there, with the river flowing beneath and the skyline of St. Louis rising in the distance, travelers can sense the excitement that must have filled the hearts of those who first drove west on Route 66 nearly a century ago.

Travelers following Route 66 through the region can explore limestone bluffs, historic neighborhoods, riverfront parks, and a revitalized downtown that celebrates everything from Lincoln-era history to classic Americana.

With scenic drives, outdoor recreation, and easy access to river views that feel timeless, Great Rivers & Routes Tourism invites Route 66 travelers to slow down, explore, and discover why Alton remains one of Illinois’ most compelling river destinations just beyond the pavement of the Mother Road.

Largest Catchup Bottle As Route 66 approaches the Mississippi River, one of its quirkiest landmarks rises above Collinsville -- the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle. Built in 1949 as a working water tower, the 170-foot-tall bottle has become an unexpected icon of roadside Americana, Byways 28

Route 66 Illinois Today Illinois has embraced its role as the starting point of the Mother Road. The state’s tourism agencies, local historical societies, and Route 66 associations have worked tirelessly to preserve landmarks and create experiences for a new generation of travelers.

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway organization connects visitors to dozens of attractions, from restored motels and diners to interpretive exhibits and festivals celebrating the route’s legacy.

The Route 66 Association of Illinois was founded in 1989 to preserve and promote the legacy of the Mother Road. Through its research, advocacy, and preservation efforts, the association helps ensure that the history and stories of U.S. Route 66 continue to be shared. Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in Illinois.

Every summer, thousands of visitors from around the world come to drive the Illinois section, take part in

classic car rallies, and experience small-town Americana firsthand.

What they find is not just nostalgia -- but a living, breathing highway that continues to inspire freedom and adventure.

The Road That Starts It All For nearly 100 years, Illinois has been where Route 66 begins , a place where the road meets the horizon and the spirit of adventure takes hold. From the big-city energy of Chicago to the quiet streets of small towns that still welcome travelers with a wave and a smile, this is where the story of the Mother Road begins.

“Get your kicks on Route 66,” the song goes -- and for every traveler starting the journey, Illinois is the first verse in a timeless American story.

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hen Route 66 first opened in 1926, Missouri stood at the heart of the highway’s story -both geographically and spiritually. It was here, between the Mississippi River and the rolling Ozark Hills, that the Mother Road found its rhythm.

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Small towns, family-owned motels, neon-lit diners, and roadside attractions blossomed along the route, turning Missouri into a living showcase of midcentury Americana. For nearly 300 miles, from St. Louis to Joplin, travelers experienced a cross-section of the nation’s character: hardworking, welcoming, and always ready with a smile and a slice of pie.

Crossing the Mississippi into the Show-Me State For those beginning their journey west from Illinois, Byways 32

the Mississippi River crossing marks a powerful transition. The Chain of Rocks Bridge, completed in 1929, once carried Route 66 traffic across the river north of St. Louis.

With its graceful steel spans and unique 22-degree bend, it became one of the most photographed crossings in America. Today, the bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists, offering sweeping views of the river and the Gateway Arch, a fitting introduction to Missouri’s stretch of the road.

From here, travelers can enter St. Louis, a city that grew up alongside America’s fascination with mobility. Long before it was a Route 66 stop, St. Louis was known as the “Gateway to the West”.

The city’s Gateway Arch National Park celebrates that spirit, and nearby Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Park connects the modern traveler to the historic route that carried generations across the continent.

St. Louis: Gateway to the West and to the Road In St. Louis, Route 66 wound its way through classic neighborhoods filled with brick storefronts, mom-and-pop diners, and gas stations that served travelers heading west. While many of the original alignments have changed over the decades, today’s visitors can still trace the route through Chippewa Street and Watson Road, where vintage neon signs glow once again thanks to local preservation efforts.

One of the city’s most famous stops is Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, which has been serving its thick, creamy “concretes” since 1929. Just a few miles away, the Donut Drive-In and Crown Candy Kitchen continue to deliver sweet nostalgia to locals and road-trippers alike.

Before leaving town, visitors can stop at the Museum of Transportation, home to an impressive collection of historic locomotives, automobiles, and even Route 66-era highway signs.

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Through the Ozarks: The Scenic Soul of Route 66 Leaving St. Louis, Route 66 begins to show its wilder side. As the highway curves southwest, it enters the Ozark Plateau, a region of rolling hills, limestone bluffs, and forested valleys. For early travelers, this stretch was both breathtaking and challenging -- winding roads, steep grades, and tight turns made for an unforgettable drive.

Pacific, Missouri, proudly embraces its place along Route 66 as one of the Mother Road’s most authentic small-town stops, where Ozark foothills meet classic roadside history just west of St. Louis. Incorporated in 1932, the same year Route 66 was fully paved -- Pacific grew alongside the highway, welcoming generations of travelers heading toward the Ozarks and the American West.

Today, visitors can explore a revitalized stretch of historic Route 66 that includes restored landmarks, vintage neon, and scenic overlooks that hint at the town’s deep connection to the road.

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With easy access, walkable attractions, and a strong sense of preservation, Pacific invites Route 66 travelers to slow down, step off the pavement, and experience a community where the spirit of the Mother Road is still very much alive.

The scenery remains spectacular, and the small towns that dot the route still welcome visitors with open arms. In Cuba, known as “Route 66 Mural City”, travelers can stroll among dozens of hand-painted murals that celebrate both the town’s and the road’s history. The Wagon Wheel Motel, dating to 1936, is the oldest continuously operating motel on Route 66 and offers lovingly restored rooms that blend vintage charm with modern comfort.

One of the quirkiest stops along Missouri’s stretch of the Mother Road is Fanning Outpost, located just off Interstate 44 between Cuba and Rolla.

The outpost is famous for its enormous red rocking chair, once certified as the world’s largest, standing 42 feet tall and serving as a playful roadside landmark that perfectly captures Route 66’s love of big, bold Americana.

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Further down the road, Devil’s Elbow near Rolla offers one of the most scenic views along Missouri’s stretch of Route 66. The old bridge crossing the Big Piney River, surrounded by rugged Ozark cliffs -looks much as it did in the 1940s, when soldiers, families, and wanderers alike stopped here to marvel at the beauty of the American landscape.

In St. Robert, Route 66’s past glows once again at the Route 66 Neon Park, where restored vintage signs from long-gone motels and roadside businesses shine brightly against the evening sky. The park preserves pieces of the Mother Road that might otherwise have been lost, reminding travelers that Route 66 is not only remembered -- it’s being revived.

Springfield: The Birthplace of Route 66 No city in America can claim a deeper connection to the Mother Road than Springfield, Missouri, where the name Byways 36

“Route 66” was first proposed. In 1926, local businessman John T. Woodruff and highway commissioner Cyrus Avery met here to finalize the designation of the new highway, giving birth to the route that would define American travel for the next century.

Today, Springfield embraces that heritage proudly.

The Route 66 Car Museum displays more than 60

vintage automobiles, including classic Fords, Packards, and even the Batmobile. The city also hosts the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival, which draws thousands each year for live music, vintage cars, and classic American food.

Downtown Springfield offers its own lineup of nostalgic stops, from the retro-style Steak ’n Shake to local diners that serve hearty Ozark fare. For travelers seeking an authentic slice of small-city America, Springfield delivers the perfect mix of history and hospitality.

Lebanon to Carthage: SmallTown Treasures Continuing southwest, Route 66 passes through towns that seem preserved in time.

Lebanon, once a popular stop for overnight travelers, features the Route 66 Museum inside the local library -- a treasure trove of photographs, vintage signs, and recreated 1950s storefronts. In Phillipsburg, visitors can shop for nostalgic souvenirs at Redmon’s Candy Factory, a favorite for both kids and adults since the road’s heyday.

In Carthage, the 66 Drive-In Theatre still lights up the night sky every summer weekend. This classic outdoor theater, restored to its 1949 glory, is one of the few remaining drive-ins on the Mother Road.

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Carthage’s Jasper County Courthouse, built from local Carthage marble, provides another landmark stop for travelers exploring the town square.

Further along the route, the Boots Court Motel in Carthage, restored to its original art deco splendor, invites guests to stay “Where the Stars Stayed”, recalling nights when Clark Gable and other Hollywood icons rested here on their cross-country journeys.

Joplin: The Western Gateway The final Missouri stop on Route 66 is Joplin, a city that embodies the resilience and charm of the road itself. During the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s, Joplin was a key stopover for families heading west, offering gas, food, and a warm bed after long days of travel.

Decades later, it became a symbol of rebirth after a devastating 2011 tornado, rebuilding its downtown into a lively mix of art, dining, and historic charm.

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Missouri’s Route 66 Legacy For travelers, Missouri’s stretch of Route 66 offers more than nostalgia -- it offers authenticity. The state has done more than preserve the physical remnants of the road; it has kept alive the spirit that made Route 66 a cultural icon. Each town has its own festivals, murals, and stories, all united by a shared pride in their role along America’s Main Street.

route. Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in Missouri.

The Spirit of the ShowMe State Route 66 in Missouri is more than a highway, it’s a living museum of American life. It tells the story of travelers chasing dreams, families building communities, and small towns adapting to change while holding onto their roots.

The Route 66 Association of Missouri and countless local organizations have worked tirelessly to restore neon signs, refurbish diners, and reopen classic motels. Their efforts have ensured that the drive from St. Louis to Joplin remains one of the most enjoyable and visually rewarding sections of the entire

For those who follow the Mother Road, Missouri is where the open road feels most like home -- a place where the neon still glows, the pie is always fresh, and the people are happy to show you what makes their stretch of Route 66 so special.

“Missouri doesn’t just preserve the Mother Road -- it keeps her heartbeat alive.”

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t just a little more than 13 miles, Kansas claims the shortest stretch of Route 66 of any of the eight states the highway crosses. Yet in those 13 miles -- winding through the southeastern corner of the state near the borders of Missouri and Oklahoma, travelers experience a pure and authentic slice of America’s Mother Road.

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Here, the small towns of Baxter Springs, Riverton, and Galena preserve the spirit of an earlier time, when a two-lane highway connected the heartland to the rest of the nation. Kansas may be small in mileage, but its contribution to the legend of Route 66 looms large.

A Road Through America’s Heartland When Route 66 was commissioned in 1926, it stitched together hundreds of small towns across the Midwest. In Kansas, the highway cut across the state’s southeastern corner, following the same corridor once used by Native American trails and pioneer wagon routes. The road carried coal miners, farmers, and travelers through the Cherokee Lowlands, a region shaped by industry and community spirit.

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While much of Route 66 has been bypassed or rerouted over the decades, Kansas’ section remains almost entirely original and drivable. This short but scenic portion, designated a National Scenic Byway, has been lovingly preserved and maintained.

Visitors find restored bridges, vintage service stations, and friendly towns that keep the legacy of Route 66 alive -- not as a museum, but as a living, breathing highway.

Galena: Where the Mother Road Comes to Life On the Missouri - Kansas line is a swath of yellow brick road, the asphalt is stamped and painted yellow.

Continuing west you come to Kansas’s Route 66 drive through shield and a photo op paying tribute to the Pixar Cars movie.

Travelers enter Kansas at Galena, a mining town founded in the late 1800s. Once known for its lead and zinc production, Galena has reinvented itself as a shining example of Route 66 pride. Its downtown,

lined with red-brick storefronts and murals, feels like a step back in time -- a place where the heartbeat of small-town America still echoes in every doorway.

Cars on the Route, a restored 1930 Kan-O-Tex service station that has a 1951 International boom truck, inspired the character “Tow Mater” from Pixar’s movie Cars. The brightred tow truck out front has become one of the most photographed vehicles on the entire Mother Road.

Inside, visitors can enjoy burgers and Philly steak sandwiches, snacks, local souvenirs,. Listen to Route 66 stories of the connections of Kansas Route 66 and the Pixar movie Cars told by the friendly locals who helped preserve the building.

Just down the street heading westbound in a restored 1939 Texaco station is Gearhead Curios. Opening in 2018 this roadside attraction boasts the most photographed restroom on Route 66, vintage gas pumps, and classic neon that is illuminated every night.

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An American flag created from 169 Kansas License plates, and a 22-foot tall Texaco giant, is the only giant on Kansas Route 66 greeting travelers. Inside you will hear stories of Route 66 from the well-traveled eccentric owner, and the largest selection of souvenirs on Kansas Route 66.

A few blocks away, the Galena Mining & Historical Museum explores the region’s rich mining past.

Galena also boasts an impressive collection of murals and sculptures.

Riverton: A Roadside Tradition Since 1925 Just a few miles down the road lies Riverton, home to one of Route 66’s most enduring landmarks, the Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store.

Established in 1925, this familyowned market has served travelers for over a century. It began as a small grocery for local miners and farmers but quickly became a beloved stop for travelers seeking sandwiches, cold drinks, and a friendly chat.

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Stepping inside today feels like entering a time capsule. The original wooden shelves and creaking floors remain, and the store still serves up delicious deli sandwiches made fresh to order.

The Eisler Brothers Store isn’t just a business -- it’s a community institution and a living connection to the early days of the Mother Road. Generations of travelers have passed through its doors, many returning years later to find the same welcoming faces and timeless hospitality.

Baxter Springs: The First “Cow Town” on Route 66 The final Kansas town on Route 66, Baxter Springs, is one of the most historic communities on the entire highway. Established in the 1850s along the Old Military Road, the town played an important role during the Civil War and later became a thriving cattletrading center -- the first true “cow town” on the route to the West.

When Route 66 was built, Baxter Springs quickly became a major stop for travelers. The beautifully restored Phillips 66 Service Station was built in 1930. The museum, a block away, is well worth visiting.

Monarch Pharmacy is housed in a red brick building with Coca-Cola murals on two sides and an oldfashioned soda fountain. When one walks into the pharmacy they are greeted by friendly staff filling prescriptions and talking with customers, but take a seat at the wooden soda fountain bar and be whisked back in time. While taking in the ambience enjoy a handmade chocolate coconut cola or maybe a root beer float.

This is a place that time travel through taste buds becomes a reality.

Downtown Baxter Springs offers a pleasant stroll through well-preserved architecture, and murals depicting the town’s Wild West and Route 66 heritage.

In spring and fall, the community celebrates with car shows and festivals that bring the Mother Road to life once again.

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Historic Bridges and Scenic Views One of Kansas’ most photogenic Route 66 landmarks lies just outside Riverton, the Rainbow Bridge over Brush Creek. Built in 1923, this graceful concrete arch bridge is the last remaining example of its kind on the Route 66.

Travelers can still drive across it, hearing the satisfying hum of tires on the pavement as they cross a piece of history. Nearby, interpretive signs explain the bridge’s design and importance to the road’s development.

For those who want to see Kansas’ rural beauty at its best, the stretch between Riverton and Baxter Springs offers rolling hills, fields of wildflowers, and treelined bends that capture the essence of the Midwest.

The open landscape, punctuated by the occasional barn or roadside sign, makes it easy to imagine what the journey must have felt like for travelers in the 1930s and 40s -- when the road ahead seemed endless and full of promise.

Preservation and Pride Kansas’ Route 66 communities take immense pride in preserving their stretch of the highway. Local volunteers and the Route 66 Association of Kansas have worked for decades to restore landmarks, Byways 48

improve signage, and maintain the authentic feel of the road. Their efforts have paid off -- the Kansas portion of Route 66 is now recognized as one of the best-preserved segments in the country. Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in Kansas.

Visitors will find interpretive kiosks along the route, marking historic buildings and photo-worthy spots.

Each town also offers plenty of small businesses ready to welcome travelers, from antique shops and diners to bed-and-breakfast inns that embody the road’s timeless charm.

For road trippers driving all 2,448 miles of Route 66, Kansas offers a perfect interlude.

It’s short enough to savor slowly, long enough to experience fully, and rich enough in history and heart to make a lasting impression.

The Spirit of Kansas on Route 66 Kansas may only hold 13 miles of the Mother Road, but it captures the essence of all 2,448.

It’s a place where small towns have preserved not just the pavement but the purpose of Route 66 -- to bring people together, to celebrate the journey, and to remind travelers that every mile tells a story.

Small Towns, Big Heart What makes the Kansas stretch of Route 66 truly special isn’t just its history -- it’s the people.

Travelers who stop in Galena, Riverton, or Baxter Springs are often struck by the warmth of the residents, who are eager to share stories about their towns, their families, and the road that shaped them.

This friendliness, this open invitation to slow down and connect. is what the Mother Road has always been about.

For anyone chasing the full Route 66 experience, those 13 miles through Kansas are essential. They represent what the road has always stood for: independence, optimism, and the enduring beauty of the American heartland.

“In Kansas, Route 66 doesn’t stretch far -- but it reaches deep.”

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f Route 66 is the “Mother Road”, then Oklahoma is surely its beating heart. Stretching for more than 400 miles , the longest drivable segment of the historic highway, Oklahoma offers an unbroken line of small towns, neon-lit motels, diners, and museums that embody the spirit of America’s open road.

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From the red-dirt hills near the Texas border to the rolling green prairies of the northeast, the highway cuts a path through both the state’s geography and its history.

It was in Oklahoma that Route 66 found its soul, and it was from Oklahoma that its greatest champion, Cyrus Avery, dreamed up the route that would link Chicago to Los Angeles. Nearly a century later, travelers can still follow Avery’s vision, mile after mile, through the heartland that made the Mother Road famous.

The Birthplace of the Mother Road No state has a deeper connection to Route 66’s creation than Oklahoma. In the early 1920s, Tulsa businessman and highway commissioner Cyrus Byways 52

Avery pushed for a diagonal road that would connect America’s heartland to the West Coast. He understood that good roads meant opportunity -- for farmers, for merchants, and for travelers seeking a better life.

When the highway was officially designated in 1926, Avery insisted it pass through his home state. The result was a route that linked the Great Lakes to the Pacific, carrying countless travelers through Oklahoma’s small towns and cities.

Today, the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza in Tulsa commemorates his vision with a striking bronze sculpture titled East Meets West, depicting a Model T meeting a horse-drawn wagon -- symbolizing America’s transition into the modern age.

Tulsa: Neon, Art Deco, and Highway Heritage For many travelers, Tulsa is the cultural heart of Route 66. Once known as the “Oil Capital of the World”. Tulsa embraced modernity early, and its

downtown still glows with Art Deco architecture from the 1920s and 30s.

Route 66 runs directly through the city, offering a mix of old and new for those following its path.

The Blue Dome District downtown is a must-visit stop. Named for a 1924 Gulf Oil service station with a distinctive blue-tiled roof, the area is now filled with cafés, galleries, and restaurants that celebrate Tulsa’s creative spirit.

Nearby, the Route 66 Historical Village recreates the golden age of the highway with vintage signs, restored vehicles, and a replica of Tulsa’s first oil derrick.

Just west of downtown, the Meadow Gold Sign -- a towering neon landmark from the 1930s -- has been restored and now stands proudly as one of the most photographed icons on the Mother Road. And on the city’s outskirts, travelers can stop at Route 66 Village West, a scenic park overlooking the Arkansas River

that connects the old road with modern Tulsa’s sense of pride and place.

Just east of Tulsa in Catoosa, one of Route 66’s most playful icons awaits -- the Blue Whale. Built in 1972 as an anniversary gift, the cheerful concrete giant soon became a roadside attraction in its own right. Today, travelers still pull over to photograph its wide grin, proof that Route 66 has always embraced a little whimsy alongside its history.

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Will Rogers Memorial Museum A few miles northeast in Claremore, another Oklahoma legend waits, not in neon, but in memory.

The Will Rogers Memorial Museum honors the cowboy philosopher and humorist who became one of the most beloved voices of the Route 66 era.

Rogers’ wit and optimism defined the 1920s and ’30s, and his legacy became so intertwined with the highway that Oklahoma’s stretch was later known as the Will Rogers Highway. His steady, hopeful voice feels right at home along the Mother Road.

Farther northeast near the Kansas border, in the town of Miami, the Coleman Theatre rises like a European opera house in the middle of Route 66 country.

Opened in 1929 during the region’s mining boom, its ornate chandeliers, grand staircase, and Mighty Wurlitzer organ remind visitors that Route 66 towns once dreamed big. The theater Byways 56

still hosts performances today -- proof that along the Mother Road, history isn’t just preserved. It performs.

From Miami’s gilded stage to Tulsa’s neon glow, northeast Oklahoma reveals the cultural richness that helped shape Route 66. From there, the road turns southwest toward Oklahoma City.

Oklahoma City: A Capital Stop on the Route Continuing southwest, travelers reach Oklahoma City, where Route 66 intersects with one of the most dynamic capitals in the American heartland.

The highway once followed Northwest 39th Street -now Route 66’s historic corridor through the city -and that stretch still echoes with midcentury nostalgia. Restored motor courts, classic diners, and neon signage hint at the days when westbound families pulled in for the night before pressing on toward the Texas Panhandle.

But Oklahoma City is far more than a nostalgic waypoint. It is a city that has reinvented itself while honoring its heritage.

Downtown, the skyline rises above the revitalized Bricktown district, where former warehouses now house restaurants, live music venues, and public art. A canal winds through the area, creating a walkable urban core that feels vibrant yet grounded in history.

For Route 66 travelers, it’s a reminder that the Mother Road doesn’t just connect small towns, it threads through evolving American cities as well.

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The stretch of Route 66 through Oklahoma City reflects that blend of past and present. Along NW 23rd Street and NW 39th Street, classic signage and vintage storefronts stand beside new cafés and creative spaces.

Murals celebrate the Mother Road, and the city has embraced its role in preserving and promoting the highway’s legacy.

No visit to Oklahoma City would be complete without exploring Stockyards City, one of the largest working cattle markets in the world. Here, boots still outnumber briefcases, and the rhythm of auctions and ranch life connects travelers to the frontier spirit that helped define Route 66’s westward promise. The surrounding district is filled with western wear shops, steakhouses, and historic brick buildings that feel authentically Oklahoman.

Just a short drive away, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum expands that frontier story.

Its galleries celebrate ranching culture, Native American heritage, western art, and the mythology of the American West -- the very backdrop against which Route 66 carried generations of dreamers toward new horizons.

For a modern icon that captures the playful side of the Mother Road, travelers head east to Arcadia and Pops 66 Soda Ranch. Its 66foot-tall illuminated soda bottle glows against the prairie sky, especially at night, becoming one of Oklahoma’s most photographed Route 66 landmarks. Inside, hundreds of soda varieties line the walls, a colorful, contemporary tribute to the road’s tradition of roadside novelty and hospitality.

And while the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton lies west of the city, it serves as a powerful companion to the Oklahoma City experience.

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Operated by the Oklahoma Historical Society, the museum walks visitors through the decades of the highway’s history from the Dust Bowl migrations to the neon boom of the 1950s. Interactive exhibits, recreated storefronts, and vintage radio broadcasts immerse travelers in the sounds and stories of the road’s golden era.

Oklahoma City stands at the crossroads of memory and momentum. It honors the cattle trails, oil booms, and migrations that shaped the state, while embracing new growth and creativity. Along Route 66, it represents both continuity and change -- a capital city that understands its past and confidently builds its future.

Arcadia to Chandler: Icons of the Open Road East of Oklahoma City, the road passes through some of Route 66’s most photogenic small towns. In Arcadia, the Round Barn, built in 1898, remains one of the most beloved structures on the highway. Restored by local volunteers, it’s now a museum and community gathering spot, a symbol of the resilience and pride that keep Route 66 alive.

A few miles farther, Chandler offers more classic charm with its historic Lincoln Motel, neon-lit in vintage glory, and the Route 66 Interpretive Center, which uses immersive storytelling to let visitors experience life along the road across generations.

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From there, travelers can head toward Stroud, home of the Rock Café, a 1939 diner built from local sandstone that inspired the character “Sally Carrera” in Pixar’s movie Cars. Still family-owned, the café remains a must-stop for comfort food and friendly conversation.

packed their belongings into battered trucks and headed west on Route 66, searching for work and new beginnings in California. John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath immortalized their struggle, calling Route 66 “the Mother Road, the road of flight”.

Weatherford to Clinton: The Road’s Golden Era

For many, that road represented more than escape, it symbolized resilience and faith in a better future.

Even today, visitors driving across Oklahoma’s prairies can imagine those families pushing west, their hopes rising with every mile. The road remains a testament to the strength and perseverance of the people who traveled it.

West of Oklahoma City, the landscape begins to open into the Great Plains -- long horizons, red soil, and skies that seem to stretch forever. This region is where Route 66’s midcentury heyday comes alive. In Weatherford, the Heartland of America Museum showcases Oklahoma life through the decades, complete with vintage cars and storefronts.

Farther west, in Elk City, travelers find the National Route 66 Museum, a sprawling complex that includes replicas of historic shops, a blacksmith’s shop, and the old ClintonOklahoma-Western Railroad depot. The museum’s exhibits take visitors from the road’s early days through the postwar boom, when gas stations, diners, and motels dotted the highway in endless repetition.

The Dust Bowl, and Road to Hope Oklahoma’s relationship with Route 66 is about more than motels and neon, it’s about survival. During the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s, thousands of “Okies” Byways 60

Western Oklahoma: Big Skies and Bigger Stories As Route 66 nears the Texas border, it rolls through towns like Sayre, Erick, and Texola, each with its own story to tell. In Sayre, the elegant Beckham County Courthouse, featured in The Grapes of Wrath film, towers above Main Street, reminder of the road’s cinematic legacy.

In Erick, the Roger Miller Museum celebrates the Grammy-winning singer and songwriter who grew up here and penned the classic King of the Road.

Nearby Texola, the last stop before Texas, is nearly a ghost town, but its quirky signs and photo ops -including one reading “There’s No Other Place Like This Place, Anywhere Near This Place” -- make it a perfect farewell to Oklahoma.

Preserving the Heart of the Mother Road No state has invested more in preserving its stretch of Route 66 than Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association has helped restore landmarks, fund interpretive signs, and promote festivals that keep the spirit alive.

Each summer, thousands of travelers drive the state’s segment to relive the past, celebrate car culture, and meet the locals who still see Route 66 as part of their identity. Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma’s commitment to preservation goes beyond nostalgia -- it’s about heritage. The road represents connection, endurance, and pride in place. Here, the Mother Road isn’t a relic. It’s a living link between generations.

Oklahoma: The Heart of the Journey From the neon of Tulsa to the windmills near Texola, Oklahoma offers the most complete Route 66 experience anywhere. Its people, towns, and stories form the very backbone of America’s love affair with the open road.

Whether you’re chasing memories, adventure, or the freedom of the highway, you’ll find it here -- in the state that gave the Mother Road its name and its heart.

“Oklahoma didn’t just build Route 66 -- it gave the road its soul.”

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verything’s bigger in Texas -- even the legends along Route 66. Stretching just 178 miles across the Panhandle, the Texas section may not be the longest, but it embodies the spirit of the open road like nowhere else.

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From windmill-dotted horizons to quirky roadside attractions and neon-lit motels, this stretch of the Mother Road celebrates freedom, optimism, and the wide-open spaces that define the American West.

Here, the sky goes on forever, the road runs straight as an arrow, and the people along the way have been welcoming travelers for nearly a century. The Texas Panhandle’s Route 66 isn’t just a drive -- it’s a journey through time, where history, humor, and heart all meet under a vast blue sky.

Gateway to the West As Route 66 crosses from Oklahoma into Texas, the landscape opens dramatically. The rolling green hills give way to flat plains and endless horizons -- a change that early travelers described as both Byways 64

exhilarating and humbling. This was where east met west, where the journey shifted from farmland to frontier.

The first major town on the route, Shamrock, still wears its heritage proudly. The shining star here is the U-Drop Inn, an Art Deco masterpiece built in 1936.

With its green-tiled spire and sweeping curves, it’s one of the most recognizable buildings on Route 66 -so iconic that Pixar modeled “Ramone’s Body Shop” in the movie Cars after it.

Inside, the U-Drop Inn has been beautifully restored and now houses a visitor center, museum, and café, where travelers can enjoy lunch surrounded by the glow of neon and nostalgia.

Just a few blocks away, visitors can stop at the Magnolia Gas Station, another restored gem that recalls the early days of roadside service. Together, these landmarks make Shamrock a perfect first stop for travelers heading west across Texas.

McLean: The Heart of the Panhandle A short drive west brings travelers to McLean, a town that captures the character of small-town Texas at its best. Once a bustling stop on Route 66, McLean is home to one of the road’s most fascinating museums -- the Devil’s Rope Museum.

Dedicated to the history of barbed wire, the museum offers an unexpectedly engaging look at how this simple invention transformed ranching and settlement across the West. The adjoining Texas Route 66 Museum showcases classic cars, vintage signs, and memorabilia from the highway’s golden years.

McLean’s main street still features vintage gas stations, murals, and restored buildings, offering a glimpse into the 1940s and 50s when the town was

alive with travelers. The Cactus Inn, with its retro sign and welcoming spirit, continues to serve road trippers looking for a true Route 66 overnight.

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Groom: The Leaning Tower and Giant Cross Further west, Route 66 travelers encounter one of the road’s most photographed oddities, the Leaning Tower of Texas in Groom. Originally a water tower, it was intentionally tilted by a local entrepreneur in the 1980s to attract travelers.

It worked, and today, it stands as a beloved piece of Route 66 whimsy.

Nearby, another towering landmark rises into the Texas sky: the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a 190foot-tall steel cross surrounded by life-size bronze sculptures depicting the Stations of the Cross.

Whether you come for reflection or roadside spectacle, Groom offers both faith and fun in equal measure.

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Amarillo: The Big Stop on the Road At the center of Route 66’s Texas stretch lies Amarillo, the biggest city along the route between Oklahoma City and Albuquerque, and a place where the Mother Road truly comes to life. Amarillo embraces its Route 66 heritage wholeheartedly, blending nostalgia with contemporary creativity.

Start with a stroll down Sixth Street Historic District, where more than a mile of original Route 66 businesses now house antique shops, art galleries, and retro diners.

Neon signs light up the evening, recalling the road’s golden age, while street murals celebrate the town’s place in highway lore.

Stop by the Golden Light Café, opened in 1946 and still serving burgers and fries the old-fashioned way, or grab a cold drink at the Broken Spoke Lounge, where live music keeps the spirit of the West alive.

Just west of downtown lies one of America’s most famous roadside attractions -- Cadillac Ranch. Created in 1974 by a group of eccentric artists known as the Ant Farm, this open-air art installation features ten Cadillac cars buried nose-first in the dirt, their tail fins jutting toward the sky.

Visitors are encouraged to bring spray paint and leave their own colorful mark, turning Cadillac Ranch into a constantly evolving monument to creativity and freedom.

Amarillo is also home to the Big Texan Steak Ranch, another Route 66 legend. Since 1960, it’s been challenging hungry travelers to finish its famous 72ounce steak dinner -- free if you can eat it (and all the sides) in under an hour. Whether you attempt the challenge or just come for the atmosphere, it’s a muststop icon of Texas hospitality.

The Texas Panhandle also celebrates the Mother Road each summer during the Amarillo Route 66 Festival in Amarillo.

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The lively downtown event features classic car shows, live music, food vendors, and Route 66-themed activities that draw travelers and vintage car enthusiasts from across the region. It’s a fitting tribute to the highway that helped put Amarillo on the map.

Just south of Amarillo, a short drive off Route 66, lies one of Texas’ most spectacular natural wonders -- Palo Duro Canyon.

Often called the “Grand Canyon of Texas”, its colorful rock layers stretch for 120 miles across the Panhandle.

For Route 66 travelers wanting more than neon and nostalgia, Palo Duro offers hiking trails, scenic drives, and sweeping canyon views that remind visitors just how vast the Texas landscape truly is.

Adrian: The Halfway Point Continuing west, travelers reach Adrian, a tiny town with a big claim to fame -- the Midpoint Café. Sitting at exactly 1,139 miles from both Chicago and Los Angeles, it marks the halfway point of Route 66.

The café has been serving travelers since the 1940s and inspired “Flo’s V8 Café” in Pixar’s Cars. Inside, the walls are lined with memorabilia, and the café’s signature “Ugly Crust Pies” are a delicious reward for anyone making the cross-country trip.

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Next door, the Midpoint Sign provides the perfect photo opportunity -- a simple white marker declaring: “You’re halfway there!” Many travelers say it’s the most satisfying stop on the entire route, a moment to pause and reflect before continuing westward toward New Mexico and beyond.

Texola and the Borderlands Though technically just across the state line in Oklahoma, Texola is often included in Texas travelers’ Route 66 itineraries.

This near-ghost town is a photographer’s dream, with weathered buildings, faded signage, and a haunting quiet that contrasts sharply with the road’s livelier stops. The transition from Texola to the Texas plains -- and then on to the mesas of New Mexico -reminds travelers just how quickly the Mother Road’s landscape can change.

Preserving the Texas Stretch Like other Route 66 states, Texas has made major efforts to preserve its section of the historic highway. The Texas Old Route 66 Association and local communities have

Throughout the Panhandle, travelers can still find original sections of the old concrete roadbed, ghostly remains of abandoned motels, and lovingly restored neon signs. The mix of old and new gives the Texas stretch of Route 66 its unique personality -- both a museum of the past and a living road still traveled by dreamers, bikers, and families chasing the horizon.

The Spirit of Texas on Route 66 Texas' 178 miles of Route 66 capture the essence of the open road -- wide skies, endless horizons, and the thrill of discovery. It’s a land where cattle graze beside vintage motels, where art meets asphalt, and where travelers still stop to share a story or a slice of pie. restored buildings, created interpretive trails, and hosted festivals celebrating the road’s legacy. Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in Texas.

In Amarillo, the annual Route 66 Celebration brings car enthusiasts, artists, and travelers together for live music, food trucks, and classic car parades along Sixth Street.

For those who drive it, the Texas stretch is more than a journey between states -- it’s a passage through Americana itself. Every neon sign, every diner stool, every stretch of sun-baked pavement speaks of freedom, faith, and the enduring power of the road.

“In Texas, Route 66 stretches across the plains like a promise -- that the next mile will always lead to something unforgettable.”

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ew stretches of Route 66 capture the soul of the American Southwest like the one that winds through New Mexico. From the red mesas and high desert of the west to the mountain valleys of the east, New Mexico’s section of the Mother Road blends Native American heritage, Hispanic culture, and frontier grit into one unforgettable journey.

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More than 380 miles of Route 66 cross this “Land of Enchantment”, offering travelers a living showcase of the old and new. Here, neon motels sit beside ancient pueblos, diners share menus with chile-laced cuisine, and the hum of tires on asphalt echoes through desert valleys that seem to stretch forever.

In New Mexico, Route 66 is not just a road -- it’s a bridge between centuries.

A Tale of Two Routes Unlike most states, New Mexico can boast two historic alignments of Route 66. When the highway was first established in 1926, it took a diagonal path from Santa Rosa through Santa Fe before dropping south toward Albuquerque. In 1937, to shorten the route and avoid political disputes, a straighter Byways 72

alignment was built directly from Santa Rosa to Albuquerque, cutting more than 90 miles off the trip.

Today, travelers can explore both alignments -- the old Santa Fe Loop, which winds through ancient Spanish plazas and Pueblo lands, and the modern route that follows Interstate 40 for much of its length. Together, they tell the story of how Route 66 evolved with the times while keeping its spirit intact.

Tucumcari: Neon Dreams and Desert Skies Heading west from the Texas border, the first major stop is Tucumcari, one of Route 66’s most photographed towns. In its heyday, this desert outpost boasted over 2,000 motel rooms and a reputation summed up in its famous slogan: “Tucumcari Tonight!”

Today, the town’s neon corridor along old Route 66 still glows with the magic of midcentury travel. The Blue Swallow Motel, built in 1939, is one of the bestpreserved motor courts on the entire route. Its pastel façade, neon swallows, and cozy garages for each room evoke the romance of a bygone era. Many

travelers book their stays months in advance just to experience a night here.

Other nostalgic favorites include the Roadrunner Lodge Motel and Motel Safari, both lovingly restored with midcentury flair. Murals depicting Route 66 history decorate buildings across town, and the New Mexico Route 66 Museum, located at the fairgrounds, showcases everything from vintage road signs to classic cars that once roamed the Mother Road.

Santa Rosa: Blue Water and Classic Cars Continuing west, travelers reach Santa Rosa, home to two Route 66 treasures. The first is Blue Hole, a natural artesian spring with crystal-clear water and a depth of 80 feet. Once a roadside curiosity, it’s now a scuba-diving destination that surprises travelers in the middle of the desert.

The second is the Route 66 Auto Museum, founded by local enthusiast Bozo Cordova. Filled with restored classics, hot rods, and memorabilia, the museum celebrates the car culture that defined Route 66’s golden age. Santa Rosa’s mix of nostalgia and natural wonder makes it an ideal stop between Tucumcari’s neon and Albuquerque’s bustle.

Santa Fe: The Old Road and the Old World For those following the original 1926 alignment, Santa Fe is a highlight unlike any other on Route 66.

Founded in 1610, the city predates the Mother Road by centuries and offers a fascinating contrast to its fast-moving reputation.

The narrow streets around Santa Fe Plaza are lined with adobe buildings, galleries, and historic landmarks such as the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

Route 66 once wound through here along Cerrillos Road, where remnants of old motels and gas stations can still be found. The mix of Pueblo, Spanish, and Anglo cultures, along with a thriving arts scene, gives Santa Fe a timeless quality that connects the modern traveler to centuries of history.

Even though the later alignment bypassed the city, Santa Fe remains an essential pilgrimage for Route 66 fans seeking to experience the Mother Road’s deeper roots.

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Albuquerque: Neon Capital of the Southwest Few cities embrace Route 66 like Albuquerque, the beating heart of the highway in New Mexico. The road runs straight through town along Central Avenue, where neon signs blaze above diners, motels, and theaters much as they did in the 1950s.

The El Vado Motel, originally built in 1937, has been beautifully restored into a modern boutique stay complete with shops, a taproom, and food pods serving everything from tacos to tamales. Nearby, the 66 Diner offers burgers, shakes, and jukebox tunes straight out of the Eisenhower era.

Downtown, the KiMo Theatre -- an Art Deco masterpiece with Pueblo Revival design -- stands as one of Route 66’s architectural gems. Built in 1927, it remains a beloved local landmark and performance venue.

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Visitors can also explore Old Town Albuquerque, founded in 1706, where the adobe architecture and historic plaza offer a serene counterpoint to the neon glow of Central Avenue. Whether you’re drawn to nostalgia or New Mexico culture, Albuquerque delivers both in abundance.

Grants, Uranium Capital of the World Travelers following the Mother Road across western New Mexico soon arrive in the city of Grants, a classic Route 66 community that grew from a railroad town into a bustling stop for highway travelers.

During the mid-20th century, Grants became known as the “Uranium Capital of the World”, and remnants of its mining history can still be explored today.

Visitors will also find easy access to nearby natural attractions such as El Malpais National Monument and El Morro National Monument, both showcasing the region’s dramatic volcanic landscapes and centuries of traveler inscriptions.

Guided tours introduce visitors to centuries of Native American culture and history, including the remarkable 17th-century San Esteban del Rey Mission. While not directly on Route 66, the pueblo has long been a meaningful cultural detour for travelers exploring the historic highway.

Gallup: Gateway to the Navajo Nation West of Albuquerque, the road leads through wide open desert into Gallup, long known as the “Indian Capital of the World”. Surrounded by Navajo, Zuni, and Hopi lands, Gallup is one of Route 66’s most culturally rich stops.

Acoma Pueblo Just a short drive south of Grants is Acoma Pueblo, often called “Sky City”, Perched atop a 367-foot sandstone mesa, it is considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America.

The city’s crown jewel is the El Rancho Hotel, built in 1937 by R.E. Griffith, brother of film director D.W. Griffith. During Hollywood’s golden age, it hosted movie stars like John Wayne, Katharine Hepburn, and Spencer Tracy while they filmed Westerns nearby.

Today, guests can still stay in rooms named after the stars, dine under massive log beams, and admire the hotel’s grand staircase and vintage photos.

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Gallup also celebrates its Native heritage with trading posts, galleries, and the annual Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial, one of the oldest cultural events in the country. For travelers, Gallup offers a sense of connection -- not just to Route 66’s history, but to the deeper traditions of the Southwest.

Landmarks of the Open Road Between towns, New Mexico’s Route 66 landscape is dotted with unforgettable landmarks. The Rio Puerco Bridge, a 1933 steel truss structure west of Albuquerque, stands as a classic example of early highway engineering. In Cuervo and San Fidel, the crumbling remains of gas stations and motels make haunting photo stops for those drawn to the romantic decay of the old road.

For a truly panoramic view, the climb into Mesita and Laguna Pueblo offers sweeping vistas of red mesas and sandstone cliffs glowing in the late afternoon sun. The pueblos themselves, some inhabited for over a thousand years, provide a reminder that the Mother Road runs through lands with far deeper roots than its own.

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Preserving the Spirit of the Southwest New Mexico has worked tirelessly to protect its stretch of Route 66. The New Mexico Route 66 Association and local preservation groups have restored neon signs, reopened vintage motels, and promoted cultural tourism across the corridor.

Festivals in Albuquerque, Tucumcari, and Santa Rosa draw thousands of travelers each year who come to

celebrate the road’s legacy through car shows, parades, and music.

Driving Route 66 here is as much about preservation as it is about discovery. Each café, each mural, and each stretch of cracked pavement tells a story -of resilience, reinvention, and community pride.

Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in New Mexico.

New Mexico: Where the Road Meets the Sky From Tucumcari’s glowing neon to Gallup’s sandstone mesas, New Mexico’s section of Route 66 captures everything that makes the Mother Road timeless: beauty, diversity, and the promise of adventure.

This is where travelers slow down to watch the sunset paint the desert red, where the smell of roasting chiles mingles with the hum of engines, and where every mile feels like both a memory and a discovery.

“In New Mexico, Route 66 is not just a highway -- it’s a horizon.”

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f there is one state where Route 66 feels eternal, it’s Arizona. Here, the Mother Road winds through painted deserts, red rock canyons, and sun-washed plateaus that seem untouched by time.

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It’s a landscape where the ghosts of travelers, traders, and dreamers still linger -- and where the road itself feels alive beneath the desert sun.

From the windswept mesas near the New Mexico line to the pine forests of the San Francisco Peaks, Arizona’s stretch of Route 66 captures the full beauty and mystique of the American West. Along these 385 miles, travelers encounter ancient wonders, neon motels, classic diners, and towns that refused to fade when the interstate came.

In Arizona, Route 66 isn’t a memory -- it’s a heartbeat.

Gateway to the Painted Desert Crossing from New Mexico, the first major Arizona stop on Route 66 is Holbrook, a town that perfectly blends kitsch and history. Founded as a railroad stop Byways 80

in the 1880s, Holbrook became a Route 66 favorite in the 1930s, and remains one today.

The town’s most famous landmark is the Wigwam Motel, with its distinctive concrete teepees arranged around vintage cars. Built in 1950, it’s one of only three surviving Wigwam Motels in the U.S. (the others are in California and Kentucky). “Sleep in a Wigwam” still shines in neon each night, inviting travelers to relive midcentury Americana.

Nearby lies one of the Mother Road’s most remarkable natural wonders -- Petrified Forest National Park. Route 66 once cut directly through the park, and today travelers can still see remnants of the old road beside the park’s visitor center, including a 1932 Studebaker abandoned where the highway once ran.

The park’s colorful badlands, fossilized trees, and expansive views make it one of the most dramatic landscapes along the entire route.

Winslow: Standing on the Corner Continue west and you’ll find Winslow, immortalized in the Eagles’ 1972 hit Take It Easy. The town has embraced its fame with humor and pride -- a bronze statue of a guitar-toting man “standin’ on a corner” draws thousands of fans each year to snap photos at the intersection of Route 66 and North Kinsley Avenue.

But Winslow offers more than a catchy lyric. The beautifully restored La Posada Hotel, designed by legendary architect Mary Colter in 1930 for the Santa Fe Railway, is a masterpiece of Spanish Revival style.

Today, it’s one of the finest hotels along Route 66, with an acclaimed restaurant, The Turquoise Room, serving regional fare like elk medallions and Navajo tacos.

A short drive west, Meteor Crater, a 50,000-year-old impact site nearly a mile wide, adds another layer of fascination to the region’s landscape. Standing on the crater rim, travelers can imagine the vastness of both space and time that define this part of Arizona.

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Flagstaff: Gateway to the Grand Canyon High in the ponderosa pines, Flagstaff feels like a world apart from the desert below. Route 66 cuts directly through town, passing beneath the shadow of the San Francisco Peaks, the highest mountains in Arizona.

Once a vital stop for travelers heading to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff remains a lively college town filled with Route 66 charm. The Downtown Historic District is lined with preserved hotels, diners, and neon signs, including the famous Hotel Monte Vista and Motel DuBeau, both dating from the 1920s.

Visitors can explore Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered in 1930, or head north 80 miles to Grand Canyon National Park, still the crown jewel of the American West. For those tracing the Mother Road, Flagstaff offers both modern comforts and an authentic sense of history -- a perfect midpoint between nostalgia and adventure.

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Williams: The Gateway That Wouldn’t Quit

Seligman: Birthplace of Route 66’s Revival

Just west of Flagstaff lies Williams, known proudly as “The Last Town on Route 66”. It earned that nickname because it was the final Route 66 community bypassed by Interstate 40 -- in 1984.

Rather than fade away, Williams reinvented itself as one of the highway’s most beloved stops.

If there’s one place that saved Route 66 from disappearing, it’s Seligman. When the interstate bypassed the town in 1978, local barber Angel Delgadillo refused to let the Mother Road die.

Today, its brick-lined streets are a celebration of classic Americana. Visitors can stroll past vintage gas stations, soda fountains, and diners like Cruiser’s Café 66, where live music and grilled burgers bring the past roaring back to life. The Route 66 Zipline, which soars over Main Street, adds a dash of modern thrill to this vintage town.

Williams is also the jumping-off point for the Grand Canyon Railway, which runs daily trips to the South Rim from a beautifully restored 1908 depot. The combination of old-time train travel and Route 66 nostalgia makes Williams a must-visit stop for travelers seeking the true spirit of the open road.

He organized the first Route 66 Association and began promoting the highway’s preservation. His shop, Angel & Vilma’s Route 66 Gift Shop, remains the symbolic birthplace of the modern Route 66 revival movement.

Seligman’s main street feels like a movie set -- classic cars, neon signs, and vintage storefronts line the road.

Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, opened by Angel’s brother Juan in 1953, still serves burgers, milkshakes, and puns with equal enthusiasm. Its hand-painted signs and playful humor capture the joy that has kept Route 66 alive for generations.

Kingman: Crossroads of the Desert Farther west, the town of Kingman anchors the Arizona stretch of Route 66. Known as “The Heart of Historic Route 66”, Kingman offers a wealth of attractions for travelers tracing the highway’s story.

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Oatman: Wild Burros and Old Gold Few places capture Route 66’s eccentric charm like Oatman, a former goldmining town turned roadside legend. Nestled high in the mountains, Oatman’s wooden sidewalks and false-front buildings look straight out of the Old West. But it’s the residents -- dozens of free-roaming wild burros, descendants of miners’ pack animals -that steal the show.

The Arizona Route 66 Museum, housed in the Powerhouse Visitor Center, takes visitors on a visual journey through the highway’s evolution -- from Native American trade routes to the rise of the automobile age. Nearby, the Historic Route 66 Locomotive Park displays a massive 1928 steam engine, reminding travelers of the parallel paths of rail and road that shaped the American West.

Kingman also boasts one of the region’s most scenic drives, the 87-mile Route 66 Byway to Oatman. This twisting mountain road climbs through the Black Mountains, offering breathtaking views and hairpin turns that test even experienced drivers.

Along the way, old mining relics and ghost towns whisper stories of the boomand-bust West.

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Visitors feed the friendly donkeys, browse the gift shops, and watch mock gunfights staged on Main Street. Though nearly abandoned after the mines closed, Oatman found new life as a beloved stop on the Mother Road. The climb into town, with its sharp curves and sweeping views, is one of the most unforgettable drives in America.

Preserving Arizona’s Mother Road Arizona’s Route 66 corridor remains one of the best preserved in the nation, thanks to the efforts of local communities, preservationists, and the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. Many towns have restored their neon signs, reopened historic motels, and developed visitor centers that celebrate the road’s legacy. Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in Arizona.

Each spring and summer, festivals in Williams, Kingman, and Seligman draw thousands of travelers, proving that the road still connects people just as it did a century ago. Here, Route 66 isn’t just history -- it’s heritage, pride, and a way of life.

Arizona: Where the Past Meets the Horizon From Holbrook’s petrified forests to Oatman’s wild burros, Arizona’s Route 66 is the Mother Road at its most cinematic. Every curve, every roadside relic, and every sunset over the mesas tells a story of adventure and endurance -- of a road that became more than a highway.

“In Arizona, Route 66 is where the past meets the horizon -- and the journey never truly ends.”

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or countless travelers over the past century, Route 66 has always ended the same way -- at the edge of the Pacific Ocean. California is where the Mother Road meets the sea, where the long journey west finally fulfills its promise of sunshine, opportunity, and new beginnings.

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From the Mojave Desert to the Santa Monica Pier, the California stretch of Route 66 offers a final, unforgettable mix of rugged landscapes, roadside icons, and urban legends. It’s the grand finale of the Great American Road Trip -- a place where dreams, dust, and neon all meet under the golden California sun.

Crossing the Mojave: Into the Golden West - Needles After winding through Arizona’s red rock country, Route 66 crosses the Colorado River at Needles, entering the arid vastness of the Mojave Desert. For travelers of the 1930s Dust Bowl era, this crossing symbolized hope -- the final barrier between hardship and the promise of California.

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Located along the Colorado River near the Arizona border, Needles was one of the first California stops for Route 66 travelers heading west. The town grew as a railroad hub and later as a highway stop for motorists crossing the desert. Historic sites such as the restored El Garces Hotel recall the early days of desert travel.

Temperatures here can soar above 110 degrees, just as they did for those early migrants whose overloaded cars crept across the shimmering landscape. Yet amid the harsh beauty, remnants of the old road still stand: weathered bridges, abandoned motels, and gas stations that once offered a cold drink and a slice of salvation.

A favorite stop is Goffs, home to the restored 1914 Goffs Schoolhouse, which now serves as a museum celebrating the desert’s early settlers and travelers.

Amboy: Roy’s and the Road to Forever About halfway across the desert lies one of Route 66’s most iconic landmarks -- Roy’s Motel and Café in Amboy. Founded in 1938, Roy’s became a beacon for

weary motorists crossing the Mojave. Its soaring midcentury sign, still standing tall against the blue desert sky, remains one of the most photographed sights on the entire highway.

Though Amboy is nearly a ghost town today, restoration efforts have brought Roy’s back to life as a nostalgic stop for travelers. Visitors can refuel, snap photos, and feel the silence of the desert all around -the kind of quiet that reminds you just how far you’ve come.

The drive from Needles to Amboy, past ghost towns, lava fields, and lonely stretches of two-lane asphalt, captures the raw, cinematic essence of the Mother Road. This is the landscape that inspired countless Hollywood films, endless horizons, freedom, and the hum of tires beneath a boundless sky.

Mojave National Preserve Just north of Route 66 lies the vast Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County. Covering more than 1.6 million acres, the preserve protects towering sand dunes, lava fields, Joshua tree forests, and historic railroad sites. The landscape looks much as it did when early motorists crossed this remote stretch of Route 66 during the highway’s golden age.

Barstow: A Junction of Highways and History As Route 66 continues west, the desert gives way to civilization in Barstow, long known as the crossroads of the Mojave. Once a key stop for rail travelers, Barstow became a vital hub for Route 66 motorists, offering motels, diners, and roadside curiosities by the dozen.

Today, Barstow honors that legacy at the Historic Route 66 Mother Road Museum, located inside the 1911 Harvey House Railroad Depot. Exhibits feature vintage maps, photos, and artifacts that trace the highway’s impact on America’s growth. Just outside, travelers can admire murals depicting scenes from the route’s glory days.

Nearby, Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch on National Trails Highway (the original Route 66 alignment) is one of California’s most whimsical attractions.

Created by the late Elmer Long, it’s a forest of welded metal “trees” adorned with colorful glass bottles that sparkle in the desert sun. It’s equal parts art installation, folk monument, and love letter to the open road.

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Victorville and the High Desert Highway Farther west, Victorville keeps the Route 66 spirit alive at the California Route 66 Museum, located in the town’s historic downtown. The museum features classic cars, retro gas pumps, and interactive exhibits that let visitors step back into the 1950s.

Victorville also marks the point where the Mother Road begins its gradual climb out of the desert and into the San Bernardino Mountains. Travelers of the past often faced this stretch with relief -- they’d survived the desert, and Los Angeles was finally within reach.

San Bernardino: The First McDonald’s and the Road to the City Descending into the San Bernardino Valley, Route 66 begins to merge into the suburbs that would come to define Southern California’s postwar boom. In San Bernardino, travelers can visit the Original McDonald’s Museum, located on the site of the very first McDonald’s restaurant, opened in 1940 by Richard and Maurice McDonald.

The museum, packed with vintage memorabilia, tells not only the story of a fast-food empire but also the

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evolution of American roadside culture -- from momand-pop diners to the franchised food chains that spread across the nation.

San Bernardino also marks a symbolic transition: from rural road to urban sprawl. Yet even here, along stretches of Foothill Boulevard, neon motels and retro signs still recall the Mother Road’s golden age. The Wigwam Motel, built in 1949, continues the tradition of “sleeping in a teepee” for travelers seeking a nostalgic night’s rest.

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Pasadena to Santa Monica: The Final Miles From San Bernardino, Route 66 threads through the greater Los Angeles basin -- through Rancho Cucamonga, Pasadena, and into the heart of the city.

Though much of the original highway has been absorbed by modern streets and freeways, echoes of the old road remain in diners, theaters, and gas stations that refused to vanish.

Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard once hosted parades of Model Ts and Buicks making their way west, and it remains a vital link in the Route 66 chain. Nearby, the Colorado Street Bridge, built in 1913, arches Byways 92

gracefully over the Arroyo Seco -- a striking monument to the era when road travel was both art and adventure.

Los Angeles For many travelers, the journey west along Route 66 ended in Los Angeles. When the highway was first established in 1926, its western terminus was downtown LA at the intersection of Seventh Street and Broadway.

During the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s, thousands of families followed the Mother Road into Southern California seeking new opportunities. In 1936 the route was extended

another 15 miles to the Pacific Ocean at Santa Monica, where a sign at the Santa Monica Pier now marks the end of the historic highway.

Today, portions of Route 66 still wind through Los Angeles neighborhoods, passing vintage motels, neon signs, and classic roadside diners that recall the golden age of American road travel.

Finally, after more than 2,400 miles from Chicago, the road reaches its symbolic end at the Santa Monica Pier. A simple sign marks the spot: “End of the Trail”.

Here, travelers can stand above the Pacific Ocean and watch the sun sink into the waves, the same view that Byways 93

greeted millions who chased the promise of California for generations.

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The pier, once a modest amusement area, has become a pilgrimage site for Route 66 fans. Street musicians

play, couples stroll, and families take photos under the sign, completing their journey where the land gives way to the sea.

California’s Preservation Legacy California has embraced its role as Route 66’s grand finale with enthusiasm. The California Historic Route 66 Association works with towns and tourism boards to preserve landmarks, restore neon, and maintain stretches of the original highway between Barstow and Needles.

Click on the logo to learn more about Route 66 in California.

Festivals in San Bernardino, Victorville, and Santa Monica celebrate the road each year, drawing classic cars, motorcycle caravans, and travelers from around the world.

For many, it’s not just about nostalgia -- it’s about honoring a road that connected people, ideas, and cultures for 100 years.

The End of the Trail, but Not the Journey California’s stretch of Route 66 captures the road’s entire story -- from the dust of the desert to the glow of the Pacific.

It’s where America’s journey westward finally meets the horizon, and where travelers realize that the end of the road is really just another beginning.

“In California, Route 66 doesn’t end -- it simply opens to the sea.”

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Oklahoma – Blue Whale of Catoosa

Illinois – Gemini Giant, Wilmington

Texas – Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo

ravelers along Route 66 quickly discover that the highway is filled with colorful roadside attractions, neon signs, and quirky landmarks.

These eight stops -- one in each Route 66 state -- are among the most photographed along the legendary Mother Road.

Standing more than 25 feet tall, the fiberglass Gemini Giant is one of the last remaining “Muffler Men” along Route 66. Built in the 1960s, the towering spaceman has become one of the highway’s most recognizable photo stops.

Missouri – Chain of Rocks Bridge, St. Louis This historic Mississippi River bridge, famous for its unusual 22-degree bend, once carried Route 66 traffic into St. Louis. Today it serves as a pedestrian bridge and a favorite photography location along the Mother Road.

Kansas – Cars on the Route, Galena A restored Kan-O-Tex service station filled with vintage automobiles makes this one of Kansas’ most popular Route 66 stops. The site even helped inspire characters in the animated film Cars.

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One of the most beloved roadside attractions along Route 66, the giant blue whale sits beside a small pond near Catoosa. Built in the early 1970s, it remains one of the most whimsical landmarks on the highway.

Ten classic Cadillacs buried nose-down in a Texas field have become a Route 66 icon. Visitors are encouraged to add their own spray-paint art, making Cadillac Ranch a constantly changing roadside gallery.

New Mexico – Route 66 Arch, Grants A colorful gateway arch welcomes travelers to Grants, New Mexico, celebrating the town’s long connection to the Mother Road.

Arizona – Wigwam Motel, Holbrook One of the most famous motels along Route 66, the Wigwam Motel features teepee-shaped guest rooms and classic cars parked outside, creating a scene straight from the golden age of road travel.

California – Roy’s Motel & Café, Amboy Roy’s glowing neon sign rises above the Mojave Desert and remains one of the most iconic Route 66 landmarks in California.

o Route 66 journey would be complete without a stop at a classic roadside diner.

These longtime favorites have served travelers along the Mother Road for decades.

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Lou Mitchell’s – Chicago, Illinois Often considered the traditional starting point of Route 66, Lou Mitchell’s has welcomed hungry travelers since 1923 with hearty breakfasts and homemade pastries.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard – St. Louis, Missouri A Route 66 institution famous for its rich frozen custard, Ted Drewes has been serving travelers along the Mother Road since the 1930s.

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Rock Café – Stroud, Oklahoma Opened in 1939 and built with local sandstone, the Rock Café is one of the most famous diners along Route 66. Its longtime owner inspired a character in the movie Cars.

MidPoint Café – Adrian, Texas Located at the exact halfway point between Chicago and Santa Monica, this diner is known for its “ugly crust pies” and classic Route 66 atmosphere.

Nelson’s Old Riverton Store – Riverton, Kansas Part grocery store and part deli, this historic Route 66 stop is known for its freshly made sandwiches and small-town charm.

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66 Diner – Albuquerque, New Mexico A retro diner filled with neon lights and 1950s décor, the 66 Diner serves burgers, milkshakes, and plenty of nostalgia.

Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner – Kingman, Arizona

Bagdad Café – Newberry Springs, California

This colorful diner features classic Route 66 décor, old signs, and some of the best root beer floats along the highway.

Made famous by the 1987 film Bagdad Café, this quirky roadside stop remains a beloved destination for Route 66 travelers.

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