From Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, the iconic U.S. Route 66 dates back to 1926, when it became one of the first numbered highways in the United States. What was once the primary route for migrants looking for work in California in the 1930s has since been popularized by Chuck Berry’s “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66” and the movie Cars. Despite being officially removed from the Highway System in 1985, after the interstates replaced the famed “Mother Road,” US 66 is still regarded as the quintessential American road trip. Below are just a handful of highlights along the way. For more details while planning an epic road trip, visit the Route 66 Association’s site.
Read More: Check out writer Jeannette Cooperman’s story from the June 2018 issue about kicks along Route 66 in Missouri, from St. Louis to Carthage.
Illinois
If you want to travel the entire length of Route 66, then your trip will begin in Chicago, where you can indulge in historic architecture and Chicago-style deep dish pizza at Giordano’s. Many regard Lou Mithchell’s as the first stop on the Mother Road. Stay at the Pendry Hotel, located in the Art Deco Carbide & Carbon Building, which dates back to 1929. Don’t leave Chicago without taking a selfie in front of the sign that designates the beginning of the route, located at the northwestern corner of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue. The Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac is a great first stop to learn about the historic highway from the thousands of historic memorabilia on display. Kids will get a kick out of the 19-foot-tall Paul Bunyan hot dog statue in Atlanta. Plan a longer stop in Springfield, where you can visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum and see a movie at a classic drive-in theater. Don’t forget to grab a corndog at the Cozy Dog Drive In.
Missouri
Route 66 crosses the Mississippi River on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The first stop in Missouri, St. Louis is the largest city on the route between Chicago and L.A. Beyond a stop at Gateway Arch National Park, grab a frozen custard at Ted Drewes and doughnuts for the road at Donut Drive-In. In Eureka, you’ll find Route 66 State Park, with four hiking trails. Meramec Caverns, the famous hideout of Jesse James, is one of the most popular stops along Route 66. If you’re a car enthusiast, then you’ll want to plan a stop at the Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield. This popular museum features more than 75 classic cars, including some that might remind kiddos of Doc Hudson and Ramone from Cars. The Boots Court Motel in Carthage is one of the few motels left along Route 66, and a night in this small motel is a must.
Kansas
There are only 12.8 miles of Route 66 that cross through Kansas, but you don’t want to miss stopping at Kan-O-Tex service station on Main Street in Galena. This remodeled service station has “Tow Tater,” a replica of Tow Mater from Cars. It also sells sandwiches and memorabilia.
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Oklahoma
One of the first stops in Oklahoma is in Miami, where you’ll find the Coleman Theater, dating back to the vaudeville days. One of the most memorable roadside attractions is the Blue Whale of Catoosa, which was built in the 1970s as part of a swimming hole. While swimming is no longer allowed, you can walk through the whale’s mouth and enjoy a picnic on the surrounding lawn. At the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, there’s a replica 1950s diner, a Dust Bowl experience, and regular rotating exhibits. POPS is a popular stop for an old-fashioned diner experience. Plus, you’ll want to photograph the 66-foot soda bottle sculpture that’s covered in LED lights.
Texas
Adrian, Texas, marks the midpoint of Route 66. To celebrate, grab a burger and fries at Midpoint Cafe. You also don’t want to miss the famous Midpoint Ugly pie. If you’re feeling especially gluttonous, try the 72-ounce steak at Big Texan. If not, getting a picture in front of the large Big Texan cowboy boot still makes a stop worthwhile. The real highlight, especially for kids, is spray painting the Cadillacs buried nose-down at the Cadillac Ranch.
New Mexico
Tee Pee Curios Shop in Tacumcari is located in a former gas station that dates back to the 1940s. With a large teepee out front, you can’t miss this souvenir shop that sells Route 66 memorabilia and other kitsch gifts. While you’re in Tucumcari, plan a night’s stay at Blue Swallow Motel, a hotel that dates back to 1939. If you stop in Grants, be sure to snap a pic of your car under the drive-under, neon-lit Route 66 sign on Santa Fe Avenue. For a different experience in Albuquerque, take the Sandia Peak Tramway to see expansive views of canyons and the rugged terrain of the Rio Grande Valley.
Arizona
The Wigwam Motel offers a memorable experience for families, with 15 motel rooms situated in teepees. The neon-lit town of Seligman has been known as the “Birthplace of Historic Route 66” since 1987. Today, it welcomes visitors with numerous diners, motels, and gift shops. And Delgadillo’s Snow Cap is a historic eatery with burgers, malts, and root beer floats.
California
As you make your way to the Santa Monica Pier, the official end of Route 66, you don’t want to miss Bottle Tree Ranch, where wine bottles are displayed on metal tree-like structures in a human-made forest of colors. San Bernardino is home to the Original McDonald’s Museum, located in the same town where the chain opened its first restaurant, in 1948. When you arrive at Santa Monica Pier, don’t forget to snap a photo in front of the sign designating the end of the trail. Then relax on the beach—you deserve it after such an epic road trip.
