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 Nat King Cole’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
Tucumcari is one of the best-preserved towns along historic U.S. Route 66. Glowing neon, open desert skies, and weathered motor courts give the town a cinematic quality. Tucumcari has dozens of murals of old-school Americana and desert scenes best experienced by foot or by cruising the streets with enough time to stop when one catches your eye. Tee Pee Curios Shop 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, which sells Route 66 memorabilia and other kitsch gifts. Grab lunch at Del’s Restaurant, where you’ll find burgers, sandwiches, and an assortment of favorite Mexican dishes. While you’re in Tucumcari, plan a night’s stay at Blue Swallow Motel, a hotel that dates back to 1939.
The original Route 66 from 1926 followed the old Santa Fe Trail through its namesake city, but when the route was adjusted in 1937 to shave off 100 miles of winding mountain roads, the highway traveled through Albuquerque instead. If you drive this original stretch, sometimes called the Santa Fe Loop, you’ll end up in “The City Different.” While Santa Fe isn’t an obvious Route 66 stop, the city broadens the story beyond nostalgia with culture, history, art, and adobe architecture. Santa Fe goes beyond diners and neon, providing cultural texture. Begin your day in the Santa Fe Plaza, where travelers on the Mother Road would have passed through for the first 11 years. San Miguel Chapel, which is considered to be the oldest church in the U.S., sat along the original route. You can tour the church seven days a week and attend mass on the first Sunday of the month. Continue your exploration in Barrio de Analoco Historic District, one of the oldest neighborhoods in the U.S. full of narrow streets and adobe homes. The Five & Dime General Store brings you back to yesteryears with its famous Frito Pie and kitschy Route 66 memorabilia. For a classic diner experience, head to Plaza Cafe, known as Santa Fe’s living room since 1905. El Rey Court has revitalized a 1936 motor court into a retro-style hotel. Book one of the 86 rooms on this five-acre property for a relaxing stay.
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. And 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.
Arizona
The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, offers a memorable experience for families, with 15 motel rooms situated in teepees. Located between Flagstaff and Kingman, Seligman is the quintessential Route 66 town with neon, kitsch, old motels, and that dusty Americana that is reminiscent in the movie Cars. Recognized as the starting point for the longest existing stretch of highway that leads 160 miles to Topock, Seligman is a great jumping-off point for farther Route 66 exploration. The streets of this small town are lined with road signs and nostalgic shops, so if you’re looking for Route 66 gear, you’ll find it here. You don’t want to miss Angel & Vilma Delgadillo’s Route 66 Gift Shop & Visitor’s Center where you’ll find everything from license plates and road signs to key chains and shot glasses. Head to the Rt 66 Hippie Cricket for antiques and the Rusty Bolt for specialty gifts. Westside Lilo’s Cafe is a must for lunch. This popular restaurant serves an American diner menu with a German twist. Portions are generous, so bring your appetite or consider sharing. At Delgadillos Snow Cap, you’ll get a classic Route 66 experience with malts, burgers, and corndogs. To beat the crowd, go when they open. For a roadside motel experience, Canyon Lodge has American-themed rooms.
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.
