In 2026, Route 66 turns 100. That is a good reason to look beyond the fastest interstate route and take a slower trip across the American landscape. The historic highway linked Chicago and Los Angeles, passing through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California.
Today, the original route is not one continuous modern highway. It is a patchwork of surviving roads, city streets, historic alignments and local detours. That is also the point: the best moments come from neon signs, diners, small towns and places that reward an unhurried stop.
1. Chicago, Illinois: Start at the sign
The familiar “Begin Historic Route 66” sign near Adams Street and Michigan Avenue is the classic photo to open the trip. Chicago also makes it easy to begin with a real city day before the road gets quieter: architecture, museums and food are all close by.
2. Chain of Rocks Bridge, Missouri
Near St. Louis, the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge is a reminder that Route 66 was built for a different kind of road travel. The bridge is now for pedestrians and cyclists, not cars, but it is worth a stop for Mississippi River views. Visit the USA includes it among the route’s notable Illinois-to-California stops.
3. The small but essential Kansas stretch
Route 66 clips only a small corner of Kansas. Do not race through it. Historic storefronts, service stations and roadside character in Galena and Baxter Springs offer a quick but satisfying reminder that the road was built from local communities, not simply between major cities.
4. Oklahoma: the Mother Road’s big middle
Oklahoma has one of the longest drivable collections of historic Route 66 segments. Build time for Tulsa or Oklahoma City, then leave room for the smaller towns in between. Museums, restored signs and independent food stops are more rewarding than trying to check off every landmark.
5. Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas
Ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in a Texas field make Cadillac Ranch one of Route 66’s most recognizable sights. It is public art that continuously changes as visitors add spray paint. Bring water, wear shoes you do not mind getting dusty, and leave no trash behind.
6. Albuquerque, New Mexico: drive after dark
Albuquerque’s Route 66 corridor is especially good in the evening, when vintage neon signs and former motor courts take on a different mood. Make it a real stop rather than an overnight parking spot; the city has food, culture and neighborhoods that reward extra time.
7. Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Petrified Forest is the only national park with a preserved Route 66 alignment. The park combines desert views and petrified wood with the road’s story. Check the National Park Service for current hours, entrance information and weather conditions before driving there.
8. Seligman, Arizona: slow down for the signs
Seligman delivers the colorful roadside shops, old motels and playful signs many people picture when they imagine Route 66. More importantly, the town helped lead the preservation movement that kept the historic road in public memory after it was removed from the federal highway system.
9. Amboy, California: prepare for the desert
The Mojave Desert’s open road and the Roy’s Motel and Café sign offer one of the route’s most iconic California scenes. This is not a place to improvise. Fuel up, carry water, check conditions and download maps before entering areas where services and cell coverage can be limited.
10. Santa Monica Pier: the symbolic finish
End the journey at the Route 66 “End of the Trail” sign on Santa Monica Pier. It is a symbolic destination for modern travelers rather than the highway’s original official terminus, but the Pacific views and pier energy make it a fitting final photo.
How to plan a better Route 66 trip
Do not try to drive the whole route in a few days. Choose a region, allow time for detours and confirm each attraction’s hours before you leave. The Route 66 Centennial organization and the National Park Service both have centennial resources; the centennial passport project is designed to direct visitors toward participating Route 66 communities and businesses.
A good Route 66 trip is not about perfect mileage. It is about pulling over when a neon sign catches your eye, ordering at the independent diner, and letting the road take longer than expected.
Visitor details checked September 23, 2026. The featured image is an editorial illustration. Inline photographs are archival images credited individually and used under their stated Creative Commons licenses.
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