Route 66 100: Celebrating a century of great road trips in the United States
There is no better way to discover the United States than on the road – especially along the legendary Highway 66. Turn 100 in 2026, this iconic highway has long captured the imagination of travelers and American spirits. Route 66 is affectionately known as the “main road”, crosses the heart of the United States – through plains and cornfields in the Midwest, crosses the Mississippi River, crosses the deserts and canyons in the Southwest, and reaches its peak on the Pacific Coast.
Originally founded in 1926, it crosses eight states and exceeds 3,900 kilometers. Although it was retired from the Federal Highway decades ago, the freedom and spirit of exploration of this route never faded. Retro diners still offer American films. The restored motel glows in the soft neon lights of another era. Each quirky roadside station tells a story, one of the discoveries and connections to the American people and scenery.
As the United States prepares for a year’s milestone in 2026 – Route 66 Centennial and the United States’ 250Th Anniversary – There has never been a more inspiring time to discover the road that introduces the world to American road trips.
Highway 66
Chicago, Illinois
Route 66 begins in Chicago, Illinois, and the “Start Route 66” marks the official beginning of the expressway. Before you set out, tour along the Chicago River to admire the city’s architectural skyline and enjoy a real deep mouth pizza. As you head to St. Louis, Missouri, stop at the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, about 100 miles southwest of Chicago to browse the collection of artifacts and souvenirs.
St. Louis, Missouri
On a 4.5-hour drive to St. Louis, quirky parking, retro motels, museums and driving restaurants abound to keep you entertained along the way. Don’t miss the old Rock Bridge as you cross the Mississippi River and enter Missouri. For decades, once part of Highway 66 has since been restored to one of the longest pedestrian and bicycle bridges in the world.
Once you arrive in St. Louis, you will be welcomed by Gateway Arch – the highest man-made monument in the United States. Take the tram to the top, enjoy the city view, and then explore the museum at the Portal Arch to learn more about American history.
Baseball fans can sign out Busch Stadium, home to the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team. Just minutes away, Anheuser-Bush brewery can pour directly from the sorting cellar. Beermaster Tours are also available during a behind-the-scenes visit to Budweiser.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
After Route 66 from St. Louis to Oklahoma City, you’ll pass retro gas stations, museums, state capitols and landmarks such as round barns and pop 66 sodas. Take a photo in a 21-meter-high LED soda bottle and visit restaurants and shopping, which offer nearly 700 classic and unique flavors of soda and delicious bites.
If you’re craving meat rot, local barbecue joints offer Oklahoma-style barbecue with a blend of regional influence and pleasant flavors that get to the best of place.
After you come on, stroll on Lake Hefner and stop with an art installation of mural fragments to ride a Mix-tape. Then follow the signs to the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum to learn about the wild western roots of the United States. After that, it’s time to get on the road again – next stop: Texas.
Amarillo, Texas
The golden day of the Spanish revival, Art Deco and Art Modern Architecture creates a nostalgic photo backdrop.
Just a short drive away, the grounds of Cadillac Ranch are half burned with graffiti Cadillacs. Bring a spray can and leave marks on this art installation.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Cruise west from Amarillo and stop at Blue Hole – a crystal blue natural swimming hole, a hidden cave east of Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Continue to Albuquerque, where neon lights lit up 18 miles from Route 66.
Stroll through the streets of the Old Town, full of restaurants and boutiques, then head to 66 Restaurants for a retro dining experience. Inside, jukebox tunes, an old-fashioned soda fountain and neon accent bring the 1950s to life.
Further along the route, visit the National Monument to the Peach Paintings, one of the largest petaching sites in North America, and the Sandia Peak Peak Aerial Tramway, with panoramic views of the Rio Grande Valley.
Holbrook, Arizona
Head west to Holbrook, about 3.5 hours from Albuquerque. The Wigwam Village Hotel is one of the most iconic landmarks along Highway 66, one of the seven remaining Wigwam villages built nationwide before 1950.
Stop to check out the town’s dinosaur statues, just off Route 66, and head to Petrified Forest National Park for a full-day adventure. Explore a walking trail in the Painted Desert Park at your own pace or join a guide led by world-class guides and field experts.
Los Angeles, California
Climb the last section of Route 66, which ends at Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. Without walking along Santa Monica Beach and enjoying the views, no trip to the city is complete.
Nearby, The Healing Bay Aquarium invites visitors to explore the wonders of marine life. Add the historic 1922 Looff Hippodrome Carousel and Third Street Promenade to your must-see list and fly home.
More road trip ideas
Few things capture the spirit of adventure like walking open roads. While Route 66 is a typical road trip in the United States, the United States also offers other memorable drives of an incredibly diverse landscape.
Desert landscape and hidden towns
Joshua Tree National Park (San Bernardino County, California) → Pioneertown (San Bernardino County, California) → Amboy (San Bernardino County, California) → Highway 66 → Ultraman (Mohaf, Arizona)
Enter one of the world’s most magical desert landscapes on a journey into natural beauty and historical charm. Wander in the fabulous rock formations and twisted Joshua trees before heading to Pioneertown. Originally built in the 1940s, the town is a live Hollywood movie, a desert enclave with artisan shops and legendary Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, a restaurant and music venue that attracts travelers from nearby and far away.
Drive through the Mojave Desert to Amboy and stop at the motels and cafés in Roy, a classic symbol of the Golden Age of Route 66. End your adventure in Ultraman, Wild Burros roams the streets of a wild West Town.
Southwest Culture
Santa Fe (Santa Fe, New Mexico) → Taos Pueblo (Tause, New Mexico) → Acoma Sky City (Cibola, New Mexico) → Chaco Canyon (San Juan, New Mexico) → Mesa Verde Cape (Montezuma, Colorado)
Track the legacy of Native American communities in the Southwest. Starting with the Adobe in Santa Fe, the streets are set off and then heading to Taos Pueblo, who has lived in it for more than 1,000 years. Acoma Sky City perched on a 360-foot countertop with panoramic views of the culture and history of the people of Acoma. In Stargaze under the sky of Chaco Canyon, then ending in Mesa Cape Verde National Park, the cliff residences reveal the stories of Puebran people, the stories of small villages built from cliffs in 13thTh century.
Pacific Northwest Trail
Astoria (Crathorpe, Oregon) → Olympic Peninsula (Washington) → San Juan Islands (San Juan, Washington) → Northern Casino (Whatcom, Washington)
Starting in Astoria, Oregon, Victorian architecture and colorful murals invite to explore on foot. From there, follow the road through the ancient forests and the wilderness coast of the Washington Olympic Peninsula. Take a ferry to the San Juan Islands for visiting and farm-to-table dining, then venture into the North Cascades National Park – an alpine wilderness marked by jagged peaks, deep valleys and more than 300 glaciers.
No matter which way you go, America is where stories unfold in unexpected places, and each journey brings new moments of connection, discovery and wonder.
Editor’s Note
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