What was Route 66?
Route 66 was one of the first US highways, opened in 1926 and running about 3,940 kilometers from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. It became a symbol of American road travel.
Route 66 crossed eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, thousands of farm families traveled it westward to California, and author John Steinbeck called it the Mother Road in The Grapes of Wrath.
After World War II, Route 66 became popular with vacationers, and roadside diners, motels, gas stations and quirky attractions sprang up along it. It was celebrated in the song Get Your Kicks on Route 66 and later in the Pixar film Cars.
Decline and revival
As faster interstate highways were built, Route 66 was gradually bypassed and officially removed from the US highway system in 1985. Many sections survive as Historic Route 66, attracting tourists from around the world. The road celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2026.
Did You Know?
The Cadillac Ranch, near Amarillo, Texas, features ten old Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground and is a famous Route 66 stop.