Albuquerque, New Mexico — If you’ve ever planned to head west and take the highway that’s for the better, now might be the time: Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year.
The Mother Road, as author John Steinbeck called it, has evolved over the years from a refuge for poor farmers fleeing devastating 1930s dust storms into the quintessential American road trip that still delivers kicks.
Although faster, more direct routes have existed between the country’s second and third largest cities for some time, Route 66’s neon lights are still brightly lit and its vintage signs lure travelers to restored motor lodges, classic restaurants and roadside attractions.
Each stop turns the wheels of the imagination, leaving travelers pondering what life was like for the people and communities that have made the route buzz over the years.
Chicago has long been one of the country’s economic engines, with access to international waters and railways connecting all parts of the country. In the 1920s, Oklahoma businessman Cyrus Avery, known as the “Father of Route 66,” knew that it would not be long before automobiles would dominate the transportation landscape, and that the Windy City would be the perfect place to begin the journey he envisioned.
As a member of the Federal Highway Board appointed to map the U.S. highway system, Avery chose to use the number 66. He knew that these double digits were market-ready and could remain etched in the minds of motorists.
For some travelers, the trip is based more on the food than the scenery, and there is plenty to choose from – slices of homemade pancakes, thick shakes, cheeseburgers, and a variety of fried treats.
The Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield, Illinois’ capital, is one of many restaurants popping up along Route 66, and its hot dogs on a stick have stood the test of time. The recipe is secret, says Josh Waldmer, third-generation owner.
Waldmeier’s grandfather, Ed, saw the potential of the mixture as a quick, convenient food on the road and developed a system for vertically frying dogs.
Route 66 has its share of twists and turns, and it’s no surprise that the highway famous for its quirky roadside attractions crosses the country’s most famous river on one of the most unusual bridges known for modern engineering.
As the road approaches St. Louis, the mile-long (1.6 km) Chain of Rock Bridge hovers more than 60 feet (18 m) above the Mississippi River.
Engineers eventually built a straighter, higher-speed option, and a weak resale market saved the original bridge from the scrap heap. Today it is designated for pedestrians and cyclists.
Central Missouri is home to the St. Robert Route 66 Neon Park, which features orphaned neon signs that once urged travelers to stop at certain locations and businesses along the highway. Often made by hand, they were not just signs for motels, cafes and gas stations, but were also folk art and symbols of local culture.
The Sunflower State hosts only a short stretch of Route 66, but features a Kan-O-Tex service station in Galena. The station is a classic example of roadside fare, and served as the inspiration for the 2006 Pixar animated film Cars.
Director John Lasseter and his crew took road trips along the way, mining history and looking for elements that could bring the project to life. It was in Galena where they discovered the old boom truck that served as the basis for the character Tow Mater. The plot wasn’t far off, as many once-bustling towns – such as the fictional town of Radiator Springs – have all but vanished after being bypassed by a highway.
Kansas is also home to the Brush Creek Bridge, also known as the Rainbow Bridge. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the few remaining examples of concrete arch bridges designed by James Barney Marsh.
There was real danger for some who traveled the road, especially black motorists passing through inhospitable and segregated areas during the Jim Crow era. The Green Book—a guide first published in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green—listed hotels, restaurants, and gas stations that would serve black customers.
The filling station near Luther wasn’t listed in the Green Book, but it was a safe haven — not just for gas, but also for a barbecue and a baseball game. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and was the only known black-owned and operated gas station along Route 66.
Route 66 is filled with abandoned buildings and faded signs, but one example of the highway’s resilient spirit stands tall in Sapulpa, near Tulsa. The restored Tee Pee Drive-In Theater offers a step back in time to the 1950s, when a thriving drive-in culture helped spawn thousands of drive-in theaters across the country.
Built in 1949, the venue officially opened in the spring of 1950 with a showing of John Wayne’s film “Tycoon.” It was one of the few cars at the time that had paved tracks. Over the years, it has survived a hurricane, a fire that destroyed the concession stand and a break-in before being closed for more than 20 years. It reopened in 2023.
Blink and you might miss it, but a stop at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo is a must on any trip on Route 66. For decades, visitors have looked at the site’s 10 vintage Cadillacs and contemplated the ephemeral nature of time as Bruce Springsteen did in his 1980 song of the same name.
It is not a farm, but rather a public art installation created in 1974 by the art and architecture group Ant Farm. Initially, the cars – which were half-buried front-to-bottom at a 60-degree angle – were used for target practice. Others were scratching their initials into the metal. The spray painting process began later.
You arrive in Adrian and are in the middle of your journey. Just steps from the white line marking the middle of Route 66 lies Midway Café, where “ugly pies” are anything but.
If you’re still hungry, head back to Amarillo for a 72-ounce (2 kg) steak and all sides at The Big Texan. If you can finish the meal in an hour or less, it’s free.
More than half of Route 66 passes through sovereign Native American lands, often tracing routes used by tribes long before settlers arrived. As with railroads in the 19th century, the highway opened the door to a new era of commerce, but it also fueled stereotypes about the cultures along the way.
Faded and crumbling signs of tipis and feather headdresses remain at some stops along the historic highway. The symbols were easily appropriated for marketing by roadside vendors but were not indicative of the separate and distinct Native American cultures of the area.
Today, tribes tell their own stories and display their creations, whether it is pottery, fruit pies or poems.
Albuquerque boasts the longest intact urban stretch of Route 66. These 18 miles (29 km) pass through numerous neighborhoods and business districts, from historic Old Town to Nob Hill.
Some of the old car housing and neon signs along what is now Central Street have been restored. Other signs are recreated with tire covers, elaborate lowrider-inspired paintwork, and classic New Mexico yellow and red license plates in a nod to the car culture that is still alive in the city.
Musician Jackson Browne was on a road trip of his own in the early 1970s when his car left him stranded in Winslow. This experience inspired the lyrics of the Eagles’ hit song “Take it Easy.” But it’s definitely not the only song that should be on your Route 66 playlist.
Bobby Troup created a classic American road anthem in the 1940s called “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.” Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones and Depeche Mode have carried it through the decades, each covering the song with their own flare.
While you’re standing on a corner in Winslow, don’t be surprised if someone walks by with a guitar and starts playing their favorite tracks from your road trip playlist.
Before leaving the state, the former gold mining town of Oatman has a Wild West atmosphere, organized daily shootouts, and adorable donkeys. Oatman was a destination along one of the original alignments of Route 66 via a treacherous route through the Black Mountains, but was later bypassed as part of improvements made in the 1950s.
Roy’s Motel was once a desert oasis & The café in Amboy is a quintessential Route 66 landmark. The towering neon sign is one of the most photographed spots along the trail. Inside, foreign coins left by international visitors line one wall. Across the street, a clothing pole adorned with shoes, shirts and other items juts out of the desert floor.
This stretch of highway through the Mojave Desert offers a special kind of solitude. The pavement gets rough in places and the landscape takes over, showing off Joshua trees, wide open spaces, and remnants of ancient volcanic activity.
Much of the area is undeveloped, meaning it looks much as it did when Route 66 was commissioned in 1926.
Passing through often crowded Los Angeles, the famous Santa Monica Pier marks the end of the line, and is nothing less than a perpetual party with a constant stream of spectators and performers. Although many stretches of Route 66 have decayed, the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean are a reminder of the endeavors made possible by the road over the past century.
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Associated Press writers John O’Connor in Springfield, Illinois, and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City contributed to this report.