Brand Usa Guides Travelers On Route 66 Centennial Journey Through Iconic Sights, Legendary Eats, And Unique Stays

Published on October 8, 2025

With conscionable complete a twelvemonth remaining until Route 66 celebrates its centennial connected November 11, 2026, travelers person nan cleanable logic to research nan countless attractions and historical sites that statement this iconic American highway. From classical diners and retro soda fountains to modern nutrient halls, nan Mother Road offers experiences that cater to each sensation and curiosity.

A caller study by Brand USA highlights that roadworthy trips stay among nan apical 3 recreation experiences driving world liking successful visiting nan United States. To support this surge, Brand USA has collaborated pinch Secretary Sean Duffy and nan U.S. Department of Transportation connected nan Great American Road Trip initiative, showcasing much than 250 must-see sites on legendary routes, including Route 66.

Essential Museums and Attractions Along Route 66

Illinois is location to immoderate of nan astir iconic stops on Route 66. The Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum successful Pontiac offers memorabilia and nan chance to photograph nan largest Route 66 shield mural. For a quirky roadside sight, nan World’s Largest Catsup Bottle successful Collinsville stands 170 feet gangly and was primitively built arsenic a h2o building successful 1949. Henry’s Rabbit Ranch successful Staunton features VW Rabbits emerging from nan crushed alongside nostalgic Route 66 relics. In Livingston, nan Pink Elephant Antique Mall offers 30,000 quadrate feet of vintage treasures successful a erstwhile precocious school, anchored by an tremendous pinkish elephant. Litchfield’s Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center features a refurbished neon sign, memorabilia, and an 1883 hand-drawn occurrence wagon.

Missouri is arsenic packed pinch eccentric and memorable attractions. The authorities boasts roadside marvels for illustration nan World’s Largest Rocking Chair adjacent Cuba and nan World’s Second-Largest Fork successful Springfield. In St. Louis, nan Gateway Arch dominates nan skyline, while nan Neon Museum preserves nan city’s colorful signage history.

Although Kansas has only a short 13-mile agelong of Route 66, it still offers humanities gems specified arsenic nan Marsh Arch Bridge (Rainbow Bridge), Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum, and nan Galena Mining & Historical Museum.

Oklahoma offers rich | humanities discourse on nan highway. The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum successful Clinton takes visitors backmost to nan Dust Bowl era, illustrating really nan roadworthy shaped lives and migration. The celebrated Blue Whale of Catoosa is undergoing renovations up of nan centennial, while Luther’s Threatt Filling Station, built successful 1915, celebrates its domiciled arsenic a haven for Black travelers and remains connected nan National Trust for Historic Preservation’s List of Most Endangered Places.

Texas and New Mexico connection car civilization and nostalgic Americana. Cadillac Ranch successful Amarillo features a celebrated creation installation of half-buried Cadillacs. The Route 66 Auto Museum successful Santa Rosa, New Mexico, houses a postulation of vintage cars and memorabilia. Albuquerque’s caller West Central Route 66 Visitor Center spans 21,000 quadrate feet and includes a museum, neon collection, amphitheater, convention hall, gift shop, and organization spaces. Outdoor areas will big drive-in movie nights, car shows, artisan pop-ups, and more. The “Route 66 Remixed” nationalist creation bid will toggle shape Central Avenue into an immersive creation travel pinch installations and integer experiences curated successful business pinch Meow Wolf, Refract Studio, and section artists. Narration and storytelling will beryllium provided by Albuquerque’s first Poet Laureate, Hakim Bellamy.

Arizona is location to some earthy and quirky Route 66 landmarks. Petrified Forest National Park preserves a agelong of nan historical highway, while roadside stops specified arsenic nan Jack Rabbit Trading Post successful Joseph City, Winslow (celebrated successful nan Eagles’ “Take It Easy”), and Kingman’s Arizona Route 66 Museum and Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum showcase nan state’s unsocial charm.

As nan way nears its end, travelers tin sojourn nan Original McDonald’s Site and Museum successful San Bernardino and Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch successful nan Mojave Desert. The travel concludes successful Santa Monica, California, astatine nan iconic “End of nan Trail” motion connected nan Santa Monica Pier. Here, visitors bask sweeping water views and caller coastal air, conscionable steps from Pacific Park’s Route 66-themed “West Coaster,” making it nan cleanable finale to a legendary American roadworthy trip.

The Most Unique and Luxurious Stays Along Route 66

Arizona’s Holbrook is location to nan legendary Wigwam Motel, a teepee-inspired lodging that has welcomed travelers for decades. Its vintage charm has earned it a spot connected nan National Register of Historic Places, making it a must-see extremity connected Main Street USA.

Nearby, nan Americana Motor Hotel offers a retro-futuristic retreat on Route 66, conscionable 1.5 hours from nan Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Park. The spot features 89 stylish rooms pinch nods to 1970s skiwear, a year-round heated pool, firepits, telescopes for stargazing, rentable bikes, EV chargers, and a pet-friendly “Barkyard.” Guests tin bask Sinaloa-inspired Mexican dishes astatine Baja Mar while taking successful nan hotel’s modern amenities and playful design.

In Oklahoma City, nan historical Colcord Hotel blends early 20th-century elegance pinch modern comfort. Housed successful nan city’s first skyscraper, built successful 1910 and listed connected nan National Register of Historic Places, nan edifice reopened successful 2006 and offers stylish rooms, suites, modern amenities, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The neon signature of Mrs. Colcord atop nan building reflects nan hotel’s independent spirit.

Also successful Oklahoma City, The National, Autograph Collection, resides successful nan iconic 1931 First National Bank building. After a meticulous restoration, nan edifice combines historical grandeur pinch modern luxury. Original murals, chromatic columns, vault doors, and teller windows item nan city’s rich | practice while 150 elegant rooms and 2,499 quadrate feet of arena abstraction guarantee a lavish stay.

Tulsa’s Campbell Hotel offers uniquely themed rooms, including nan Leon Russell Room, Art Deco Room, and Oil Barons Room, each wrong a restored Spanish Colonial revival building. Nearby, Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios connected 66—a erstwhile 1950s state station—offers souvenirs, postcards, and quirky collectibles.

The Barfield, Autograph Collection, successful Amarillo, Texas, sits steps from historical Route 66 successful nan century-old Oliver–Eakle–Barfield Building. Its 112 rooms and suites blend historical charm pinch modern luxury, featuring civilization furnishings, leather and cowhide accents, SMART TVs, soundproofing, blackout curtains, designer bathrobes, and upscale bath amenities.

California offers its ain Route 66 icons. The Route 66 Motel successful Barstow captures retro charm pinch vintage memorabilia, while adjacent nan route’s end, nan Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows successful Santa Monica provides a lavish enactment conscionable steps from nan iconic pier.

Dining Highlights Along nan Mother Road

Roadside eating is simply a cornerstone of nan Route 66 experience. Chicago’s Lou Mitchell’s, established successful 1923 earlier nan road existed, serves meal each time and treats guests to donut holes upon arrival.

In Girard, Illinois, Doc’s Just Off 66 preserves nan charm of an aged soda fountain, while Litchfield’s Ariston Cafe, making love backmost to 1924, offers a divers paper spanning Midwestern, Southern, Italian, and Greek cuisine. Hamel’s Route 66 Creamery challenges diners pinch nan Mother Road Burger Challenge—a six-patty cheeseburger building served pinch fries and a shake, positive complimentary pup cups for furry friends.

Tulsa’s Mother Road Market is simply a unsocial nonprofit nutrient hallway featuring vendors offering African, Japanese, Brazilian, Cajun, and different world cuisines. In Stroud, Oklahoma, nan Rock Cafe—opened successful 1939 and famously inspiring nan Pixar characteristic Sally successful Cars—continues to service classical American fare aft reopening pursuing a 2008 fire.

Arizona’s Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In successful Seligman remains a nostalgic extremity pinch elemental favorites for illustration chickenhearted sandwiches, shakes, and snowfall cones. In Victorville, California, Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café carries connected family recipes prepared by nan founder’s children, maintaining a simple, beloved menu.

At nan charismatic occidental extremity of Route 66, Mel’s Drive-In successful Santa Monica offers a quintessential diner experience. Housed successful a historical 1950s building, it serves classical American dishes, features a colorful Route 66 mural successful nan parking lot, roadworthy travel memorabilia, and a mosaic marking nan highway’s end—perfect for those concluding their Mother Road travel pinch style.