As the ultimate road trip gears up to celebrate its centenary, Travel Weekly maps out its top stops
Eight US states are revving up for the 100th anniversary of Route 66, arguably the world’s greatest road trip, which will be celebrated throughout 2026. Running 2,448 miles between Chicago and Santa Monica, America’s ‘Mother Road’ is an epic drive that spans three time zones and comes richly stocked with classic sights, from rolling prairies and lonely deserts to wacky museums and retro diners.
One reason for the route’s enduring popularity is its cultural associations, from John Steinbeck’s 1939 Dust Bowl novel The Grapes of Wrath to the much-covered 1946 song (Get Your Kicks) on Route 66 and Disney Pixar film Cars.
Along with the challenge of completing an epic drive, clients can tune in to small-town America and savour its diverse landscapes and people. Route 66 particularly appeals to couples looking for a wish-list trip, and the approaching centenary is a useful trigger for selling a holiday that also includes iconic destinations such as skyscraper-filled Chicago, glitzy Las Vegas and the monumental Grand Canyon.
Increasing interest in Route 66
“Enquiries about Route 66 trips for 2025 are up 30% compared with this year,” says Mandy McGlade, product manager at American Affair. Audley Travel also reports that the total number of nights booked along the route during 2024 has doubled, compared with 2023 – and this is before the news of the impending anniversary really ramps up interest.
“In the next six months everyone will start shouting about it,” says Dominique Kotsias, product manager at Journeyscape, the new North America-focused operator that is the sister to Journey Latin America. Its trips are firmly aimed at purists who want to experience as much of the historic route as possible – rather than speeding down the interstate highways that run alongside.
“If you’re not on the old roads, it’s a boring drive,” says Kotsias, and her advice to agents is to book early in order to secure archetypal accommodation such as the 1939 Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, which has only 12 rooms but embodies all things Americana.
Rest stops on Route 66
US tourism agencies are now actively promoting Route 66 and its attractions. Chicago recently erected four interpretative signs at key points in the city that commemorate its role as the journey’s starting point. Illinois has a dedicated app and brochure that details 66 points of interest (naturally) as you drive west across the state.
They include the 5.8m-high Paul Bunyan statue in the city of Atlanta, which takes the US folk hero – usually depicted holding an axe, here replaced with a giant hot dog – that was created for similarly named Bunyon’s hot dog stand in 1966 to entice passing motorists to stop for a snack.
Further west in Oklahoma, Tulsa was designated the official ‘Capital of Route 66’ last April after a copyright claim lasting two years. The city has 28 miles of the route and a century ago, was the best place for crossing the Arkansas River. Now there are numerous associated attractions such as the Mother Road Market and the proudly nostalgic gift shop Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios.
Other destinations now flagging their unique stops include Texas with its 1936 art deco gas station in Shamrock and the buried-car art installation Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. When they reach Santa Monica, clients can wrap up the drive with an R-66 burger and fries at Mel’s Drive-In Diner then grab a photo at the ‘End of the Trail’ sign close to its famous pier.
How to plan a Route 66 road trip
April to October is the best time for clients to hit the road, flying into Chicago and back from Los Angeles. Suggest they allow a minimum of 14 nights, which will mean daily driving distances from 100 to 350 miles. That might seem a slog but Matt Rains, director of sales at Ocean Holidays, explains: “Route 66 is about the journey as much as the destination.” He recommends agents customise trips by encouraging clients to adjust driving distances or focus on specific states and attractions.
“There is also the option to split the drive into two halves and return at a later date,” says Maggi Smit, managing director of America As You Like It, who recommends Oklahoma City as the break-point.
Route 66 packages come with a standard car but if a client fancies something vintage or a convertible, perhaps to drive a particular stretch for a few days, this needs to be arranged in good time.
“Always double-check the rental agreement,” says Smit. “Some companies will include a one-way drop-off and others won’t. This can be more than $500 and is payable on collection of the car.”
Once that’s sorted, the only thing left to do is get the roof down, the radio on and prepare to follow in the tyre tracks of all those who’ve gone before.
Book it
America As You Like It has a 15-day Best of Route 66 trip driving from Chicago to Santa Monica from £1,835 per person based on two sharing, including flights, car hire and accommodation.
americaasyoulikeit.com
Journeyscape has a 22-day trip, The Real Route 66 Extended, driving from Chicago to Santa Monica starting from £4,900 per person, based on two sharing, including car hire and accommodation. Flights extra.
journeyscape.com
Where to stop on Route 66
❂ In Springfield, Illinois, the Route History Museum is a virtual experience focused on telling the stories of Black people and businesses associated with the road during the Jim Crow and Civil Rights eras, and reopens in February.
❂ The southeast corner of Kansas includes 13 miles of Route 66 centred on a restored 1939 gas station in Baxter Springs.
❂ The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, marks the road trip’s half-way point, and former owner Fran Houser was the inspiration for Flo’s V8 Cafe in popular Disney Pixar film Cars.
❂ Fans of the Breaking Bad TV series will enjoy Albuquerque in New Mexico, where many scenes were shot.
❂ Petrified Forest, near Holbrook in Arizona, is the only national park along the route.
❂ When clients reach California, suggest they catch a movie at the Skyline Drive-In cinema in Barstow.
PICTURES: Scott Evers Photography; Illinois Office of Tourism; Route History
