The Mother Road turns 100 in 2026 — and there has never been a better year to drive it. Eight states, 2,448 miles, and a century of American roadside culture from Chicago to Santa Monica. Here's the state-by-state guide our USA specialists send Australian travellers.
Route 66 — "the Mother Road," "the Main Street of America" — was commissioned on 11 November 1926 as one of America's first transcontinental highways, running 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. It was decommissioned by the Interstate system in 1985, but most of the original alignment survives as historic byway, lined with the diners, neon-lit motels, gas stations, ghost towns, and roadside oddities that made it famous. 2026 is the road's centennial year, with major events across all eight states. There has not been a better time to drive it in living memory.
If you're tight on time and have to choose, these are the dozen attractions I'd never let an Australian client skip. Listed east to west — the traditional Chicago-to-Santa Monica direction.
The official starting point at the corner of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Photograph the sign, then grab breakfast at Lou Mitchell's — the diner that's served Route 66 travellers since 1923.
The 630-ft Gateway Arch — the world's tallest arch — symbolises the westward expansion Route 66 enabled. Take the tram to the top for the best view of the Mississippi.
An hour west of St. Louis — a five-storey underground cavern system promoted on barn-roof billboards across America since the 1930s. Reportedly a Jesse James hideout. Touristy in the best way.
An 80-ft concrete blue whale built in 1972 as an anniversary gift, abandoned, then restored as one of the road's most beloved photo stops. Pure Route 66 absurdity.
Ten Cadillacs buried nose-down in a Texan field — the most photographed art installation on Route 66. Bring spray paint and add your own layer; visitors are encouraged to.
Home of the 72-oz steak challenge — finish it with sides in 60 minutes and it's free. Cowboy-themed kitsch and live entertainment. Even if you don't try the challenge, the pageantry is worth the stop.
The most photographed neon sign on Route 66. Tucumcari has more preserved 1950s neon than anywhere else on the road — book a night and see them all lit up after dark.
The only national park Route 66 actually runs through. Million-year-old fossilised wood, the Painted Desert, and an old 1932 Studebaker marking the original roadbed. Allow 2–3 hours minimum.
Sleep in a 28-ft concrete teepee with a vintage car parked out front. Built in 1950, immortalised in Pixar's Cars. One of only two surviving Wigwam motels on Route 66 — book months ahead in 2026.
"Standin' on the corner in Winslow, Arizona…" — the small park immortalising the Eagles' Take It Easy. Statue, mural, flatbed Ford. Five minutes well spent.
The ghost-town stop in Amboy, California — the iconic Googie-architecture sign rising out of the Mojave. The motel is closed but the gas station and shop are open. Pure cinematic Americana.
The official "End of the Trail" sign on Santa Monica Pier marks 2,448 miles complete. Champagne on the beach is traditional. The pier itself dates to 1909 and is a landmark in its own right.
2026 is the road's 100-year anniversary, and every state along the route is throwing parties. These are the major dates to plan a trip around — book accommodation early, all of these will fill rooms for hundreds of miles.
Eight states, each with its own character. This is the running order Chicago → Santa Monica with the must-stop attractions in each.
Illinois is where Route 66 begins, and the first state to fully pave its section (1926). Chicago itself deserves at least two days before you point the car west — the Art Institute, Willis Tower, Millennium Park, and a deep-dish pizza are non-negotiable. The drive south to St. Louis takes you through small Route 66 towns that have leaned hard into preserving their road history.
Missouri sent the original 1926 telegram requesting "Route 66" as the highway's name — and Springfield is hosting the 2026 National Centennial Kickoff. St. Louis is the major stop, with the Gateway Arch as the symbolic gateway to the West. The Ozark hills and the cave system at Meramec are highlights of the rural drive south-west toward Kansas.
Kansas has the shortest stretch of Route 66 of any state — only 13 miles — but you'll wish it was longer. Galena was an inspiration for Pixar's Cars, and the locally-restored 1951 boom truck "Tow Tater" is the basis for Tow Mater. Don't blink.
Oklahoma has more drivable miles of historic Route 66 than any other state — over 400 miles of original alignment. Tulsa and Oklahoma City both deserve overnight stays. The state's centennial programme is one of the most ambitious of any along the route.
The Texas panhandle is short but iconic — Cadillac Ranch alone justifies the stop. Amarillo is the major town and the natural overnight. Adrian, Texas is the geographical mid-point of Route 66 (1,139 miles to either end) — a photo at the Midpoint Café is mandatory.
New Mexico is where Route 66 gets dramatic — high desert, big skies, and the most preserved neon in any state. Tucumcari and Albuquerque are the must-stay overnights. Allow time for a Santa Fe detour (only 60 miles off-route) — the food alone justifies it.
For most travellers, Arizona is the scenic highlight of Route 66 — Petrified Forest, Wigwam Motel, Standin' on the Corner, the historic Seligman stretch (the longest unbroken section of original alignment), and the wild burros wandering the streets of Oatman. The Grand Canyon detour from Williams or Flagstaff is non-negotiable for first-timers.
California opens with the Mojave Desert — vast, lonely, and home to the most cinematic ghost-town stretches of the entire trip. Then suburbia rises and you arrive at the Santa Monica Pier with 2,448 miles behind you. Plan to stay in LA at least two nights to celebrate properly.
It depends entirely on how much of the original alignment you want to drive vs. how much Interstate. Here's the honest version.
| Trip Length | What You'll See | Driving Style | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7–8 days | Major cities, top 5 attractions, most of the Interstate | Long days, mostly Interstate, limited stops | Time-poor travellers — but you'll bypass much of the historic road |
| 10–12 days | Top 12 attractions, several themed overnights, moderate Interstate use | Balanced — 5–6 hours driving, 3–4 hours stops daily | Most Australian first-timers Popular |
| 14 days | Most original alignment, all top attractions, leisurely meals, sunset stops | 4–5 hours driving daily, time for detours | The sweet spot — what we recommend most often Best |
| 21 days | The full road as intended, side trips (Grand Canyon, Santa Fe, Vegas) | Relaxed pace — 3–4 hours driving, half-day exploring | Travellers who can take the time off — genuinely unforgettable |
| 30+ days | Every original alignment, every museum, every diner | Wandering — almost no Interstate, no schedule | Retirees, sabbatical travellers, the dream version |
The deserts of Arizona and California, and the high plains of New Mexico, dictate timing more than anything else. Here's when each season actually feels like.
Best season — wildflowers in Arizona & California, mild desert temps, low humidity. The 2026 centennial events cluster here. Book accommodation 6+ months ahead.
Brutal in Arizona & the Mojave (40°C+). Plains states get afternoon thunderstorms and tornadoes. Avoid if you can. School-holiday crowds peak.
The locals' favourite — perfect temps, autumn colour through Missouri & Oklahoma, low rainfall, off-peak pricing. Often a marginally better window than spring.
Snow risks in Flagstaff, AZ (7,000 ft) and through New Mexico's higher passes. Some seasonal attractions close. Cheap, quiet, occasionally hazardous.
Specific guidance for Australian travellers — the things you actually need to sort out before you go.
None of this is hard, but it's all the stuff our Australian clients ask about most. Sort it 6–8 weeks before departure and you'll arrive ready to drive.
The on-the-road advice we give every client. Small things, but they make the difference between a good trip and a great one.
Jerry McClanahan's EZ66 Guide for Travelers is the bible — turn-by-turn directions for the historic alignment. Buy it before you fly. Roughly USD $25 on Amazon.
Roadtrippers for planning detours, Google Maps offline for areas without coverage (large stretches of Mojave have none), GasBuddy for fuel prices, iExit for amenities at upcoming Interstate exits.
Wigwam Motel #6, Blue Swallow Motel, Munger Moss — the heritage Route 66 stays sell out 3–6 months ahead in normal years and likely 9–12 months ahead in the 2026 centennial year. Book first, plan around them.
The Mojave stretch in California has 100+ miles between fuel stations. Same for parts of west Texas and New Mexico. Fill up at half a tank in remote sections — never wait until empty.
Skip chain restaurants. The Route 66 diners that have survived 60–80 years did so by being good. Cozy Dog (Springfield IL), Big Texan (Amarillo), Joe & Aggie's (Holbrook), Delgadillo's Snow Cap (Seligman) are all worth a stop.
Golden hour 30 mins before sunset is unbeatable on Route 66. Cadillac Ranch and the desert ghost towns are particularly cinematic at this hour. Plan to arrive at iconic stops in the late afternoon when possible.
Single trip can range from 5°C in Flagstaff at night to 40°C in the Mojave at noon. Pack layers, a light jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen (even US summer SPF feels low — bring Australian SPF 50+).
Many small-town Route 66 attractions have eccentric hours (closed Wednesdays, only open Fri–Sun, etc.). Check ahead the night before, especially in Texas, New Mexico, and rural Arizona. Mondays and Tuesdays are quietest.
Most modern "Route 66" follows historic byway signposted parallel to I-40, I-44, and I-55. The interstates are faster but bypass everything interesting. Use the EZ66 to stay on the original alignment wherever possible.
The questions Australian travellers ask us most often. If yours isn't here, our USA team is on the phone seven days a week.
2026 is the road's biggest year in a century. Speak to our USA travel specialists about flights, one-way car hire, heritage motel bookings, and the centennial events worth planning around. Free initial consultation, no obligation.
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