Route 66 turns 100 in 2026. For a century, the best of the Mother Road has been the part you didn’t plan — the roadside diner, the neon-lit stop, the local who sends you somewhere better. However you drive the 3,800 kilometers from Chicago to Santa Monica, the beautiful detours are where it happens.
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American Originals: Road Trips – Route 66
The Beautiful Detour: Scenic Wonders – Route 66
The Beautiful Detour: Best Stays – Route 66
The Beautiful Detour: Roadside Attractions – Route 66
The Beautiful Detour: Great Bites – Route 66
The Iconic American Road Trip
Browse the map below to plan your trip to become part of the legendary tradition of the American road trip.
Route 66 Road Trips
The First Leg of Route 66
Kick off your trip in Chicago, the starting point of Route 66, and take in the city aboard its famous architecture boat tour.
Learn moreExplore your first nostalgic small town along the route and stop by the colorful murals on Main Street.
Learn moreStop by Illinois’ capital and explore the place where President Lincoln lived most of his life.
Learn moreCross the Mississippi River and enjoy the skyline from the iconic Gateway Arch.
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OZARK LAKES & OKLAHOMA ART DECO: ST. LOUIS TO OKLAHOMA CITY
Walk or bike across the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, a former Route 66 crossing famous for its 22-degree bend midway over the Mississippi River.
Learn moreTake a detour to Lake of the Ozarks, where more than 1,000 miles of shoreline are ready for boating, swimming, and lakeside dining.
Learn moreVisit Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza, which honors the “Father of Route 66,” then explore downtown Tulsa’s Art Deco architecture.
Learn moreSpend an afternoon at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, home to works by American and European artists and a stunning collection of Dale Chihuly glass.
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COWBOY COUNTRY & NEON NIGHTS: OKLAHOMA CITY TO SANTA FE
Get a taste of cowboy culture at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum before heading west.
Learn moreLeave your mark with spray paint on the half-buried cars at Cadillac Ranch, one of the route’s most famous roadside attractions.
Learn moreCruise past glowing neon signs and colorful murals, then spend the night at the vintage Blue Swallow Motel.
Learn moreExplore the oldest capital city in the U.S., known for its adobe architecture, world-class galleries, and spicy New Mexican cuisine.
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DESERT WONDERS & NATIVE HERITAGE: ALBUQUERQUE TO THE GRAND CANYON
Cruise neon-lit Central Avenue, Albuquerque’s stretch of Route 66, then ride the Sandia Peak Tramway for sweeping views of the city.
Learn moreExperience Native American culture where downtown murals and summer evening dances at Courthouse Square celebrate the region’s tribal heritage.
Learn moreSee ancient petrified wood and the colorful Painted Desert in the only national park that preserves a section of Route 66.
Learn moreTake a detour north to the Grand Canyon’s South Rim and watch the sunset light up the canyon walls.
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OLD WEST TOWNS & PACIFIC SUNSETS: SELIGMAN TO SANTA MONICA
The “Birthplace of Historic Route 66” is full of vintage cars, quirky shops, and Delgadillo’s Snow Cap, with Grand Canyon Caverns just west of town.
Learn moreLearn the road’s history at the Arizona Route 66 Museum inside the historic Powerhouse Visitor Center.
Learn moreStop at the restored Cool Springs Station on your way through the Black Mountains, then roll into this former gold-mining town, where wild burros roam the streets.
Learn moreDetour south to Palm Springs to browse the midcentury modern shops and galleries of the Uptown Design District.
Learn moreEnd your journey at Santa Monica Pier, where the “End of the Trail” sign marks the end of Route 66.
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Trip Ideas & Itineraries
Route 66: The Beautiful Detour
Scenic Wonders
Embark on a road trip that reaches some of the country’s most breathtaking natural wonders.
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Route 66: The beautiful detour
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Route 66: The beautiful detour
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Route 66: The Beautiful Detour
Best Stays
Retro motor courts, historic hotels and colorful boutique stays make every night on Route 66 part of the adventure.
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Plan Your Adventure
Find more ways to fuel your Route 66 imagination and discover other U.S. road trips.