Route 66 Turns 100 in 2026: How to Plan the Anniversary Road Trip
Route 66 was commissioned on 11 November 1926. This November, the highway turns 100 — and searches for Route 66 trips are already up 302% year-on-year, according to U.S. travel industry data published in June 2026. The interest reflects a broader surge in American road travel this summer, fuelled by the country’s 250th anniversary celebrations and a deliberate return to experience-led travel.
The 3,940-kilometre route runs from Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan southwest through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending on the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. The full drive takes most people between two and four weeks depending on how many detours they make into small-town America.
Why 2026 is a particularly good year
The centennial is being marked with events at dozens of Route 66 communities throughout the year, with the largest celebrations concentrated around the November anniversary itself. State tourism offices across the route corridor have launched coordinated programming: festivals, pop-up museums, restored neon sign lighting ceremonies, and guided historic walks through towns that were bypassed by the interstate highway system in the 1970s and have preserved their mid-century character.
The America 250 patriotic travel boom is a tailwind for Route 66 specifically. Highway searches and national park visits are trending 65% higher than last year, with Albuquerque — the New Mexico city that sits at the heart of the route — showing particularly strong inbound interest. Albuquerque makes a natural base for exploring both Route 66 and the wider Southwest, including the Sandia Mountains and Acoma Pueblo.
Practical planning for 2026
The summer road trip season runs from now through September, which offers the best driving weather across most of the route. Summer fares are running 10–15% higher than 2025 for domestic flights, so positioning yourself at the start or end of the drive by flying into Chicago or Los Angeles and then driving one-way will lock in costs before peak demand pushes fares further.
Our dedicated Route 66 guide covers the best stops, approximate drive times between segments, the stretches of original road still intact versus interstate relocation, and accommodation options from vintage motor courts to contemporary hotel chains. For those who want a broader Southwest itinerary that incorporates the highway’s most cinematic stretch through Arizona and New Mexico, the Southwest road trip itinerary provides a 10-day framework that can be expanded for the full Route 66 experience.
Domestic airfares into Chicago — the traditional starting city — are available from most major U.S. hubs. For international visitors arriving from Europe or Asia, Chicago connects directly with most long-haul carriers and offers straightforward car rental access from O’Hare and Midway airports.