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.
Key Stops Along the Route
Even a partial drive benefits from knowing the highest-value stops:
Illinois: Chicago’s starting point at Michigan Avenue + Jackson, then Springfield - Abraham Lincoln’s home and the Illinois State Capitol are both here, making it a natural first-night stop.
Missouri and Oklahoma: St. Louis (Gateway Arch, Ted Drewes Frozen Custard - the classic Route 66 food stop) and Oklahoma City are the primary cities. The Blue Whale of Catoosa in Oklahoma is one of the route’s most photographed roadside attractions.
Texas Panhandle: Amarillo and the Cadillac Ranch - 10 Cadillacs buried nose-first in a field, spray-painted by visitors. The drive across the Texas Panhandle is long and flat but marks the psychological midpoint of the trip.
New Mexico: Albuquerque sits directly on the original alignment. The Sandia Mountains rise above the city; Old Town Albuquerque has colonial-era adobe architecture and strong food options. Santa Fe is a short detour north.
Arizona: Winslow (immortalised in the Eagles’ Take It Easy), Holbrook, the Painted Desert, and Flagstaff - a good base for a Grand Canyon side trip. The stretch of original road through the Arizona high desert is among the most preserved on the entire route.
California: The Mojave Desert crossing to Barstow, then down through San Bernardino to the coast and the finish at Santa Monica Pier.
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. Note that the Texas Panhandle and the Arizona/New Mexico desert sections can hit 38–42°C in July and August - mornings are significantly more comfortable for long driving days through these segments.
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. One-way car rentals are widely available between Chicago and Los Angeles; expect to pay a one-way drop fee of $100–$250 depending on the rental company.
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.
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.