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This year the road of all roads — the Mother Road — celebrates an incredible milestone: 100 years of U.S. Route 66.

What I love about Route 66 is that it began as something fairly simple — a highway created to help travelers move between Chicago and Santa Monica. But over the decades it has transformed again and again, evolving from a practical road into an icon of American history and culture.

Like many travelers before me, one of my long-term dreams is to drive the entire Mother Road. But instead of attempting the whole journey at once, I’ve been exploring it piece by piece whenever my travels intersect with it.

And honestly, I’ve come to love doing it this way.

Driving Route 66 in sections forces me to slow down and notice the small details that make the road so special. It gives me time to admire the street art, linger over rusted vintage gas pumps, and appreciate the character of the towns scattered along the miles in between. Instead of racing toward the end of the road, I’m learning to enjoy every stretch of it.

With the 100th anniversary of Route 66 approaching, it feels like the perfect time to keep adding miles to the journey.

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Route 66 Turns 100: Celebrating a Century of America’s Mother Road

In 2026, Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a full century since the highway was officially established in 1926.

For a full century, the Mother Road has carried travelers across the heart of the country- connecting small towns, big cities, roadside diners, neon motels, and wide open stretches of highway.

Communities along the route are preparing celebrations, new roadside attractions, and special events to mark the centennial year. From restored neon signs to brand-new statues and murals, towns are embracing the anniversary as a chance to celebrate the road that helped shape their history.

But the anniversary is more than a celebration of the past. It’s also a reminder that Route 66 is still evolving. New stops are appearing alongside historic landmarks, inviting another generation of travelers to discover the magic of the open road.

For travelers like me- slowly driving the road piece by piece- the centennial feels like the perfect time to keep exploring.

Throughout 2026, communities across the eight Route 66 states will be celebrating the highway’s 100th anniversary with festivals, car shows, and special events honoring the Mother Road. (for more information on Route 66 Centennial go to the official website)

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What Makes Route 66 Iconic

When U.S. Route 66 was established in 1926, it was designed as a practical solution for a growing country. The highway stretched roughly 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, connecting small towns, farming communities, and major cities across the heart of America.

But Route 66 quickly became much more than a road.

During the 1930’s, families fleeing the Dust Bowl used the highway to travel west in search of new opportunities in California. The journey along Route 66 became so symbolic of that migration that it was immortalized in the novel The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, who famously referred to it as the ‘Mother Road’.

In the decades that followed, Route 66 continued to evolve alongside American culture. After World War II, families packed their cars and headed west on road trips, stopping at neon-lit motels, roadside diners, and quirky attractions along the way. The highway became a symbol of freedom, exploration, and the uniquely American tradition of the open road.

Eventually, newer interstate highways replaced large sections of the original road, and Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985. But the spirit of the Mother Road never disappeared.

Today, travelers still seek out its surviving stretches- driving past vintage gas stations, historic bridges, classic diners, and murals celebrating the road’s legacy. Even a century later, Route 66 remains one of the most beloved road trips in the country.

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My Route 66 Journey

Driving the entire length of U.S. Route 66 has been on my travel list for years. There’s something about the idea of following one road across the country- from Chicago all the way to Santa Monica- that feels both nostalgic and adventurous.

But like many long travel dreams, finding the time to drive all 2,400 miles in one trip isn’t always realistic.

So instead of waiting for the “perfect” moment, I started exploring Route 66 the way I explore many places- one stretch at a time.

Whenever our travels cross paths with the historic highway, I try to find a piece of the old road. Sometimes it’s a preserved historic section with vintage motels and neon signs. Other times it’s a quiet two-lane road that you might miss entirely if you didn’t know the history behind it.

What I’ve discovered along the way is that Route 66 isn’t really about driving fast from one end to the other. It’s about slowing down enough to notice the small details- the faded murals on brick buildings, the rusted gas pumps that once welcomed travelers, and the roadside diners that still feel frozen in another era.

Driving Route 66 in pieces has allowed me to appreciate each section in a way I might have missed if I were racing from mile marker to mile marker. And honestly, that feels a little more in the spirit of the Mother Road.

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Route 66 Stops I’ve Explored So Far

One of my long-term travel goals is to drive the entire length of Route 66. Since I can’t do the whole trip in one journey right now, I’ve started exploring the road in smaller sections whenever the opportunity comes up.

Traveling it this way has been surprisingly rewarding. Instead of rushing through hundreds of miles at once, I get to spend time noticing the details of what makes the Mother Road so special.

Each stretch of Route 66 has its own personality. Some areas feel carefully preserved. Others show how the road adapted over time, with new murals, restored landmarks, and creative roadside stops welcoming modern travelers.

Route 66 crosses eight states from Illinois to California. So far I’ve explored sections in a few of them, and each one has shown me a different side of the Mother Road. As I continue this journey, I’ll keep adding to my list one mile and one stop at a time. So far, here are the sections of the Mother Road that I’ve driven:

Illinois

Missouri

• Springfield Missouri
• From Carthage to Joplin Missouri

Kansas

• Driving Route 66 in Kansas

Oklahoma

• The Middle of the Road in Tulsa Oklahoma

Texas

New Mexico

Arizona

California

One of the things I love about exploring Route 66 this way is that the journey is still unfolding. Every stretch I drive adds another story, another stop, and another unexpected discovery along the Mother Road.

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Route 66 Stops Still on my List

Even though I’ve started exploring sections of Route 66, there are still so many iconic stops I hope to visit someday. One of the things that makes the Mother Road so special is the incredible variety of places along the route — quirky roadside attractions, historic diners, neon-lit motels, and landscapes that feel like they belong in another era.

These are a few of the classic Route 66 stops that are still high on my list.

The Gemini Giant- Wilmington, Illinois

Standing over 28 feet tall, the Gemini Giant is one of the famous “Muffler Man” statues that once dotted highways across the country. Holding a giant rocket and wearing a space helmet, he reflects the excitement of the Space Age that shaped roadside culture in the 1960s. He’s one of the most recognizable Route 66 statues still standing today.

Mermamec Caverns- Stanton, Missouri

Meramec Caverns is one of the longest cave systems in Missouri and has been welcoming Route 66 travelers since the 1930s. For decades, barn roofs across the Midwest were painted with advertisements pointing travelers toward the caverns.It’s a classic example of the roadside marketing that helped shape early American road trips.

Cadillac Ranch- Amarillo, Texas

One of the most famous roadside attractions on Route 66 is Cadillac Ranch, where ten vintage Cadillacs are buried nose-first in the Texas soil. Visitors are encouraged to bring spray paint and add their own layer of graffiti, which means the artwork is constantly changing. It’s messy, colorful, and exactly the kind of unexpected stop that makes Route 66 so memorable.

Petrified Forest National Park- Arizona

This national park is the only one in the country that contains a section of historic Route 66. Along with colorful badlands and ancient petrified wood, visitors can still see remnants of the original highway alignment. It’s a powerful reminder of how the Mother Road once cut through some of the most striking landscapes in the Southwest.

Santa Monica Pier- California

For travelers driving west, the Santa Monica Pier marks the symbolic end of Route 66. After crossing eight states and more than 2,400 miles, the road finally meets the Pacific Ocean here. The “End of the Trail” sign has become a bucket-list photo for Route 66 road trippers.

Even after a century, Route 66 is still full of places waiting to be discovered. And the longer my list gets, the more I realize that the journey along the Mother Road may never truly be finished.

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Tips for Planning a Route 66 Trip

Driving the full length of Route 66 is a dream for many travelers, but it can also feel a little overwhelming at first. The road stretches 2,400 miles from Illinois to California, crossing eight states and countless small towns along the way.

As I’ve started exploring the route in sections, I’ve learned a few things that make the journey easier and much more enjoyable.

• Give Yourself Time to Wander

One of the best things about Route 66 is that it rewards curiosity. Some of the most memorable stops aren’t the big famous landmarks- they’re the unexpected murals, vintage gas pumps, or roadside statues that appear when you slow down and look around.

• Don’t Be Afraid to Drive it in Sections

You don’t have to drive the entire route in one trip to experience the magic of Route 66. Exploring it a little at a time has allowed me to really enjoy the places along the way without feeling rushed.

• Look for the Historic Alignments

Because modern highways replaced much of the original route, parts of Route 66 now run along different roads. In some areas you’ll follow the historic alignment through small towns rather than the interstate, and those sections often hold the most character.

• Expect the Unexpected

Some stops along Route 66 are beautifully restored, while others feel distinctly vintage. Part of the charm of the Mother Road is seeing both- the preserved landmarks and the quirky roadside attractions that keep the spirit of the highway alive.

• Embrace the Nostalgia

Route 66 is full of diners, neon signs, vintage motels, and roadside art. The road tells the story of American travel across generations, and part of the fun is letting yourself step into that history for a while.

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Why Route 66 Still Matters After 100 YEars

When the original alignment of U.S. Route 66 was officially established in 1926, it was designed as a practical highway connecting one part of the country with another. For decades it carried families heading west, migrants looking for opportunity, soldiers traveling between bases, and vacationers chasing sunshine and adventure.

Eventually, faster interstate highways replaced much of the road. Route 66 was officially removed from the U.S. Highway System.

But the story didn’t end there.

Instead of fading away, Route 66 became something more than just a highway. Communities along the route began restoring old motels, diners, and neon signs. Historic gas stations were preserved. Roadside attractions were repaired or rebuilt. Entire towns embraced their place along the Mother Road and invited travelers to experience a piece of living history.

Today, Route 66 is both a journey through the past and a road that continues to change and grow. New murals appear on brick walls of small towns. Fresh roadside statues pop up beside historic landmarks. Vintage businesses reopen alongside modern cafes and gift shops.

It’s a road that honors where it came from while still welcoming the next generation of travelers.

And maybe that the real magic of Route 66. It’s not just a road you drive- it’s a story you become part of every mile along the way.

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There’s a reason U.S. Route 66 has captured imaginations for a hundred years. It isn’t just a road stretching across the country. It’s a collection of stories- old gas stations that refuse to fade away, quirky roadside statues that make you smile, diners where the coffee if always hot, and miles of highway where the best moments happen when you least expect them.

That’s part of what makes the Mother Road feel so special to me. Route 66 embodies everything that Grand Misadventures has become over the years- the history behind a place, the joy of a good road trip, and the unexpected discoveries you find when you slow down and take the scenic route. I may be traveling it one section at a time, but in many ways that feels like the perfect way to experience it. After all, the magic of Route 66 was never meant to be rushed.

And somewhere down the road, mile by mile, I’ll keep chasing the rest of it.

Thanks for joining me on this ode to the Mother Road. May highways excite you and neon signs greet you as you drive on Route 66.

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Follow along for more adventures near and far!

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