Brand USA Guides Travelers On Route 66 Centennial Journey Through Iconic Sights, Legendary Eats, And Unique Stays

With just over a year remaining until Route 66 celebrates its centennial on November 11, 2026, travelers have the perfect reason to explore the countless attractions and historic sites that line this iconic American highway. From classic diners and retro soda fountains to modern food halls, the Mother Road offers experiences that cater to every taste and curiosity.

A recent study by Brand USA highlights that road trips remain among the top three travel experiences driving global interest in visiting the United States. To support this surge, Brand USA has partnered with Secretary Sean Duffy and the U.S. Department of Transportation on the Great American Road Trip initiative, showcasing more than 250 must-see sites along legendary routes, including Route 66.

Essential Museums and Attractions Along Route 66

Illinois is home to some of the most iconic stops along Route 66. The Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac offers memorabilia and the chance to photograph the largest Route 66 shield mural. For a quirky roadside sight, the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville stands 170 feet tall and was originally built as a water tower in 1949. Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton features VW Rabbits emerging from the ground alongside nostalgic Route 66 relics. In Livingston, the Pink Elephant Antique Mall offers 30,000 square feet of vintage treasures in a former high school, anchored by an enormous pink elephant. Litchfield’s Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center features a refurbished neon sign, memorabilia, and an 1883 hand-drawn fire wagon.

Missouri is equally packed with eccentric and memorable attractions. The state boasts roadside marvels like the World’s Largest Rocking Chair near Cuba and the World’s Second-Largest Fork in Springfield. In St. Louis, the Gateway Arch dominates the skyline, while the Neon Museum preserves the city’s colorful signage history.

Although Kansas has only a short 13-mile stretch of Route 66, it still offers historical gems such as the Marsh Arch Bridge (Rainbow Bridge), Baxter Springs Heritage Center & Museum, and the Galena Mining & Historical Museum.

Oklahoma offers rich historical context along the highway. The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton takes visitors back to the Dust Bowl era, illustrating how the road shaped lives and migration. The famous Blue Whale of Catoosa is undergoing renovations ahead of the centennial, while Luther’s Threatt Filling Station, built in 1915, celebrates its role as a haven for Black travelers and remains on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s List of Most Endangered Places.

Texas and New Mexico offer car culture and nostalgic Americana. Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo features a famous art installation of half-buried Cadillacs. The Route 66 Auto Museum in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, houses a collection of vintage cars and memorabilia. Albuquerque’s new West Central Route 66 Visitor Center spans 21,000 square feet and includes a museum, neon collection, amphitheater, conference hall, gift shop, and community spaces. Outdoor areas will host drive-in movie nights, car shows, artisan pop-ups, and more. The “Route 66 Remixed” public art series will transform Central Avenue into an immersive art journey with installations and digital experiences curated in partnership with Meow Wolf, Refract Studio, and local artists. Narration and storytelling will be provided by Albuquerque’s first Poet Laureate, Hakim Bellamy.

Arizona is home to both natural and quirky Route 66 landmarks. Petrified Forest National Park preserves a stretch of the historic highway, while roadside stops such as the Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Winslow (celebrated in the Eagles’ “Take It Easy”), and Kingman’s Arizona Route 66 Museum and Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum showcase the state’s unique charm.

As the route nears its end, travelers can visit the Original McDonald’s Site and Museum in San Bernardino and Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in the Mojave Desert. The journey concludes in Santa Monica, California, at the iconic “End of the Trail” sign on the Santa Monica Pier. Here, visitors enjoy sweeping ocean views and fresh coastal air, just steps from Pacific Park’s Route 66-themed “West Coaster,” making it the perfect finale to a legendary American road trip.

The Most Unique and Luxurious Stays Along Route 66

Arizona’s Holbrook is home to the legendary Wigwam Motel, a teepee-inspired lodging that has welcomed travelers for decades. Its vintage charm has earned it a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, making it a must-see stop on Main Street USA.

Nearby, the Americana Motor Hotel offers a retro-futuristic retreat along Route 66, just 1.5 hours from the Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest National Park. The property features 89 stylish rooms with nods to 1970s skiwear, a year-round heated pool, firepits, telescopes for stargazing, rentable bikes, EV chargers, and a pet-friendly “Barkyard.” Guests can enjoy Sinaloa-inspired Mexican dishes at Baja Mar while taking in the hotel’s modern amenities and playful design.

In Oklahoma City, the historic Colcord Hotel blends early 20th-century elegance with contemporary comfort. Housed in the city’s first skyscraper, built in 1910 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the hotel reopened in 2006 and offers stylish rooms, suites, modern amenities, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The neon signature of Mrs. Colcord atop the building reflects the hotel’s independent spirit.

Also in Oklahoma City, The National, Autograph Collection, resides in the iconic 1931 First National Bank building. After a meticulous restoration, the hotel combines historic grandeur with modern luxury. Original murals, stone columns, vault doors, and teller windows highlight the city’s rich heritage while 150 elegant rooms and 2,499 square feet of event space ensure a lavish stay.

Tulsa’s Campbell Hotel offers uniquely themed rooms, including the Leon Russell Room, Art Deco Room, and Oil Barons Room, all within a restored Spanish Colonial revival building. Nearby, Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66—a former 1950s gas station—offers souvenirs, postcards, and quirky collectibles.

The Barfield, Autograph Collection, in Amarillo, Texas, sits steps from historic Route 66 in the century-old Oliver–Eakle–Barfield Building. Its 112 rooms and suites blend historic charm with modern luxury, featuring custom furnishings, leather and cowhide accents, SMART TVs, soundproofing, blackout curtains, designer bathrobes, and upscale bath amenities.

California offers its own Route 66 icons. The Route 66 Motel in Barstow captures retro charm with vintage memorabilia, while near the route’s end, the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica provides a lavish stay just steps from the iconic pier.

Dining Highlights Along the Mother Road

Roadside dining is a cornerstone of the Route 66 experience. Chicago’s Lou Mitchell’s, established in 1923 before the highway existed, serves breakfast all day and treats guests to donut holes upon arrival.

In Girard, Illinois, Doc’s Just Off 66 preserves the charm of an old soda fountain, while Litchfield’s Ariston Cafe, dating back to 1924, offers a diverse menu spanning Midwestern, Southern, Italian, and Greek cuisine. Hamel’s Route 66 Creamery challenges diners with the Mother Road Burger Challenge—a six-patty cheeseburger tower served with fries and a shake, plus complimentary pup cups for furry friends.

Tulsa’s Mother Road Market is a unique nonprofit food hall featuring vendors offering African, Japanese, Brazilian, Cajun, and other international cuisines. In Stroud, Oklahoma, the Rock Cafe—opened in 1939 and famously inspiring the Pixar character Sally in Cars—continues to serve classic American fare after reopening following a 2008 fire.

Arizona’s Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman remains a nostalgic stop with simple favorites like chicken sandwiches, shakes, and snow cones. In Victorville, California, Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café carries on family recipes prepared by the founder’s children, maintaining a simple, beloved menu.

At the official western end of Route 66, Mel’s Drive-In in Santa Monica offers a quintessential diner experience. Housed in a historic 1950s building, it serves classic American dishes, features a colorful Route 66 mural in the parking lot, road trip memorabilia, and a mosaic marking the highway’s end—perfect for those concluding their Mother Road journey with style.

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