Route 66: America's Most Famous Highway

Route 66 is the most famous road in American history, stretching 3,940 kilometers from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. Established in 1926, it became known as the "Mother Road" after John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath" immortalized the highway as the path of Depression-era migrants heading west.

Introduction

Though officially decommissioned in 1985 after being bypassed by the Interstate Highway System, Route 66 lives on as a nostalgic symbol of mid-century American culture, with preserved motels, diners, and gas stations drawing millions of road-trippers each year.

Route & Engineering

• Total Length: 3,940 km (2,448 miles)
• States Crossed: 8 (Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California)
• Start/End: Chicago, IL to Santa Monica, CA

Route 66 traversed the American heartland diagonally from northeast to southwest, crossing the Great Plains, the Texas Panhandle, the high desert of New Mexico, and the Mojave Desert before descending to the Pacific coast at Santa Monica.

The route was not built as a single project but designated as a numbered highway connecting existing roads. Over the decades, sections were realigned, straightened, and improved. Many of the original alignments still exist as local roads alongside the Interstates that replaced them.

Key Stats

• Established: November 11, 1926
• Decommissioned: June 27, 1985
• States: 8

Route 66 was one of the original U.S. numbered highways established in 1926. It was one of the few that ran diagonally rather than following the standard north-south or east-west grid, making it a natural path from the Midwest to the Southwest.

At its peak in the 1950s, Route 66 carried millions of travelers and supported thousands of small businesses along its length. The highway spawned an entire roadside culture of motels, diners, gas stations, and tourist attractions.

History

• Dust Bowl Migration: 1930s westward exodus
• Post-War Boom: 1950s American road trip culture
• Interstate Act: 1956 Highway Act began Route 66's decline

During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, Route 66 served as the primary westward migration route for hundreds of thousands of displaced farm families from Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas seeking a new life in California. Steinbeck called it the "Mother Road" in The Grapes of Wrath.

The post-war boom of the 1950s transformed Route 66 into the quintessential American road trip. Bobby Troup's 1946 song "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" and the 1960-1964 TV series "Route 66" cemented its cultural status.

Current Status

• Preservation: National Historic Route 66 designation
• Drivable: ~85% of original alignment accessible
• Tourism: Millions of visitors annually

Since its decommissioning, a robust preservation movement has worked to maintain Route 66's historic sites. The National Park Service administers the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, and several states have designated portions as State Historic Routes.

Approximately 85% of the original alignment remains drivable, though navigating it requires detailed maps and guidebooks as the route is no longer continuously signed. Many iconic businesses along the route have been restored as tourist attractions.

Visitor & Travel Info

• Driving Time: 2-3 weeks recommended
• Best Season: Spring and fall
• Must-See Stops: Cadillac Ranch, Painted Desert, Santa Monica Pier

A proper Route 66 road trip takes two to three weeks to appreciate the diverse landscapes and small-town culture along the way. Highlights include the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the Blue Whale of Catoosa in Oklahoma, Cadillac Ranch in Texas, and the Painted Desert in Arizona.

Accommodation ranges from restored vintage motels like the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, to modern hotels in larger cities. The route passes through both desolate stretches and vibrant towns, so planning fuel and food stops is important.

Key Facts

• Route 66 stretched 3,940 km from Chicago to Santa Monica across eight states.
• It was established in 1926 and decommissioned in 1985.
• The highway served as the primary migration route during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s.
• Approximately 85% of the original alignment is still drivable today.
• John Steinbeck named it the "Mother Road" in The Grapes of Wrath.

Fun Facts

• Route 66 was one of the first highways in the United States to be almost completely paved.
• The longest remaining uninterrupted stretch of Route 66 is in Arizona.
• Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, features ten Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground as a Route 66 art installation.
• The town of Seligman, Arizona, is credited with starting the Route 66 preservation movement in 1987.

Final Thoughts

Route 66 is more than a road; it is a cultural artifact that embodies the American spirit of exploration and reinvention. From Dust Bowl migrants to beatnik adventurers to modern road-trippers, the Mother Road continues to inspire journeys across the American heartland.