The U.S. just celebrated its 250th birthday, but another patriotic milestone is just around the corner—the 100th anniversary of Route 66.
Stretching nearly 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, the legendary “Mother Road” turns 100 on Nov. 11, 2026, and communities across all eight Route 66 states are marking the occasion with festivals, concerts, classic car cruises, art exhibits, heritage tours and other special events throughout the year.
Established in 1926, Route 66 quickly became more than a highway. It became a symbol of American mobility, entrepreneurship and adventure, inspiring everyone from road-trippers and truckers to musicians, filmmakers and writers. Now, as the nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, the road that helped define modern American travel is celebrating a century of its own.
Dozens of celebrations are taking place throughout 2026, making it relatively easy to align vacations with local festivities.
Springfield, Illinois, offers one of the year’s most distinctive experiences: Guided boat tours over a submerged section of the original 1933 Route 66 alignment beneath Lake Springfield. Available through early October, the tours provide a memorable excursion that’s equal parts history lesson and local adventure.
Later in the year, Springfield will also host the Route 66 Centennial Conference, bringing together preservationists, historians, tourism leaders and enthusiasts for educational sessions, networking and community celebrations.
Also in Illinois, travelers can head to Pontiac to visit the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame & Museum, a repository for thousands of pieces of memorabilia from the glory days of the Mother Road. This is the place to see images and photos throughout the lifetime of the famed highway, and hear a few great stories about life in America when Route 66 was the most important highway in the nation.
Although relatively short at just 13 miles, the Kansas stretch of the famed road also includes some interesting landmarks, including the Marsh Arch Bridge (Rainbow Bridge)—the only drivable bridge of its kind along the historic route.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma, meanwhile, tells the history of the road, its founding and the time period. And in Luther, history comes alive at the Threatt Filling Station, built in 1915 and a haven for Black travelers along Route 66.
In Amarillo, the Texas Route 66 Festival continues through the summer with classic car shows, concerts, parades, guided tours and family-friendly activities celebrating the highway’s legacy. While your clients are visiting Amarillo, make sure they take a detour to Cadillac Ranch, displaying 10 Cadillacs buried nose-down in a field at the same angle as the Pyramids of Giza Pyramid.
In Santa Rose, New Mexico, the Route 66 Auto Museum features a collection of vintage cars and memorabilia. And while in New Mexico, Albuquerque is the place to go to visit the Route 66 Visitor Center, a 21,000-sq.-ft. multipurpose venue featuring a neon sign collection, museum, amphitheater, conference hall and gift shop.
Arizona, meanwhile, is home to the Petrified Forest National Park, the only one in the National Park System containing a section of the historic Mother Road. Plus, be sure visitors check out the Arizona Route 66 Museum and the Route 66 Electric Vehicle Museum.
At the opposite end of the highway, Santa Monica, California—the western terminus of Route 66—is hosting centennial programming throughout the year, including community celebrations and events honoring the road’s enduring cultural influence. And, of course, no trip to Santa Monica would be complete without a visit to the legendary Santa Monica Pier, marking the symbolic end of the Route.
The Route 66 Centennial Commission is also presenting a year-long virtual Speaker Series featuring historians, authors and preservation experts.
Additionally, many destinations are pairing their centennial celebrations with public art installations, live music, local food festivals, museum exhibits and small-business showcases.
The Route 66 Centennial shines a spotlight on destinations that don’t always make vacationers’ short lists.
Cities such as the Springfields of Illinois and Missouri; Tulsa, OK; Amarillo, Texas; Albuquerque, NM; and Flagstaff, AZ, all offer distinctive Route 66 heritage, often at a lower price point than larger destinations. With many communities investing in downtown improvements, museums and visitor experiences ahead of the centennial, 2026 may be one of the best times to give these destinations a fresh look.
—Paloma Villaverde de Rico contributed to this report.
