In 2026, the legendary Route 66 celebrates its centenary, a milestone that invites us to look back and to highlight the places, people and stories that have made it one of the great icons of United States history and culture. Stretching for nearly 4,000 kilometers across eight states, from Illinois to California, this legendary “Mother Road” continues to spark the imagination of travelers from around the world and fully retains its power to symbolize freedom, unhurried travel and the spirit of adventure.
Centenary of Route 66: one hundred years of the most legendary highway in the United States
Officially inaugurated in 1926, Route 66 was born with a practical objective: to connect the Midwest with the Pacific coast, facilitating the transport of people and goods. However, it very soon transcended its original function to become a vital artery during some of the country’s most decisive moments. During the Great Depression, it was the escape route for thousands of families fleeing the Dust Bowl toward California in search of work and a better life. Those migrations, immortalized in novels such as The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, cemented the human and emotional dimension of the highway.
The classic alignment of Route 66 crosses Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Each state contributes its own identity and a collection of landscapes that make the journey a constantly changing and deeply diverse experience. From the prairies and small industrial towns of the Midwest to the reddish deserts of the Southwest and the beaches of the Pacific, traveling Route 66 is traveling through the geography and soul of the United States.
More than a simple road trip, Route 66 is an open-air museum of American popular culture. Classic neon-lit motels, historic gas stations, 1950s diners and advertising signs that seem frozen in time line the route. Many of these establishments have survived thanks to the dedication of local communities and enthusiasts who have understood the heritage value of the highway. In the year of its centenary, numerous towns and cities are preparing celebrations, exhibitions and special events to highlight this legacy.
The rise of the automobile and road-trip tourism in the 20th century cannot be understood without Route 66. It was the road along which millions of Americans set off on vacation trips, discovered the country and built a new form of leisure associated with movement and the open road. The subsequent creation of the interstate highway system from the 1950s onward relegated Route 66 to the background and led to its official removal from the highway system in 1985. Paradoxically, that decline marked the starting point of its rebirth as a historic and tourist route.
In recent decades, Route 66 has experienced a true revival thanks to the interest of domestic and international travelers. For many European, Asian or Latin American visitors, driving Route 66 represents the American dream turned into a journey: an itinerary packed with cultural references, music, cinema and literature. Films, songs and television series have helped reinforce its mythical aura, turning it into an aspirational destination that goes far beyond conventional tourism.
The 2026 centenary is shaping up to be a unique opportunity to rediscover Route 66 from a contemporary perspective. Conservation initiatives, historic signage and economic revitalization projects are receiving renewed momentum. Museums dedicated to the highway, such as those in Pontiac, Kingman or Clinton, are expanding their content and activities, while the states involved are coordinating actions to promote the route as an integrated and sustainable tourism product.
Traveling Route 66 in 2026 also allows for a more conscious and personalized experience. Although many original stretches no longer exist or have been absorbed by modern roads, it is still possible to travel long sections of the historic alignment, alternating driving with cultural visits and encounters with local communities. Today’s traveler seeks authentic experiences: chatting with the owners of a family-run motel, tasting local cuisine in a historic diner, or stopping in an almost forgotten town where time seems to have stood still.
Above all, Route 66 remains a metaphor. It represents the idea that the journey is as important as the destination, that the road offers learning, encounters and unexpected moments. In an era marked by speed, hyperconnectivity and efficient travel, the “Mother Road” reivindicates the value of slow travel, detours and letting oneself be surprised.
Celebrating its centenary is not only about commemorating a date, but also about recognizing the impact this highway has had on the construction of the American and global collective imagination. Route 66 is history, but also present and future: a thread that connects generations of travelers and continues to inspire those who seek something more from travel than just miles covered.
In 2026, traveling Route 66 will be a way to pay tribute to one hundred years of shared stories, unforgettable landscapes and that traveling spirit that continues to call people to get behind the wheel, look to the horizon and keep moving forward. Because, one hundred years later, Route 66 is still alive and remains one of the great journeys that must be made at least once in a lifetime.
No sabía nada de lo de Chicago. Eso lo complica todo. Supongo que vas de Chicago a las Vegas en avión. Cuantos días tienes desde que llegas a Las Vegas a irte?
No sabía nada de lo de Chicago. Eso lo complica todo. Supongo que vas de Chicago a las Vegas en avión. Cuantos días tienes desde que llegas a Las Vegas a irte?
Igual no me he explicado bien,la idea es llegar a Chicago estar 2 noches y alquilar coche para iniciar la ruta hasta los ángeles,pasando por Las Vegas y el gran cañón,todo ésto en 15 días; mi pregunta es, dará tiempo a desviarse también para ver algún otro parque?yo creo que con 15 días teniendo en cuenta que en los ángeles mínimo 2 días no da para más verdad?
Igual no me entero yo. Tú vas a hacer la auténtica ruta 66, la que hacía la gente para huir de la Gran Depresión y se iban desde Chicago a California a empezar una nueva vida
No tengo ni remotísima idea. Yo solo hice el pequeño tramo final desde Flagstaff hasta Los Ángeles, hasta el mar ... En ese tramo te indico que hay trozos que parecen ser los originales y otros han desaparecido engullidos por la modernidad y te verás yendo por una autopista interestatal cualquiera. Y los pueblos se han convertido en lugares turísticos típicos con un regustillo a cultura popular... Leer más ...
Yo no hice la ruta 66 de Chicago a LA, pero sí fui de Salt Lake a Chicago pasando por Yellowstone, o de Chicago a Las Vegas por Nebraska/Colorado, y mi penúltimo, una ruta circular por todos los estados que rodean Oklahoma.
Con esto quiero decir que tengo experiencia en cruzar los estados centrales. De Chicago a La hay aprox. 3400km. Pon que haya 3500-3600 porque la vieja R66 da más vueltas o te desvías para ver algo. A una media de 400km la recorres en 9 días. Todo va a depender de qué quieres ver en las grandes llanuras. En Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma, ¿vas a seguir prácticamente la... Leer más ...
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No tengo ni remotísima idea. Yo solo hice el pequeño tramo final desde Flagstaff hasta Los Ángeles, hasta el mar ... En ese tramo te indico que hay trozos que parecen ser los originales y otros han desaparecido engullidos por la modernidad y te verás yendo por una autopista interestatal cualquiera. Y los pueblos se han convertido en lugares turísticos típicos con un regustillo a cultura popular... 
