Traveling the USA on Route 66

Illinois Missouri Oklahoma Kansas Texas New Mexico Arizona California

U.S. Route 66 also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America and the Mother Road, was one of the original highways in the United States. Established on November 11, 1926, it became one of the most famous roads in America, running from Chicago to Santa Monica California and covering 2448 miles – 3940 Km.

This Road served as a major path for those who migrated west, especially during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and was instrumental in the growth of the communities through which it passed. People doing business along the route became prosperous due its growing popularity.

The Highway ceased to be a part of the US Highway System in 1985; it was replaced in its entirety by segments of the Interstate Highway System. Portions of the road that passed through Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated National Scenic Byways and named Historic Route 66.

Several states have adopted significant bypassed sections of the former US 66 into the state road network as State Route 66.

A Journey along the Mississippi and Illinois River Towns

Chicago Springfield and the Mississippi River 301 miles - 484 km. Chicago is the Gateway to the Midwest and the start of your Route 66 journey. From this great American city’s magnificent architecture, excellent cuisine, the shops on Michigan Avenue and beaches along Lakeshore, you go to Springfield, the Illinois State Capitol and President Lincoln’s home and National Historic Site which preserves the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned. Start your journey along the mother road, savoring its small towns and scenic beauty with stopovers at the Route 66 Experience and Route 66 Museum respectively in Joliet and Berwyn. Also, Pontiac and pie at the Palms Grill Café.

Cozy Dog Drive In this Route 66 diner became a part of the history of the Road when inventor Ed Waldmire introduced the famous "hot dog on a stick" in 1946. Inside, find an amusing selection of Route 66 memorabilia, souvenirs, and tasty treats.

An Architectural Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Springfield

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum brings together the world’s largest collection of material related to Abraham Lincoln. The museum features hi-tech exhibits, interactive displays, multimedia programs and a reproduction of the White House as it looked in 1861.

Shea’s Gas Station Museum is a collection of gas station memorabilia spanning over 66 years.

The Brick Road this 1.4 stretch of historic brick road is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Champaign County Illinois Chicago’s Countryside

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Missouri US 66 covered 292 mile  - 470 km - in this state, passing through Joplin, Carthage, Springfield, home of the first drive-thru, and St Louis.

Oklahoma and Kansas the highway covered 267 miles - 430 km - in Oklahoma. Today, it is marked by I-40 west of Oklahoma City; after entering at Texola, US 66 passed through Sayre and Elk City on the way to Tulsa. Past there, US 66 passed through northeastern Oklahoma before entering Kansas where it covered only 13.2 miles - 21.2 km - passing only three towns: Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs.

Texas the Midpoint Café’ in Adrian Texas is the midpoint of the route. US 66 covered 178 miles - 286 km - in the Texas Panhandle, travelling in a west-east line, passing through Amarillo.

New Mexico US 66 covered 380 miles - 610 km - and passed through many Indian reservations in the western half of New Mexico. East of those reservations, the highway passed through Albuquerque and Sante Fe.

Arizona the highway originally covered 401 miles - 645 km – paralleling I-40, passing through the ghost town of Oatman. Between Kingman and Seligman, the route is still signed as SR 66.

California US 66 had its western terminus at the Pacific Coast Highway in California, covering 315 miles - 507 km - in the state running through San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Santa Monica and intersecting with US 101, in Hollywood.

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