Route 66 Attractions

The official starting point of Historic Route 66 at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, marking the beginning of the 2,448-mile journey to Santa Monica.

Classic diner and National Register property, long known as the 'first stop on the Mother Road' since 1923. Famous for their Milk Duds and donut holes.

Historic 1920s chicken restaurant originally fronting Route 66, known for family-style fried chicken dinners and charming farm atmosphere.

Major Route 66 interpretation site and official welcome center for Illinois Route 66, featuring exhibits on the highway's history and impact.

Lavish 1926 movie palace on a Route 66 alignment downtown, known as the 'Jewel of Joliet' with stunning architecture and chandeliers.

Iconic 30-foot fiberglass astronaut Muffler Man holding a rocket, one of the most photographed Route 66 landmarks in Illinois.

The iconic 630-foot Gateway Arch stands as America's tallest monument and St. Louis's most recognizable landmark. Completed in 1965, this stunning stainless steel arch symbolizes the westward expansion of the United States. Route 66 travelers can ride to the top for breathtaking views of the Mississippi River and downtown St. Louis. The surrounding Gateway Arch National Park offers museums, riverfront walks, and interpretive exhibits about westward migration and the role of St. Louis as the 'Gateway to the West.'

Route 66 State Park preserves 419 acres of Missouri River bottomland and celebrates the heritage of the Mother Road. The park features hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, and the historic Bridgehead Inn visitor center. Interpretive exhibits showcase Route 66 history and the area's industrial past. The Meramec River flows through the park, offering fishing and canoeing opportunities. This peaceful stop provides a perfect blend of natural beauty and Route 66 nostalgia.

Pacific, Missouri sits along historic Route 66 in the rolling Ozark foothills. This charming town features vintage motels, classic diners, and antique shops that preserve the spirit of the Mother Road. The Red Cedar Inn, a beloved Route 66 landmark, serves travelers with classic American fare. Pacific's downtown showcases well-preserved early 20th-century architecture and Route 66 murals that celebrate the highway's golden era.

St. Clair welcomes Route 66 travelers with small-town hospitality and vintage roadside charm. The Lewis Cafe, operating since 1938, remains a beloved stop for homemade pies and classic diner fare. Downtown St. Clair features antique stores, local shops, and Route 66 memorabilia. The town's historic commercial district preserves the architecture and atmosphere of Route 66's heyday, making it a perfect photo stop for road-trippers.

Meramec Caverns is one of Route 66's most famous roadside attractions, drawing travelers since the 1930s. This massive cave system features stunning limestone formations, underground rivers, and the legendary 'Stage Curtain'—a 70-foot mineral formation. The caverns were heavily promoted with barn roof advertisements across the Midwest, making them synonymous with Route 66 travel. Guided tours reveal the caves' natural beauty and colorful history, including tales of Jesse James allegedly using them as a hideout.

Sullivan, Missouri offers Route 66 travelers a taste of Ozark hospitality with its historic downtown and vintage roadside businesses. The town features classic motor courts, local diners, and antique shops that preserve Route 66 character. Sullivan's Meramec River access provides fishing and outdoor recreation. The town celebrates its Route 66 heritage with murals, vintage signage, and annual festivals that honor the Mother Road's legacy.

Quapaw marks the first Oklahoma town on Route 66 as travelers cross from Kansas. This small northeastern Oklahoma community sits on land originally inhabited by the Quapaw Nation. The town features vintage Route 66 signage and serves as a gateway to Oklahoma's portion of the Mother Road. Quapaw's quiet streets and rural character preserve the authentic small-town atmosphere that defined Route 66 travel in its golden era.

Commerce proudly celebrates its most famous native son, baseball legend Mickey Mantle. A bronze statue of 'The Mick' stands in the town, commemorating where the future Hall of Famer grew up playing baseball. The historic Dairy King and vintage Conoco station showcase Commerce's Route 66 heritage. This small town offers a glimpse into rural Oklahoma life and the American pastime, making it a meaningful stop for baseball fans and Route 66 enthusiasts alike.

Miami (pronounced my-AM-uh) serves as a major Route 66 hub in northeastern Oklahoma. The town features the historic Coleman Theatre Beautiful, a stunning Spanish Colonial Revival movie palace from 1929. Downtown Miami showcases well-preserved Route 66 architecture, vintage motels, and the Waylan's Ku-Ku Burger drive-in. The Marathon Oil Station, built in 1929, stands as one of Route 66's most photographed gas stations with its distinctive cottage-style architecture.

Afton Station Packard Museum celebrates Route 66 history and classic automobiles. This restored 1930s DX gas station houses an impressive collection of Packard automobiles and Route 66 memorabilia. The town's quiet streets preserve vintage Route 66 character, with historic buildings and roadside architecture. Afton represents the small-town stops that made Route 66 travel an adventure of discovery and personal connection.

Vinita claims fame as home to the Will Rogers Archway, the world's largest McDonald's spanning Interstate 44. This Route 66 town honors Oklahoma's favorite son, Will Rogers, with murals and historical markers. Downtown Vinita features the historic Eastern Trails Museum and vintage Route 66 businesses. The town's Coo-Y Motel and other classic motor courts preserve the roadside lodging experience that defined Route 66 travel.

Chelsea preserves authentic Route 66 character with its historic Chelsea Motel and vintage downtown buildings. The Pryor Creek Bridge, a 1926 steel truss bridge, represents original Route 66 engineering. Chelsea's quiet main street showcases early 20th-century commercial architecture and small-town Oklahoma hospitality. This unassuming stop offers travelers a genuine glimpse into Route 66's past, away from modern tourist development.

Texola sits on the Texas-Oklahoma border, marking the entry into the Texas Panhandle on Route 66. This small border town once thrived as a gateway community with gas stations, cafes, and motels serving westbound travelers. Today, Texola stands as a near-ghost town with weathered buildings and vintage signage that evoke Route 66's past. The quiet streets and abandoned structures offer photographers and history enthusiasts a haunting glimpse into the rise and decline of Route 66 communities.

Shamrock's crown jewel is the U-Drop Inn, a stunning Art Deco masterpiece built in 1936. This beautifully restored tower station and cafe features distinctive geometric design, neon lighting, and soaring tower that make it one of Route 66's most photographed landmarks. The building now houses the Shamrock Chamber of Commerce and visitor center. Shamrock celebrates its Irish heritage with shamrock-painted water towers and St. Patrick's Day festivities, making it a unique cultural stop on the Texas Panhandle route.

McLean houses the fascinating Devil's Rope Museum, dedicated to the history of barbed wire and its impact on the American West. This unique museum showcases hundreds of barbed wire varieties, ranching equipment, and Route 66 memorabilia. The museum occupies a restored 1930s bra factory and includes extensive Route 66 exhibits. McLean's historic downtown features vintage buildings and the Phillips 66 Station, making it an essential stop for understanding both ranching heritage and Route 66 history.

Alanreed represents the quintessential small Texas Panhandle town along Route 66. This quiet agricultural community features historic buildings, vintage gas stations, and the peaceful atmosphere of rural Texas. The town's Bradley-Kiser Memorial Museum preserves local history and Route 66 heritage. Alanreed's unpretentious character and authentic small-town feel offer travelers a genuine experience of life along the Mother Road, away from commercial tourist development.

Groom is famous for the Leaning Water Tower, a deliberately tilted water tower that serves as a quirky roadside attraction and advertising gimmick. The town also features the massive Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a 190-foot cross visible for miles across the flat Panhandle landscape. These distinctive landmarks make Groom impossible to miss for Route 66 travelers. The town's truck stops and cafes continue to serve modern road-trippers crossing the Texas plains.

Conway is a small unincorporated community in the Texas Panhandle along historic Route 66. This quiet agricultural area represents the vast open spaces and farming communities that characterize the Texas portion of the Mother Road. Conway's rural character and sweeping prairie views showcase the dramatic landscape changes travelers experience crossing from Oklahoma into Texas. The community's simplicity embodies the authentic small-town stops that made Route 66 travel an adventure.

Glenrio straddles the Texas-New Mexico state line and represents one of Route 66's most evocative ghost towns. The abandoned buildings, including vintage motels, the State Line Bar, and gas stations, create a haunting landscape frozen in time since Interstate 40 bypassed the town. Glenrio's desolate beauty inspired the fictional town of Radiator Springs in Pixar's Cars. Today, photographers and Route 66 enthusiasts explore the crumbling structures that tell the story of Route 66's rise and decline.

San Jon is a small eastern New Mexico town along Route 66 that preserves the quiet character of rural highway communities. The town features vintage motels and gas stations that once served travelers crossing the high plains. San Jon's wide-open spaces and agricultural landscape showcase the dramatic transition from the Texas Panhandle into New Mexico. The town's authentic small-town atmosphere offers a peaceful stop for Route 66 travelers.

Tucumcari stands as New Mexico's neon capital and one of Route 66's most iconic overnight stops. The legendary Blue Swallow Motel, with its stunning vintage neon sign, represents classic Route 66 lodging at its finest. Tee Pee Curios, with its distinctive teepee-shaped building, has welcomed travelers since 1944. Downtown Tucumcari features an incredible collection of vintage neon signs, Route 66 murals, and historic motels. The town's 'Tucumcari Tonite!' slogan became famous across America, inviting weary travelers to rest along the Mother Road.

Montoya is a near-ghost town along Route 66 in eastern New Mexico. Once a thriving railroad and highway community, Montoya now features abandoned buildings and weathered structures that evoke Route 66's past. The quiet streets and empty storefronts tell the story of communities that depended on highway traffic for survival. Montoya's desolate landscape offers photographers and history enthusiasts a glimpse into the economic impact of Interstate highway construction.

Newkirk is a tiny community along Route 66 in eastern New Mexico. This small settlement represents the many modest stops that once provided basic services to Route 66 travelers. Newkirk's rural character and open landscape showcase the wide horizons and endless skies of eastern New Mexico. The community's quiet atmosphere preserves the authentic character of small Route 66 towns.

Cuervo is an atmospheric ghost town along Route 66 in eastern New Mexico. Abandoned buildings, including a vintage church and old storefronts, create a hauntingly beautiful landscape. Cuervo thrived during Route 66's heyday but declined when Interstate 40 bypassed the town. Today, the weathered structures and empty streets offer photographers exceptional opportunities to capture Route 66's fading heritage. Cuervo represents the fragility of communities built around highway commerce.

Lupton marks Arizona's eastern border with New Mexico and features the iconic Chief Yellowhorse Trading Post perched dramatically against red-rock cliffs. This classic roadside trading post has welcomed Route 66 travelers since the 1950s with Native American crafts, jewelry, and Southwestern souvenirs. The striking desert landscape and colorful trading post make Lupton a perfect early-arrival photo stop as travelers enter Arizona's stunning high desert country.

Houck preserves remnants of historic Route 66 trading posts and roadside pull-offs that once served early travelers crossing the Arizona desert. The quiet community features weathered curio shops and abandoned structures that evoke Route 66's golden age. Houck's open desert landscape and vintage roadside architecture offer photographers authentic glimpses of the Mother Road's fading heritage.

Sanders features quiet stretches of old Route 66 alignment winding through open desert highlands. The town's historic highway sections offer photographers long, empty pavement shots framed by Arizona's dramatic high desert scenery. Sanders represents the peaceful, contemplative side of Route 66 travel through wide-open spaces and endless horizons.

Holbrook showcases the legendary Wigwam Motel, one of the most iconic Route 66 accommodations in America. Guests sleep in restored concrete wigwams surrounded by vintage cars and classic Route 66 atmosphere. Petrified Forest National Park, the only national park Route 66 once crossed directly through, features surreal rainbow badlands, ancient petrified logs, and abandoned 1930s vehicles. Downtown Holbrook's Bucket of Blood Street preserves Wild West folklore and historic buildings that tell Arizona's frontier story.

Joseph City features the famous Jackrabbit Trading Post, home of the beloved 'Here It Is!' billboards that became Route 66 icons. For decades, travelers followed yellow billboards featuring a leaping jackrabbit across hundreds of miles to reach this classic trading post. The giant jackrabbit statue and vintage signage make Joseph City one of the most photographed stops on Route 66. The trading post continues to welcome travelers with souvenirs, snacks, and authentic Route 66 nostalgia.

Winslow celebrates its Route 66 heritage with Standin' on the Corner Park, a tribute to the Eagles' song 'Take It Easy.' The park features a bronze statue, colorful mural, and a flatbed Ford parked nearby, creating one of Route 66's most popular photo opportunities. La Posada Hotel, a stunning Harvey House designed by architect Mary Colter, has been restored to its former elegance and offers travelers a glimpse of 1930s luxury rail travel. Nearby Meteor Crater, one of Earth's best-preserved impact craters, provides a dramatic natural attraction.

Needles marks Route 66's entry into California along the Colorado River. This desert town features the historic El Garces Harvey House, a stunning Mission Revival depot that once served Santa Fe Railway passengers. Needles' scorching summer temperatures and Colorado River location make it a gateway to California's Mojave Desert. The town's vintage motels, classic diners, and Route 66 memorabilia preserve the Mother Road's heritage at the California border.

Goffs is a remote desert outpost featuring the historic Goffs Schoolhouse, built in 1914 and now serving as a Route 66 museum and cultural center. This tiny community represents the isolated settlements that once provided essential services to travelers crossing California's vast Mojave Desert. Goffs' extreme remoteness and authentic desert character offer travelers a glimpse of Route 66's most challenging and desolate stretches.

Fenner is a nearly abandoned railroad and highway community in the eastern Mojave Desert. The quiet settlement features weathered buildings and empty structures that evoke Route 66's ghost town heritage. Fenner's stark desert landscape and fading roadside architecture attract photographers seeking to capture the Mother Road's most desolate and haunting scenes.

Essex is a tiny Mojave Desert community along Route 66. This remote settlement once provided gas, food, and lodging to travelers crossing the harsh desert between Needles and Barstow. Essex's quiet streets and vintage structures preserve the authentic character of isolated Route 66 towns that depended entirely on highway traffic for survival.

Chambless features the ruins of Chambless Camp, a roadside complex built by William Chambless in 1920. The abandoned gas station, store, and cabins stand as monuments to Route 66 entrepreneurship in the harsh Mojave Desert. Chambless' weathered structures and desert setting create one of Route 66's most photogenic ghost town scenes.

Amboy features the legendary Roy's Motel and Café, one of Route 66's most iconic and photographed stops. The restored neon sign, vintage gas pumps, and classic roadside architecture make Roy's a must-visit destination. Nearby Amboy Crater, a 6,000-year-old cinder cone volcano, rises dramatically from the desert floor. Amboy's extreme isolation and pristine desert setting preserve authentic Route 66 atmosphere in California's Mojave Desert.