Springfield, Missouri, is the Birthplace of Route 66. It’s where, on April 30, 1926, local businessman John T. Woodruff and highway advocate Cyrus Avery sent a telegram that cemented Sixty-Six as the moniker of the new highway that would connect Chicago to Los Angeles. Springfield celebrates its position in history and road trippers flock to …
Tulsa, Oklahoma, is quickly becoming known as Route 66’s Land of the Giants. And once you see these roadside figures, it’s easy to understand why. Muffler Men are classic roadside attractions: fiberglass figures that stand between 14 and 25 feet tall. They were built between 1963 and 1972 by International Fiberglass in Venice, California. Originally, …
If there’s one state that truly embraces the spirit of Route 66, it’s Oklahoma. With more drivable miles of the Mother Road than any other state, this stretch is packed with neon-lit motels, towering roadside giants, historic museums, classic diners, and enough quirky attractions to keep your camera roll full from border to border. From …
Stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, the legendary Route 66 covers more than 2,400 miles of classic Americana. But tucked between Missouri and Oklahoma lies its smallest—and perhaps most surprising—stretch. With just around thirteen miles to explore, Kansas may have the shortest section of the Mother Road, but what it lacks in length it more …
Once you cross the Mississippi River and leave Illinois behind, Route 66 in Missouri shifts gears. The skyline fades, the Ozarks begin to roll, and the Mother Road starts to feel a little wilder, a little quirkier, and a little more adventurous. This is where bridges curve unexpectedly, neon flickers to life at dusk, and …
Before Route 66 stretches west toward wide-open deserts and Pacific sunsets, it eases you into the adventure right here in Illinois. This is where the Mother Road officially begins (at least if you’re heading west), and it sets the tone for everything that follows: historic pavement, oversized roadside icons, comfort food classics, and plenty of …
California’s stretch of Route 66 tells its story through food just as much as it does through neon signs, desert highways, and roadside landmarks. From the Mojave Desert to the Pacific Ocean, the Mother Road is lined with diners, cafés, drive-ins, and family-run restaurants that have been feeding travelers for generations. Some of these spots …
Before Route 66 was famous for neon signs and roadside photo ops, it was fueled by food. Across Arizona, the Mother Road has always been lined with diners, cafés, breweries, bakeries, and one-of-a-kind eateries that offered travelers a reason to pull over, rest their tires, and refuel for the miles ahead. Some places were born …
New Mexico has one of the most memorable stretches of Route 66, and its food is a big reason why. Along the Mother Road, roadside diners, family-run cafés, historic hotels, and no-frills drive-ins serve dishes that reflect the state’s deep cultural roots and longtime love affair with chile. From small towns like Tucumcari and Moriarty …
Texas is one of the most food-focused stretches of Route 66, with plenty of reasons to stop, sit down, and eat. Along the Mother Road, you’ll find everything from historic diners and former gas stations turned restaurants to long-running local favorites that still serve the dishes people come back for year after year. This stretch …
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