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Showing posts with label Route 66 Centennial. Show all posts

Saturday, August 29, 2026

The End-of-the-Trail on Route 66

The Ending of Route 66 at the Santa Monica Pier

The last part of our road trip takes us through New Mexico, Arizona and on to the California Coast where the designated ending to Route 66 is at the Santa Monica Pier.

THE LAST THREE STATES OF ROUTE 66:

New Mexico, Arizona, California

NEW MEXICO - 487 Miles

Of the original 400+ miles of Route 66 across New Mexico, 265 miles are still drivable. Running parallel to Interstate 40, this drivable, historic stretch connects iconic boomtowns like Tucumcari, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Grants, and Gallup. Travelers can experience vintage neon signs, classic motels, and deep Indigenous and Spanish heritage.

Highlights include the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, the Blue Hole, an 80-foot artesian spring, in Santa Rosa, the Nob Hill district, filled with vintage diners and local events in Albuquerque, and the McKinley County Courthouse (The Heart of Indian Country) in Gallup.

ARIZONA - 401 Miles

Check out the Petrified Forest National Park in NE Arizona. Spend a night in a vintage concrete teepee in Holbrook (AZ). Stop at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City and the Powerhouse Museum in Kingman, known as the “Heart of Historic Route 66”.

Conclude your Arizona Mother Road trip in Oatman, as you enjoy a mountain drive through the Black Mountains.

CALIFORNIA - 314 Miles

From the Arizona border at Needles, the Route 66 Road Trip includes over 300 miles through the Mojave Desert, past historic ghost towns and those iconic roadside diners. Barstow offers a desert oasis featuring the ‘Mother Road Museum’.

You will pass through San Bernardino, Pasadena & Los Angeles, then follow Colorado Boulevard directly to the Ocean. The official “End of the Trail”, complete with a sign, is at the Santa Monica Pier.

Summary

Route 66 end at the Santa Monica (CA) Pier

This concludes our scenic road trip of the iconic Route 66. We hope you have an opportunity to celebrate this famous highway’s 100 years during its Centennial by enjoying even a small part of the distance from Chicago to Santa Monica.

♫ ♫ Get Your Kicks on Route 66 ♬ ♪

Saturday, August 15, 2026

Celebrating the Centennial of Route 66 - The Middle Part

Celebrating the Centennial of Route 66 - The Midpoint

MIDDLE STATES OF ROUTE 66: Oklahoma, Texas

If you have ever wondered how Route 66 acquired the nickname “The Mother Road”, here is the backstory!

The nickname came from author John Steinbeck. He coined the term in his 1939 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Grapes of Wrath, to describe the highway as a primary lifeline for Dust Bowl refugees migrating west to California.

OKLAHOMA: 432 miles - The State with the Longest Stretch of Route 66

The state of Oklahoma has the longest continuous stretch of the Mother Road of any of the 8 states it passes through. The route enters the state in the northeast corner near Quapaw, runs southwest through Tulsa and Oklahoma City, and exits near Texola.

A few of the landmarks to visit as you travel on your Route 66 road trip include:

Blue Whale of Catoosa: This is a quirky, iconic roadside attraction built in the 1970s. It is perfect for photos. It is located just east of Tulsa at Catoosa, Ok. The attraction is quite literally a ‘blue whale’ built of concrete and iron. This waterfront structure has become one of the most recognizable attractions on old Route 66.
The Golden Driller in Tulsa is a 76-foot statue of an oil worker. It was originally erected for the 1953 International Petroleum Exposition. The statue depicts an oil worker leaning on an oil derrick. It is the seventh-tallest statue in the United States.
The Arcadia (OK) Round Barn was built by a local farmer in 1896 and has become one of the landmark tourist attractions along the stretch of Route 66 in Oklahoma near Oklahoma City. . It has a unique architecture.
National Route 66 Museum Complex in Elk City, OK features exhibits, classic cars, and a peek into the golden age of American road trips. Another interesting tourist stop on your Oklahoma Route 66 road trip.

TEXAS - 186 Miles - The State with the Midpoint of Route 66

Route 66 across Texas generally parallels Interstate 40. The route features quirky art installations, ghost towns, and classic diners, with Amarillo serving as the major hub along the way.

Start by visiting the restored Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café in Shamrock. Then on to McClean, Texas to see the Devil's Rope Museum, which showcases a massive, quirky collection of barbed wire, and the first Phillips 66 station in Texas.

MIDPOINT: The official geo-mathematical midpoint of historic Route 66 is located in Adrian, Texas, at exactly 1,139 miles from both Chicago and Los Angeles.

In Amarillo you will find 13 blocks of vintage architecture, as well as antique shops and local dining. Don’t miss the infamous Cadillac Ranch, then treat yourself to a massive steak at The Big Texan Steak Ranch.

Summary

Having finished the middle section of your road trip of Route 66, you will next enter the last stretch of the three western states, taking you to the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica.