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Happy 100th Birthday, Route 66! 25 Cool Facts That’ll Make You Want to Take a Road Trip in 2026

Even if you’ve never driven on Route 66, you’ve definitely heard about it—and you’re probably humming along to the classic song about it right now. (Don’t even try to deny it!) Shaped by open highways and desert stretches, this U.S. route has long been a symbol of easygoing freedom and nostalgia. Built in 1926 to connect small towns with major cities and open up westward travel, it quickly became one of America’s most iconic roads. Even though it was officially decommissioned in 1985 and replaced by interstate routes, plenty of it still survives today as “Historic Route 66” scenic drives that you can explore. And with its 100-year anniversary approaching in 2026—it was named on April 30, 1926, and first opened a few months later on Nov. 11—the “Mother Road” is back in the spotlight once again.

That alone is a great reason to plan a road trip … or just dig into some very cool Route 66 facts. Well, you’re about to take a (virtual) joyride through Route 66’s wild history and larger-than-life pop culture moments. Along the way, you’ll learn about the greasy-spoon diners, long desert stretches and blinking neon signs that are still landmarks today. And it will remind you that Route 66 isn’t just a road—it’s the kind of trip you keep saying you’ll take, until one day you finally do.

Read on for Route 66 facts that capture what makes the journey so memorable.

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Facts about Route 66’s history

  • Route 66 was officially established on Nov. 11, 1926, but it wasn’t fully paved until 1938.
  • The highway connected Chicago to Los Angeles as one of America’s first major all-weather highways, unlike earlier routes that turned to mud in bad weather.
  • Around 210,000 people used Route 66 during the Dust Bowl migration in the 1930s, chasing jobs and survival in the West.
  • The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 created the Interstate System, which slowly replaced Route 66 and made it obsolete.
  • Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 after being replaced by interstates like Interstate 40. Many sections were later preserved and marked as “Historic Route 66” for tourism starting in the late 1980s.
  • Route 66’s endpoints—Navy Pier and Santa Monica Pier—are called symbolic anchors, meaning they represent the traditional start and end of the route.
  • About 85% of the original road still exists today in some drivable form, even if it’s not always under the same name.
  • Route 66 was briefly rebranded the “Will Rogers Highway” in 1952 to honor the Oklahoma-born entertainer and humorist.
  • Route 66 wasn’t just one road. It was stitched together from existing local roads and highways, which is why it zigzags instead of running perfectly straight.
  • In its early days, Route 66 had no uniform signage. Drivers often got lost following a patchwork of local road markers.
  • Some towns along Route 66 literally relocated closer to the highway just to catch passing travelers and business.

Fun facts about Route 66

  • Roughly 2 million to 3 million travelers explore at least part of Route 66 each year.
  • A popular tradition is collecting Route 66 “passport stamps” from towns along the route like a travel scrapbook.
  • One of Route 66’s famous art landmarks, Cadillac Ranch in Texas, features half-buried Cadillacs sprayed with layers of graffiti that constantly change over time. (Yep, that’s it in the picture above!)
  • The famous Route 66 shield sign (the black-and-white highway marker) is one of the most recognizable road symbols in the world and is still used today on souvenir signs and themed attractions.
  • Route 66 originally stretched about 2,448 miles (3,940 km) from Chicago to Santa Monica, crossing eight states and three time zones along the way. After being rerouted and decommissioned, it’s no longer continuous and has no official current mileage.
  • More than 100 preserved “ghost” stretches of Route 66 still exist, where the old road runs right next to modern highways.
  • Some original Route 66 pavement still shows hand-laid concrete from the 1930s.
  • In Arizona, you can still visit one of the longest remaining continuous drivable stretches of original Route 66 pavement, especially around Seligman and Kingman.

Facts about Route 66 in pop culture

  • Nat King Cole’s 1946 hit “Get Your Kicks on Route 66” helped turn the highway into a national icon.
  • “The Mother Road” nickname came from John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939), which followed families fleeing Dust Bowl devastation via Route 66.
  • Route 66 appears in video games like American Truck Simulator (released in 2016) and Cars: The Video Game.
  • Route 66 inspired the 1960s TV show Route 66, filmed on location and following two drifters traveling the highway in a Corvette.
  • Michael Wallis, a real Route 66 historian, voiced Sheriff in Cars and helped shape the film’s authenticity.
  • Disney’s Cars Land at California Adventure Park is directly modeled after Route 66 towns like Radiator Springs. Some of the design elements were inspired by real locations, including Seligman, Arizona.

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Why trust us

Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of travel stories that help readers explore the world safely, easily and affordably. We regularly cover topics such as the best places to visit (and the best times to visit them), tips and tricks to zoom through airport security, flight-attendant secrets, hotel-room hacks and more. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing, and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

The Best Places to Travel in 2026

Where to Travel Alone as a Woman

The Best Vacation Packages for Singles

The post Happy 100th Birthday, Route 66! 25 Cool Facts That’ll Make You Want to Take a Road Trip in 2026 appeared first on Reader's Digest.



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