Journey Along Historic Route 66

Route 66, once a major artery of American travel, no longer exists as an official highway. It was decommissioned in 1985, giving way to the Interstate Highway System. Now, Historic Route 66 remains a cherished path, celebrated by communities for its historical significance. Established in 1926 and fully paved by the next decade, the road played a vital role in carrying Dust Bowl migrants and World War II resources. Families and adventure seekers traveled this route, helping rural areas prosper.

Route 66 now attracts road trippers from around the world. It offers dazzling scenes and Americana, with its neon motels, diners, trading posts, and vintage attractions. Photographer Matt McClain, who explored the entire 2,448-mile highway, describes Route 66 as “stuck in time, in a good way.” The road retains its unique charm and character, maintained by those who take pride in its legacy.

Route 66’s journey reveals the diverse American landscape. It starts in Illinois with green fields, moves through Oklahoma’s plains, and on to the red rocks of New Mexico and Arizona. For McClain, the road offers a glimpse into varied communities and lifestyles, displaying both familiar and unique American cultures.

McClain’s photography captures the spirit of Route 66 as it nears its 100th anniversary on November 11.

Chicago to Tulsa

The journey begins in Chicago at Route 66’s easternmost point. The city’s skyline is admired from Willis Tower. Further along, visitors encounter the American Giants Museum’s oversized statue in Atlanta, Illinois. In Springfield, Illinois, people visit Abraham Lincoln’s bronze bust at Oak Ridge Cemetery, surrounded by timeless cornfields that link to the past.

Travelers enjoy fishing at Maramec Spring Park near Historic Route 66 south of St. James, Missouri. St. Louis’s Gateway Arch attracts visitors, as does the Golden Driller statue in Tulsa, marking the start of the AAA Route 66 RoadFest.

Tulsa to Albuquerque

In Tulsa, a giant “muffler man” stands as a relic of 1960s advertising. The Tee Pee Drive-In Theater in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, reopened in 2023, showcasing nostalgia. Amarillo, Texas, features Cadillac Ranch, a place for visitors to spray-paint cars. McClain describes the attraction as a rite of passage and an act of community belonging.

The Texas Route 66 Festival features rodeos, while the Route 66 Rides festival in Gallup, New Mexico, includes hot-air balloons. Albuquerque hosts The 66 Diner, occupying a former Phillips 66 gas station since 1945.

Albuquerque to Seligman

In Holbrook, Arizona, views like Petrified Forest National Park stun travelers on Historic Route 66. In Williams, Arizona, Cars of the Mother Road Trading Post serves guests. Visitors in Oatman encounter wild donkeys alongside Historic Route 66.

Quiet towns sometimes quickly fill with tourists who leave as fast as they arrive, as McClain notes from his experiences.

Seligman to Santa Monica

Near Roy’s Motel and Cafe in Amboy, California, visitors take photos at a stenciled highway sign. At Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner in Yermo, a mechanical Elvis offers fortunes. Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande showcases sculptures against the sunset.

In San Bernardino County, Route 66 intersects with Interstate 40. Finally, Route 66 ends at Santa Monica Pier, a fitting endpoint to the journey with its rich atmosphere, as experienced by Chris Garcia and Kylie Castillo on May 31.