Your Route 66 Road Trip Won't Be Complete Without These Stops (2024)

There's no greater all-American road trip than one that travels along iconic Route 66—also known as U.S. Highway 66, the Mother Road (courtesy of John Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath), or the Main Street of America. Made official in 1926, it's arguably the most famous road in the country and has been referenced in many a novel, movie, song, and television show through the years. (You, too, could be standin' on a corner in Winslow, Arizona.)

Though you can no longer drive the entire original route as it once was, the preserved portions of Route 66 boast a number of historic sites, diners, and quirky roadside attractions. In fact, more than 250 stops are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Whether you plan to hit both ends (that's downtown Chicago to or from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles, California), or you're driving just one section, here are some stops we highly recommend you make along the way.

Fair warning: Road trippers looking for a photo op, hearty meal, souvenirs, or just a good story to tell will find themselves elongating their journey to experience several of these must-see Route 66 attractions.

The longstanding diner, built in the 1920s, is known for its hearty breakfasts and lunches—the pancakes and donut holes are local favorites. Whether you're just starting your Route 66 road trip, or ending it, it's the perfect place to load up on yummy baked goods.

Catch movies, performances, and concerts at this beautifully restored Pueblo Deco theater in downtown Albuquerque. If you don't have time for a show, take a moment to enjoy its historic façade.

If you've never stayed in a motel room shaped like a tipi, this is your chance. A night or two at the Wigwam Motel—a chain founded in the 1930s—is a one-of-a-kind Route 66 experience that you won't soon forget. Today, just three locations remain, including this one in San Bernardino.

This iconic monument looks spectacular from almost any angle. Designed by legendary architect Eero Saarinen, the Gateway Arch commemorates America's westward expansion. You can even take a ride up to the interior viewing platform at the very top.

Though Pops is a modern Route 66 attraction—having opened in 2007—it pays homage to both retro architecture and a timeless drink: soda pop. The 66-foot-tall (we see what they did there!) LED-lit soda bottle sculpture is a must-visit. Make sure you head inside for a bite to eat—and a drink, of course. (There are some 700 sodas on the menu.)

These chromatic badlands are striated with multiple shades of red, yellow, and orange—hence the "painted" moniker. Want to stretch your legs? There are both easy and difficult hiking trails throughout the Painted Desert. Though it's no longer in use, you can even see a stretch of historic Route 66 within the desert.

Southern California has a way with donuts, and The Donut Man—founded by Jim and Miyoko Nakano in 1972—fits right in. It's open 24/7 and offers all different kinds of these pastries, including ones with fresh seasonal toppings, such as strawberries and peaches.

With a hot pink and turquoise façade, Mr. D'z is hard to miss. Drop in for a cold homemade root beer float, and check out all the celebrity-signed memorabilia on the walls.

This Missouri eatery has been around since 1929 and prides itself on serving made-from-scratch homey fare. Baseball legend Babe Ruth and gangster Al Capone reportedly dined here.

Blue Swallow is exactly what a classic Route 66 motel should look like, with a giant neon sign that advertises TVs in every room. This establishment might err on the side of Route 66 kitsch, but it's a family-owned business that feels more like a bed and breakfast, making it worth a stay.

Cozy Dog is a quintessential Route 66 diner, with memorabilia-filled walls and a simple, but classic, menu of burgers, hot dogs, and chili. Its specialties include deep-fried hot dogs on a stick and hand-cut French fries.

A minor miracle of engineering—and the only barn of its kind still standing along Route 66—the Arcadia Round Barn was restored in the 1990s so that it could remain a roadside attraction for hopefully another century. Inside, you'll find history exhibits and a gift shop.

Cadillac Ranch personifies the weirdness of roadside attractions along Route 66. It's a public art installation comprised of 10 vintage Cadillacs lodged deep into the ground and covered in ever-changing graffiti. Why does it exist? A local millionaire hired a San Francisco art group called Ant Farm to install something that would baffle passersby in 1974.

This weathered motel is more of a place to stop than a place to stay. It hasn't been an active motel for a while, but efforts are underway to restore it. Until then, snap a pic of the Googie-style neon sign and soak up the iconography of old-school Route 66.

There are a few museums and collections dedicated to Route 66, but this one in Oklahoma certainly takes top prize for being the best designed. The striking glass structure filled with red light showcases all sorts of vintage cars and artifacts from Route 66's glory days. The obligatory gift shop is also a great spot to pick up souvenirs.

This colorful building was built in the early 1900s and has stood in the same spot in Seligman, Arizona, ever since. Today, it houses a coffee shop—but not content to only serve piping hot java, the owners also have a display of vintage automobiles inspired by the Pixar movie Cars.

Is it any surprise that one of the few remaining drive-ins in the country is located along Route 66? The theater shows flicks on weekends from spring through fall.

Every Route 66 road trip needs a few stops at roadside oddities, and this giant blue whale in a small lake is one of the most famous. Enter the whale if you dare, or simply grab souvenirs at the gift shop after you've snapped your photo.

The legacy of Route 66 is being kept alive by this admission-free museum. Peruse artifacts, exhibits, and resources while also taking advantage of photo ops. The museum might be best known as the home of the Bob Waldmire bus—the school-bus-turned-traveling-house that inspired the character Fillmore from Cars.

This majestic national park features, as you might've guessed, abundant deposits of petrified wood. Other highlights include the Newspaper Rock petroglyphs and the ruins of the village of Puerco Pueblo. You can explore the park on your own or sign up for a ranger-guided tour.