Route 66
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Jpatokal at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Route 66 (aka US 66) was a highway in the United States that extended from Chicago to Los Angeles. It crossed much of the American Midwest, Great Plains, and Southwest. Although Highway 66 is no longer commissioned as a US Highway, you can still "get your kicks" on the path it took through the United States as more than four-fifths of it remain drivable (though not always well-marked) as a collection of state highways and local roads. A number of organizations are celebrating the centennial of the road in 2026.
UnderstandRoute 66 is one of the essential icons of America, for Americans and for people abroad. It represents a multitude of ideas: freedom, migration West, and the loneliness of the American heartland.
PrepareWhen the Okies left Oklahoma and moved to California, they raised the average intelligence level in both states.
Route, MO 66 means Missouri State Highway 66, IL 4 means Illinois State Highway 4, etc. Attractions listed in bold are discussed toward the end of the article under the Attractions section.
Six alternate alignmentsMuch of the original alignment is now Illinois State Highway 4.
Attractions
Go nextFrom Los Angeles, you can take the Pacific Coast Highway along the Pacific Coast.
Sources and licences
- Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Route 66" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Photo: User: (WT-shared) Jpatokal at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons