Route 66 approaches centennial anniversary in 2026

Route 66, famously known as the ‘Mother Road,’ is approaching its official centennial in 2026. Established in 1926, the iconic highway spans over 3,900 kilometers from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, traversing eight states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Throughout its history, the route has served various roles, from a vital migration path for families fleeing the Great Depression—as documented in John Steinbeck’s ‘The Grapes of Wrath’—to a strategic corridor for military movement during World War II. During the 1950s, it became a symbol of American tourism and the rise of car culture.

Although officially removed from the federal highway system in 1985, the route has maintained global cultural significance. Efforts by local preservationists, such as Angel Delgadillo in Arizona, helped transform the aging road into a major tourist attraction. Celebrated in popular culture through music and films like Pixar’s ‘Cars,’ the centennial will be marked by various festivals and classic car parades culminating on November 11, 2026.