2,448 miles – Route 66 stretches for a colossal 2,448 miles (3,940 kilometres) from Chicago, by the Great Lakes, to the California Coast. Route 66 holidays >

1926 – Route 66 was officially established on 11th November 1926, and was compiled from a series of existing local, state, and national roads.

16 day Route 66 fly drive >

John Steinbeck – “Grapes of Wrath” depicts the journey of the Joad family, who travel from Oklahoma to California along Route 66 during the Great Depression, and the hardships they face along the way.

Oklahoma holidays > | California holidays >

Springfield, Missouri – The planned route between Chicago and Los Angeles was originally going to be named ‘U.S. 60’, until the Governor of Kentucky kicked up a fuss and claimed the prestigious number for a road through his State. ‘U.S. 62′ was then proposed, but officials from Oklahoma and Missouri thought ’66’ was catchier and duly sent a telegram from the Colonial Hotel in Springfield, Missouri, to federal officials, who agreed. Route 66 was born.

Route 66 East fly drive >

St. Louis, Missouri – The Gateway Arch, designed by Eero Saarinen, is a 630-foot tall monument in St. Louis, Missouri, that symbolises the city’s role as the “Gateway to the West” during U.S. westward expansion

Route 66 motorcycle tour >

All of the above!

The Mother Road – This nickname was popularized by John Steinbeck in his 1939 novel “The Grapes of Wrath” which tells the story of a family migrating west during the Great Depression, using Route 66 as their path to California.

Main Street of America – This nickname stems from the fact that Route 66 passed through the heart of many small towns and cities across the country, serving as a vital source of income for local businesses.

The Will Rogers Highway – This nickname was given to Route 66 in 1952 by the U.S. Highway 66 Association in honour of the famous American humourist and actor Will Rogers, who grew up in Oklahoma, one of the states through which the route passes.

Route 66 itineraries >

Holbrook, Arizona – Part of the Petrified Forest National Park, The Painted Desert is named after its striking colour range, from lavender to orange and pink, created by the unique mineralogy of the area’s Chinle Formation.

Arizona holidays >

Yellowstone National Park – Along Route 66, or just a short detour away, you can visit several National Parks and Monuments, including Gateway Arch, Petrified Forest, the Grand Canyon, Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree.

Yellowstone National Park is around a 12 hour drive from Route 66, so best saved for another adventure.

Yellowstone holidays > | USA National Parks >

Cadillac Ranch – Created in 1974 by a group of artists from San Francisco, this unique art installation consists of ten Cadillacs half-buried nose-first in the ground at an angle that corresponds to the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.

Route 66 West fly drive >

Santa Monica Pier – Route 66 officially ends in Santa Monica, California, at the intersection of Olympic Boulevard and Lincoln Boulevard (originally Highway 1).

Los Angeles holidays >