Route 66 runs from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica California!
Main Street USA HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY!
Thanks for all the memories! I think Michael and I have travel this route 11 times in all from
Hollywood, California to St Louis ,Missouri and Back!
"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles (3,940 kilometers) from Chicago to Los Angeles. It became the shortest, year-round route between the Midwest and the Pacific Coast.
From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed southwest through Illinois and Missouri, and a small section of southeast Kansas. Then it turned in a more westward direction through Oklahoma and Texas, with the final stretches in New Mexico and Arizona before its termination point in Los Angeles.
We've had the pleasure of driving in all of these eight states along Route 66, The Main Street of America!
Route Overview & Key Statistics
| Attribute | Details |
|---|
| Length | 2,448 miles (3,940 km) |
| Active Period | November 11, 1926 – June 26, 1985 |
| Termini | Chicago, IL (East) to Santa Monica, CA (West) |
| States Traversed | Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California |
Replacing Interstates
Mileage by State (1926 Alignment) - Illinois: 301 miles
- Missouri: 317 miles
- Kansas: 13 miles
- Oklahoma: 432 miles
- Texas: 186 miles
- New Mexico: 487 miles
- Arizona: 401 miles
- California: 314 miles [1]
History and Cultural Impact - Commissioning & Purpose: Created in 1926 to link Chicago to the Pacific Coast, Route 66 became a vital economic artery for farmers, migrant workers fleeing the Dust Bowl in the 1930s, and post-war vacationers. [1, 2]
- Decline & Decommissioning: The passage of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 ushered in the modern Interstate Highway System. As faster superhighways bypassed towns along the two-lane route, traffic dwindled, leading to its official decommissioning on June 27, 1985. [1, 2, 3]
- Preservation & Centennial: State and local associations formed starting in the late 1980s to preserve historic neon signs, diners, and gas stations. The route is currently celebrated worldwide during its 1926–2026 Centennial. [1, 2]
Iconic Roadside Attractions - The Cozy Dog Drive-In (Springfield, IL): Birthplace of the corn dog on a stick.
- Chain of Rocks Bridge (Illinois/Missouri): Famous for its unique 22-degree bend over the Mississippi River, now open to pedestrians and cyclists.
- Cars on the Route (Galena, KS): Historic gas station featuring the tow truck that inspired Mater in Pixar’s Cars.
- Blue Whale of Catoosa (Catoosa, OK): A giant, smiling waterfront landmark built in the 1970s.
- Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, TX): Ten nose-first buried Cadillacs where visitors are invited to add spray paint.
- Blue Swallow Motel (Tucumcari, NM): A classic neon-lit motor court operating since the 1930s.
- Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica, CA): The official western terminus marked by the "End of the Trail" sign. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
|
Cheers to all the fun Michael and I have had travelling and getting our kicks on Route 66! -XOXO jzebraa
And A Great Song to Boot! Get Your Kicks On Route 66!
Thank's Depeche Mode https://open.spotify.com/track/31ONyQ6X1y7gkNPpXikUD8
((()))
,Route 66 Lyrics
If you ever plan to motor west
Travel my way, take the highway that's the best
Get your kicks on Route 66
It winds from Chicago to LA
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66
Now you go through Saint Louis
Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty
You'll see Amarillo
Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona
Don't forget Winona
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66
Won't you get hip to this timely tip
When you make that California trip
Get your kicks on Route 66
Get your kicks on Route 66
Get your kicks on Route 66
Source:
LyricFindSongwriters:
Bobby W TroupRoute 66 lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Word Collections Publishing
Song Details
- Famous Versions: The King Cole Trio, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones
- Route: Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California (~2,000+ miles) [1, 2, 3]
You can read additional versions and annotation breakdowns on
Genius. [
1]
And last but not least lets not forget The Famous Corel Courts Motor Lodge
and the Miss Westward Motel on Watson (Route 66) and Lindbergh
in Kirkwood, Missouri (Sunset Hills)! My friend Kraig H. was the manager here for years!
The historical Westward Motel was
built in 1953 along Route 66 at the northeast corner of Watson Road and Lindbergh Boulevard in Sunset Hills, Missouri (near Kirkwood). [
1,
2,
3]
Aww Route 66 Thanks for the walk down Memory Lane! -XOXO jzebraa
