Route 66 turns 100
Route 66’s centennial is fueling spring road‑trip buzz — small towns like El Reno, Oklahoma are leaning on classic diners and historic stops to lure drivers back to the Mother Road. Rental deals and updated itineraries are circulating for anyone planning a nostalgic multi‑park or cross‑country drive this season. (news9.com) (independent.co.uk)
The Route 66 centennial celebration is set to culminate on November 11, 2026, marking 100 years since the highway’s federal approval on November 11, 1926. (route66centennial.us) The original Route 66 alignment stretched roughly 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica and crossed eight states on its way west. (en.wikipedia.org) Congress created the Route 66 Centennial Commission by Public Law 116‑256, signed December 23, 2020, to study and recommend centennial activities; the commission’s statutory term ends December 31, 2026. (congress.gov) A Rutgers/NPS/World Monuments Fund economic study quantified Route 66 heritage tourism at about $132 million in annual direct spending and about $262 million when multiplier effects are included. (cupr.rutgers.edu) Communities along the Mother Road are spotlighting specific stops this spring — El Reno’s onion‑burger tradition and downtown diners are driving local promotions. (news9.com) Longstanding attractions such as POPS 66 in Arcadia (noted for its 66‑foot pop bottle and 700+ soda varieties) and the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari (listed on the National Register of Historic Places) are advertising centennial‑era programming and stays. (pops66.com) Major travel partners and suppliers are lining up centennial offers: Booking.com was announced as an official Route 66 Centennial travel partner, rental platforms like Expedia and Hotwire are promoting Route‑66 car deals, and campervan operators are marketing centennial motorhome packages. (illinoisroute66.org)
