Route 66 Centennial Guide Launched
Tripadvisor's Wanderlab and Choice Hotels launched the "Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip Guide" ahead of the historic highway's 100th anniversary. The new resource provides detailed itineraries, must-see stops, and accommodation recommendations for cross-country adventures along the "Mother Road." The timing coincides with a surge of interest in American road trip nostalgia and commemorative events.
- U.S. Route 66 was formally established on November 11, 1926, though it wasn't completely paved until 1938. The original route spanned approximately 2,448 miles from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California. - The road's famous numerical designation was officially assigned on April 30, 1926, in Springfield, Missouri, after a debate where its chief promoter, Cyrus Avery, initially pushed for the number 60. Avery, a Tulsa businessman, is widely known as the "Father of Route 66." - Author John Steinbeck cemented the highway's place in American culture by nicknaming it "the Mother Road" in his 1939 novel, *The Grapes of Wrath*. Its fame was further amplified by the 1946 hit song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66," written by Bobby Troup and recorded by Nat King Cole, and a CBS television series that aired from 1960 to 1964. - After decades of being the nation's primary westward artery, Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985, having been rendered obsolete by the Interstate Highway System. Today, it's estimated that about 85% of the original alignment is still drivable. - The 2006 Disney/Pixar animated film *Cars* introduced the story of the road to a new generation, sparking renewed international interest in the bypassed towns and landscapes of Route 66. - A bipartisan bill has been introduced in Congress to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail. This designation, sought by groups like the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, would be administered by the National Park Service and aim to preserve the road's legacy. - Centennial celebrations are planned across the country in 2026, with events scheduled in states like Illinois, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. Festivities include car rallies, music festivals, and historical exhibits marking the 100th anniversary.
