Route 66

A collection of 76 posts

Columns

How Route 66 Shaped American Pop Culture

If America has a greatest hit, it isn’t a song but a road. Commissioned in 1926, Route 66 carved its way straight into the American imagination.  Long before travel influencers, bucket lists, or cinematic drone shots, the Mother Road taught the country what adventure felt like.  What makes Route

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Oklahoma Route 66

The Mother Road State Oklahoma delivers one of the most memorable sections of Route 66, with the past and present riding side by side. Cutting diagonally across the state from its northeast corner to the Texas Panhandle, Oklahoma captures the essence of mid-century travel. Along the way, you’ll

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Texas Route 66

The Luckiest Town on Route 66 Shamrock covers just two square miles with fewer than 1,800 residents, but it packs a surprising amount of charm and historical significance. Named by sheep rancher George Nickel in honor of his Irish-born mother, the town has long embraced its “lucky” heritage.

Route 66

10 Tips for Riding Route 66

Riding Route 66 is a bucket list trip for many motorcyclists. Whether it’s your first time on the Mother Road or you’re coming back for another ride, a bit of planning goes a long way. These tips will help you make the most of your adventure so you

Classic Roads

Sitgreaves Pass

Sitgreaves Pass is a gap in Arizona’s Black Mountains. Located on the Oatman Highway section of Route 66, it offers natural beauty and real danger in equal measures. The first known European to have passed through the gap is Edward Fitzgerald Beale, who was commissioned to survey and construct

Route 66 Premium Content

Route 66 and the Birth of the ‘Tourist Trap’

When Americans think of Route 66, they often picture endless asphalt, vintage diners, neon signs, and lots of quirky stops along the way. What many may not realize is that the Mother Road did more than just connect Chicago to Los Angeles.  The road helped invent an entirely new kind

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Kansas Route 66

Short and Sweet Although Kansas claims only 13 miles of Route 66, this short stretch packs in plenty of character. Winding through the state’s southeastern corner, it passes through three towns—Galena, Riverton, and Baxter Springs—each with its one-of-a-kind connection to the Mother Road. The

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

New Mexico Route 66

Land of Enchantment Crossing into New Mexico, Route 66 takes on a completely new personality. The flat plains of Texas give way to dramatic mesas, red rock cliffs, and high desert expanses that seem to stretch forever. The light here is sharper, and the sense of history is deeper. Much

Travel Guide

Route 66: The Ultimate American Road Trip

Riding a motorcycle across the entire length of the Mother Road is not a simple task. Whether you’re a new rider or an experienced motorcycling veteran, you need a detailed plan of where you’ll sleep and eat, which attractions you’ll see, and where you’ll take a

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Arizona Route 66

High Desert, Low Crowds Arizona brings on a dramatic blend of high desert landscapes, rugged mountains, and towns steeped in history. Stretching nearly 400 miles from the New Mexico border to California, this part of the Mother Road showcases everything that makes a cross-country ride unforgettable. The winding highways

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Missouri Route 66

Show Me More After crossing the Mississippi from Illinois, Route 66 winds through more than 300 miles of rolling hills, cozy towns, and vibrant green countryside of Missouri. The Show Me State features some of the longest rideable stretches of the original highway still in existence today. Riders on Missouri’

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

California Route 66

End of the Road California represents the final leg of Route 66, where the Mother Road meets the Pacific Ocean after thousands of miles across the heartland and deserts of America. Covering roughly 316 miles from the Arizona border to Santa Monica, California transitions from desert landscapes and towns to

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Illinois Route 66

Route 66 Begins Illinois holds a special status as Route 66’s official starting point. The journey begins at the corner of Adams St and Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago, where you’ll find the iconic Begin Route 66 sign. From there, the road stretches southwest across 300 miles of

Jan/Feb '26 Premium Content

Riding Through Time: The History of Route 66

No road in America is more famous than Route 66. Even if you’ve never set a tire or foot on it, you know the name. It conjures up images of neon signs, roadside diners, family vacations in big-finned Chevys, and motorcycle riders chasing a low sun on the

Accommodations

Review: Wigwam Motel—Holbrook, AZ

The Wigwam Motel in Holbrook is unique these days. Originally, it was a part of a small chain of Wigwam Villages built in the 1930s and 1940s, which has now dwindled to just two independent locations.  This motel features free-standing concrete and steel tipis (not wigwams like the name

Jan/Feb '26

Best Motorcycles for Route 66

Family station wagons and chrome-laden hot rods once roared down Route 66, as did motorcycles. In its heyday, Harley-Davidsons were a common sight along the route, and there is certainly something special about doing the ride astride big American iron. Today, however, riders are spoiled for choice.  For

Destinations

Where Route 66 Begins—Chicago, IL

Chicago is a legendary city for many reasons, from jazz music to Prohibition-era gangsters, baseball, and unique hot dogs. Motorcyclists, however, have a wholly unique reason to ride to the Windy City. This is where Route 66 begins. I suppose you could also argue that this is where the

Columns

The California Dream

If you spend enough time riding Route 66, you start to feel the ghosts tug at your sleeves. Not in a spooky way, but in the gentle, persistent way history taps you on the shoulder. Out west, dreams aren’t just born; they migrate. And for decades, they all seemed

Accommodations

Review: El Rey Court—Santa Fe, NM

El Rey Court in Santa Fe is a classic Route 66 motor court with deep roots in the Mother Road’s history. Opened in 1936, it provides a convenient and stylish stop for motorcyclists exploring the high desert of New Mexico. The property’s adobe architecture gives it an unmistakably

Destinations

The Historic Brick Road

One of the most distinctive surviving stretches of Route 66 in Illinois is the hand-laid brick road south of Auburn, about 20 miles from Springfield. Known simply as the Brick Road, this 1.4-mile segment is a rare opportunity to experience the Mother Road much as travelers did

Destinations

Flagstaff, AZ—The Capital of Northern Arizona

Flagstaff is commonly renowned as the outdoors paradise of Arizona, but the city offers more for motorcyclists than just magnificent mountainscapes. Steeped in history, Flagstaff was also a significant stop along Route 66. Proud of the part it played in the story of the Mother Road, both the old and

Destinations

Blue Whale of Catoosa

The Blue Whale of Catoosa is one of the more whimsical roadside attractions in Oklahoma. Sitting on a small pond just off the highway, this giant blue whale began life in the early 1970s. It was originally a simple backyard project by Hugh Davis, who built it as a surprise

Destinations

The Town With A Famous Corner—Winslow, AZ

Nestled along historic Route 66, Winslow, AZ, carries the weight of railroads, Native American heritage, roadside kitsch, and genuine small‑town charm. For motorcycle riders, Winslow is a must-visit if you’re motoring down the Mother Road, or are visiting the area in general.  This is where the spirit

Destinations

The End of Route 66—Santa Monica, CA

All good things must come to an end. When motorcycling through Route 66, the road ends in Santa Monica, CA. Or that could be where your journey starts, depending on which way you’re going. We started our ride in Illinois, though, so Santa Monica is where we put the

Accommodations

Review: Blue Swallow Motel—Tucumcari, NM

Arriving at the Blue Swallow Motel is like riding into the past. Only, this motel has been lovingly restored, neon-lit, and made perfectly comfortable for modern-day motorcyclists.  We stayed here last summer on our Route 66 trip, and it was one of the most memorable stops of the