Want a road trip to the US? Then take a trip via Route 66- a historic road that traverses eight states across the USA. This road tells the quintessential story of freedom and the American Dream. People have immortalized Route 66 in countless rock songs, poems, and stories, from Nat King Cole and Chuck Berry to John Steinbeck. The 2,200-mile-long route technically runs from Chicago to California, but there are plenty of curious stops abound, travelers.
Highlights of Route 66 include many Cadillac Ranch in Texas, Santa Fe, and many notably historic places with its Spanish-influenced old town and adobe architecture. A bit of a detour to visit the Grand Canyon in Arizona is also worthy of your time. From the utterly awesome to the wacky weird to the lip-smacking delicious, here we’ve pulled together comprehensive recommendations for the must-see Route 66 attractions that you can visit. All you need is a rental car or RV and you are good to go.
10 Things You Have to See on Route 66
01 Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame in Pontiac
Address: 110 W Howard St, Pontiac, IL 61764, United States
The first attraction on our list of Route 66 is the Hall of Fame. It is free to visit and has loads of information on display along with many artifacts from Bob Waldmire’s life, who is well-known on the Route 66 circuit as a legend of sorts.
It is a great place to spend a few hours and doesn’t miss out on checking the outside museum to see Bob’s school bus that has been turned into a mobile home. Take pictures in front of the giant Pontiac mural lined with original Route 66 bricks to make this trip memorable.
02 Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton
Address: 1107 Historic Old Rte 66, Staunton, IL 62088, United States
The next popular attraction on Route 66 is a Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, where you can find a pet cemetery of adorable rescue bunnies of the hopping variety and rabbits of the Volkswagen stationary kind. You will also experience nostalgic Route 66 memorabilia, a climbable fiberglass photo-op ready giant rabbit, a friendly owner, and an unforgettable time at the ranch. First-time visitors will find this place interesting. You can also buy souvenirs from the gift shop at the ranch.
03 Chain of Rocks Bridge
Address: 10820 Riverview Dr, St. Louis, MO 63137, United States
You must not miss The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge- an interesting mile-long bridge that spans over the mighty Mississippi River. This is one of the coolest bridges and has a 30-degree turn right in the middle of it with castle-like intake towers jetting up from the water. The bridge carried travelers across the border –located in the middle of the river – from Illinois to Missouri on Route 66. Now, it no longer has vehicular traffic on it, instead it’s been preserved and turned into a walkway. You can get amazing pictures here before crossing into Missouri on the New Chain of Rocks Bridge nearby.
04 Cars on the Route in Galena
Address: 119 North Main Street, Galena, Kansas, US
The Cars on the Route in Galena, Kansas, serves as a diner, souvenir shop, and a tourist attraction in the former Little’s Service Station building. Kan-O-Tex Service Station is also a filling station, which is refurbished and rebranded as Cars on the Route that originally served the US Route 66 motorists in 1934. Here, you will find the inspiration for the character Tow Mater from the Disney movie Cars.
05 Blue Whale in Catoosa
Address: 2600 US Rte 66, Catoosa, OK 74015, United States
Once a popular small pond for Route 66 travelers, the Blue Whale of Catoosa is now a waterfront structure- one of the most recognizable and beloved historic landmarks on the trip to the west coast. The big blue waterfront with kind eyes and mouth wide open sits on the edge of a pond baiting visitors to walk on in. This place is home to the third location of the Spectacles launched by Snapchat in 2016.
06 Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo
Address: 13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124, United States
The famous Cadillac Ranch is the mother of all roadside attractions on Route 66. It is a public art installation and sculpture in Amarillo that is almost fifty years old. The symbolic row of cars was built in 1974 by a group of hippies called The Ant Farm. The tribute represents the evolution of car lines such as the Cadillac tail fins, which are used in the installation. Spray-painting the cars is a fond memory for many travelers as they leave their mark on Route 66 Cadillac Ranch is a psychedelic ode to cars. The ten Cadillacs were buried into the Texas dirt and covered with paint.
07 MidPoint Café in Adrian
Address: 305 W Historic Rte 66, Adrian, TX 79001, United States
MidPoint Café in Adrian marks the halfway point of Route 66 from Chicago to California. This point is the exact geo-mathematical center on Route 66: 1,139 miles in either direction. This 50s-style pit stop features classic American joints, including breakfast & pie, plus a gift shop. Make a stop here to take some pictures by the sign and eat a slice of pie at the Cafe, which is one of the oldest eateries on the highway.
08 Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande
Address: 24266 National Trails Hwy, Oro Grande, CA 92368, United States
It’s difficult to imagine that a front yard of dusty old bottles would be an impressive sight, but it is. The maze of glass and metal is enchanting and well definitely worth a stop on your way to the end of the trail. It is a unique pitstop featuring many vintage items and tree-shaped sculptures made from glass bottles.
09 Blue Hole in Santa Rosa
Address: 1085 Blue Hole Rd, Santa Rosa, NM 88435-2535
Blue Hole is a popular scuba diving spot in an artisan-fed quarry of the United States that measures 60-foot round, 81-feet deep. This popular roadside attraction began as a present from the original creator for his wife. After falling into disrepair, the town restored it just a few years ago and is free for visitors. Even if it is not swimming weather, visiting the Blue Hole is worth a short to stretch your legs and discover a magical geological gem. The crystal blue waters are a contrast to the desert escape between Amarillo and Albuquerque. It is one of the most famous sites on Route 66 and a perfect Oklahoma hidden gem.
10 Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica
Address: Santa Monica, CA 90401, USA
The last popular attraction on Route 66 is a Santa Pier- a landmark that has been popular among travelers for over 100 years. It is one of the most filmed locations in Los Angeles and has been featured in hundreds of Hollywood movies, music albums, commercials, and TV shows. The pier offers storytellers a unique landscape with sweeping ocean views, wide and sandy beaches, along with an amusement park and a classic boardwalk midway. Do not forget to look for the Route 66 End sign at the beginning of the pier for some cool pictures.