In Erick, Oklahoma, the “Redneck Capital of the World,” Jay Holiday strums and sings road music reflective of the charms of Route 66. Photo by Kerrick James
Later this summer, Americans will begin celebrating Route 66, America’s Mother Road. It was formally established on November 11, 1926, in the heart of the Roaring Twenties, when newly affordable automobiles like Ford’s Model T and Model A offered unparalleled freedom. Its mythic aura and worldwide fame have only swelled since the 1930s when it brought Dust Bowl refugees to California, thereby inspiring John Steinbeck’s epic novel, The Grapes of Wrath. For nigh on a century, it has lured artists, writers, car lovers and dreamers to follow their muse for 2,000 miles on a slow two-lane road extending from the Illinois shore of Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean.
Route 66 is genuinely famous around the world for a universal ‘freedom to roam’ ethos, epitomized by the 1960-64 TV show bearing the same name. It featured two young men drifting across America in search of adventure, sharing the wheel of a red Chevy Corvette. This beguilingly simple premise resonated then and still does, building on the eternally catchy song composed by Bobby Troup. His Get Your Kicks on Route 66 classic tune effortlessly captured the postwar freedom savored by returning American servicemen and their families in that blissful summer of ’46.
In Hackberry, Arizona this classic Corvette convertible graced the gas pumps of the Hackberry General Store for many years before someone made the store owner an offer he could not refuse. Photo by Kerrick James
Route 66 earned its hard-won stripes as America’s ‘Mother Road’. Yet even as parts of the route faded from sight as postwar interstates overwhelmed it, the tangible and enduring aura of this epic path continued to emerge. Hundreds of magazine features and many movies have mined the history, car culture and outright kitschy qualities of Route 66 for decades. Dozens of travel/historical books have been published on this eponymous ribbon of asphalt and old cement, including two that I photographed, ‘Backroads of Route 66’ and ‘Ghost Towns of Route 66’, with texts by Jim Hinckley of Kingman, Arizona, the renowned historian and bard dedicated to all things Route 66.
Kansas
So, what remains along the path of America’s Main Street? Kansas claims just about thirteen miles of Route 66, but they were among the first stretches to be paved in concrete. This short section links three towns; Galena, which boomed from decades of lead-zinc mining from the 1930’s-70’s, Riverton, which boasts the graceful 1923 Rainbow Creek Bridge over Brush Creek, and Baxter Springs, in Cherokee County. Here, on April 13, 1876, Jesse James and Cole Younger robbed the Crowell Bank of $2,900, big money for the day.
This alien sculpture site lies right along the path of Route 66 as it winds through the town of Stroud, Oklahoma. Photo by Kerrick James
Oklahoma
The Mother Road as a working concept came to life in Tulsa in 1926 and today Oklahoma has more intact miles of the original Route 66 roadbed than any of the other eight states. Many sections remain drivable to this day. Oklahoma has a wealth of roadside signage of interest, plus vintage motels, service stations, iron bridges, ‘alien flying saucer’ art in Stroud, and a personal favorite, the town of Erick, the self-described ‘Redneck Capital of the World’. Be sure to stop in and sip a sarsaparilla under the ‘Insanity At Its Finest’ sign. The vibe is friendly, and you may hear music to your ears…
Surprisingly, besides lonesome highway scenic vistas, you’ll find quite a rich variety of Americana and architecture, plus various art, neon and funky sculpture, all building on the themes noted above. There are way too many noteworthy sites to list here, but by joining the route anywhere along the path you can explore for yourself one state at a time or do them all in a month of slow cruising. I’ve met many folks who’ve rented cars or motorcycles at one end and driven the entire length, embarked on their personal odyssey. Be sure to take in the wild array of kitschy, playful memorabilia you’ll find in nearly every town, village or general store along the way. Buy or not, it’s worth a good look. Heck, I’ve found striking Route 66 memorabilia pinned to a wall in a mountain hut across from the Matterhorn at 8500’ elevation!
As a travel journalist, my personal favorites of the eight states riven by Route 66 are Arizona and New Mexico. Not to say that Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas and California aren’t gold mines of opportunity, but I feel a greater affinity with the photo ops lining this particular high desert section of Route 66. You’ll discover your own faves when you hit the road, so make plans, and reserve some rooms, especially over the event dates.
In Oatman, Arizona, onery burros served the needs of gold miners in this hardscrabble western Arizona for decades. Now the burros dominate the streets and are served treats by tourists, under the wary eyes of the townsfolk. Photo by Kerrick James
Arizona
Route 66 lost much of its drivable mileage to the Interstates from the 1950s to 1980s, but intriguing pieces have survived, notably a 158-mile stretch across northern Arizona. Arizona proudly lays claim to this longest continuously drivable piece of Route 66 that is studded with history, colorful Americana and photo ops galore. Highlights include: east of Kingman the jarring yet arresting green tiki sculpture ‘Giganticus Headicus’ by local artist Greg Arnold in Antares, while a few miles onward lies the famous Hackberry General Store, jammed with tasteful talismans and frosty root beer. But souls hungering for crispy onion rings, creamy shakes and groaning bad jokes will surely seek out Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, and afterwards gaze at the iconic neon sign of the Route 66 Motel painting the sky at twilight, in Seligman. Take your time on this easy cruise, roaming at least half a day…
In 1984, Williams, Arizona was the last town on Route 66 to be bypassed by Interstate 40. It continues to thrive today due to its proximity to the Grand Canyon and a downtown endowed with Route 66 icons and souvenir shops. Photo by Kerrick James
Further east from Seligman lies Williams, known for plentiful neon signs, and an Elvis sighting or two. Here you’ll find souvenir shops, Native American art and jewelry stores, good restaurants and my favorite rustic dive pub, the Sultana Bar. If this elbow-worn bar could talk, I’d likely stay through closing time. Just 30 minutes east lies the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Stop by and pick up an Arizona Historic Route 66 Passport along with insider tips on where to find stamps. Other Route 66 highlights in Flagstaff include the Mother Road Brewing Company, the allegedly haunted Museum Club, Western Hills Motel neon sign and Phoenix Avenue Route 66 mural.
Ever stayed in a teepee? You can spend as many nights as you want in one at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, AZ. It’s truly a unique experience and an indelible memory. Try to plan your visit to coincide with the late summer monsoon. Photo by Kerrick James.
Beyond Flagstaff, Arizona offers even more eminently photogenic icons; the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, a can’t miss, must stop delight, especially at twilight, plus Standin’ On A Corner Park in Winslow (of Eagles’ Take It Easy fame), and then there’s the rusting relic 1932 Studebaker reclining just within Petrified Forest National Park, overlooking I-40. Shoot it under a stormy monsoon sky and imagine those spirits who steered it east and west 90 years ago. It’s oxidizing automotive art, under a Western sky.
If you choose to go west past Antares into Kingman and still have hunger pangs, fill up on malts and burgers at the ever-busy Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner, then sidle across the road to the Powerhouse Museum & Visitor Center. They feature excellent displays that explore Route 66’s storied past and the travelers who preceded you. Attendants will answer questions and suggest places not to miss, like nearby Oatman. This quirky hamlet and former gold mining town is famous for its burros. The ornery miner’s burros have free reign throughout the town, so stay out of their way. You can even catch a friendly Western “gunfight” in front of the Oatman Hotel. Fun Fact: as you leave Oatman, the highway literally rides over the Gold Road Mine, with tunnels just beneath your tires.
The Oatman Outlaws stage a Wild West gunfight twice a day on the Main Street of Oatman, AZ. No one gets hurt physically. Funds are raised for local charities once the smoke settles. Photo by Kerrick James
To the west lies the Colorado River, long, lonely expanses of the Mohave Desert, and eventually, the end of the road near the Santa Monica Pier. I’ve often wondered what the 1920’s and 30’s travelers who made it all the way from Chicago’s waterfront on Lake Michigan to this view of the Pacific Ocean thought about when realizing their journey at last was done, taking in lungfuls of the salt tang air, remembering the prairie, desert, mountains, rivers and forests, breakdowns and thunderstorms, the soul-stirring adventures they survived crossing the living heart of the American continent. It still affects me positively to make this epic journey, and the open road coupled with time and distance is still a tonic for troubled times and spirits.
The late sun casts very long shadows just off Route 66 in Seligman, AZ. Seligman is one of the best towns to wander the streets looking for kitschy souvenirs and undiscovered treasurers. Photo by Kerrick James
Centennial Activities
Throughout late 2025 and all through 2026 you can join in a literal party stretching over 2000 miles, as a plethora of centennial events are planned. Each state has their own events, which are presently rounding into shape. Arizona’s events, some of them listed here, are varied and offer much potential.
Arizona:
Kingman– Roaring Twenties Centennial Kickoff Party November 15, 2025.
Flagstaff– Mother Road Classic Car Show August 16, 2025 | and August 15, 2026.
Winslow– Standin on the Corner Festival September 26-27, 2025 and| September 25-26, 2026.
Kingman– Route 66 Fest Oct 10-11, 2025 |and Oct 16-17, 2026.
Holbrook– Route 66 Festival & Car Shoe April 2026.
Seligman– Centennial Celebration April 30, 2026.
Flagstaff– Route 66 Centennial Celebration June 6, 2026.
Kingman– Route 66 Maine Street of America Screening July 18, 2026.
East of Baxter Springs, Kansas, I drove over this epic burnout someone made over a Route 66 shield icon. I stopped hard, backed up, and marveled at the accidental artistry of the tire tread creating the look of a guitar, a perfect metaphor for the music of the open road…’ Photo by Kerrick James
Check out the Rt. 66 Centennial Commission for details and watch for more special attractions, shows, openings, you name it. We may well meet up at the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, with a paint can in one hand and a camera in the other (it’s encouraged to add your mark), or under neon at twilight at the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari or a hundred other classic places. I’m pretty sure that, no matter if you drive a vintage Model T, a classic Corvette, a convertible Ferrari or an airport rental you’ll surely get your kicks on 100 years young, Route 66.
Kerrick James is an award-winning Arizona-based photographer whose last EWNS story looked at Western ghost towns. Please go to our Contributors page to view his Featured Photography essays on California’s Highway One, Amarillo, Texas and, of course, Route 66.