U.S. Route 66, Historic transportation route from Chicago to Los Angeles, United States
U.S. Route 66 is a historic highway stretching about 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles and connecting eight states with hundreds of rural communities. It passes through diverse landscapes, from flat prairies to deserts and mountain regions.
The road was established in 1926 by the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads and marked the beginning of the first nationwide highway system in America. Its opening revolutionized transportation and connected isolated regions with major coastal cities.
The road became famous through cultural works like John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath, which portrayed it as an escape route during the 1930s Dust Bowl. This literary connection turned the route into a symbol of hope and new beginnings during hard times.
Many sections of the original Route 66 remain drivable today, with historic markers and signs guiding you through different states. For the best experience, drivers should favor well-preserved segments and take time to stop in small towns along the way.
Business owners along the route created distinctive roadside architecture with oddly shaped motels, craft shops, and neon-lit restaurants. These charming, quirky structures became iconic symbols of a golden age of American driving.
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