Route 66 Attractions state by state

Our Top Ten Sights in each Route 66 State

State-by-State List

Vintage car parked by neon sign and office of the Blue Swallow Motel — Blue Swallow Motel and its classic neon sign, in Tucumcari NM

Arizona - Top Ten Spots

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

Arizona has plenty of classic Route 66 motels, gas stations, and trading posts; and the bonus of some of its most stunning natural landmarks such as the Grand Canyon, the Petrified Forest National Park, or the Meteor Crater at Barringer.

1950s cars cars parked by wigwam-shaped rooms — Historic Wigwam Motel Holbrook, AZ. Austin Whittall

Our "Top-Ten Route 66 sights" in Arizona are the following.

Jack Rabbit Trading Post

Barringer crater seen from the air surrounded by desert

Barringer Meteor Crater seen from the air. Source

Route 66's Top Ten Spots in Arizona

Barringer Crater (Barringer Crater)
Historic Wigwam Motel (Holbrook)
Twin Arrows Trading Post (Twin Arrows)
Town of Oatman
Petrified Forest National Park (Holbrook)
Seligman, the birthplace of Historic Route 66
Hackberry Store (Hackberry)
the Jack Rabbit Trading Post (Joseph City)
Rainbow Rock Shop (Holbrook)
Standing on a Corner in Winslow Arizona

close up of the two giant arrows, painted red and yellow, stuck in the ground — The gigantic "Twin Arrows" at Twin Arrows, AZ. Credits

wild donkeys (called burros) strolling along the street in Oatman, Route 66, Arizona — Burros roaming free on Main Street in Oatman, Arizona. Perla Eichenblat

Bonus Must see spots in AZ

We added two more spots, the Grand Canyon National Park (Williams & Flagstaff) and, yes, to be fair we must admit that the Grand Canyon is not located on Route 66, but it would be a shame to be so close to it and not visit it. It is only 59 miles north of Williams, AZ, a one-hour drive.

Historic downtown and Urban Route 66 in Williams with its motels and spots it is a relic of the past.

Petrified wood is strewn on the dry rocky ground at the Petrified Forest National Park near Holbrook, AZ — Petrified wood at the Petrified Forest National Park in Holbrook, AZ

More "Top 10" Route 66 Sights

California's Top 10 US 66 sights

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

In California Route 66 crosses the Mojave Desert, the San Andreas Fault, and Hollywood; it reaches the sandy beaches of sun-kissed California on the Pacific Ocean. It is the "End of the Road".

green, blue, brown glass bottles on steel poles decorated with steel rims, hand pumps, antlers, enamel Coke sign, pine trees and chain link fence — View of Elmer's Bottle Ranch on Route 66. Source

yellow and blue restored Richfield gas station, flat canopy, box pillars, vintage gas pumps, small cubic office — Richfield Service Station, Rancho Cucamonga. Source

view of Roy's Cafe & Motel under a gigantic neon sign with a vintage police car parked beneath

Roy's Cafe & Motel, Amboy, California
Source

Classic 1950s Route 66 Motel sign in Needles CA. green orange, white letters, arrow and light bulbs

Route 66 Motel Neon Sign, Needles. Source

The Top-Ten of Route 66 in California

Route 66 Motel neon sign (Needles)
Wigwam Village #7 (San Bernardino)
Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica)
Bagdad Cafe (Newberry Springs)
Elmer's Bottle Tree Ranch (Helendale)
Aztec Hotel (Monrovia)
Cucamonga Richfield Service Station (1915)
Roy's Cafe and Motel (Amboy)
Denny's Windmill Restaurant (Arcadia)
Chicken Boy Muffler Man (Los Angeles)

top of a giant statue with a rooster head tree to the right, red shirt, holds a paper bag in his hands — Closeup of the Chicken Boy statue in Los Angeles. Click image for Street View

The end of the trail sign of Route 66 on the pier in Santa Monica — "End of the Trail" sign in Santa Monica, CA

Illinois Top Ten Stops

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

Route 66 starts in the "Windy City" of Chicago on the shores of Lake Michigan and winds its way across the plains of "The Land of Lincoln" to the Mississippi River with many interesting sights along the way.
Our choices for the Top 10 Route 66 attractions in Illinois are these:

Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station green canopy and gabled roof, red gas pumps, Texaco sign — Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station in Dwight, Illinois. Source, click for street view.

Illinois' Ten Don't Miss Attractions

enormous catsup bottle shaped water tank

World's largest Catsup Bottle. Collinsville Il. Source

Route 66 starting & ending point signs (Chicago)
Ambler's Texaco Gas Station (Dwight) Historic Site
Historic Standard Oil Gasoline Station (Odell) Historic Site
Murals in "Mural City" (Pontiac)
Sprague's Super Service (Normal) Historic Site
Ariston Café (Litchfield) Historic Site
Lauterbach Muffler Man (Springfield)
Soulsby’s Shell Service Station (Mt. Olive) Historic Site
Historical Chain of Rocks Bridge (Madison) Historic Site
Historic Largest Catsup Bottle in the World (Collinsville)

blue gable roof over 2 bay and office of a white woodframe building, gabled canopy over gas pump: Historic Standard Oil Gasoline Station in Odell Route 66 — Historic Standard Oil Gasoline Station in Odell, Illinois. Source

Five more Bonus attractions in Illinois

Brick paved surface with yellow median line, corn field, house in the distance. Route 66, Illinois

Brick Paved Route 66 in Auburn Illinois. Source

The Guinness World Record World’s Largest Covered Wagon in Lincoln.
The Gemini Giant (Wilmington)
Historic Brick Road (Auburn)
Route 66 Girard to Nilwood - with Turkey Tracks (Nilwood)
Historic Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket (Willowbrook)

The Neon Sign of Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook Route 66 — Historic Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket neon sign, Willowbrook, Illinois. Source

Kansas Route 66 Top Attractions

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦ Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

Route 66 has its shortest stretch in Kansas with only 13 miles of the highway in the state; but it has several interesting spots to visit.

us flag made with licence plates on a wall — US flag made from license plates on Route 66 (the Tag Flag) at the Texaco in Galena Kansas. Credits

gabled roofed Historic Phillips 66 vintage gas station

Independent Oil & Gas Service Station. Source

Kansas and its Top Ten Route 66 sights

Kan-O-Tex (Galena)
Tag Flag and Texaco (Galena)
Galena Historic District (Galena) Historic Site
Litch Historical and Mining Museum (Galena)
Williams Store - Eisler Brothers Old Riverton Store (Riverton) Historic Site
The oldest continuously operating store on Route 66
Independent Oil & Gas (Baxter Springs) Historic Site
Historic Rainbow Bridge (Riverton) Historic Site
Fort Baxter site (Baxter Springs) Civil War battleground
The shortest alignment of Route 66 (13 miles in Kansas)
Cafe on Route 66 (Baxter Springs)

gas station in red and white, pumps, and three Cars characters — Kan-O-Tex Service Station & Diner or "Cars on Route 66", Galena KS. Source. Click image for Street View

Missouri - Best Route 66 sights

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦ Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

From St. Louis to Joplin, the Mother Road crosses the Ozarks and goes through many towns with plenty of interesting Route 66 classic icons. Below is the list of those who made it to our Top Ten attractions.

vintage red neon sign with white letters and two more signs under it — The Boots Court neon sign, on Route 66 in Carthage, Missouri. Source. Click for street View.

giant red rocking chair and three vintage cars dwarfed by it — A Route 66 attraction, the Red Rocker in Fanning, Missouri. Credits

The Top 10 icons in Missouri

The screen of the old Drive-In Theatre in Carthage Missouri

66 Drive-In Theatre, US 66, Carthage MO

The World's (second) Largest Rocking Chair (Fanning)
Meramec River US 66 Bridge (Eureka) Historic Site
Big Chief Hotel (Wildwood) Historic Site
Red Cedar Inn (Pacific) Historic Site
Wagon Wheel Motel, Cafe and Gas Station (Cuba) Historic Site
Historic Rock Fountain Tourist Court Motel (Springfield) Historic Site
66 drive-in theater (Carthage) Historic Site
Circle Inn Malt Shop (Bourbon).
Munger Moss Motel (Lebanon).
Gillioz Theatre (Springfield) Historic Site

New Mexico & its Route 66 Top-Ten

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦ Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

Route 66 enters the high arid mesas, and crosses the Sandia Mountains and Continental Divide in NM. Sights along the original alingment and the one used after 1937.

richly decorated block shaped theater, with red neon sign word KIMO written on it, Central Ave passes by lower left — The Historic Kimo Theater, Albuquerque NM. Austin Whittall

Our List with the Top Ten Attractions on US 66 in NM

Austere adobe facade of the San Miguel Mission Oldest Church in the US

Historic Place: Oldest Church in the US, San Miguel Mission, Santa Fe. A. Whittall

Saint Joseph Church (Laguna Pueblo) Historic Site
San Miguel Mission oldest church in the U.S. (Santa Fe) Historic Site
Blue Swallow Motel (Tucumcari) Historic Site
De Anza Motor Lodge (Albuquerque) Historic Site
Kimo Theater (Albuquerque) Historic Site
Acoma Curio Shop (San Fidel) Historic Site
Barrio De Analco (Santa Fe) Historic Site
Whiting Brothers Service Station (Moriarty)
Ruins of the Whiting Bros. Gas Station (San Fidel)
Roy T. Herman's Garage and Service Station (Thoreau) Historic Site

The only operating Whiting Bros. Gas Station — Whiting Brothers Service Staiton in Moriarty NM. Credits Click image for street view

US 66 dead end sign in Continental Divide New Mexico — Dead End Sign on Route 66, Continental Divide by A. Whittall

Bonus Sights

Don't miss these two Bonus New Mexico attractions: the Continental Divide and Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru Sign in Grants.

color view of the upper part of a drive thru arch shaped like a US highway shield with opening to allow cars through with words: GRANTS NEW MEXICO - HISTORIC ROUTE 66 on it — Route 66 Neon Drive-Thru Sign. Grants, NM. Source

More Route 66 Attractions

Oklahoma Route 66 Must-see sights

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦ Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

restored cottage style station, steep gabled roof, old pumps — Hole in the Wall Conoco gas station, Route 66 in Commerce, OK. Source

What to see in Oklahoma: There are many sights along Route 66 in Oklahoma. In fact, it was not an easy job to define which are the top ten in our ranking. Perhaps you should check out (more OK landmarks Here).

Round Barn made in wood, painted brown with a hemispherical shingle roof — Round Barn, Arcadia OK., Carol M. Highsmith. Click image for St. view

Our Choice for the Top Sights for Route 66 in Oklahoma

Historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. Chuck Coker

Round Barn (Arcadia) Historic Site
Conoco Hole in the Wall - photo below (Commerce)
Route 66 Museum (Clinton)
Ribbon Road - Sidewalk Road - photo below (Miami to Afton)
Coleman Theatre (Miami) Historic Site
Rock Café (Stroud) Historic Site
World's Tallest gas pump; (Sapulpa)
Blue Whale (Catoosa)
The World's Largest Totem Pole (Foyil) Historic Site
Brick Paved Broadway Street (Davenport) Historic Site

large concrete Blue Whale by pond — The Big Blue Whale, US66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma. Source

>> Book your Hotel in Oklahoma

narrow 9-foot-wide paved section of Route 66 in Miami Oklahoma — The 9 foot wide 1920s Route 66 "Ribbon Road", Miami, Oklahoma
by Jimmy Emerson, DVM

Texas: Top 10 Route 66 landmarks

California ¦ Arizona ¦ New Mexico ¦ Texas ¦ Oklahoma ¦ Kansas ¦ Missouri ¦ Illinois

Route 66 Conoco service station at Shamrock — Historic Place: Art-Deco Conoco service station and diner, Shamrock, Texas.
Credits

The alignment of Route 66 in Texas is the second shortest (after Kansas) but it is packed with plenty of classic icons, below are those that made it to our Top Ten list.