Finally – Route 66 may become national historic trail before it turns 100

Bipartisan Bill Arrives Before 2026 Centennial

America’s most famous highway is about to celebrate its 100th birthday, and lawmakers want to give it a present.

In September 2025, Congress introduced bipartisan legislation to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, a move that would put the “Mother Road” under federal protection just in time for its centennial on November 11, 2026.

The bill has support from both parties and all eight states along the 2,400-mile route.

But to understand why this matters, you have to understand how a stretch of asphalt became a symbol of American freedom, and why it almost disappeared forever.

The Mother Road Was Born in 1926

Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926, running from Chicago through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before ending in Santa Monica, California.

The highway covered 2,448 miles across eight states and was designed to connect small rural towns to major cities.

From the start, public road planners intended Route 66 to connect the main streets of rural and urban communities because most small towns had no prior access to a major national thoroughfare.

When it opened, only 800 miles were paved. The rest was gravel, dirt, or wooden planks.

A Telegram Named It "66"

The highway almost had a different number.

The route from Chicago to Los Angeles was originally going to be designated US 62, but Missouri and Oklahoma officials demanded the number 60.

During a meeting, Oklahoma highway chairman Cyrus Avery noticed the number 66 was unclaimed, and on April 30, 1926, a telegram was sent from Springfield, Missouri to federal officials accepting it.

That telegram is why Springfield calls itself the “Birthplace of Route 66” and why the national centennial kickoff will be held there on April 30, 2026.

Steinbeck Made It Famous Forever

In John Steinbeck’s 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, the highway symbolizes escape, loss, and the hope of a new beginning. Steinbeck dubbed it the Mother Road.

The Pulitzer Prize-winning book depicted the Joad family fleeing Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl, traveling Route 66 to California in search of work.

Steinbeck wrote that Route 66 was “the road of flight” for refugees escaping dust and shrinking land. The 1940 film adaptation cemented the highway’s place in American culture, and the nickname stuck.

Over 200,000 Migrants Fled West

During the 1930s, more than 200,000 people traveled from the poverty-stricken Dust Bowl to California along Route 66.

The highway became a lifeline during the Great Depression, and the migration continued during World War II.

In February 1942, federal officials announced that existing rail and bus facilities could only accommodate a small fraction of the 10 million workers needed for defense plants, and the rest would have to move by private automobile.

Route 66 carried them west.

Interstates Killed Route 66 in 1985

By the time President Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, a few segments of Route 66 had already been superseded by newer, wider roads.

In October 1984, Interstate 40 bypassed the last original stretch at Williams, Arizona.

The following year, on June 27, 1985, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials decertified the road and removed all its highway signs.

Five different interstates now cover the old route.

The Trail Designation Would Bring Federal Help

National Historic Trails are congressionally established long-distance routes administered by the National Park Service.

These agencies may acquire lands to protect key rights of way, sites, resources, and viewsheds, working with states, local governments, and private landowners.

National trails have proven an excellent way to leverage federal funds with other sources to complete preservation projects.

The designation would give Route 66 communities access to grants, technical assistance, and coordinated tourism promotion.

International Tourists Keep the Road Alive

Route 66 businesses consistently report that 30 to 40 percent of their revenue comes from international tourists.

The top international markets include the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, and Switzerland, largely because Route 66 is such an international icon.

Europeans comprised more than 72 percent of international visitors surveyed in Pontiac, Illinois, with most from the UK and Germany.

For many overseas visitors, driving Route 66 is the ultimate American experience.

Eight States Are Planning Centennial Events

Springfield, Missouri has been selected as the host city for the national kickoff, with a concert at the Historic Shrine Mosque on April 30, 2026, the anniversary of the telegram that named the route.

Oklahoma is planning a Route 66 Capital Cruise on May 30, 2026, in Tulsa, with the largest classic car parade ever held.

Arizona’s celebrations will include a Route 66 Fun Run from Seligman to Topock on May 1-3, 2026, the oldest Route 66 event in the country.

Tulsa Is the Official Capital of Route 66

Tulsa was officially named the Capital of Route 66 on July 1, 2024.

The city is planning a world classic car parade on May 30, 2026, with 3,000 vehicles and an expected 200,000 spectators.

Oklahoma has more drivable miles of Route 66 than any other state, over 400 miles, which makes it a natural home for the designation.

The state has been restoring vintage neon signs, bridges, and businesses along the corridor for years.

You Can Still Drive 85 Percent of It

According to the National Historic Route 66 Federation, drivers can still use 85 percent of the original road.

Many segments survived and have been preserved, especially in urban areas where Route 66 became interstate business loops.

Portions of the road through Illinois, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Arizona have been designated a National Scenic Byway under the name “Historic Route 66.”

With careful planning, you can follow nearly the entire route.

The Mother Road Gets a Second Chance

The bill has bipartisan support from lawmakers in all eight Route 66 states.

Sponsors include Representatives Darin LaHood and Teresa Leger Fernández, along with Senators Ted Cruz, Mark Kelly, Alex Padilla, Eric Schmitt, and Tammy Duckworth.

If it passes, Route 66 would join 21 other National Historic Trails, from the Lewis and Clark Trail to the Selma to Montgomery March route.

After 40 years off the map, the Mother Road might finally get the recognition it deserves.

Visiting Route 66, USA

If Congress designates Route 66 as a National Historic Trail, it will formalize what millions of travelers already know: this is one of the great American road trips.

The route begins at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, marked by a “Historic Route 66 Begins Here” sign.

It ends at the Santa Monica Pier, where the “End of the Trail” sign was installed in 2009.

Most travelers take 10 to 14 days for the full journey, with side trips to the Grand Canyon adding more time.

Book motels early for the 2026 centennial, as the classic ones fill up fast.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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