What makes the historic Route 66 iconic is the culture it has cultivated: motels with neon signs, retro diners, quirky roadside attractions and drive-in theatres are emblematic of mid-century Americana. The road-inspired songs, such as Bobby Troup’s 1946 hit (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66, immortalised by Nat King Cole and The Rolling Stones, and is a familiar motif in films and TV shows that celebrate the spirit of the open road. It was the artery through which the American Dream pulsed, especially during the Dust Bowl, the disaster that sent families fleeing westward in search of hope, as chronicled in John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath (1939).

By the 1950s, Route 66 was a booming symbol of post-World War II mobility and American optimism. Yet it was this very spirit of progress that would see the road sidelined: the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 ushered in a new era of interstate highway systems, rerouting traffic away from small towns. The road was officially decommissioned in 1985, but its legacy endured.

As the Mother Road celebrates its 100th birthday in 2026, there’s no better time to see it, with fresh eyes and a full tank of wonder. Whether it’s for the quirky detours or the quiet moments that sneak up on you somewhere between the Painted Desert and a pie-filled diner in Missouri, Route 66 remains one of life’s great bucket-list journeys.