Route 66 Turns 100 in 2026 Here’s How to Celebrate

In 2026, Route 66 will celebrate its 100th anniversary. If you’ve never taken the drive, next year might be the perfect chance, as celebrations will be happening all year long.

There are countless towns worth exploring, but according to Love Exploring, there are 13 landmarks that are must-sees no matter which stretch of the route you’re traveling.

The road begins in Chicago and ends in Los Angeles, but it truly became famous in Springfield, Missouri. In April of 1926, a proposal was made to change the highway’s name from Route 62 to Route 66. Visitors to Springfield can learn all about the beginning of the “Mother Road” at the History Museum on the Square, which also features fascinating stories and artifacts from the legendary route.

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Along with the many landmarks, like classic cars and neon signs displayed at museums all along the famous route, you’ll also find countless diners. There are too many to name, but a few that really stand out include Spencer’s Grill in Kirkwood, College Street Café in Springfield, and Iggy’s Diner in Carthage. These are just a handful of the iconic eateries you can discover along the long stretch of road.

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You can imagine that all year long, museums, diners, landmarks, and famous locations will be celebrating Route 66’s 100th birthday. So, even though it may feel a little early to think about spring break or summer road trips, now is the perfect time to start planning. From Chicago to Los Angeles, you’ll have the chance to stop at some of the most famous spots along Route 66.

See the Must-Drive Roads in Every State

Gallery Credit: Sarah Jones

LOOK: See how much gasoline cost the year you started driving

To find out more about how has the price of gas changed throughout the years, Stacker ran the numbers on the cost of a gallon of gasoline for each of the last 84 years. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (released in April 2020), we analyzed the average price for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline from 1976 to 2020 along with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for unleaded regular gasoline from 1937 to 1976, including the absolute and inflation-adjusted prices for each year.

Read on to explore the cost of gas over time and rediscover just how much a gallon was when you first started driving.

Gallery Credit: Sophia Crisafulli