Published May 27, 2026 03:05AM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The Mother Road celebrates her 100th birthday in 2026. For its centennial, America\u2019s most iconic highway gets a glow-up with fresh bicycle paths, revived retro hotels, and payment that sings (for real).<\/p>\n
View from the Handlebars: Cycling Route 66<\/h2>\nBike trail sign in route 66 in Illinois.<\/span> (Photo: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIt might be road-trip blasphemy to suggest ditching the car for a Route 66 adventure\u2014after all, the Mother Road was designed for motor touring\u2014but with excellent established cycling routes and new bike initiatives, we\u2019ll just say it: Why drive when you can bike?<\/p>\n
First, there\u2019s Adventure Cycling Association\u2019s Bicycle Route 66<\/a>, a 2,493-mile cross-country trek ribboning through all eight states on the Mother Road, plunging cyclists into both stunning landscapes and sometimes punishing conditions. That\u2019s what makes it such an epic bucket-list to-do. Bicycle Route 66 debuted more than a decade ago, so it\u2019s not new, though completing portions of it makes for a worthy centennial homage.<\/p>\nLess bucket-list and more Sunday-afternoon is the Illinois Route 66 Trail<\/a> from Chicago to the Mississippi River. Like Bicycle Route 66, the 369-mile stretch of bike-friendly paths is not new, though the ride is memorable, embodying all that makes two-wheeled exploration on Route 66 so magic: a slow-paced journey through small towns, by roadside attractions, and down bucolic country roads.<\/p>\nWhat is<\/i> new: Recent bike-path buildouts in Oklahoma and California under the U.S. Bicycle Route System<\/a> (USBRS) initiative. In partnership with Adventure Cycling Association<\/a>, USBRS added 429 miles of trails lining Route 66 in Oklahoma\u2014giving the state bragging rights to the most rideable miles of the Mother Road. Cyclists pedal past iconic landmarks like the Meadow Gold neon sign in Tulsa; the Round Barn<\/a> and Pops 66<\/a> (stop here for a fizzy soda and a selfie by the 66-foot-tall pop bottle), both in Arcadia; Geary\u2019s Pony Bridge<\/a>, made famous in the 1940 film The Grapes of Wrath<\/i>; and in Chelsea, Totem Pole Park<\/a>, home of the world\u2019s largest concrete totem pole.<\/p>\nAs part of the same USBRS initiative, California gets a new 3.8-mile extension of the Route 66-adjacent Santa Ana River Trail<\/a> in San Bernardino, a scenic path newly opened in February, while a current expansion is underway for the 20-mile Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail<\/a>, which starts at Route 66 Trailhead Park.<\/p>\nWhere to Stay: New (and Newly Revived) Lodging on 66<\/h2>\n![\"Classic](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/americas-next-250-route-66_wigwams.jpg?width=3840&auto=webp&quality=75&fit=cover\"\/)
(Photo: Destination Scenics\/Alamy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nNo highway, byway, or roadway can rival Route 66 when it comes to unique accommodations. From retro motels known for striking architecture (looking at you, Wigwam Motel<\/a> in Holbrook, Arizona) to historic Harvey Houses where Hollywood\u2019s 1930s elite bedded down (Hotel El Rancho<\/a>\u00a0in Gallup, New Mexico), the lodging on Route 66 is as much a draw as the road itself. And just in time for the centennial, a crop of new hotels, plus a few recently reimagined ones, entice travelers to stop and rest awhile.<\/p>\nIn Amarillo, Texas, there\u2019s The Barfield<\/a>, a new boutique hotel inside a renovated 1920s skyscraper. In addition to stylishly appointed rooms with a hint of Texas flair, the hotel also organizes horseback rides through Palo Duro Canyon<\/a>, the second largest canyon in the U.S., and a favorite nature stop for outdoorsy Route 66-ers.<\/p>\nContinuing west, you\u2019ll arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico\u2014and at ARRIVE Hotel<\/a>. Opened in 1965 as the Downtowner Motor Inn, the property was transformed in 2025 to the 137-room ARRIVE. Vintage touches blend with laid-back luxury for a stay that\u2019s a little bit Southwestern charm with a dash of upscale hipster.<\/p>\nIn Arizona, road trippers have two newish options: Americana Motor Hotel<\/a> in Flagstaff and Dwell<\/a> in Topock. The latter opened in March of this year as a glamping destination on the Arizona-California border with spacious sites for camper vans or RVs and cozy casitas bestowing serene desert vistas. As for the Americana, its roots date to 1962 when it operated as a motor lodge; it\u2019s since received a $20 million renovation, and now the hotel is a playful retro-futuristic nod to Route 66\u2019s midcentury heyday.<\/p>\nWhat to Do: Recently Restored Landmarks on 66<\/h2>\n\n![\"Gemini](\"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/geminiman.png?width=3840&auto=webp&quality=75&fit=cover\"\/)
Gemini Giant aka Muffler Man gets a new home in Wilmington, Illinois. (Photo: Courtesy Illinois Office of Tourism)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nSnagging photo ops of the Mother Road\u2019s revered landmarks is a must\u2014in some cases, a literal must, since you\u2019ll be winkingly asked to show \u201cproof\u201d of your adventure when you arrive at the End of the Trail kiosk at Route 66\u2019s western terminus on Santa Monica Pier. While many of these roadside attractions haven\u2019t gotten so much as a paint job in 100 years, a few have enjoyed a centennial facelift. From east to west:<\/p>\n
Gemini Giant<\/a>, Wilmington, Illinois<\/strong><\/p>\nFollowing a meticulous restoration, the 30-foot-tall, 1960s space-age Muffler Man statue got a new home, and a new dedication, at South Island Park.<\/p>\n
Birthplace of Route 66<\/a>, Springfield, Missouri<\/strong><\/p>\nThe city debuted a 20-foot-tall monument for the centennial by the legendary Rail Haven Hotel.<\/p>\n
The Filling Station<\/a>, El Reno, Oklahoma<\/strong><\/p>\nThanks to a $1.2 million grant from the Centennial Commission, this 1950s gas station was remodeled and reopened as a visitor center and restaurant.<\/p>\n
Blue Whale, Catoosa<\/a>, Oklahoma<\/strong><\/p>\nUndergoing a $2 million renovation, the gigantic, beloved fiberglass whale reopens this summer with a visitor center, gift shop, and buzzing neon lights.<\/p>\n
It might be road-trip blasphemy to suggest ditching the car for a Route 66 adventure\u2014after all, the Mother Road was designed for motor touring\u2014but with excellent established cycling routes and new bike initiatives, we\u2019ll just say it: Why drive when you can bike?<\/p>\n
First, there\u2019s Adventure Cycling Association\u2019s Bicycle Route 66<\/a>, a 2,493-mile cross-country trek ribboning through all eight states on the Mother Road, plunging cyclists into both stunning landscapes and sometimes punishing conditions. That\u2019s what makes it such an epic bucket-list to-do. Bicycle Route 66 debuted more than a decade ago, so it\u2019s not new, though completing portions of it makes for a worthy centennial homage.<\/p>\n Less bucket-list and more Sunday-afternoon is the Illinois Route 66 Trail<\/a> from Chicago to the Mississippi River. Like Bicycle Route 66, the 369-mile stretch of bike-friendly paths is not new, though the ride is memorable, embodying all that makes two-wheeled exploration on Route 66 so magic: a slow-paced journey through small towns, by roadside attractions, and down bucolic country roads.<\/p>\n What is<\/i> new: Recent bike-path buildouts in Oklahoma and California under the U.S. Bicycle Route System<\/a> (USBRS) initiative. In partnership with Adventure Cycling Association<\/a>, USBRS added 429 miles of trails lining Route 66 in Oklahoma\u2014giving the state bragging rights to the most rideable miles of the Mother Road. Cyclists pedal past iconic landmarks like the Meadow Gold neon sign in Tulsa; the Round Barn<\/a> and Pops 66<\/a> (stop here for a fizzy soda and a selfie by the 66-foot-tall pop bottle), both in Arcadia; Geary\u2019s Pony Bridge<\/a>, made famous in the 1940 film The Grapes of Wrath<\/i>; and in Chelsea, Totem Pole Park<\/a>, home of the world\u2019s largest concrete totem pole.<\/p>\n As part of the same USBRS initiative, California gets a new 3.8-mile extension of the Route 66-adjacent Santa Ana River Trail<\/a> in San Bernardino, a scenic path newly opened in February, while a current expansion is underway for the 20-mile Pacific Electric Inland Empire Trail<\/a>, which starts at Route 66 Trailhead Park.<\/p>\n No highway, byway, or roadway can rival Route 66 when it comes to unique accommodations. From retro motels known for striking architecture (looking at you, Wigwam Motel<\/a> in Holbrook, Arizona) to historic Harvey Houses where Hollywood\u2019s 1930s elite bedded down (Hotel El Rancho<\/a>\u00a0in Gallup, New Mexico), the lodging on Route 66 is as much a draw as the road itself. And just in time for the centennial, a crop of new hotels, plus a few recently reimagined ones, entice travelers to stop and rest awhile.<\/p>\n In Amarillo, Texas, there\u2019s The Barfield<\/a>, a new boutique hotel inside a renovated 1920s skyscraper. In addition to stylishly appointed rooms with a hint of Texas flair, the hotel also organizes horseback rides through Palo Duro Canyon<\/a>, the second largest canyon in the U.S., and a favorite nature stop for outdoorsy Route 66-ers.<\/p>\n Continuing west, you\u2019ll arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico\u2014and at ARRIVE Hotel<\/a>. Opened in 1965 as the Downtowner Motor Inn, the property was transformed in 2025 to the 137-room ARRIVE. Vintage touches blend with laid-back luxury for a stay that\u2019s a little bit Southwestern charm with a dash of upscale hipster.<\/p>\n In Arizona, road trippers have two newish options: Americana Motor Hotel<\/a> in Flagstaff and Dwell<\/a> in Topock. The latter opened in March of this year as a glamping destination on the Arizona-California border with spacious sites for camper vans or RVs and cozy casitas bestowing serene desert vistas. As for the Americana, its roots date to 1962 when it operated as a motor lodge; it\u2019s since received a $20 million renovation, and now the hotel is a playful retro-futuristic nod to Route 66\u2019s midcentury heyday.<\/p>\n Snagging photo ops of the Mother Road\u2019s revered landmarks is a must\u2014in some cases, a literal must, since you\u2019ll be winkingly asked to show \u201cproof\u201d of your adventure when you arrive at the End of the Trail kiosk at Route 66\u2019s western terminus on Santa Monica Pier. While many of these roadside attractions haven\u2019t gotten so much as a paint job in 100 years, a few have enjoyed a centennial facelift. From east to west:<\/p>\n Gemini Giant<\/a>, Wilmington, Illinois<\/strong><\/p>\n Following a meticulous restoration, the 30-foot-tall, 1960s space-age Muffler Man statue got a new home, and a new dedication, at South Island Park.<\/p>\n Birthplace of Route 66<\/a>, Springfield, Missouri<\/strong><\/p>\n The city debuted a 20-foot-tall monument for the centennial by the legendary Rail Haven Hotel.<\/p>\n The Filling Station<\/a>, El Reno, Oklahoma<\/strong><\/p>\n Thanks to a $1.2 million grant from the Centennial Commission, this 1950s gas station was remodeled and reopened as a visitor center and restaurant.<\/p>\n Blue Whale, Catoosa<\/a>, Oklahoma<\/strong><\/p>\n Undergoing a $2 million renovation, the gigantic, beloved fiberglass whale reopens this summer with a visitor center, gift shop, and buzzing neon lights.<\/p>\nWhere to Stay: New (and Newly Revived) Lodging on 66<\/h2>\n
What to Do: Recently Restored Landmarks on 66<\/h2>\n