You’ve Got to Stop at These 4 Route 66 Attractions

Route 66
Photo by Morten Andreassen on Unsplash

Driving the length of Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles is more about the journey than the destination. While the route itself was decommissioned in 1985, its spirit lives on. Here are 4 Route 66 historically significant stops you can still visit today.

Cadillac Ranch – Amarillo, Texas

A 15 miniature drive from the Texan city of Amarillo is one of the quirkiest sites along Route 66. Created in 1974, this art installation features 10 half-buried, graffiti-covered Cadillacs nose-first in the ground.

Petrified Forest National Park and The Painted Desert – Arizona

This vast region in northern Arizona is home to rocks in every color and hue, from sunrise pink and orange to lavender and even deep greys. Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park containing part of Route 66.

Gateway Arch – St. Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is generally the first or second stop after starting the Route 66 drive in Chicago. One of the city’s icons is Gateway Arch which is the largest arch in the world. Visitors can take a 630-foot ride to the top of the famous landmark and take in the stunning view from above.

Lou Mitchell’s Diner – Chicago, Illinois

Widely regarded as the first stop along the famous route, Lou Mitchell’s is your typical All-American diner. It was established in 1923 in Chicago, three years before Route 66 was created, and served as a starting point for hungry drivers about to hit the road.