A few years back, Demaras Racing’s star driver Daniel raced in the desert town of Winchester, California. The landscape was incredible, and inspired the Demaras family to visit Route 66 for a dose of nostalgia. Places like Rancho Cucamonga and the Wigwam Motel gave a glimpse into the history of the ‘mother road’ which turns 100 this year. Route 66 covers nearly 4,000 km from Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier and remains a symbol of the classic road trip. If fate steers the family south of the border this summer, these are the top six spots we’d visit on old Route 66.
Oatman, Arizona
A former gold mining town founded in 1915, Oatman preserves its original Route 66 alignment through the Black Mountains. Known for its roaming wild burros, the town features historic buildings and staged gunfight shows. The Oatman Hotel, a restaurant and museum, is a notable landmark.
Kingman, Arizona
Originally a railroad town, Kingman became a key Route 66 service hub. It features preserved highway segments and the Arizona Route 66 Museum, housed in a 1907 power plant. It is home to the Arizona Route 66 Museum, located in the historic Powerhouse building from 1907, and the famous Mr. Dz diner. Kingman remains one of the primary access points for some of the longest intact portions of Route 66 in the state.
Hackberry General Store, Arizona
Opened in 1934, this former gas station and store now operates as a gift shop and informal museum. When shiny new Interstate 40 diverted traffic (joist like in Pixar’s ‘Cars‘) the business closed in 1978, but was restored in the 1990s, and still displays vintage gas pumps and classic Route 66 memorabilia.
Delgadillo’s Snow Cap Drive-In, Arizona
Established in 1953 in Seligman, this quirky roadside diner is known for its humorous signs and practical jokes. Built from scrap materials, it remains family-owned and a popular Route 66 stop.
Blue Swallow Motel, New Mexico
Opened in 1939 in Tucumcari, this historic motor court still operates today. Known for its neon sign and attached garages (just like the Cozy-Cone Motel in ‘Cars‘) it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places and retains its mid-century character.
MidPoint Cafe, Texas
This Texas diner in the town of Adrian opened in 1928 and marks the exact halfway point of Route 66. Any traveler who already put the 1,850 km on the odometer since leaving Chicago saw the space-age sign at the diner and knew they had another 1,850 km to go until the land of milk and honey in California. It’s not glamorous, but it’s stood the test of time and continues to serve travelers as a nostalgic rest stop.
Route 66 is an extremely interesting highway. From a national east-west artery, to a forgotten road replaced by the interstate, and now a relic of the past being rediscovered a century later. It’s worth taking a trip down the mother road, if even for a couple of miles.
So cool!