Route 66 Centennial Journey
Route 66 Centennial Caravan Departs Santa Monica for 2,448-Mile Journey to Chicago
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A caravan of roughly 70 drivers rolled out of Santa Monica, California, on June 6 to celebrate 100 years of Route 66. The group is traveling 2,448 miles over 20 days, ending in Chicago on June 25 — retracing the full length of America's most famous highway BND.
The caravan spans eight states: California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. Most drivers came from outside California, joining to shine a light on the small towns and independent businesses that line the old "Mother Road." But high gas prices and soft international bookings are hanging over the celebration Charlotte Observer.
Route 66 Turns 100 After a Century of Reinvention
Route 66 was established on November 11, 1926, as the first all-weather highway linking Chicago to Los Angeles. The federal government decommissioned it in 1985, but the road never died. It survives today as what the National Park Service calls a "linear village" of motels, diners, and roadside attractions The State.
The 2026 caravan draws inspiration from a 1952 trip that honored the route as the "Will Rogers Highway." A federal law passed in 2020 — the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act — created an official body to oversee this year's anniversary events. Advocates are now pushing for permanent federal protection through the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act Macon.
70 Drivers, One Big Bull, and a Very Long Road
National Coordinator Rhys Martin is leading the convoy in a GPS-equipped 1964 Chevy Impala station wagon. Drivers can follow the caravan in real time. Martin said, "Route 66 runs both ways... we wanted to make sure as many towns as possible have a moment that's just about them" News Observer.
One of the trip's most eye-catching features is "Big Moo" — a 12.5-foot, 500-pound fiberglass bull being towed by Danny and Bobby Lee, owners of the Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. The Lees are also hosting nightly steak-eating competitions along the route. Logistics chief Gary Daggett admitted, "I don't know how it's all going to happen" given the scale of the convoy San Luis Obispo Tribune.
$6 Gas and Global Jitters Put a Dent in the Party
California gas prices hit $6.01 per gallon in June 2026 — the highest in two years, according to GasBuddy. That is making the cross-country drive more expensive for participants and raising worries about whether tourists will follow the caravan's path on their own Kentucky.
International interest is also softer than expected. Rising transatlantic flight costs and global instability are cooling overseas bookings. Still, domestic enthusiasm remains strong. A AAA survey found that over 40% of Americans plan to visit some part of Route 66 in 2026 Ledger-Enquirer.
Small Towns See Big Economic Hopes From the Centennial
States along the route are betting big on the centennial buzz. Illinois alone pulled in a record $367 million in hotel tax revenue in fiscal year 2025. Governor JB Pritzker has directed millions in grants toward route infrastructure, saying, "Route 66 helped shape Illinois into what it is today" The News Tribune.
Analysts say the ripple effect could last well beyond the 20-day caravan. Destinations like Albuquerque have seen a 315% spike in newsletter sign-ups for route travel. Heritage byways like Route 66 can generate between $250,000 and $450,000 per mile each year in visitor spending, according to the National Travel Center Mahoning Matters.
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