25 Route 66 Stops You MUST See! Driving Route 66? Watch This BEFORE The 100th Anniversary

Route 66 turns 100 in 2026 — and millions are about to make a costly mistake driving it unprepared. This is the unfiltered breakdown of 25 essential stops along the Mother Road, built specifically for the 2026 centennial. Forget the sanitized tourism brochures. You'll get real budget figures, honest tourist trap warnings, and the exact centennial events you need to plan around. What you'll actually learn: - The newly restored landmarks worth your time (and the overhyped ones that aren't) - Exact daily budgets from Illinois through California — no surprises - Critical 2026 centennial events with specific dates and locations - Hidden safety warnings most travel guides won't mention - The best photo ops, food stops, and overnight stays, ranked by actual value Whether you're planning a full Chicago-to-LA drive or targeting specific states, this guide covers every mile that matters — from the Gemini Giant in Illinois to Roy's Motel in the Mojave Desert. 00:00 The Route 66 Centennial Reality 01:10 Stop #25: Gemini Giant, Wilmington IL 02:20 Stop #24: Pontiac, Illinois 03:30 Stop #23: Funks Grove, Illinois 04:40 Stop #22: Springfield, Illinois 05:50 Stop #21: St. Louis, Missouri 07:00 Stop #20: Meramec Caverns, Missouri 08:10 Stop #19: Cuba, Missouri 09:20 Stop #18: Springfield, Missouri (Centennial HQ) 10:30 Stop #17: Galena, Kansas 11:40 Stop #16: Blue Whale of Catoosa, Oklahoma 12:50 Stop #15: Tulsa & Elk City, Oklahoma 14:00 Stop #14: Arcadia, Oklahoma 15:10 Stop #13: Shamrock, Texas 16:20 Stop #12: Amarillo, Texas 17:30 Stop #11: Adrian, Texas (Geographic Midpoint) 18:40 Stop #10: Tucumcari, New Mexico 19:50 Stop #9: Santa Rosa, New Mexico 21:00 Stop #8: Albuquerque, New Mexico 22:10 Stop #7: Grants, New Mexico 23:20 Stop #6: Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona 24:35 Stop #5: Joseph City, Arizona 25:50 Stop #4: Winslow, Arizona 27:05 Stop #3: Hackberry, Arizona 28:20 Stop #2: Seligman & Oatman, Arizona 29:35 Stop #1: Roy's Motel & Cafe, Amboy CA 30:30 Final Verdict: Is Route 66 Worth It? 31:10 Subscribe + End Screen Disclaimer: Content sourced externally. For copyright issues, please contact us via our "About" page before filing a claim.