Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Route 66 is turning 100 years old, and there’s no better time to drive America’s most legendary road trip. In this episode of Photowalks, I travel nearly 2,500 miles across eight states along the historic Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica, to show you the 33 best highlights of the Mother Road.
Along the way you'll see:
• Neon-lit towns like Tucumcari, New Mexico
• The Cadillac Ranch art installation in Amarillo
• The Wigwam Motel in Arizona
• The legendary Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri
• The quirky Bottle Tree Ranch in California
• Classic diners, roadside attractions, and hidden photo spots
Then in the second half of the episode, I show you how to plan your own Route 66 trip, whether you have two weeks, one week, or just a long weekend.
Route 66 runs through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and remains one of the greatest ways to see America the way it used to be.
📸 On Photowalks we travel the world looking for the most photogenic places and the best travel photography tips you can capture with your phone.
Subscribe for new episodes and travel photo tips every week.
Chapter Markers
00:00 Route 66 Turns 100
00:24 The 33 Best Route 66 Stops
01:36 Chicago: Start of Route 66
02:31 Pontiac & Springfield Illinois
03:34 St. Louis & Gateway Arch
04:21 Chain of Rocks Bridge
04:56 Missouri Roadside Attractions
05:25 Kansas: Galena & the Cars Inspiration
06:02 Tulsa & Oklahoma Highlights
07:27 Shamrock & Texas Route 66
08:12 Cadillac Ranch & Amarillo
08:52 Midpoint Café Photo Stop
09:21 New Mexico Neon Towns
10:25 Arizona Route 66 Highlights
11:38 California Stops & Santa Monica Finish
13:20 Route 66 Road Trip Planning
25:07 Why Route 66 Still Matters
#Route66
#Route66RoadTrip
#MotherRoad
#RoadTripUSA
#HistoricRoute66
#Photowalks
#AmericanRoadTrip
⚠️DISCLAIMER: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your own research.
Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of PhotowalksTV. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided.
© PhotowalksTV with Jefferson Graham
Route 66 is turning 100 years old, and there’s no better time to drive America’s most legendary road trip. In this episode of Photowalks, I travel nearly 2,500 miles across eight states along the historic Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica, to show you the 33 best highlights of the Mother Road.
Along the way you'll see:
• Neon-lit towns like Tucumcari, New Mexico
• The Cadillac Ranch art installation in Amarillo
• The Wigwam Motel in Arizona
• The legendary Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri
• The quirky Bottle Tree Ranch in California
• Classic diners, roadside attractions, and hidden photo spots
Then in the second half of the episode, I show you how to plan your own Route 66 trip, whether you have two weeks, one week, or just a long weekend.
Route 66 runs through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, and remains one of the greatest ways to see America the way it used to be.
📸 On Photowalks we travel the world looking for the most photogenic places and the best travel photography tips you can capture with your phone.
Subscribe for new episodes and travel photo tips every week.
Chapter Markers
00:00 Route 66 Turns 100
00:24 The 33 Best Route 66 Stops
01:36 Chicago: Start of Route 66
02:31 Pontiac & Springfield Illinois
03:34 St. Louis & Gateway Arch
04:21 Chain of Rocks Bridge
04:56 Missouri Roadside Attractions
05:25 Kansas: Galena & the Cars Inspiration
06:02 Tulsa & Oklahoma Highlights
07:27 Shamrock & Texas Route 66
08:12 Cadillac Ranch & Amarillo
08:52 Midpoint Café Photo Stop
09:21 New Mexico Neon Towns
10:25 Arizona Route 66 Highlights
11:38 California Stops & Santa Monica Finish
13:20 Route 66 Road Trip Planning
25:07 Why Route 66 Still Matters
#Route66
#Route66RoadTrip
#MotherRoad
#RoadTripUSA
#HistoricRoute66
#Photowalks
#AmericanRoadTrip
⚠️DISCLAIMER: I do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of watching any of my publications. You acknowledge that you use the information I provide at your own risk. Do your own research.
Copyright Notice: This video and my YouTube channel contain dialogue, music, and images that are the property of PhotowalksTV. You are authorized to share the video link and channel and embed this video in your website or others as long as a link back to our YouTube channel is provided.
© PhotowalksTV with Jefferson Graham
