There’s no greater All-American road trip than the one travel buddies Tina Walls and Christa Blake took this summer along iconic Route 66 – also known as U.S. Highway 66, the Mother Road (courtesy of John Steinbeck’s “The Grapes of Wrath” or the Main Street of America. 

Given its “66” designation in 1926, it’s arguably the most famous road in the country and a roadside culture sprung up along Route 66 – motels, diners, gas stations and other tourist attractions – that inspired songs, films, TV shows, books and even a clothing brand through the years.

Historic Route 66 spans more than 2,400 miles and crosses eight states, starting in downtown Chicago and ending at the Pacific Coast in Santa Monica, Calif. Over the years, the well-traveled highway has brought together people from all walks of life.

“We only went from Flagstaff (Ariz.) to St. Louis, but I’ve been to Santa Monica plenty,” said Walls, who lives in Reedsville. Blake is from the York area. “A street in Tulsa is bringing back all the neon signs. That was cool.”

Today, it is that classic roadside culture and the appeal of the open road that continues to attract tourists.

Even though Route 66 was officially decommissioned in 1985, people from around the world come to drive this mythic highway, stay in vintage motels, gawk at odd roadside attractions and eat American road food. For some travelers, it is a trip back in time to revisit a road they once traveled on a family holiday, whereas for others a Route 66 road trip is the ultimate symbol of Americana.

Whether you plan to hit both ends or you’re driving just one section, here are some stops they highly recommend along the way. 

Fair warning: Road trippers, like Walls and Blake, looking for a photo op, hearty meal, souvenirs or just a good tale to tell will find themselves elongating their journey to experience several of these must-see Route 66 attractions. 

Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum (Pontiac, Ill.) 

About 100 miles from the traditional starting point stands the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum, which houses thousands of pieces of historic memorabilia and artifacts from the glory days of the “Mother Road.” There’s also a Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Okla., which has a replica 1950s diner, “Dust Bowl” experience and big band music from the era.

Gateway Arch (St. Louis, Mo.) 

St. Louis is generally the first or second stop after starting the Route 66 drive from Chicago. The iconic Gateway Arch monument looks impressive from almost any angle. Designed by legendary architect Eero Saarinen, the arch commemorates America’s westward expansion. Take a 630-foot ride up to the interior viewing platform at the very top to catch spectacular views of the city. 

“It was great, it was my second time there,” Walls said. “It is massive and has so much history in the bottom of it, with a whole museum-like place under it.”

Munger Moss Motel (Lebanon, Mo.)

The Munger Moss Motel is another classic Route 66 motel that is extremely popular with Route 66 travelers. The motor court motel first opened in 1946 with a series of cabins and has been expanded and renovated over the years. The Lehman family have run the motel since 1971 and have decorated many of the rooms with Route 66 artwork.

“The people were awesome and showed us what they were doing to renovate the place,” Walls said.

Blue Whale of Catoosa (Catoosa, Okla.) 

Another quirky roadside attraction is the Blue Whale of Catoosa, a waterfront structure that is one of the most recognizable stops along Route 66. Immersed in a beautiful pond and surrounded by a shaded picnic area, it’s a great spot to stop and eat al fresco before the drive ahead to Oklahoma City.

“A husband made it for his wife,” said Walls, who enjoyed hearing about the history of many Route 66 landmarks. “The pond has fish and turtles you can feed.”

Arcadia Round Barn (Arcadia, Okla.)

A minor miracle of engineering – and the only barn of its kind still standing along Route 66 – the Arcadia Round Barn was restored in the 1990s so that it could remain a roadside attraction for hopefully another century. “The barn was beautiful,” Walls said.

Cadillac Ranch (Amarillo, Texas)

A 15-minute drive from Amarillo lies Cadillac Ranch, which personifies the quirkiness of roadside attractions along Route 66. The public art installation is comprised of 10 vintage Cadillacs lodged deep into the ground of the red Texas desert and covered in ever-changing graffiti. Visitors are encouraged to create their own art by spray painting a part of their chosen Cadillac.

Walls didn’t get to partake in that experience, saying, “We stopped and had paint, but it was too windy to paint.”

Pops (Arcadia, Okla.)

Though Pops is a modern Route 66 attraction – having opened in 2007 – it pays homage to both retro architecture and a timeless drink: soda pop. The 66-foot-tall (see what they did there?) LED-lit soda bottle sculpture is a must-visit.

“Christa got a soda, and I got a coffee,” Walls said. “We had the best Italian food at Prossimo (Ristorante) in Tulsa. They wheeled a cheese wheel to our table, poured brandy in it, lit it on fire, melted the cheese then poured noodles in it and coated them with the cheese. It was delicious.”

Painted Desert (Indian Wells, Ariz.) 

The kaleidoscope of colors and layers gives this vast and beautiful landscape its name. This region of rocky badlands, located in northern Arizona, features rocks in every hue, from sunrise pinks and oranges to deep grays and lavenders. Though it’s no longer in use, a stretch of historic Route 66 passes through the desert. “The painted desert was gorgeous,” Walls said. “It was really pretty with different colors.”

Wigwam Motel (Holbrook, Ariz.) 

The unusual Wigwam Motel is one of the two remaining Wigwam properties on the Mother Road and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The second is near San Bernardino, Calif. Built in 1950, this kitsch and original motel offers guests the chance to sleep in wigwams for the night, although funnily enough, the rooms are shaped like teepees not wigwams. “(Seeing) the wigwam was cool,” Walls said. “We stopped at another motel that has a garage right beside each room.”

Petrified Forest (Holbrook, Ariz.) 

Before reaching the Wild West town of Holbrook, a stop off in the other worldly Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona is a must. It’s home to the world’s largest collection of petrified wood, where some pieces’ life cycle began 225 million years ago.

“Just to see the huge pieces of petrified wood that just looked like rocks,” Walls said. “It was just incredible to see and how old they were.”

Standin’ on the Corner (Winslow, Ariz.)

“Standing on the Corner Winslow Arizona” immediately calls to mind the classic rock song “Take It Easy,” made famous by the Eagles. The town of Winslow has embraced the song and created a park to commemorate it. “It’s just the corner they set up in Winslow Arizona with a statue of Glenn Frey, and an actual flatbed Ford from the song,” Walls said.

Santa Monica Pier (Los Angeles, Calif.) 

The epic Route 66 end point means more iconic insignia, cue the “Route 66 – End of the Trail” sign that sits on the famous Santa Monica Pier. The pier’s infamous big wheel set against the sweeping sand beach and Pacic Ocean is a classic sight. Home to a historic carousel and amusement park, the pier offers walking tours, diners and restaurants and weird events like yoga and aquarium story time. 

So, like the infamous “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” song lyrics suggest, “If you ever play to motor west, travel my way, take the highway, that’s the best. Get your kicks on Route 66.”