Route 66 Road Map

06/02/2026

La Posada isn’t just one of the best places to stay on Route 66, it’s one of the most beautiful hotels in America. Every room, garden path, and tile detail tells a story of artistry and preservation.

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La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona stands as a testament to a bygone era of train travel and artistic ingenuity. Book a stay at this famous Route 66 hotel.

06/02/2026

Neon signs and vintage motels are what Route 66 is all about, and the Sands Motel in Grants is the perfect example. Built in the 1950s, it once boasted a restaurant and cocktail lounge. Today, it’s a quiet, budget-friendly stop.

📍 Add this motel to your Route 66 Road Map: https://route66roadmap.com/attractions/sands-motel-in-grants-new-mexico/"

06/01/2026

In 1908, the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad opened the El Garces Harvey House Hotel and Depot in Needles, California. Designed in the Classical Revival style by architect Francis W. Wilson, the concrete structure featured a symmetrical facade, paired Tuscan columns, and wide verandas — making it one of the most impressive depots in the West.

Operated by the Fred Harvey Company, El Garces quickly earned the title “the Crown Jewel” of the Harvey House chain. The lunchroom featured two horseshoe-shaped counters seating 140 people, where guests dined with real linen and silver, distinctive china, and fresh flowers. For the famous Harvey Girls, this was a top assignment.

The hotel and restaurant closed in 1949 as passenger rail declined, and the building served as Santa Fe Railway offices until 1988. Left vacant and facing possible demolition, the Friends of El Garces formed in 1993 to save it. The City of Needles purchased the building in 1999, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

After years of restoration, El Garces reopened in 2014 as the El Garces Intermodal Transportation Facility, now serving Amtrak’s Southwest Chief passengers, Needles Area Transit, and the local community. While no longer a Harvey House, the building remains an important landmark for Route 66 travelers wanting to step into the history of rail and road.

In 2026, Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary. Established in 1926, the iconic Mother Road is in its Centennial year, and I want to bring that celebration to you. Every day throughout 2026, I’ll be showcasing a different Route 66 attraction that you won’t want to miss on your road trip.

Add El Garces to your custom itinerary at Route 66 Road Map and come back tomorrow as we keep exploring more of the best stops on The Mother Road.

06/01/2026

Part ghost town, part art installation, Red Oak II in Carthage, Missouri, is one of Route 66’s most fascinating stops. Artist Lowell Davis spent decades moving and restoring historic buildings from the original Red Oak to this nostalgic haven of Americana.

📍 Add this roadside attraction to your Route 66 Road Map: https://route66roadmap.com/attractions/red-oak-ii-missoura-in-carthage-missouri/

06/01/2026

Built in 1908 and once called "the Crown Jewel" of the Fred Harvey Harvey House chain, El Garces in Needles, California is one of the most impressive depots in the American West. Guests once dined with real linen, silver, and fresh flowers.

📍 Add this Route 66 roadside attraction to your Route 66 Road Map: https://route66roadmap.com/attractions/el-garces-harvey-house-hotel-and-depot-in-needles-california/

06/01/2026

There’s no museum quite like the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, Texas! From giant balls of barbed wire outside to exhibits filled with artifacts, wire art, and Western tools, it’s a stop that’s both educational and delightfully unexpected along Route 66.

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Opened in 1991, the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, Texas celebrates all things barbed wire. Check out the adjoining Route 66 Museum too!

06/01/2026

The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo is part steakhouse, part roadside wonder. Whether you’re stopping for a ribeye or tackling the 72 oz. challenge, this is one Route 66 landmark that proves everything really is bigger in Texas.

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Work up an appetite on your Route 66 road trip? Stop at The Big Texan Steak Ranch in Amarillo, Texas and try the 72 ounce steak challenge!

05/31/2026

Cool Springs Station in Golden Valley, Arizona is the last place to pull over before tackling the winding road through the Black Mountains and over Sitgreaves Pass to Oatman — and the first spot to stretch your legs on the way back east.

Located about 20 miles west of Kingman on Route 66, Cool Springs first opened in the mid-1920s, offering travelers a place to refuel and recharge. It quickly gained fame for its chicken dinners and eventually added cabins for road-weary travelers.

The station passed through several owners over the years before Route 66 was realigned in the 1950s to bypass this winding stretch, sending Cool Springs into decline. A fire in the 1960s left little more than charred remains. In 1991 the ruins got a brief moment in the spotlight as a movie set for Universal Soldier — only to be blown up on screen.

In 1997, real estate broker Ned Leuchtner stumbled upon the ruins and was captivated. After years of effort, he acquired the property in 2001 and worked with builder Dennis DeChenne to painstakingly rebuild Cool Springs using old photographs as guides. By 2004, the historic stop was open once again.

Today, Cool Springs operates as a Route 66 gift shop stocked with memorabilia, souvenirs, Americana, and snacks. Stop to admire the architecture, snap some photos, or simply catch your breath after tackling Arizona’s “Sidewinder” road to Oatman.

In 2026, Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary. Established in 1926, the iconic Mother Road is in its Centennial year, and I want to bring that celebration to you. Every day throughout 2026, I’ll be showcasing a different Route 66 attraction that you won’t want to miss on your road trip.

Add Cool Springs Station to your custom itinerary at Route 66 Road Map and come back tomorrow as we keep exploring more of the best stops on The Mother Road.

05/31/2026

Celebrate the man behind one of Route 66’s best-known nicknames! The Will Rogers Highway Marker in Hydro, Oklahoma, stands at Lucille’s Historic Highway Gas Station, honoring the beloved humorist and his ties to the historic road.

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Explore the Will Rogers Highway Marker at Lucille’s Historic Highway Gas Station in Hydro, Oklahoma, celebrating Will Rogers and Route 66 heritage.