Route 66 Top Attractions You’ll Want to See

One of the most famous roads in the world is Route 66. It has been a road of songs, romance, and is still home to some interesting roadside features.

This road was constructed in 1926 to give us the shortest route to the West Coast from the Midwest, but the creation of the Interstate Highway System has made this road all but obsolete. Even so, there were many roadside attractions places along Route 66 to encourage travelers to stop and many of them are still in place today.

Gemini Giant –Wilmington, IL

Along the side of Route 66, you can see a 30-foot tall Gemini Giant statue, which is one of many of the “Muffler Men” found along the route. These creations were popular as advertising icons during the 1960s to let drivers know they were coming near a service station along the fabled route. If you’re going to travel this famous highway, you’ll want to see the Gemini Giant and take a couple of pictures with him.

Blue Whale –Catoosa, OK

Several of the roadside attractions along Route 66 are kitschy and offer a bit of a humorous vibe when you see them. The Blue Whale was built as an anniversary gift in the 1970s but it has turned into an iconic site along the route where you can stop and take your time looking at the whale and the other colorful items in the area.

Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café –Shamrock, TX

If you love Art Deco architecture, you’ll be pleased with what you see when you stop along Route 66 and take in what the Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café have to offer. There was an animated version of this station in the movie Cars, and now you can visit the original and enjoy the scene and the experience that’s offered when you take a drive along this historic road.

Blue Hole –Santa Rosa, NM

Is it time for a swim? If so, stop along Route 66 and enjoy a kip in the Blue Hole. This is a popular swimming and diving location where you can spend some time in the water and explore the area around it. The water is turquoise blue and inviting to make it easy for you to have a great place to stop during your ride along Route 66.

Original McDonald’s Museum –San Bernardino, CA

Your road trip is probably going to involve some fast food, why not make the Original McDonald’s the place where you stop and enjoy a burger? This location is a museum dedicated to the franchise and is located along Route 66 to give you a great place to enjoy a meal and learn about the history of the chain that has so many locations around the world that you can’t go anywhere without seeing the golden arches.

Start Your Road Trip on Route 66 Today

Many of the roadside attractions of Route 66 are still in place and are maintained by a historic preservation society. Take a ride along this road and enjoy the views, the attractions, and the route that became the most romantic of US road trip routes.