The Road That Built Road Trips
Cruising into Route 66's Centennial: Texas Stops You Won't Want to Miss
Few roads capture the American imagination quite like Route 66. For 100 years, the Mother Road has inspired travelers to seek out small-town treasures, quirky roadside attractions, unforgettable landscapes, and the freedom of the open highway. As Route 66 celebrates its centennial in 2026, there's no better time to explore the Texas stretch of this legendary route, where vintage neon, classic diners, historic landmarks, and larger-than-life stories continue to welcome travelers just as they have for generations.
The Mother Road Turns 100
In 2026, the 100th anniversary of U.S. Route 66 stands as a powerful tribute to one of America’s most iconic highways. For a century, Route 66 has connected travelers from across the country, supported small towns, inspired adventure, and become a lasting symbol of freedom and discovery. In Texas, 178 miles of the original Route 66 journey stretched across the Panhandle, carrying travelers east to west through wide-open landscapes and straight through the heart of Amarillo. Today, that legacy lives on along Amarillo’s Historic 6th Avenue, where a mile-long stretch of vintage Route 66 architecture, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, preserves the character and spirit of the Mother Road. Beyond Amarillo, Route 66's story continues in Panhandle communities like Shamrock, McLean, Adrian, Vega, and Groom, where iconic stops, roadside oddities, historic landmarks, and nostalgic photo opportunities keep the spirit of the Mother Road alive for a new generation of travelers.
The significance of a centennial lies in celebrating the past while looking toward the future. It is an opportunity to preserve history, honor cultural heritage, and create new memories for generations to come. As communities gather to commemorate this historic occasion in Amarillo and across the Texas Panhandle, the Route 66 Centennial becomes more than a celebration; it becomes part of the continuing story of the Mother Road.
Whether you’re chasing sunsets westward or following the open road east, Route 66 invites travelers to slow down and experience the stories, flavors, and unforgettable stops found across the Texas Plains Trail Region where the spirit of adventure thrives.
Traveling East to West:
Begin your Texas Route 66 journey where the Mother Road enters the Lone Star State, following the path of early travelers through historic communities, wide-open landscapes, and iconic stops before reaching the halfway point between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Get Your Kicks
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Shamrock
Get Directions (806) 256-2516You won’t miss Shamrock on Interstate 40. Just look for the water tower. Built in 1915 and rising 176 feet high, it’s the tallest water tank of its type in Texas. Follow…
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McLean
Get Directions (806) 779-3200The construction of railroad lines through rural Texas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to establishment of many of the small towns that dot today’s landscape. McLean is one…
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Amarillo
Get Directions (800) 692-1338TURNING YELLOW INTO GOLD The color of the local creek bank soil and the saffron hue of area wildflowers were the most likely inspirations for naming this 1887 townsite for the Spanish…
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Vega
Get Directions (806) 267-2828GET YOUR KICKS HERE The community of Vega, organized in the first decade of the twentieth century, is located along historic Route 66 (now Interstate 40) west of Amarillo. Originally established to…
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Adrian
Get Directions (806) 267-2828Adrian, located at the midpoint of the historic Route 66, maintains a replica of a period American Automobile Association (AAA) sign, proclaiming “1,139 miles to Chicago –– 1,139 miles to Los Angeles.”…
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Pioneer West Museum
Get Directions (806) 256-3941Housed in the 1928 Reynolds hotel, the museum is dedicated to preserving local history. The museum has approximately 25 rooms with historical, pioneer settler artifacts, as well as Indian arrowheads; the Prairie…
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Devil’s Rope and Texas Route 66 Museum
Get Directions (806) 779-2225The focus of the Devil's Rope Museum is on barbed wire related items. Exhibits include thousands of wire specimens both common and rare, and tools and devices used in fence construction and…
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McLean-Alanreed Area Museum
Get Directions (806) 779-2731Located along historic Route 66, the McLean-Alanreed Area Museum celebrates their Route 66, ranching, and agricultural heritage. Founded in 1969, they have worked to preserve artifacts from local residents that tell the…
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Milburn-Price Culture Museum
Get DirectionsThe Milburn-Price Culture Museum is a non-profit organization that seeks to educate the public about the history and culture of the Oldham county area
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Dot’s Mini Museum
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Tower Conoco Station and U‑Drop Inn Café
Get DirectionsJust east of McLean lies Shamrock, home to one of the most impressive examples of Route 66 architecture in Texas. The Tower Station and Café is a one-of-a-kind 1936 Art Deco landmark…
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Magnolia Gas Station
Get DirectionsJust steps from the historic Route 66 corridor, the Magnolia Service Station offers a glimpse into the early days of cross-country road travel. Built in 1929 and carefully restored, the charming station…
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An Early Phillips 66 Service Station in Texas
Get DirectionsThe romance of automobile travel took hold of the American imagination almost as soon as the first cars began rolling off assembly lines in the early 1900s. However, it wasn’t until paved…
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Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Get Directions (806) 248-9006This 190-foot-tall, 1,250-ton free-standing cross monument just off Interstate 40 near Groom, can be seen from twenty miles away and since 1995 has been a familiar landmark along Interstate 40 and historic…
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Britten Leaning Tower
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Cadillac Ranch
Get Directions (833) 330-2650“ROAD DOES NOT END” Cadillac Ranch, a public art installation composed of a line of Cadillacs buried nose-first in the ground, defies an easy explanation. It was created over thirty years ago…
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VW Slug Bug Ranch
Get DirectionsHere, you’ll find a row of half-buried Volkswagen Beetles, nose-deep in the Texas dirt, offering a colorful canvas for roadside explorers. Known as VW Slug Bug Ranch (or Bug Ranch, Buggy Farm…
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U.S. Route 66–Sixth Street Historic District
Get Directions (800) 692-1338Get your kicks on this popular stretch of the iconic American highway! The U.S. Route 66–Sixth Street Historic District comprises 13 blocks of commercial development in the San Jacinto Heights Addition west…
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MidPoint Sign
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Magnolia Station
Get Directions (806) 267-2144ALONG ROUTE 66 Historic Route 66, the nation’s original “Mother Road”, opened in 1926, linking Chicago, Illinois and Santa Monica, California with a 2,448-mile two-lane black top. Although replaced entirely by the…
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GoldenLight Café and Cantina
Get DirectionsThe GoldenLight Cantina in Amarillo, Texas traces its roots to the GoldenLight Café, established in 1946 along historic Route 66. What began as a small burger stand grew into a long standing…
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Big Texan Steak Ranch
Get Directions (806) 372-6000In 1960, The Big Texan Steak Ranch opened on Route 66. Its distinctive architecture soon became recognized across the "Mother Road" as a good stopping place for great steaks grilled over an…
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MidPoint Café
Get Directions (806) 536-6379In Adrian, a small town that experienced its glory years during Route 66’s heyday, travelers pull over to take a photo at the iconic sign that proclaims "Los Angeles 1139 miles /…
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Mama Jo’s Pies and Sweets
Shamrock
Shamrock may be best known for its Irish heritage and annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration, but it is also home to one of the most iconic and photographed landmarks along Route 66. The historic Tower Station & U-Drop Inn, built in 1936, is a stunning example of Art Deco architecture, featuring its distinctive tower, café, and service station. The landmark later inspired the design of “Ramone’s House of Body Art” in the animated film Cars.
While in Shamrock, be sure to explore other notable stops, including the Pioneer West Museum, where exhibits tell the story of the region’s rich history, and the beautifully restored Magnolia Gas Station, another classic reminder of the golden age of road travel on the Mother Road.
McLean
McLean offers travelers a fascinating blend of Mother Road history and Panhandle heritage. Begin your visit at the McLean-Alanreed Area Museum, where exhibits recreate life on the High Plains through historic businesses, local artifacts, and stories of the people who helped shape the community. Just down the road, stop for a photo at the restored Phillips 66 Station, a 1929 Tudor-style service station and one of the earliest Phillips stations in Texas.
No visit to McLean is complete without exploring the Devil's Rope and Texas Route 66 Museum, one of the most unique museums along the Mother Road. Housed in a former brassiere factory, the museum tells the story of how barbed wire helped shape the American West while also showcasing more than 700 Route 66 artifacts, including vintage signs, tourism memorabilia, recreated roadside scenes, and exhibits celebrating the highway's golden era.
Groom
As Route 66 crosses the wide-open landscapes of Carson County, the town of Groom offers travelers a glimpse of Panhandle heritage and larger-than-life landmarks. Established in 1902 as a railroad town and named for rancher Colonel B. B. Groom, the community grew alongside the transportation routes that connected the region and later welcomed generations of Route 66 travelers.
Today, Groom is best known for its iconic attractions that rise dramatically above the prairie. The most prominent is the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, a 190-foot-tall monument that can be seen from miles away and has become a destination for visitors from around the world. Nearby, the quirky Britten Leaning Tower provides a popular photo opportunity along the Mother Road. Originally tilted as a roadside marketing gimmick to draw travelers to a local truck stop, the water tower has become a beloved Route 66 landmark and symbol of the highway's playful spirit.
Amarillo
Amarillo: Your Route 66 Center Point
The center stage for the Centennial. Route 66 runs right through Amarillo, where Historic 6th Street keeps the spirit of the Mother Road alive. Once a bustling highway corridor welcoming cross-country travelers, this mile-long historic district now invites visitors to explore vintage architecture, iconic photo opportunities, unique shops, local flavors, and the timeless nostalgia of America’s most famous road trip.
Amarillo
As the largest city along Texas Route 66, Amarillo offers a mix of classic roadside attractions, vintage charm, and larger-than-life experiences that have made it a favorite stop for generations of travelers. No visit is complete without a photo at Cadillac Ranch, where ten half-buried Cadillacs form one of the most recognizable landmarks on the Mother Road, or a stop at nearby Slug Bug Ranch, a quirky tribute featuring spray-painted Volkswagen Beetles.
Along Historic 6th Avenue in the Route 66 Historic District, visitors can browse antique shops, boutiques, galleries, and other locally owned businesses housed in restored historic buildings that capture the spirit of mid-century road travel. The district is also home to colorful murals celebrating Route 66 history and culture, creating a fun self-guided mural tour. When it's time to eat, enjoy a meal and live music at the legendary GoldenLight Cafe, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in Amarillo, or test your appetite at The Big Texan Steak Ranch, famous for its oversized steaks and larger-than-life Texas personality.
The Texas Route 66 Festival (June 4-13, 2026)
Get ready to celebrate 100 years of the Mother Road in true Texas style!
The legendary Route 66 Centennial comes alive with ten unforgettable days of events, entertainment, and adventure across the iconic Texas stretch of Route 66.
Centered in Amarillo, the official Texas Route 66 Festival will bring together travelers, classic car enthusiasts, music lovers, and road trip dreamers from around the world to honor a century of America’s most famous highway.
From June 4–13, experience nonstop excitement with classic car shows, exclusive bus tours, caravans, cruises, live music, cattle drives, parades, and authentic small-town charm stretching from Shamrock to Adrian. Whether you’re planning a quick stop or the full ten-day adventure, there’s something for everyone along the historic Texas Panhandle route.
Traveling West to East:
Start where Route 66 says farewell to Texas and journey toward Amarillo and beyond, discovering ghost towns, neon signs, classic diners, and the timeless stories that have welcomed travelers for generations.
Glenrio
Straddling the Texas/New Mexico border is the tiny townsite of Glenrio. Route 66 aficionados visit here to see the traces of a once thriving commercial district along the Mother Road prior to Interstate 40. What remains today is a ghost town and National Historic District that includes the road itself and 17 abandoned buildings, including a motel, service station, cafe, and a few others. Here, travelers can get a sense of road tripping during the heyday of Route 66.
Adrian
The town of Adrian holds a special place in Route 66 lore. It is the geographical center of the original road - it is 1,139 miles from both Chicago and Los Angeles. And the town wears this honor with pride! Even the town slogan has a piece of the action by claiming, “When you are here, you’re halfway there.”
Not to be boastful, but being the midpoint of the Mother Road is a pretty big deal. So Adrian offers Route 66 travelers a special treat. The MidPoint Cafe is rumored to be the oldest continuously operating eatery along Route 66 in Texas. Come for the legend, but stay for the PIE! Another Adrian favorite is the famous sign that marks the mid-point of the Mother Road. It’s a “must get” photo on your road trip.
Vega
Vega was once a bustling stop along Route 66. Its buildings feature that classic mid-century modern design style that was so popular during Route 66’s heyday. Today, Vega is still a thriving small town along the historic highway.
Travelers can enjoy a visit to the Milburn-Price Culture Museum which showcases the history of Oldham County. Outside, visitors will find some of the most memorable photo opportunities on the Mother Road, including the World's Largest Branding Iron, a 22-foot-long, 3,000-pound tribute to the legendary XIT Ranch that once dominated the Panhandle. Nearby, travelers can step inside a massive walk-through wind turbine blade, creating a uniquely Texas photo op that highlights the region's agricultural and energy heritage. Additional outdoor attractions, murals, sculptures, and roadside curiosities make the museum grounds worth exploring even after hours.
Another favorite for a photo opp is the 1920s Magnolia Gas Station, which was recently restored.
And finally for the “you’ll be glad you did” category, make a pit stop at Dot’s Mini Museum. This quirky museum is the brainchild of Dot Leavitt, who began collecting pieces of everyday life. Now those items are Route 66 and Americana memorabilia, and you won’t find another collection like this anywhere else. Before you leave Vega on your way to Amarillo, your last stop should be Mama Jo’s Pies and Sweets for - you guessed it - more PIE. Located in a restored historic building along Route 66, travelers enjoy the welcoming atmosphere, baked goods, gifts, and more.
More Than A Milestone
The Route 66 Centennial is more than a milestone anniversary. It is an open invitation to hit the road and experience the people, places, and traditions that have made the Mother Road legendary. Along the Texas Plains Trail, every stop tells a story, from towering landmarks and historic cafés to museums, murals, and quirky roadside attractions. As Route 66 celebrates 100 years, travelers are encouraged to slow down, explore, and become part of the next chapter in the enduring legacy of America's most famous highway.