Route 66 turns 100 this year, and small towns along the historic highway are turning the milestone into a series of local celebrations that highlight family‑friendly travel, community pride and a touch of record‑breaking ambition.
St. Louis leads with a downtown bike ride
The Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership named St. Louis one of five official satellite sites for the national kickoff, joining Joliet, Amarillo, Albuquerque and Santa Monica. The centerpiece of the St. Louis event is a 6.6‑mile group bike ride that weaves through downtown, accompanied by classic‑car displays, documentary screenings and activities for children. The city will also be featured in a live cut‑in during the national broadcast, giving local residents a chance to showcase their pride.
Texas offers a three‑day motor tour
The Old Route 66 Association of Texas has organized a three‑day motor tour for October. Starting in Texola on the Oklahoma border, the tour travels west through Shamrock, McLean, Jericho and Amarillo before ending in Vega. Entry costs $66, a nod to the highway’s number, and includes lunch on both travel days plus a banquet dinner. Along the way, participants can stop at the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, a quirky barbed‑wire collection housed in a former brassiere factory.
Oklahoma attempts a classic‑car record
In Tulsa, organizers staged what they called an official world‑record attempt for the largest classic‑car parade, moving thousands of vintage vehicles along a 5.5‑mile route on May 30. The same day, Oklahoma City hosted a centennial celebration at Scissortail Park featuring live music and local food vendors.
California closes the year with Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade
Pasadena’s long‑running Doo Dah Parade, known for its humorous costumes and eclectic music, will incorporate a Route 66 tribute in its late‑November edition. While the parade’s tone remains light‑hearted, the inclusion of the Mother Road honors the highway’s century‑long impact on the West Coast.
Online buzz and rental‑car data confirm growing interest
Social‑media chatter about driving Route 66 jumped 302 % this year, outpacing interest in other scenic routes such as the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Pacific Coast Highway. Rental‑car data also show an 8 % year‑over‑year increase in vehicles picked up in Chicago and returned somewhere along the highway between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, indicating that more travelers are actually making the road trip.
What the celebrations mean for families and local economies
These events provide families with affordable, multi‑stop itineraries that combine historic sites, local museums and community festivals. Small towns benefit from the influx of visitors, supporting local businesses and reinforcing the tradition of hospitality that has long defined Route 66.
From bike rides in Missouri to motor tours in Texas and record‑setting parades in Oklahoma, the Mother Road’s 100th birthday is proving that the spirit of community and the love of travel remain as strong as ever.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
