RV route guide
Route 66 revised — what's actually driveable today
The original 2,448-mile Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985. This is what's driveable now.
Route 66 was decommissioned as a US highway in 1985. The original 2,448-mile Mother Road from Chicago to Santa Monica no longer exists as a continuous route. What remains is a curated patchwork of state and local roads, NPS-managed segments, and surviving roadside architecture. This page is the realistic Route 66 driving guide for 2026.
- Tier
- Special / heritage
- State
- Illinois
- Sources
- Cited official (.gov / .org)
Is Route 66 a real road I can drive today?
No, not as a single road. Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985. The original alignment was replaced by I-40 (largely) and I-44 (in part). Original sections survive as state and local roads. The driveable Route 66 experience today is a curated tour combining I-40 parallel driving with stops at preserved-alignment fragments, historic motels, and the NPS Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program. Plan 14-21 days for a Chicago-Santa Monica experience.
- Decommissioned 1985
- I-40 + I-44 replaced largely
- Fragments survive as state + local roads
- NPS Corridor Preservation Program
- Plan 14-21 days end-to-end
The cultural and commercial framing
Route 66's commercial heyday was 1930s-1960s. The interstate system that followed bypassed the small towns + motels that defined the route. Some towns survived as nostalgia destinations (Williams AZ, Seligman AZ, Cuba MO). Others vanished.
What remains: a sense of mid-century American highway culture, neon signs, drive-up restaurants, the architectural patterns of the original alignment, and a community of Route 66 enthusiasts preserving what they can.
What Route 66 nostalgia coverage doesn't tell you
Most Route 66 coverage romanticizes a road that no longer exists. PickRV's honest framing: the route is a curated experience, not a continuous drive.
The most intact alignment is the AZ-66 segment Seligman to Kingman (90 miles bypassed by I-40 in 1978). This is the authentic Route 66 experience.
- NPS Route 66: Corridor preservation program.[source]
Frequently asked questions
- Can I drive every original mile?
- No. Significant sections have been destroyed, paved over, or are unsafe. The curated experience is what's driveable.
Authoritative sources
Verify current conditions with state DOT 511 systems before departure. RV restrictions may change. Weather may close roads.
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