Things to do · Travel

Drive a stretch of Route 66

US Highway 66, the Mother Road, became a symbol of American mobility, and long stretches of the old alignment can be driven today. More than 250 buildings, bridges and other sites along it are on the National Register of Historic Places, among them hotels, filling stations and restaurants.

Gentle£100 to £500 / $130 to $650A few weeksOutdoorsAlone or with othersIllinois, Missouri, Kansas and 5 more

How to start

  1. Open the National Park Service Travel Route 66 itinerary and choose one state's stretch to drive.
  2. Mark the historic hotels, filling stations and restaurants from the itinerary that fall on your stretch.
  3. Carry a printed map of the old alignment, since the historic road often leaves the modern interstate.

Where to go

We opened this link on 7 October 2026 and found it to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.

Read next

Travel

Joanne Currie and Sue Smith raced across the Atlantic to a piper's welcome in Oban

Two Scottish crew in the 2025-26 Clipper Race sailed the 3,115 nautical miles from Washington DC to Oban on 70ft racing yachts. How a race crewed by non-professionals trains its sailors, what the work on board asks of your body, and the routes into crewing in the UK and US, from a club taster to a five-day live-aboard course.

19 October 2026, 3 min read

More like this

← All activities

The Second Start — our free email list

Our email is starting soon: one real story and one thing to try. Join now to get the first one. Free: the 7-Day Restart Plan (PDF) when you join.

Make this site yours

Three quick questions and we'll show you what fits: no beginner tips if you're already fit, no marathons if you're just starting. It stays in this browser, and you can change it any time.

How active are you at the moment?
Your age (optional)
What interests you? (pick any)