Route 66 Turns 100 – It’s Worth The Drive!
A few years ago, my daughter, my mom, and I ditched the interstate, found an original stretch of Route 66, and just drove it. It felt like stepping back in time—quiet, wide open, almost untouched. There was something free about it… even a little romantic. No rush, no pressure, just the road and wherever it decides to take you. It’s one of those experiences I’d tell anyone to make time for at least once.
Route 66 turns 100 this week, and the celebration stretches across the country like the highway itself… a rolling, neon-lit birthday party from Chicago to Santa Monica. Official kickoff events run through May 3rd, with festivals, cruise-ins, and live music popping up all along the route. It’s not one giant headliner, it’s hundreds of small-town parties stitched together by asphalt, chrome, and jukebox speakers.
Known as the “Main Street of America,” Route 66 opened in 1926 and became the path west for millions chasing opportunity, especially during the Dust Bowl years. It carved through the Texas Panhandle, putting Amarillo on the map, and in the lyrics of one of the most covered songs in rock history. Even after being decommissioned in 1985, the road never really faded. It just traded traffic for nostalgia.
And every great drive needs a soundtrack. Here’s a 10-song Route 66 playlist built for the ride:
- The Rolling Stones – Route 66
- Doobie Brothers – China Grove
- Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
- Tom Petty – Runnin’ Down a Dream
- ZZ Top – La Grange
- Eagles – Take It Easy
- AC/DC – Highway to Hell
- Van Halen – Panama
- Bob Seger – Roll Me Away
- Jackson Browne – Running On Empty
- Bruce Springsteen – Born to Run
A hundred years later, Route 66 isn’t just a road. It’s still a feeling of freedom on the open road.
Doug O’Brien
