Route 66 Turns 100 With Major Change in Illinois

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of America's historic Route 66, and it's celebrating with a new starting point in Chicago.

Fun Facts About Route 66

I grew up hearing about the glory days of "getting your kicks on Route 66", but I've never personally driven on the famous highway or taken the time to really read about it before. Do you know these fun facts about Route 66?

1. Illinois is home to the eastern starting point of Route 66.
2. Route 66 passes through 8 states: Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.
3. Route 66 stretches over 300 miles in Illinois, making it the largest stretch of Route 66 that runs through a single state.
4. Route 66 was one of the first highways to be fully paved by 1938.
5. Author John Steinbeck famously called Route 66 the “Mother Road” in The Grapes of Wrath.

Route 66 may have been officially decommissioned from the U.S. Highway System in 1985, but that isn't stopping Illinois from marking its 100th anniversary in a big way this week.

Route 66's New Starting Point in Chicago

For decades, the official starting point of Route 66 sat at the intersection of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, but on March 25, 2026, that is officially changing.

WGN reports:

On Wednesday, city officials will formally designate Navy Pier as the new symbolic starting point of historic Route 66.

The move marks the lakefront attraction as the symbolic beginning of the trail and creates a pier-to-pier journey from Navy Pier in Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in California.

The new "Beginning of the Trail” sign will be unveiled this Wednesday at Navy Pier beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a special dedication that includes a performance by the Plain White T’s, classic cars, and plenty of Route 66 nostalgia. If you find yourself in Chicago this week, make sure to swing by to honor one of America's most legendary highways!