Route 66’s 2025 Comeback: 7 Icons Reborn (and One Detour Locals Swear By)

Key Takeaways

• Get the best of old + new by starting with the 2025 comebacks, then mix in a few legends and one detour
• Reserve the neon classics early and aim for golden hour at photo stops for memorable snaps of your trip.
• Ask locals for what’s newly reopened. Add one “random” stop each day from motel clerks, museum docents, and diner staff.

America’s Road Hits Different Now

Ahead of the Route 66 centennial, preservation projects and renewed attention have “re-lit” the route. These are the stops where the nostalgia still lands and where the experience feels upgraded, more photo-ready, and worth your time. 

The 7 Icons (reborn for 2025)

Route 66 Experience — Tulsa, OK

Tulsa’s new Route 66 Experience brings the Mother Road to life through immersive exhibits, classic cars, and interactive displays that walk you through a century-long history. The mix of neon and digital storytelling creates the perfect starting point that helps travelers turn history into hype for the miles ahead.

Tip: Visit in late afternoon; dusk lighting and neon-lit exterior make the photos.

Conoco Tower Station & U-Drop Inn — Shamrock, TX

This Streamline Moderne perfection with restored detail looks built for golden hour. The green and cream spire, chrome lettering, and neon signage make it one of the most photogenic spots along the entire route. Stop inside for a quick look at the mini museum before heading west.

Tip: Swing back after dinner for night shots that pop.

Blue Swallow Motel — Tucumcari, NM

The Blue Swallow’s newly polished neon sign still greets travelers with a warm glow in the heart of Tucumcari. Rooms include original garage bays and retro décor that make the stay feel personal. Time on the patio at sunset often turns into conversations with travelers following the same road.

Tip: Weekend and summer nights book out early, make sure to reserve ahead.

Wigwam Motel — Holbrook, AZ

The Wigwam delivers a pure Route 66 experience with its concrete “teepees” and vintage cars out front. Recent updates keep the interiors comfortable while preserving the motel’s original feel and photo opportunities. It’s one of the few places along Route 66 where the lodging itself is an attraction.

Tip: Pull right up to your unit for an easy in/out.

Cadillac Ranch — Amarillo, TX

This iconic art installation features ten nose-down Caddies layered in decades of color from decades of past visitors. The colors shift as newcomers arrive, making every visit unique. Kids and adults alike love the freedom to add their mark to Route 66’s most famous public canvas.

Tip: Sunrise or golden hour offer better temps and color. Pack out your empty cans.

Hackberry General Store — Hackberry, AZ

This time-capsule gas stop is a living archive of old Route 66 with worn gas pumps and neon signs, along with walls packed with memorabilia. It’s part museum, part pit stop, allowing for travelers to fuel their vehicle and themselves while admiring the rusted tow trucks and classic cars parked outside.

Tip: Check hours before detouring as hours vary seasonally.

“End of the Trail” — Santa Monica Pier, CA

This sign marks the finish line for anyone who has crossed the country on Route 66 (or acts as a starting point). The “End of the Trail” sign sits in view of the Pacific while the Ferris Wheel and sunset crowds create a celebratory sense of arrival.

Tip: Plan to arrive to the pier late afternoon for golden light and a sunset finale off the Pacific Ocean horizon.

The Detour Locals Swear By

Painted Desert & Petrified Forest — AZ

Just off Route 66, this national park showcases rainbow-striped badlands and ancient petrified logs, unlike anything else on the drive. The old highway used to cross right through the park and travelers can still see the 1932 Studebaker that marks the original alignment. The Painted Desert overlooks and Blue Mesa walk add a visual payoff with unique color to your Route 66 gallery.

Fast facts: Standard NPS entry; minimal extra drive time; huge payoff. If you’ll hit multiple parks on your drive, consider an America the Beautiful pass.

Plan it fast (and enjoy it more)

Lock one neon night (Blue Swallow or Wigwam), one museum moment (Tulsa), and one desert add-on (Painted Desert).

Thread the rest with easy food/fuel/photo stops and keep moving west.