Top must-see Route 66 roadside attractions

The Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Ill. is an enormous fiberglass statue of an astronaut wearing a green suit and a space helmet and holding a rocket in his hands. The 20-foot-tall statue was restored in 2024.

Ambler’s Texaco Station in Dwight, Ill. includes a Route 66 visitor center and a 1914 firetruck. The small store opened in 1933 and closed in 1999.

A classic mural of Route 66 located in Pontiac, Illinois. The Route 66 Assoc. of Illinois Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac features thousand of pieces of memorabilia dedicated to the historic Mother Road.

Ice Cream Muffler Man on Normal, Ill. Fiberglass Muffler Man "Carl," a 15-ft. tall version manufactured by Mark Cline, entices the hungry with a living ice cream cone and a hamburger.

Hot Dog Muffler Man in Atlanta, Ill. An iconic figure from late 20th century Cicero, the Hot Dog Muffler Man has stood along Route 66 since 2003.

The Cozy Dog Drive In located in Springfield, Ill. The historic diner and drive-in is famous for their "Cozy Dogs," a french-fried corn dog that was first sold on June 16th, 1946.

Pink Elephant Antique Mall along Route 66 in Livingston, Ill. Eat your ice cream and gaze upon Roadside giants. A Futuro flying saucer house, Muffler Man, pink elephant, Uniroyal Gal waitress, and a big beach dude statue.

Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. The 60 feet high, mile-long steel-truss bridge, which once carried Route 66 across the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri, is now the world’s longest pedestrian bridge

The Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis, Mo.

Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

Pacific, Mo. is home to the Bigfoot monster truck

Meramec Caverns in Stanton Mo.

Fanning, Mo. is home to the former World’s Largest Rocking Chair (now called the “Red Rocker,” having been overshadowed by another enormous rocking chair in giant-loving Casey, Ill).

The Route 66 Steak ‘n Shake in Springfield, Mo. has been operating in it's original location since 1962 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

The Gay Parita Sinclair filling station, established in 1930, is one of the highlights along Route 66 near Halltown, Mo.

Gearhead Curios owner Aaron Perry, grew up outside of Barstow, California, and has been traveling east and west on Route 66 "since diapers" and dreamed of owning a roadside attraction… so he built one in Galena, Kansas.

Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas is home to the most photographed bathroom on Route 66.

One part museum, one part snack bar, and one part souvenir shop in a restored Kan-O-Tex station, 'Cars on the Route' in Galena, Kansas is home of the inspiration for 'Tow Mater' in the Pixar animated film 'Cars.'

Allen’s Conoco Filling Station. This bright green building in downtown Commerce, Okla. is one of the more intriguing architectural oddities along the Mother Road.

Dairy King in Commerce, Okla. is housed in a neon-accented 1920s cottage-style Marathon service station known for its Route 66-themed cookies.

Waylan’s Ku-Ku Burger in Miami, Okla. is the last known remnant of a 1960s fast-food chain. The restaurant serves hamburgers and milkshakes from a building shaped like a giant cuckoo clock.

The Coleman Theatre Beautiful is located right on Route 66 in downtown Miami, Okla. The beautifully restored 1929 theater was once on the vaudeville circuit, playing host to such stars as Will Rogers, Tom Mix, and fan dancer Sally Rand.

Hi-Way Cafe in Vinita, Okla.

Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios-in Tulsa Okla. is housed in a midcentury gas station and features a giant statue of "Cosmic cowgirl Stella Atom."

The "Golden Driller" along Route 66 in Tulsa, Okla. The monument is the tallest free standing statue in the USA at 76-feet tall.

The Round Barn in Arcadia, Okla. is one of the oldest attractions on Route 66. Built in 1898, its round walls and domed ceiling give the second floor a natural parabola effect.

The “Pony Bridge” in Bridgeport, Okla. was built in 1933. It's the longest bridge on Oklahoma's stretch of Route 66 and spans 3,944 feet. The bridge appeared in the 1939 film “The Grapes of Wrath.”

The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Okla. features a great selection of Route 66 memorabilia and a variety of exhibits, including a psychedelic hippie bus and a replica 1950s diner.

The restored 1928 Phillips Cottage Gas Station can be found on westbound 66 in McLean, Texas. The exterior has been restored beautifully. Gas pumps and a classic gas truck sit out front.

The Conoco Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café along Route 66 in Shamrock, Texas. The art deco style gas station is now a museum and visitor info center. A booth in the café where Elvis Presley sat and dined in the 1960s features photos, memorabilia and a cutout of the music legend.

The Leaning Tower of Britten in Groom, Texas.

The Big Texan restaurant in Amarillo, Texas features a Free 72-ounce Steak Challenge which requires eating a 72-ounce steak dinner within one hour. The dinner includes the steak, shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad and roll. According to their website, as of Dec. 5, 2025, there have been 99,208 attempts with 10,631 winners – a success rate of roughly 11%.

At Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas, visitors can ponder the mysteries of the automobile sculpture or just bring along spray paint to leave their initials on the exhibit – where graffiti is encouraged – during daylight hours.

Midpoint of Route 66 in Adrian, Texas. Stop for a quick photo op at the halfway point between Chicago and Los Angeles. While you’re there, grab a snack at the Midpoint Cafe, which offers classic diner fare and a well-stocked gift shop.

The Blue Swallow Motel is the crown jewel of Tucumcari, New Mexico. This immaculate, neon-festooned motel dates to 1939 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Check out elaborate murals inside the attached garages.

Route 66 crosses the Continental Divide in New Mexico roughly 40 miles West of Grants, New Mexico.

The El Rancho hotel is one of many Gallup, New Mexico businesses graced by a vintage neon sign. Check in, then grab the camera, hop in the car, and head out on 66 through town to see some more classic neon after dark.

The Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona features some of the country’s most beautiful scenery, including the spectacular Painted Desert, with its colorful, striated rock formations.

The Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Holbrook, Ariz. advertises its presence with bright yellow billboards along Route 66 emblazoned with a black silhouette of a jackrabbit and the mileage to the trading post. Upon reaching the business, visitors are greeted by a final billboard that proclaims, in large red letters, “HERE IT IS.”

Anyone who cares to stand on a corner in Winslow, Arizona will find lots of spots honoring the iconic Eagles song 'Take it Easy' which brought fame to the city.

Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona is a typical detour for Route 66 drivers.

Snow-Cap Drive-In- is a Route 66 institution in Seligman, Arizona. The Snow-Cap serves up “dead chicken” sandwiches, “cheeseburgers with cheese,” and plenty of good humor. Original owner Juan Delgadillo passed away in 2004, but his descendants are carrying on his longstanding tradition of playing pranks on unsuspecting customers

Giganticus Headicus is a 14-foot-tall head sculpture on Route 66 near Kingman, Ariz.

Roy’s Motel and Cafe in Fenner, Calif.- Despite the name, Roy’s operates as neither motel nor cafe these days, but is a visitors center.

Built in 1949 and recently restored, the Wigwam Motel in San Bernardino, Calif. was once part of a small chain of motels.

Fair Oaks Pharmacy and Soda Fountain has been a South Pasadena, Calif. landmark since 1915, located along historic Route 66. The old-timey mom-and-pop shop includes a compounding pharmacy, lunch counter and kitschy retail items.