Here is the complete, detailed list of Route 66 cities and towns across all eight states from Illinois to California. This includes both major cities and small towns, along with pre- and post-realignment alignments.

Illinois

  • Chicago – Starting point of Route 66
  • Cicero
  • Berwyn
  • Lyons
  • McCook
  • Willowbrook
  • Countryside
  • Hodgkins
  • Indian Head Park
  • Burr Ridge
  • Justice
  • Willow Springs
  • Lemont
  • Romeoville
  • Joliet – Historic sites, old theaters, and museums
  • Elwood
  • Wilmington – Home to the Gemini Giant, a famous Route 66 landmark
  • Braidwood
  • Godley
  • Braceville
  • Gardner – Known for its historic 2-cell jailhouse
  • Dwight – Known for Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station, now a Route 66 museum
  • Odell
  • Cayuga
  • Pontiac – Features Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum
  • Chenoa
  • Lexington
  • Towanda
  • Bloomington-Normal
  • Shirley
  • Funks Grove – Famous for its maple “sirup” (an old-fashioned spelling)
  • McLean
  • Atlanta
  • Lawndale
  • Lincoln – Named after Abraham Lincoln before he became president
  • Broadwell
  • Elkhart
  • Williamsville
  • Sherman
  • Springfield – Illinois capital and home to many Lincoln sites
  • Chatham
  • Auburn – Known for brick-paved stretches of Route 66
  • Thayer
  • Virden
  • Girard
  • Nilwood
  • Carlinville
  • Gillespie
  • Benld
  • Staunton
  • Mount Olive – Home to Soulsby Service Station
  • White City
  • Litchfield – Famous for the Ariston Café, a Route 66 icon
  • South Litchfield
  • Raymond
  • Waggoner
  • Farmersville
  • Divernon
  • Glenarm
  • Pawnee
  • Williamson
  • Livingston
  • Hamel
  • Edwardsville
  • Mitchell
  • Madison
  • Granite City

Missouri

  • St. Louis – Gateway Arch and the Chain of Rocks Bridge (historic Route 66 crossing)
  • Maplewood
  • Brentwood
  • Kirkwood
  • Fenton
  • Times Beach – Former town, abandoned due to dioxin contamination
  • Eureka
  • Allenton
  • Pacific
  • Gray Summit
  • Villa Ridge
  • St. Clair
  • Stanton
  • Sullivan
  • Bourbon
  • Leasburg
  • Cuba – Known for Route 66 murals
  • Fanning – Fanning 66 Outpost, home to a giant rocking chair
  • Rosati
  • St. James
  • Rolla
  • Doolittle and Rescue (near Rolla)
  • Newburg
  • Hooker – Near Devil’s Elbow, known for sharp curves and scenic views
  • Devil’s Elbow – Noted for the scenic bend and historic bridge
  • Arlington – Mostly abandoned but has some historic buildings
  • Jerome
  • Waynesville – Pulaski County Courthouse
  • Buckhorn
  • Laquey
  • Gascozark
  • Hazelgreen
  • Lebanon – Features Route 66 Museum & Research Center
  • Phillipsburg
  • Conway
  • Sampson
  • Niangua
  • Marshfield
  • Red Top
  • Strafford
  • Springfield – Major city and historic center along Route 66
  • Pleasant Hope (early alignments near Springfield)
  • Plano
  • Halltown
  • Paris Springs Junction and Spencer (small stops west of Springfield)
  • Heatonville
  • Albatross (a very small community)
  • Phelps
  • Plew
  • Avilla
  • Carthage – Historic courthouse square and Boots Court Motel
  • Carterville
  • Webb City
  • Sarcoxie – Near the Joplin area and sometimes considered part of the extended Route 66 area.
  • Joplin – Last Missouri stop before entering Kansas

Kansas

  • Galena – Home to Cars on the Route, with Tow Mater truck inspiration
  • Riverton – Known for Old Riverton Store, a historic general store
  • Baxter Springs – Includes Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center

Oklahoma

  • Commerce – Childhood home of Mickey Mantle, baseball legend
  • Miami
  • Narcissa
  • Afton
  • Vinita – World’s largest McDonald’s (over the turnpike)
  • White Oak
  • Chelsea
  • Foyil – Totem Pole Park, featuring the world’s largest concrete totem pole
  • Bushyhead
  • Claremore – Home of Will Rogers Memorial Museum
  • Sequoyah
  • Catoosa – Blue Whale, a famous Route 66 roadside attraction
  • Tulsa
  • Oakhurst – A small community near Tulsa.
  • Red Fork – Historic oil boom town
  • Sapulpa
  • Bowden
  • Kellyville
  • Bristow
  • Depew
  • Stroud – Rock Café, famous Route 66 stop
  • Davenport
  • Chandler – Historic Route 66 Interpretive Center
  • Warwick
  • Wellston
  • Luther
  • Arcadia – Known for Arcadia Round Barn and POPS gas station
  • Edmond
  • Oklahoma City – State capital and key Route 66 city
  • Bethany
  • Yukon – Known for Czech heritage celebrations
  • El Reno
  • Calumet
  • Bridgeport – Known for its steel bridge, just outside of El Reno.
  • Hydro
  • Lucille’s Service Station in Hydro is a famous Route 66 landmark.
  • Weatherford
  • Hinton
  • Clinton – Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
  • Foss
  • Canute
  • Elk City – National Route 66 Museum
  • Sayre
  • Erick – Hometown of Roger Miller, musician
  • Texola

Texas

  • Shamrock – U-Drop Inn Café, an iconic art deco gas station
  • Lela – A small stop between Shamrock and McLean.
  • McLean – First Phillips 66 gas station in Texas
  • Alanreed
  • Jericho – Near the infamous Jericho Gap, known for its muddy conditions.
  • Groom – Leaning water tower and giant cross
  • Conway
  • Amarillo – Cadillac Ranch art installation, famous Route 66 spot
  • Bushland
  • Wildorado
  • Vega
  • Adrian – Midpoint of Route 66, between Chicago and Los Angeles
  • Glenrio – Ghost town on the Texas-New Mexico border

New Mexico

  • Glenrio
  • San Jon
  • Bard
  • Endee
  • Tucumcari – Blue Swallow Motel, classic Route 66 lodging
  • Palomas
  • Montoya
  • Newkirk
  • Cuervo
  • Santa Rosa – Blue Hole, a deep natural pool popular for diving
  • Dilia
  • Vaughn
  • Pastura
  • Yeso
  • Encino
  • Clines Corners – Trading post
  • Moriarty
  • Stanley – Near Moriarty, on an old alignment of the Santa Fe loop.
  • Edgewood
  • Cedar Crest
  • Tijeras
  • Albuquerque – Route 66 runs through downtown; many neon signs
  • Los Lunas (on an early alignment)
  • Bernalillo
  • Los Ranchos de Albuquerque (on the pre-1937 alignment north of modern Albuquerque)
  • Santo Domingo Pueblo
  • Algodones – A small village between Bernalillo and Santa Fe on the pre-1937 route.
  • Santa Fe (on pre-1937 alignment)
  • La Bajada
  • Laguna Pueblo
  • Mesita
  • Paraje
  • Budville
  • Cubero
  • San Fidel
  • Grants
  • Bluewater
  • Prewitt
  • Thoreau
  • Continental Divide
  • Wingate
  • Gallup – Historic El Rancho Hotel

Arizona

  • Lupton
  • Allentown
  • Chambers
  • Sanders
  • Navajo
  • Petrified Forest National Park – The pre-realignment path went through here.
  • Holbrook – Wigwam Motel and Petrified Forest access
  • Sun Valley – Near Holbrook and often included in Route 66 maps.
  • Joseph City
  • Winslow – “Standin’ on the Corner” park
  • Leupp Corner – An early alignment passed through Leupp before reaching Flagstaff.
  • Winona
  • Walnut Canyon
  • Flagstaff – Historic downtown, Lowell Observatory
  • Bellemont
  • Parks – Between Flagstaff and Williams.
  • Williams – Gateway to Grand Canyon
  • Ash Fork
  • Seligman – Birthplace of Route 66 revival
  • Peach Springs
  • Truxton – A small stop near Peach Springs with a historic café.
  • Valentine
  • Hackberry
  • Antares
  • Kingman – Powerhouse Visitor Center and historic sites
  • Oatman – Famous for roaming burros and Old West atmosphere
  • Topock

California

  • Needles
  • Goffs
  • Fenner – A small stop in the desert, along the post-1930s route.
  • Essex
  • Chambless – Near Amboy, known for its stark desert landscape.
  • Amboy – Roy’s Motel and Café, desert landmark
  • Bagdad
  • Siberia
  • Ludlow
  • Newberry Springs – Bagdad Café filming location
  • Daggett
  • Barstow – Route 66 Mother Road Museum
  • Lenwood
  • Hodge
  • Helendale
  • Oro Grande
  • Victorville – California Route 66 Museum
  • Apple Valley (early alignments)
  • Adelanto (early alignments)
  • Hesperia
  • Cajon Junction
  • Devore – Near the Cajon Pass, an early Route 66 route went through here.
  • San Bernardino
  • Rialto
  • Fontana
  • Rancho Cucamonga
  • Upland
  • Claremont
  • La Verne
  • San Dimas
  • Glendora
  • Azusa
  • Monrovia
  • Arcadia
  • Pasadena
  • South Pasadena – Part of the pre-1937 alignment through Los Angeles County.
  • Los Angeles
  • Santa Monica – Official end at the Santa Monica Pier

This list includes all major and minor stops, offering a thorough look at Route 66’s historic journey from start to finish. We tried to be thorough. If you notice we’re missing a city/town, please let us know. Thanks.