America’s most famous highway celebrates its centenary on 11 November, with parades, classic cars, concerts and festivals marking 100 years of the legendary Mother Road. For European travellers dreaming of the ultimate American road trip, there could hardly be a better time to get behind the wheel and discover the historic route from Chicago to California

America’s most famous highway will turn 100 next month, with street parties, parades, concerts and a gruelling 140-mile road race among the celebrations planned to mark the centenary of Route 66.

The legendary 2,448-mile highway, which stretches from Chicago to California through eight states, reaches its milestone on Wednesday 11 November – exactly a century after it was officially designated US Highway 66 in 1926.

Known as the Mother Road, Route 66 became a symbol of American freedom and adventure, carrying millions of motorists through small towns, vast deserts and some of the country’s most recognisable landscapes.

Although it was removed from the US Highway System in 1985, surviving sections have become major tourist attractions, famous for their roadside diners, vintage petrol stations, neon signs and classic motels.

For European travellers who have always dreamed of driving Route 66, the centenary offers an ideal opportunity to make the journey. With celebrations taking place along the highway, visitors can experience the classic American road trip and join the festivities marking one of the world’s most famous roads.

Some of the biggest centenary celebrations are being organised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where a full day of festivities on 11 November will include a Veterans Day parade, a street party and live music.

The city, which calls itself the Capital of Route 66, will stage a special Centennial Crawl through ten downtown cultural attractions, including the Woody Guthrie Center and Bob Dylan Center.

A birthday celebration on Main Street will take place at 5pm, followed by a free concert from Bob Wills’ Texas Playboys at Guthrie Green. American rock band Wilderado will also perform at Cain’s Ballroom, although tickets for that concert have already sold out.

In Springfield, Illinois, rock group STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas will headline an anniversary concert at Route 66 Motorheads on 11 November. The venue will also host a conference bringing together tourism representatives, historians and preservation specialists to discuss the highway’s future.

New Mexico will join the celebrations in Albuquerque, where an anniversary gathering will take place at the unusual intersection where two historic alignments of Route 66 cross.

The free event, at the Route 66 Crossroads Information Station, will feature commemorative T-shirts, a photographic booth, a postcard station and free root beer floats for the first 100 visitors.

Arizona, home to some of the highway’s best-preserved stretches, has organised a year-long programme of classic-car gatherings, community festivals, concerts and historic celebrations.

Events have included the annual Route 66 Fun Run in May, which brought classic vehicles together for a 140-mile journey from Seligman through Kingman to Topock, along with car shows, cultural celebrations and community festivals.

The centenary celebrations will continue from 14 to 16 November with the Route 66 UltraRun, an endurance event following 140 miles of historic highway through Arizona.

Organisers have also introduced a special 100-mile CenturyRun for the anniversary, beginning at Peach Springs and finishing at Topock. Participants can compete individually or in relay teams, with up to 60 hours allowed to complete the longer distance.

Route 66 was created as part of America’s developing national highway system and became particularly important during the Great Depression, when thousands of families travelled west in search of work and a better life.

Author John Steinbeck immortalised the highway as the Mother Road in his 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, which chronicled the hardships of families fleeing the Dust Bowl.

Its reputation grew further after the Second World War as increasing car ownership brought a boom in American road trips. The highway entered popular culture through Bobby Troup’s 1946 song (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66, subsequently recorded by artists including Nat King Cole and The Rolling Stones.

The construction of faster interstate highways eventually diverted traffic away from many of its towns, causing traditional roadside businesses to close and leading to its official removal from the highway network.

Historic preservation campaigns have since helped protect surviving sections, buildings and landmarks, allowing motorists to retrace a journey that first captured America’s imagination a century ago.

The centenary programme is being supported by organisations across all eight Route 66 states – Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California – with events and preservation projects designed to sustain the historic highway beyond its 100th birthday through organisations including the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership.

The Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona is supporting grants for improvements to businesses, historic properties and community attractions. Eligible restoration projects can receive between $10,000 and $100,000, with separate grants of $2,000 to $15,000 available for established centenary events.

The association has also announced plans for a year-round version of its Route 66 Passport initiative, encouraging visitors to explore communities and attractions beyond the main anniversary celebrations.

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_{Main image: The open road awaits on historic Route 66, where the iconic highway’s famous shield marks a journey through the heart of America. The legendary Mother Road celebrates its 100th anniversary on 11 November. Credit: Get Lost Mike/Pexels}