Route 66 was one of the first national highways for motor vehicles in the United States and one that became an icon in American popular culture. It ran from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, and served numerous cities along the route., Route 66 starts in downtown Chicago and ends at the Santa Monica pier in California. Throughout the journey from Chicago to Santa Monica, you’ll discover sections where the original route diverges, seemingly shooting off in two directions and yet nowhere at once., U.S. Highway 66 — popularly known as Route 66 — embodies a complex, rich history that goes well beyond any chronicle of the road itself. An artery of transportation, an agent of social transformation, and a remnant of America’s past, it stretches 2,400 miles across two-thirds of the continent., Route 66, the world's most famous road, is legendary. Here's everything you need to know about traveling the Mother Road, Plan your trip from California to Illinois, a state-by-state guide on Route 66: its alignment, itinerary, towns, sights, maps, things to do, places to visit, and more!, .