The Drive Home VII
Route 66 – A Century of Adventure
January 3, 2026 – January 12, 2026
The Drive Home VII: Route 66 – A Century of Adventure
America’s Automotive Trust, the
Detroit Auto Show, and the
National Route 66 Centennial Commission are proud to announce
The Drive Home VII: Route 66 – A Century of Adventure, a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country drive celebrating the 100th anniversary of the legendary Route 66. This commemorative event will begin on January 3, 2026, in Santa Monica, California, and nine vehicles will drive the full length of Route 66, arriving nine days later in Chicago, Illinois on January 12. The vehicles will then be on display at the world-class
Detroit Auto Show beginning on January 14.
MEET THE DRIVE HOME FLEET
The following nine vehicles make up our official Drive Home Fleet. Coming from all different parts of the country, these cars will meet up together in Santa Monica, CA to make the drive together across Route 66 eventually ending in Chicago, IL before making the final excursion up to Detroit, MI where they will be on display for the duration of the Detroit Auto Show.
TDH ROUTE 66 - ITINERARY
*Itinerary is subject to change. Updates and additions to the route are still being made. Time and route does not factor in weather, traffic, and additional potential delays.
Day 1 - January 2, 2026
- Travel Day - Arrive in Santa Monica, CA
- Lodging: Hotel Carmel
Day 2 - January 3, 2026 (Santa Monica, CA to Barstow, CA – 158 miles)
- 7a.m. PST: Santa Monica Pier – Santa Monica, CA
- 8:30a.m. PST: Mel's Drive-In – Santa Monica, CA
- 10:30am PST: The Drive Home officially kicks off, leaving Mel's Drive-In for the Historic Cucamonga Service Station
- Historic Cucamonga Service Station – Rancho Cucamonga, CA (30-min stop, 70-min drive from Mel's Drive-In)
- WigWam Tepee Motel – San Bernardino, CA (30-min stop, 30-min drive from Historic Cucamonga Service Station)
- Jovi's Diner, San Bernardino, CA (4-mile drive from WigWam Motel)
- Lodging: Town Place Suites, Barstow, CA
Day 3 - January 4, 2026 (Barstow, CA to Kingman, AZ – 225 miles)
- 8:30a.m. PST: Depart Barstow for Roy's Café in Amboy, CA (84-mile drive)
- Roy's Motel & Café – Amboy, CA (30-min stop, 90-min drive from Barstow, CA)
- Wagon Wheel Restaurant – Needles, CA (75-min lunch/gas stop, 90-min drive from Roy's Motel & Café)
- Oatman, AZ (15-min photo stop, 30-min drive from Red Dog Saloon)
- Cool Springs on Route 66 – Golden Valley, AZ (30-min photo stop, 45-min drive from Oatman, AZ)
- Rickety Cricket Brewing & Pizzeria – Kingman, AZ (Dinner, 45-min drive from Cool Springs on Route 66)
Day 4 - January 5, 2026 (Kingman, AZ to Winslow, AZ – 221 miles)
- 8:30a.m. MST: Depart Kingman, AZ for Truxton, AZ (38-mile drive)
- Truxton, AZ (Photo stop, 60 min drive from Kingman, AZ)
- Osterman Gas Station – Peach Spring, AZ (45-min stop/tour, 45-min drive from Truxton, AZ)
- Seligman, AZ (Photo stop, 45-min drive from Osterman Gas Station)
- Goldie's Route 66 Diner – Williams, AZ (75-min lunch/gas stop, 60-min drive from Seligman, AZ)
- Standing on the Corner – Winslow, AZ (Photo stop, 120-min drive from Goldie's Diner)
- Lodging: The Winslow Hotel, Winslow, AZ
Day 5 - January 6, 2026 (Winslow, AZ to Albuquerque, NM – 265 miles)
- 8:30a.m. MST: Depart Winslow, AZ for Holbrook, AZ (33-mile drive)
- Wigwam Motel and Bucket of Blood Street – Holbrook, AZ (Photo stop, 45-min drive from Winslow, AZ)
- Food & Spirits - El Rancho Hotel – Gallup, NM (75-min lunch/gas stop, 120-min drive from Holbrook, AZ)
- Garcia Neon Sign Museum – Albuquerque, NM (Dinner and tour)
Day 6 - January 7, 2026 (Albuquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX – 287 miles)
- 8:00a.m. MST: Depart Albuquerque, NM for Curevro, NM (130-mile drive)
- Ghost Town – Cuervo, NM (Photo stop, 15-min drive from Chico's)
- Blue Swallow Motel – Tucumcari, NM (Photo stop, 60-min drive from Ghost Town, Cuervo, NM)
- Motel Safari – Tucumcari, NM (Photo stop, located next to Blue Swallow Motel)
- Del's Restaurant – Tucumcari, NM (75-min lunch/gas stop, located one block from Motel Safari)
- Cadillac Ranch – Amarillo, TX (Photo stop, 120-min drive from Del's Restaurant)
- The Big Texan Steak House – Amarillo, TX (Dinner, 15-min drive from Cadillac Ranch)
- Lodging: Courtyard Marriott, Amarillo, TX
Day 7 - January 8, 2026 (Amarillo, TX to Weatherford, OK – 189 miles)
- 9a.m. CST Depart Amarillo, TX for Groom, TX (43-mile drive)
- The Leaning Tower of Texas – Groom, TX (Photo stop, 45-min drive from Amarillo, TX)
- Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Café – Shamrock, TX (75-min lunch/gas stop, 60-min drive from Leaning Tower of Texas)
- The Sandhills Curiosity Shop – Erick, OK (Photo stop, 30-min drive from Tower Station)
- Oklahoma Route 66 Museum – Clinton, OK (60-min tour, 75-min drive from Sandhills Curiosity Shop)
- Pecina's Mexican Café, Weatherford, OK (Dinner, 15-min drive from Oklahoma Route 66 Museum)
Day 8 - January 9, 2026 (Weatherford, OK to Tulsa, OK – 177 miles)
- 9a.m. Depart Weatherford, OK for Hydro, OK
- Lucille's Historic Gas Station – Hydro, OK (Photo stop, 15-min drive from Weatherford, OK)
- Pops 66 Soda Ranch – Arcadia, OK (Photo stop, 90-min drive from Lucille's Historic Gas Station)
- Threatt Filling Station – (Photo stop, 15-min drive from Pops 66 Soda Ranch)
- Boom-A-Rang Diner – Chandler, OK (75-min lunch/gas stop, 30-min drive from Threatt Filling Station)
- Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios – Tusla, OK (Photo stop, 90-min drive from Boom-A-Rang-Diner)
- Meadow Gold Sign – Tulsa, OK (Photo stop, next to Buck Atoms)
- SMOKE Woodfire Grill – Tulsa, OK (Dinner, 5-min drive from Meadow Gold Sign)
Day 9 - January 10, 2026 (Tulsa, OK to Lebanon, MO – 223 miles)
- 9a.m. CST: Depart Tulsa, OK for Catoosa, OK (17-mile drive)
- Blue Whale of Catoosa – Catoosa, OK (Photo stop, 30-min drive)
- Coleman Theatre – Miami, OK (Photo stop, 90-min drive from Blue Whale of Catoosa)
- Main Street Café – Miami, OK (75-min lunch/gas stop, 1-min drive from Coleman Theatre)
- Route 66 Museum Dinner and Reception – Lebanon, MO
Day 10 - January 11, 2026 (Lebanon, MO to Springfield, IL – 260 miles)
- 9a.m. CST: Depart Lebanon, MO for Rolla, MO (52-mile drive)
- Rolla, MO Visitors Bureau (45-min stop, 60-min drive from Lebanon, MO)
- Chain of Rocks Bridge – St. Louis, MO (Photo stop, 120-min drive from Rolla, MO)
- Weezy's Café, Bartlesville, OK (Lunch, 30-min drive from Chain of Rocks Bridge)
- Route 66 Motorhead Bar, Grill, and Museum – Springfield, IL (Dinner, 90-min drive from Chain of Rocks Bridge)
Day 11 - January 12, 2026 (Springfield, IL to Chicago, IL – 201 miles)
- 9a.m. CST: Depart Springfield, IL for Atlanta, IL (46-mile drive)
- American Giants Museum – Atlanta, IL (45-min tour, 60-min drive from Springfield, IL)
- State Farm Headquarters – Bloomington, IL (Photo stop, 30-min drive from American Giants Museum)
- Pontiac Oakland Museum – Pontiac, IL (75-min lunch/gas stop, 45-min drive from State Farm Headquarters)
- Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain – Chicago, IL (Photo stop, 120-min drive from Pontiac, IL)
Day 12 - January 13, 2026 (Chicago, IL to Detroit, MI – 284 miles)
- 6:00am CST: Depart Chicago, IL to Birmingham, MI
- Big Rock Italian Chophouse – Birmingham, MI
- Woodward Avenue – Detroit, MI (Police escorted drive)
- Lodging: Fort Pontchartrain, Downtown Detroit
Day 13 - January 14, 2026 (Detroit, MI)
Join the drive HOME
WANT TO MAKE THE DRIVE WITH US?
We'd love you to join us! Here are a few important details for you to know:
Our route will begin on January 3, 2026, in Santa Monica, CA. You are welcome to join us from the beginning in Santa Monica or anywhere along the route. Feel free to drive as much or as little as you'd like. To see our full route and stopping points, please see the map above.
Please keep in mind, we have strategically mapped out our route and have to stick to our itinerary in order to complete the route in time to make it to the Detroit Auto Show in Detroit, MI where our vehicles will be part of the display. Because of this, we have limited time at each stopping point and cannot accommodate additional stops or requests. Please see our itinerary above to see our various stopping points and attractions we will be visiting along the route.
Unfortunately, we do not have extra room in our vehicles or hotels for additional guests. We welcome and encourage you to make the drive with us, however please keep in mind that transportation, food, and lodging needs to be coordinated on your own.
Keep an eye on this webpage for additional details as we continue to release more information about The Drive Home.
We look forward to making the drive with you!
-America's Automotive Trust
TDH VII Route 66 - MEDIA
Experience our Past Drives
Drive Home I
Drive Home II
Drive Home III
Drive Home IV
Drive Home V
Drive Home VI