Route 66

Old Route 66 passed through Petrified Forest National Park, marked here by the line of the roadbed and telephone poles along the path of the famous "Main Street of America." Running from Chicago to Los Angeles, this heavily traveled highway was more than a road, standing as a symbol of opportunity, adventure, and exploration for travelers. A trip from Middle America to the Pacific Coast could take about a week, and for many the journey crossed not just miles but cultures and lifestyles, from the mundane to the exotic. Reaching the destination mattered, but the trip itself was also a reward, with neon signs of one-of-kind motels, burgers and chicken fried steaks at multitudes of restaurants, filling stations that served as miniature oases, and gaudy tourist traps along more than 2,200 miles of open road.

Arizona · United States