Route 66 crosses eight states and three time zones. Some of the best-preserved sections include the stretch between Springfield, Missouri and Tulsa, Oklahoma; the road west of Seligman, Arizona; and the Oatman Highway through the Black Hills of Arizona.

For travelers seeking the most iconic experience, the stretch of Route 66 between Kingman and Seligman in Arizona is widely considered the "Crown Jewel" of the Mother Road. This 87-mile segment is one of the longest continuous remains of the original highway and perfectly captures the vintage Americana aesthetic with its sun-bleached diners, quirky roadside art like Giganticus Headicus, and the famous Hackberry General Store. Another top contender is the Illinois stretch between Pontiac and Wilmington, which is celebrated for its perfectly preserved small-town charm and original brick-paved sections. For those who love the high desert, the 370-mile run through New Mexico offers stunning vistas and the neon-lit nostalgia of Tucumcari’s vintage motels. As the highway celebrates its centennial in 2026, these segments have become living museums, offering a cinematic landscape that feels frozen in time. Driving from East to West remains the classic choice, as it follows the historic migration path toward the Pacific Ocean.