These Iconic Hotels and Inns Along Route 66 Are Keeping the Magic Alive—One Neon Sign at a Time Get your kitsch on Route 66, just in time for its 100th anniversary. Getty Route 66 has officially turned 100—and America’s most mythologized stretch of asphalt is glowing a little bit brighter in 2026. Extending nearly 2,500 miles across eight states, from Chicago to Santa Monica , the Mother Road has long been more than a mere road trip route. Instead, it’s a living postcard of neon motel signs, dusty diners, desert horizons, and a special essence of Americana, ever-suspended in technicolor. While the road is no longer considered an “official” US highway, it's the iconic stops—the hotels, motels, and roadside inns—along the way that honor its legacy and kitschy ol’ soul. From glowing midcentury motor lodges to quirky roadside stays, Route 66’s timeless properties are just as essential to the journey as Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch or the Santa Monica Pier .…