In 2026, Route 66 turns 100 years old. The highway officially began in 1926, stretches about 2,400 miles across eight states, and is being celebrated with events and projects throughout 2026. But Native tourism groups say the story of Route 66 did not begin with cars. Long before it became the “Mother Road,” many parts of this corridor followed older Indigenous trade and travel routes. (nps.gov)

That older story matters. The American Indigenous Tourism Association says Route 66 crosses the ancestral homelands of more than 25 Tribal Nations, and more than half of the road—about 1,372 miles—lies in Indian Country. For many years, Route 66 tourism focused on neon signs, diners, and old stereotypes about Native people. Now Indigenous organizations are working to change that by sharing their own history, culture, and modern communities through guidebooks, trip ideas, and a new interactive Route 66 map. (americanindigenoustourism.org)

For travelers, this means a very different kind of road trip. In New Mexico, visitors can begin at Acoma Pueblo’s Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum, where visits to the pueblo must be made by guided tour and with respect for local rules. In Arizona, the Hualapai Lodge in Peach Springs sits on historic Route 66 and is owned and operated by the Hualapai Tribe. Peach Springs is also planning a Route 66 Centennial Celebration on April 11, 2026, with art, food, music, dance, and cultural tours. In Oklahoma, the Shawnee Tribe Cultural Center offers exhibits and events that let visitors learn Shawnee history directly from Shawnee voices. (skycityacoma.org)

So the best Route 66 trip in 2026 may not be the fastest one. It may be the journey where you slow down, listen carefully, and let Native communities guide the way. When travelers do that, Route 66 becomes more than a famous road. It becomes a path into living cultures, deeper history, and a fuller picture of America. (americanindigenoustourism.org)