Looking for the best Route 66 car museums? I’ve spent more hours drooling over polished chrome and vintage wheels along America’s Mother Road than I care to admit. But someone had to do the research, right?
I’ve driven plenty of highways in my time, but Route 66 hits different. This 2,448-mile ribbon of asphalt between Chicago and Santa Monica feels like America’s longest time machine. One minute I’m grabbing a bite at a chrome-covered 1950s diner, the next, I’m chatting with a museum curator who knows more about Pontiac tail fins than most people know about their own family trees.
My favorite stops along this storied stretch of pavement are the places where automotive history gets a chance to show off. Each museum is like a chapter in America’s road trip story, filled with everything from pristine classics to quirky roadside oddities that make me slam the parking brake and grab my camera. Fair warning: once you start exploring these automotive time capsules, that “quick five-minute photo stop” might turn into a two-hour adventure. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
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Have You Driven Route 66?
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Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum, Pontiac, Illinois
About 100 miles southwest of Chicago, in the charming town of Pontiac, you’ll discover an automotive paradise. The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum is a chrome-plated time capsule where these legendary American brands live on through pristine vintage models and rare prototypes. Plan to spend at least an hour exploring the unique collection that tells a fascinating story of Detroit’s golden age.
Make sure to save time for the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum just down the street. The vintage vehicles parked outside are worth checking out, but the real star is the massive Route 66 shield mural that makes the perfect backdrop for immortalizing your Mother Road adventure. I’ve seen plenty of Route 66 photo ops, but this one’s hard to beat.
Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill, Springfield, Illinois
At Springfield’s Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill, my two favorite worlds collide — classic cars and cold drinks. This one-of-a-kind stop serves up automotive history with a side of bar food that makes it impossible not to linger. The vibe feels like the world’s coolest garage got together with your favorite sports bar and threw a party.
Inside, retro gas pumps, vintage neon signs, and walls packed with automotive memorabilia create a gearhead’s dream den. Pull up a stool at the bar, order something tasty, and take in the impressive collection of Route 66 artifacts while catching the game. It’s the perfect pit stop for recharging both your battery and your appetite before hitting the road again.
St. Louis Car Museum, Missouri
Calling all car lovers cruising through St. Louis — you won’t want to miss the St. Louis Car Museum. From early 20th-century classics to the muscle cars that probably got your parents grounded back in high school, this sprawling space has enough polished chrome to make a magpie jealous. Here’s the kicker that makes my wallet hide in fear every time I visit — almost every vehicle is for sale. Browse the pristine collection of vintage motorcycles, luxury cars, and rare classics knowing that with enough cash (and maybe a second mortgage), you could drive away in a piece of automotive history.
National Museum of Transportation, Kirkwood, Missouri
Want to understand how Americans went from covered wagons to convertibles? The National Museum of Transportation in suburban St. Louis connects all those dots. Long before cars motored west from the Gateway Arch along Route 66, railroads ruled the American road trip scene — and this museum captures that fascinating shift perfectly. Start with the early motorcars that made people’s horses nervous, and work your way up to the muscle machines that once roared down the Mother Road.
Route 66 Car Museum, Springfield, Missouri
In Southwestern Missouri, the Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield is like a candy store for car lovers, with more than 70 vintage beauties that make my heart race. The collection reads like a greatest hits album of automotive history — from brass-era classics to Hollywood stars. I geeked out over the 1963 Morgan that once belonged to General Schwarzkopf and couldn’t help humming the Batman theme near the original Gotham Cruiser from the 1960s TV series.
But the real showstopper? An original 1926 Hudson truck that starred in The Grapes of Wrath. Standing next to it, I could almost hear the stories of desperate families who packed everything they owned into similar trucks, chasing California dreams along Route 66 during the Dust Bowl.
Cars on the Route, Galena, Kansas
Kansas might only claim 13 miles of Route 66, but the tiny town of Galena makes every inch count. Cars on the Route occupies a restored 1934 Kan-O-Tex service station that feels frozen in time — except for one rusty character who found Hollywood fame.
The star attraction? A weathered 1951 boom truck that became the inspiration for Tow Mater in Pixar’s Cars, the film that introduced the Mother Road to a new generation. Park yourself here for a while to soak in the memorabilia and snap some photos. This spot proves that sometimes the best stories along Route 66 come with a little rust around the edges.
Fin-tastic Art Installations, Amarillo, Texas
The Texas Panhandle serves up not one but two chances to channel your inner automotive artist. On Amarillo’s east side, Slug Bug Ranch lines up a row of Volkswagen Beetles nose-down in the dirt — think of it as the quirky cousin to the more famous installation just west of town.
That’s where you’ll find the legendary Cadillac Ranch, where ten classic Caddies stand at attention, their tail fins saluting the vast Texas sky. Grab a can of spray paint and leave your mark on these weathered automotive canvases. And if all that creativity works up an appetite, head to the legendary Big Texan Steak Ranch — home of the famous 72-ounce steak challenge — just down the road.
Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico
In the heart of New Mexico, the Route 66 Auto Museum is my kind of time machine. This privately owned gem features more than 30 classic and custom cars. From perfectly restored vintage rides to souped-up hot rods, each car captures a different flavor of America’s love affair with the open road. The museum surrounds these mechanical beauties with all the trimmings — vintage gas pumps, glowing neon signs, and enough Route 66 memorabilia to fill a small town.
Arizona Route 66 Museum, Kingman, Arizona
The Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman packs centuries of road-tripping history under one roof. Housed in the historic Powerhouse building, this place walks you through time from Native American trading paths to today’s asphalt arteries. The exhibits bring to life everything from dusty Depression-era migrations to the golden age of family road trips, complete with vintage vehicles and artifacts that make me wish my camera had more memory.
Don’t leave without driving through the giant Route 66 sign out front — it’s basically begging to be your next profile picture. Hungry after all that history? Mr. D’z Route 66 Diner sits right across the street, serving up classic American fare with a side of neon-lit nostalgia.
Crossing the Finish Line
As the sun sets on your Route 66 adventure, it’s clear that the Mother Road is more than just a highway — it’s a celebration of America’s rich automotive history and road trip culture. From pristine museum showrooms to quirky roadside art, each stop adds another chapter to our long-running love story with cars and the open road. Pack your camera, bring your sense of adventure, and get ready to make some automotive history of your own along the Mother Road.
Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
