Few things capture the golden age of American road trips like Route 66—especially when classic cars are involved. Scattered along this iconic highway, Route 66 car museums pay tribute to the vintage automobiles that once ruled the road. Whether you’re a lifelong gearhead or just love a good dose of nostalgia, these stops are a must on your journey down the Mother Road.
Stretching 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 tells the story of America’s love affair with the automobile. Along its legendary path, car museums, quirky roadside attractions, and gleaming vintage showrooms celebrate the evolution of travel.
From historic Pontiacs to muscle cars and even Hollywood-famous rides, these Route 66 car museums preserve the vehicles that shaped road trip culture. Whether you’re chasing the nostalgia of classic road trips or simply admiring the beauty of meticulously restored machines, these must-see destinations will rev up your Route 66 adventure.
Do You Have a Favorite Route 66 Car Museum?
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Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum, Pontiac, Illinois
If you love classic cars, Pontiac, Illinois, is calling your name. This charming town along Route 66 in Illinois is packed with Route 66 nostalgia. The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum showcases the rise and fall of the Pontiac and Oakland brands with gleaming vintage models, rare prototypes, and dealership memorabilia. Rows of polished chrome and retro emblems offer a nostalgic ride through America’s automotive golden age.
Once you’ve admired the showroom’s pristine Pontiacs and rare Oakland collectibles, take a short stroll to the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum. There, you can check out vintage vehicles parked outside and snap a photo in front of the massive Route 66 shield mural — a must for any road trip album.
Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill, Museum and Entertainment Complex, Springfield, Illinois
Where else can you surround yourself with chrome, neon, and classic cars while enjoying a meal and catching a game? At Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill, Museum and Entertainment Complex in Springfield, Illinois, you’ll find a one-of-a-kind stop that blends an automotive museum with a lively sports bar, all in tribute to America’s love affair with the open road.
Inside, retro gas pumps, vintage neon signs, and walls packed with automotive memorabilia create a gearhead’s paradise. Whether you’re here to admire the collection or just craving a bite, Motorheads offers a welcoming, garage-inspired space to relax and recharge before you hit the highway again.
St. Louis Car Museum, Missouri
Car lovers cruising through St. Louis won’t want to miss the St. Louis Car Museum, a sprawling showcase of automotive history. This expansive museum showcases everything from early 20th-century classics to muscle cars, luxury vehicles and even vintage motorcycles. The polished showroom floors are lined with pristine models that tell the story of America’s evolving car culture.
One of the most exciting parts? Nearly every vehicle on display is for sale. Whether you’re here to admire the collection or seriously considering taking one home, this museum lets you step into history—and maybe even drive it off the lot.
National Museum of Transportation, Kirkwood, Missouri
Long before cars cruised west from the Gateway Arch along Route 66, railroads were the backbone of American travel. The National Museum of Transportation in Kirkwood, Missouri, captures this evolution, showcasing everything from historic locomotives to classic automobiles.
The museum’s extensive car collection includes vintage models, muscle cars, and rare vehicles that highlight America’s ever-changing transportation landscape. Whether you’re fascinated by early motorcars or the muscle machines that once roared down Route 66, this museum offers a deep dive into the history of getting from here to there.
Route 66 Car Museum, Springfield, Missouri
In southwestern Missouri, the Route 66 Car Museum in Springfield showcases more than 70 classic and vintage vehicles, making it a must-visit stop for car enthusiasts. The collection spans everything from brass-era automobiles to sleek sports cars, offering a fascinating glimpse into automotive history.
Among the highlights are a 1963 Morgan once owned by Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, a Gotham Cruiser from the 1960s “Batman” television series, and a DeLorean identical to the one from Back to the Future. But perhaps the museum’s strongest tie to Route 66 is the original 1926 Hudson truck featured in the 1940 film The Grapes of Wrath. Vehicles like this carried desperate families westward during the Dust Bowl, a journey that cemented Route 66 as the “Mother Road” in American history.
Cars on the Route, Galena, Kansas
Kansas may only claim 13 miles of Route 66, but the small town of Galena makes every inch count. One of its standout attractions is Cars on the Route, a restored 1934 Kan-O-Tex service station that now serves as a quirky roadside stop celebrating local history and pop culture.
The star of the show? A rusted 1951 International boom truck parked out front—the very truck that inspired the character Tow Mater in Pixar’s Cars. This charming stop is packed with memorabilia, fun photo ops, and a nostalgic nod to Route 66’s role in inspiring the film that introduced the Mother Road to a new generation.
Fin-tastic Art Installations, Amarillo, Texasere
As you cruise Route 66 through the Texas Panhandle, Amarillo offers two unforgettable, larger-than-life art installations where classic cars become the canvas. On the east side of town in Conway, Slug Bug Ranch features half-buried Volkswagen Beetles — an offbeat tribute to Amarillo’s more famous Cadillac Ranch.
At Cadillac Ranch, ten vintage Cadillacs stand nose-down in the dirt, their towering tail fins slicing into the sky. Visitors are encouraged to grab a can of spray paint and leave their mark, adding another layer to this ever-changing roadside masterpiece. And if all that creativity sparks an appetite, the legendary Big Texan Steak Ranch — home of the famous 72-ounce steak challenge—is just down the road.
Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico
In the heart of New Mexico, the Route 66 Auto Museum offers a nostalgic ride through automotive history. This privately owned collection features more than 30 classic and custom cars, ranging from fully restored vintage models to hot rods and lowriders.
Beyond the cars, the museum is packed with retro memorabilia, vintage gas pumps, and neon signs that transport visitors back to the golden era of American road trips. Whether you’re an avid car enthusiast or just love the nostalgia of Route 66, this stop in Santa Rosa is well worth a visit.
Arizona Route 66 Museum, Kingman, Arizona
The Arizona Route 66 Museum in Kingman brings the history of America’s most famous highway to life. Located inside the historic Powerhouse Visitor Center, the museum takes visitors on a journey through the evolution of transportation along Route 66.
Exhibits showcase the early days of Native American trade routes, the Dust Bowl migration, and the golden era of cross-country road trips. Vintage vehicles, interactive displays, and historic photographs paint a vivid picture of how this highway shaped American travel culture. Before you go, be sure to drive your car through the giant Route 66 sign out front for a one-of-a-kind photo op.
A Timeless Ride
As the sun sets on your Route 66 adventure, it’s clear that this highway is more than pavement and mile markers — it’s a rolling museum of American road trip culture. From gleaming showrooms filled with classic cars to quirky, spray-painted art installations, each stop along the way tells a story of freedom, creativity, and the open road.
Whether you’ve visited every car museum along the route or simply pulled over for a quick photo op, these must-see attractions will turn your Route 66 road trip into a journey through history — one mile, museum, and memory at a time.
What’s Your Favorite Route 66 Car Museum?
Have you cruised through any of these classic car museums along the Mother Road? Which one revved your engine the most? Or did you discover a hidden gem we missed? Share your favorite stops, best road trip tips, and must-see attractions in the comments below!
Portions of this article originally appeared on Food Drink Life.
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