The Drive Home: All Roads lead to Detroit
The Drive Home VII: Route 66 – A Century of Adventure
ALL ROADS LEAD TO DETROIT!
America’s Automotive Trust, the Detroit Auto Show, and the National Route 66 Centennial Commission are proud to announce The Drive Home VII: Route 66 – A Century of Adventure, a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country drive celebrating the 100th anniversary of the legendary Route 66. This commemorative event will begin on January 3, 2026, in Santa Monica, California, and span the full length of Route 66, arriving nine days later in Chicago, Illinois on January 12. The vehicles will then be on display at the world-class Detroit Auto Show beginning on January 14.
In collaboration with the Detroit Auto Show and the National Route 66 Centennial Commission, AAT’s seventh rendition of The Drive Home will spotlight vintage, Route 66-inspired vehicles making the historic journey across America’s most iconic highway. From sun-drenched Pacific shores to the heart of the Midwest, the nine-day journey will bring automotive enthusiasts, cultural historians, and communities together to honor the road that connected a nation—and defined a century of travel, adventure, and Americana.
The following nine vehicles make up our official Drive Home Fleet. Coming from all different parts of the country, these cars will meet up together in Santa Monica, CA to make the drive together across Route 66 eventually ending in Chicago, IL before making the final excursion up to Detroit, MI where they will be on display for the duration of the Detroit Auto Show.
1934 Buick Model 61 Club
1952 Chevrolet 3100 Deluxe
1965 Chrysler 300F
1965 Ford Country Squire
1967 Pontiac GTO
1969 Chevrolet Camaro SS
1969 Mercury Cougar
1991 Ford Mustang
1992 Land Rover
Friday, January 2, 2026 (Santa Monica, CA)
DAILY ITINERARY
9:00 am
TDH cars arrive at Santa Monica Ice Rink, 1324 5th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
4:00 pm
Reception at Santa Monica Ice Rink
4:30-5:30 pm
Ice skating at Santa Monica Ice Rink
6:00 pm
Dinner reservation at Barney’s Beanery 1351 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Lodging:
Hotel Carmel 201 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Saturday, January 3, SANTA MONICA, CA to BARSTOW, CA – 158 MILES
DAILY ITINERARY
8:30-10:30 am
Mel’s Drive-In media activation, dignitaries to speak, official kick-off event of The Drive Home - Route 66.
10:30 am
Depart Mel’s Drive-In for Historic Cucamonga Gas Station
9670 Foothill Blvd. Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (60 mi.)
Police escort out of Santa Monica
12:15 pm
Photo stop at the Historic Cucamonga Service Station
9670 Foothill Blvd. Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
12:45 pm
Leave Historic Cucamonga Service Station for Wigwam Motel
2728 E. Foothill Blvd, San Bernardino, CA (18 mi.)
1:15 pm
Photo stop at the Wigwam Motel
1:45 pm
Leave Wigwam Motel for Jovi’s Diner
123 N E St, San Bernardino, CA 92401 (4 mi.)
2:00 pm
Lunch and gas Stop at Jovi’s Diner
123 N E St, San Bernardino, CA 92401
3:30 pm
Leave Jovi’s Diner for Barstow Town Place Suites
2551 Mercantile Way Barstow, CA 92311 (65 mi.)
4:45 pm
Arrive at Barstow Town Place Suites,
gas up vehicles and check into hotel
6:30 pm
Dinner at Roy’s Diner
413 E Main St, Barstow, CA 92311
Lodging:
Barstow Town Place Suites
2551 Mercantile Way Barstow, CA 92311
Sunday, January 4, Barstow, CA to Kingman, AZ – 225 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
Time zone change in AZ - MST
8:00 am
Team meeting
8:30 am
Depart Barstow Town Place Suites for Roy’s Motel & Cafe
87520 National Trails Hwy, Amboy, CA 92304 (84 mi.)
10:00 am
Photo stop at Roy’s Motel and Café
87520 National Trails Hwy, Amboy, CA 92304
10:30 am
Depart Roy’s Motel & Café for Wagon Wheel Restaurant
2420 Needles Hwy, Needles, CA 92363 (80 mi.)
12:00 pm
Lunch at Wagon Wheel Restaurant
2420 Needles Hwy, Needles, CA 92363
1:30 pm
Depart Wagon Wheel Restaurant for Oatman, AZ
180 Main St, Oatman, AZ 86433 (23 mi.)
Time zone change – MST
3:00 pm
Photo stop at Oatman General Store
180 Main St, Oatman, AZ 86433
3:30 pm
Depart Oatman General Store for Cool Springs Station
8275 Oatman Road, Golden Valley, AZ 86413 (9 mi.)
4:00 pm
Photo Stop at Cool Springs Station
8275 Oatman Road, Golden Valley, AZ 86413
4:45 pm
Depart Cool Springs Station for Best Western Plus A Wayfarers Inn & Suites 2815 East Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86401 (23 mi.)
5:15 pm
Arrive at Best Western Plus A Wayfarers Inn & Suites, check into hotel, gas up vehicles
6:30 pm
Dinner at Rickety Cricket Brewing and Pizzeria
532 East Beale St, Kingman, AZ, 86401
Lodging:
Best Western Plus A Wayfarers Inn & Suites
2815 East Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86401
Monday, January 5, Kingman, AZ to Winslow, AZ – 221 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
7:00 am
Team meeting
7:30 am - 8:30 am
Cars & Coffee at Kingman Visitor Center
120 W Andy Devine Ave, Kingman, AZ
8:30 am
Depart Best Western Plus A Wayfarers Inn & Suites for Historic Truxton Frontier Motel Truxton, AZ, 16118 (38 mi.)
9:15 am
Photo stop at Historic Truxton Frontier Motel
Truxton, AZ, 16118
9:45 am
Depart Truxton Frontier Motel for Osterman Gas Station
Peach Springs, AZ 86434 (8 mi).
10:00 am
Arrive at Osterman Gas Station
Peach Springs, AZ 86434
11:00 am
Depart Osterman Gas Station for Seligman, AZ
22925 W Old Hwy, Seligman, AZ 86337 (37 mi.)
11:45 am
Photo stop in Seligman, AZ
22925 W Old Hwy, Seligman, AZ 86337
12:15 pm
Depart Seligman for Goldie’s Route 66 Diner
425 E Rte. 66, Williams, AZ 86046 Williams (43 mi.)
1:00 pm
Lunch and Gas Stop at Goldie’s Route 66 Diner
425 E Rte. 66, Williams, AZ 86046 Williams
2:30 pm
Depart Goldie’s Route 66 Diner for Winslow, AZ
Corner of Kinsley & E 2nd St, Winslow, AZ 86047 (90 mi.)
4:15 pm
Photo stop at Standing on the Corner in Winslow, AZ
Corner of Kinsley & E 2nd St, Winslow, AZ 86047
4:45 pm
Gas up vehicles and check into The Winslow Hotel
2206 N Park Dr, Winslow, AZ 86047
6:30 pm
Dinner at Turquoise Room Restaurant, La Posada Hotel
303 E 2nd St, Winslow, AZ 86047
Lodging:
La Posada Hotel
303 E 2nd St Route 66, Winslow, AZ 86047
Tuesday, January 6, Winslow, AZ to Alburquerque, NM – 265 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
8:00 am
Team meeting
8:30 am
Depart Winslow Hotel for Holbrook, AZ for Wigwam Motel
811 W Hopi Dr. Holbrook, AZ 86025 (33 mi.)
9:15 am
Photo stop at Wigwam Motel, Holbrook AZ
9:45 am
Depart Wigwam Motel for El Rancho Hotel
1000 E Hwy 66, Gallup, NM 87301 (96 mi.)
11:30 am
Lunch and gas stop at El Rancho Hotel
1000 E Hwy 66, Gallup, NM 87301
1:00 pm
Depart El Rancho Hotel for The Arrive Hotel 717 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (143 mi.)
3:30 pm
Gas up vehicles and check into The Arrive Hotel
717 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
6:00 pm
Reception at Garcia Neon Glass Sign Museum
102 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Lodging:
The Arrive Hotel
717 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Wednesday, January 7, Alburquerque, NM to Amarillo, TX – 287 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
Time zone change in TX - CST
7:30 am
Team meeting
8:00 am
Depart The Arrive Hotel for Cuervo Ghost Town
2031 Cuervo, Cuervo, NM 88417 (130 mi.)
10:30 am
Photo stop at Cuervo Ghost Town
2031 Cuervo, Cuervo, NM 88417
11:00 am
Depart for Cuervo Ghost Town for Blue Swallow Motel
815 E Rte. 66 Blvd, Tucumcari, NM 88401 (42 mi.)
11:45 am
Photo stop at Blue Swallow Motel
815 E Rte. 66 Blvd, Tucumcari, NM 88401 (42 mi.)
12:15 pm
Lunch and gas stop Del’s Restaurant
1202 U.S. Rte. 66, Tucumcari, NM 88401
1:45 pm
Depart Tucumcari for Cadillac Ranch
13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124 (100 mi.)
Time zone change - CST
4:30 pm
Photo stop at Cadillac Ranch
13651 I-40 Frontage Rd, Amarillo, TX 79124
4:45 pm
Depart Cadillac Ranch for Courtyard Marriott
724 South Polk Street Amarillo, Texas, USA, 79101 (10 mi.)
5:00 pm
Gas up vehicles and check into Courtyard Marriott hotel
724 South Polk Street Amarillo, Texas, USA, 79101
6:30 pm
Dinner at the Big Texan Steak Ranch
7701 I-40, Amarillo, TX 79118
Lodging:
Courtyard Marriott
724 South Polk Street Amarillo, Texas, USA, 79101
Thursday, January 8, Amarillo, TX to Weatherford, TX – 189 Miles
DAILY ITINERARY
8:30 am
Team meeting
9:00 am
Depart Courtyard Marriott for Leaning Tower of Texas
I-40 U.S. Rte 66, Groom, TX 79039 (43 mi.)
9:45 am
Photo stop at the Leaning Tower of Texas
I-40 U.S. Rte 66, Groom, TX 79039 (43 mi.)
10:15 am
Depart Leaning Tower of Texas for U Drop Inn Café
111 U.S. Rte. 66, Shamrock, TX 79079 (49 mi.)
11:15 am
Lunch and gas stop at U Drop Inn Café
111 U.S. Rte. 66, Shamrock, TX 79079
12:45 pm
Depart U Drop Inn Café for Sandhill Curiosity Shop
201 S Sheb Wooley Ave, Erick, OK 73645 (22 mi.)
1 :15 pm
Photo stop at Sandhill Curiosity Shop
201 S Sheb Wooley Ave, Erick, OK 73645
2:00 pm
Depart Sandhill Curiosity for Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
2229 W Gary Blvd, Clinton, OK 73601 (58 mi.)
3:00 pm
Photo stop at Oklahoma Route 66 Museum
2229 W Gary Blvd, Clinton, OK 73601
3:45 pm
Depart Oklahoma Route 66 Museum for Weatherford Spaceman Statue
201 W Main St, Weatherford, OK 73096 (17 mi.)
4:15 pm
Photo stop at Weatherford Spaceman Statue
201 W Main St, Weatherford, OK 73096
4:30 pm
Depart Weatherford Spaceman Statue for Lucille’s Hotel Restaurant & Bar
3825 East Main Street, Weatherford, OK 73096 (3 mi.)
6:00 pm
Dinner at Pecina’s Mexican Café
1711 E Main St #5823, Weatherford, OK 73096
Lodging:
Lucille’s Hotel Restaurant & Bar
3825 East Main Street, Weatherford, OK 73096
Friday, January 9, Weatherford, TX to Tulsa, OK – 177 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
8:00 am
Team meeting
9:00 am
Depart Lucille’s Hotel for Lucille’s Historic Gas Station
U.S. Rte 66, Hydro, OK 73048 (7 mi.)
9:15 am
Photo stop at Lucille’s Historic Gas Station
U.S. Rte 66, Hydro, OK 73048
9:30 am
Depart Lucille’s Historic Gas Station for Pops 66 Soda Ranch
660 OK-66, Arcadia, OK 73007 (85 mi.)
11:15 am
Photo stop at Pops 66 Soda Ranch
660 OK-66, Arcadia, OK 73007
11:45 am
Depart Pops 66 Soda Ranch for Threatt Filling Station
21940 OK-66, Luther, OK 73054 (11 mi.)
12:00 pm
Photo stop at Threatt Filling Station
21940 OK-66, Luther, OK 73054
12:30 pm
Depart Threatt Filling Station for Route 66 Bowl
920 E 1st St, Chandler, OK 74834
1:00 pm
Lunch and gas stop at Route 66 Bowl
920 E 1st St, Chandler, OK 74834
2:30 pm
Depart Route 66 Bowl for Buck Atoms Cosmic Curios
1347 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK 74120 (65 mi.)
4:00 pm
Photo stop at Buck Atoms Curios and Meadow Gold Sign
1347 E 11th St, Tulsa, OK 74120
5:00 pm
Depart Meadow Gold Sign for Hampton Inn & Suites
211 West 3rd Street, Tulsa, OK 74103 (1.5 mi.)
6:30 pm
Dinner SMOKE Woodfire Grill
1542 E 15th St, Tulsa, OK 74120
Lodging:
Hampton Inn & Suites
211 West 3rd Street, Tulsa, OK 74103
Saturday, January 10, Tulsa, OK to Lebanon, MO – 233 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
8:00 am
Team meeting
9:00 am
Depart Hampton Inn & Suites for Will Rogers Museum
1720 W Will Rogers Blvd, Claremore, OK 74017 (32 mi.)
9:30 am
Photo stop at Will Rogers Memorial Museum
1720 W Will Rogers Blvd, Claremore, OK 74017
9:45 am
Depart Will Rogers Museum for Coleman Theater
103 N Main St, Miami, OK 74354 (73 mi.)
11:15 am
Photo stop at Coleman Theatre
11:55 pm
Depart Coleman Theater for Main Street Café
230 S Main St, Miami, OK 74354
12:00 pm
Lunch and gas stop at Main Street Café
230 S Main St, Miami, OK 74354
1:30 pm
Depart Miami, OK for Holiday Inn Express
1955 West Elm Street Lebanon, MO 65536 (149 mi.)
4:30 pm
Arrive at Holiday Inn Express, check in gas up vehicles
5:00 pm
Reception hosted by Route 66 Centennial Chairman Rod Reid at Shepherd Hills Factory Outlets
1900 W. Elm Street, Lebanon, MO 65536
6:30pm
Route 66 Museum tour
915 S Jefferson Ave, Lebanon, MO 65536
Lodging:
Holiday Inn Express
1955 West Elm Street Lebanon, MO 65536
Hampton Inn Lebanon
930 Ivey Ln, Lebanon, MO 65536
Sunday, January 11, Lebanon, MO to Springfield, IL – 259 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
7:30 am
Team meeting
7:45 am
Depart for Rolla MO Visitors Center
500 Tim Bradley Wy, Rolla, MO 65401 (52 mi.)
8:45 am
Coffee, pastries, gas stop at Rolla MO Visitors Center
500 Tim Bradley Wy, Rolla, MO 65401
10:00 am
Depart Rolla Visitors Center for Chain of Rocks Bridge Bridge
10820 Riverview Dr, St. Louis, MO 63137(121 mi.)
12:00 pm
Drive across Chain of Rocks Bridge
10820 Riverview Dr, St. Louis, MO 63137
1:00 pm
Depart Chain of Rocks Bridge for Weezy’s
108 Old US Rte 66, Hamel, IL 62046 (26 mi.)
1:30 pm
Lunch and gas stop at Weezy’s
108 Old US Rte 66, Hamel, IL 62046
2:30 pm
Depart Weezy’s for SpringHill Suites by Marriott
3921 MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield, Illinois, USA, 62711
3:45 pm
Gas up vehicles and check into SpringHill Suites by Marriott Springfield Southwest
3921 MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield, Illinois, USA, 62711
6:30 pm
Dinner at Route 66 Motorhead Bar and Grill
600 Toronto Rd, Springfield, IL 62711
Lodging:
SpringHill Suites by Marriott Springfield Southwest
3921 MacArthur Boulevard, Springfield, Illinois, USA, 62711
Monday, January 12, Springfield, IL to Chicago, IL – 201 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
8:00 am
Team meeting
8:15 am
Depart SpringHill Suites for American Giants Museum
100 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723 (46 mi.)
9:15 am
Photo stop and visit at American Giants Museum
100 SW Arch St, Atlanta, IL 61723
10:15 am
Depart American Giants for State Farm Headquarters
1 State Farm Plaza, Bloomington, IL 61710 (23 mi.)
10:45 am
Photo stop at State Farm Headquarters
1 State Farm Plaza, Bloomington, IL 61710
11:00 am
Depart State Farm Headquarters for Pontiac Oakland Museum & Route 66 Roadhouse
201 N Mill St, Pontiac, IL 61764 (36 mi.)
11:45 am
Lunch and gas stop at Pontiac Oakland Museum and Route 66 Roadhouse
201 N Mill St, Pontiac, IL 61764
1:00 pm
Depart Pontiac Oakland Museum and Route 66 Roadhouse for Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain
301 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 (98 mi.)
3:00 pm
Photo stop at Clarence F. Buckingham Memorial Fountain
301 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60605
3:30 pm
Gas up vehicles and check into Eurostars Magnificent Mile
660 North State Street, River North, Chicago, IL 60654
6:00pm
Media activiation event at Eurostars Magnificent Mile
660 North State Street, River North, Chicago, IL 60654
7:30pm
Dinner at Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio St, Chicago, IL 60611
Lodging:
Eurostars Magnificent Mile
660 North State Street, River North, Chicago, IL 60654
Tuesday, January 13, Chicago, IL to Detroit, MI – 284 miles
DAILY ITINERARY
Time zone change in Detroit - EST
6:00 am
Team meeting
6:15 am
Depart Eurostars Hotel for Big Rock Italian Chophouse
245 S Eton St, Birmingham, MI 48009
2:00 pm
Arrive at Big Rock Italian Chophouse
245 S Eton St, Birmingham, MI 48009
Time zone change - EST
2:30 pm
Police escort drive down Woodward Avenue
3:00 pm
Arrive and check into Fort Pontchartrain Hotel
2 Washington Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226
6:00 pm
Celebratory dinner & drinks – we made it!
Wednesday, January 14 - January 25
Detroit Auto Show begins, the Drive Home cars on display during the show Jan 14 - Jan 25
