The Ultimate Guide to The Texas Towns on Route 66

In the Texas panhandle, it's really hard to go very far without seeing something that calls your attention to the former glory of Route 66. Almost everywhere you go along I-40, there are remnants of the Mother Road reminding us of a special era in Texas panhandle history. Here's a look at the handful of towns in Texas that get to call Route 66 home.

Where Is Route 66 In Texas?

Route 66, which used to run from Chicago to Los Angeles, became an icon of American's desire to just get away and travel. The highway took travelers through some of the most beautiful areas in the country and had plenty of odd and wonderful sights along the way. Route 66 landmarks are both beautiful natural wonders, and oddities dreamed up by people with a knack for the weird.

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In Texas, Route 66 passes exclusively through the Texas panhandle. It's an area that many think of as being nothing more than wide swaths of farm and pasture land. There is so much more than that to the region, though, and a lot of that is thanks to the spirit of Route 66.

Route 66 In The Texas Panhandle Is A "Unique" Place

Along the Texas panhandle stretch of Route 66, there's a lot more to see than you might expect. Some of the most iconic stops along all of the Mother Road are right here in the panhandle.

There's the iconic U-Drop Inn in Shamrock that people all over the world are familiar with thanks to the movie Cars. Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo is recognized worldwide, and people travel from all corners of the planet to spray paint that they "wuz here" on the classic vehicles. Glenrio is iconic because of its unique location right on the Texas and New Mexico border. It has recently received a facelift and a smoke shop on the New Mexico side of town.

You can't miss the giant cross in Groom, and there is plenty of Route 66 history to see in the tiny town of McLean; including the Phillips 66 fuel station. Keep reading for a look at the Texas panhandle towns that you have to see along Route 66.