The road trip that comes with a built-in art crawl

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Route 66 may be best known for classic cars, retro motels and neon signs, but its walls tell their own story. Across eight states and more than 2,400 miles, murals celebrate the people, places and pop culture that have shaped the Mother Road for nearly a century.

Some works reflect the golden age of road travel. Others reimagine historic moments, celebrate community identity or simply invite travelers to slow down and look closer. From Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean, you'll find these colorful creations splashed across old brick buildings, gas stations, fences and even motels. They may be painted on brick and stucco, but these murals turn otherwise forgettable walls into something worth pulling over for.

Murals in Illinois

In the Land of Lincoln, Route 66 travelers are greeted by a trail of vibrant postcard-style murals stretching from Chicago to Collinsville. These large-scale artworks showcase iconic landmarks and slogans from each stop along the Mother Road.

Pontiac stands out as a mural hotspot, home to more than two dozen public artworks. The most photographed piece is the large Route 66 shield mural on the side of the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, which is designed for drivers to pull up and snap a picture with their vehicle.

Murals in Missouri

In the Show Me State, Cuba proudly claims the title of Route 66 Mural City. This small town features 14 public artworks that depict scenes from both local and national history, including visits from Harry Truman, Amelia Earhart and Bette Davis.

In Joplin, travelers can visit the Route 66 Mural Park, where a cherry red 1963 Corvette bursts from the wall. Downtown Joplin also features several large-scale murals, but the most significant is inside City Hall. "Joplin at the Turn of the Century" was painted by Thomas Hart Benton and remains the famed artist's final signed work. Just down the hall, his grandson added a mural that captures the city during Route 66's heyday, blending artistic legacy with road trip nostalgia.

Murals in Kansas

The Sunflower State may claim the shortest stretch of Route 66 with just 13 miles of the iconic highway, but it still delivers plenty of mural charm. In Galena, the "Greetings from Galena" mural offers a colorful photo op with a vintage postcard design that reflects the town's mining roots and Route 66 pride.

Just down the street, a pair of dueling billboard murals, one for Coca-Cola and the other for Pepsi, adds a playful touch to the historic downtown. These side-by-side artworks reflect both advertising nostalgia and the friendly rivalry that shaped American pop culture, turning a small corner of Southeast Kansas into a must-see mural stop.

Murals in Oklahoma

The Sooner State is rich in Route 66 history, and its mural scene reflects that deep connection. From Claremore's Route 66-themed wall art to Edmond's colorful welcome mural, small towns contribute vibrant slices of local pride. But it's Tulsa that leads the state's mural movement.

With 28 miles of the Mother Road running through its core, Tulsa showcases several impressive, large-scale artworks. Road trippers can see many of these works near Route 66 landmarks such as the Meadow Gold sign and Mother Road Market, which blend public art with dining, history and roadside nostalgia.

Murals in Texas

Route 66 murals in the Lone Star State are bold and larger-than-life. In Shamrock, murals feature vintage cars, neon signs and the town's famous U-Drop Inn. In Amarillo, the largest city along the Panhandle's stretch of the Mother Road, red trucks cruise across city maps and sunsets glow behind technicolor cacti. These murals blend Western grit with pop-art flair, celebrating Texas heritage with boots, hats and a wink of Western flair.

Murals in New Mexico

The Land of Enchantment's murals mix nostalgia with Native, Hispanic and roadside influences, showcasing the state's deep cultural roots in desert tones along this sunbaked stretch of Route 66. In Tucumcari, there are now almost 100 murals, many painted by the husband-and-wife team of Doug and Sharon Quarles. They feature desert landscapes, vintage cars and nods to the Mother Road's heyday, turning buildings along Tucumcari Boulevard into a drive-by gallery.

In Albuquerque, one standout is at Garcia's Kitchen, where vivid florals and local symbolism pay tribute to the city's heritage and culinary roots. Farther west, Gallup honors its cultural diversity with more than 20 murals spread across three self-guided mural walking tours.

Murals in Arizona

In Flagstaff, one impressive mural stretches a full city block as it chronicles the history of Route 66. "The Mother Myth of Route 66" spotlights the shifting identity of the road and the people who traveled it. Migrants, classic cars and neon signs come together in a visual timeline that blends historical imagery with symbolic storytelling.

In Kingman, the El Trovatore Motel is home to the world's longest Route 66 map: a 206-foot mural that tracks the highway's full route from Chicago to Santa Monica. Its illustrated landmarks offer a state-by-state preview of the 2,448-mile journey along Route 66, painted directly onto the motel's stucco exterior.

Murals in California

As Route 66 rolls into the Golden State, murals along its final miles reflect both the vast desert landscapes of the Mojave and the promise of the Pacific ahead. In Needles, a cheerful mural near the museum features Spike, Snoopy's desert-dwelling brother from Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" comic strip. He stands alongside a Santa Fe train and a Mojave tortoise, set against a rocky backdrop and a U.S. flag that nods to local history and Americana.

Farther west in San Bernardino, the McDonald's Museum, housed in the chain's original fast-food location, includes several exterior murals that reflect fast-food nostalgia and the golden age of car culture. In Claremont, a mural inside the historic Wolfe's Market illustrates local landmarks in soft pastels, bridging Route 66's roadside Americana with the city's own century-old story.

Continuing westward, Pasadena's murals lean more artistic. One vibrant piece, "Sunset Symphony," places the city's domed city hall among orange blossoms and glowing skies, blending realism with postcard fantasy. Just around the corner, a bold "Greetings from Pasadena" mural uses classic block letters filled with references to Jackie Robinson, Van Halen and the Rose Parade.

How to best experience Route 66 murals

Route 66 murals often appear on the sides of historic buildings, in downtown districts or even on fences and retaining walls. To capture them clearly, photographers should aim for morning or late afternoon light, avoiding the harsh midday sun. Travelers should respect private property and avoid blocking local driveways or walkways.

Because some murals may be newly painted or temporarily covered, it's helpful to check visitor center websites or community social media pages for the most recent updates. Many towns also offer printed or digital mural maps to guide walking tours. Whether snapping a quick photo or planning a longer stop, appreciating these public artworks adds another layer of discovery to the classic American road trip.

The Mother Road's most colorful storytellers

Woven into the fabric of this historic highway, Route 66 murals offer a century of vivid, street-level views of American culture. They echo the past, celebrate the present and invite anyone passing by to slow down and see what makes each place unique.

Sage Scott is a travel writer and photographer who was bitten by the travel bug as a preschooler when her family moved abroad for the first time. She recently checked a classic road trip off her bucket list by driving all 2,448 miles of Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica. Follow her adventures at Everyday Wanderer.