| Source | Chicago Magazine |
|---|---|
| Original Load Date | Jan. 21, 2026, 6 a.m. |
| Last Updated | Jan. 21, 2026, 6 a.m. |
| Original URL | https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/january-2026/get-your-kicks-in-2026/ |
Article Preview
## The Route’s Roots
Once upon a time, you could drive from the Loop to Santa Monica on one long
street. That was Route 66, established in 1926, part of the first batch of
numbered interstate freeways. When intact, the two-lane highway was 2,400 miles
long, starting its westward path in Chicago (a...