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Route 66 - Illinois - The beginning of historic Route 66, leading through the busy streets of Chicago.

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Route 66 - Illinois - The restored Miller's Standard Oil gas station, in Odell.

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Route 66 - Illinois - The old Texaco gas station, in Dwight.

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Route 66 - Illinois - A battered Chevrolet pickup truck, abandoned at Cruisin' 66 memorabilia gift shop.

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Route 66 - Illinois - The Ariston Cafe, in Litchfield. The eatery was founded in 1924 by Pete Adam, a Greek immigrant.

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Route 66 - Illinois - A weathered and rusty metal sculpture of a motorcycle cop, located south of Pontiac.

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Route 66 - Illinois - The landmark Chain of Rocks bridge on the Mississippi river, near Granite City.

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Route 66 - Missouri - A glowing neon sign indicating the vintage Rest Haven Court Motel, in Springfield.

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Route 66 - Missouri - The iconic mural illustrating the facade of the Route 66 Outpost General Store, near Fanning.

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Route 66 - Missouri - The decorated interior of Bob's Gasoline Alley, near Cuba. It features a collection of over 300 service station signs and other vintage advertisements.

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Route 66 - Missouri - The eye-catching direction signpost at the Munger Moss Motel, Lebanon. It advertises the names of famous attractions on Route 66.

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Route 66 - Missouri - The exterior of Bob's Gasoline Alley, in Cuba.

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Route 66 - Missouri - A Springfield road arrow sign and '50s-era automobile.

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Route 66 - Missouri - A vintage Royal Crown Cola antique outdoor thermometer sign on the side of the Fanning 66 Outpost general store.

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Route 66 - Missouri - The celebrated giant rocking chair outside Fanning's Outpost restaurant.

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Route 66 - Missouri - Old number plates find a new use as a wall mural in a property near Red Oak.

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Route 66 - Missouri - A rusty pickup outside Gary's Gay Parita, a historically restored gas station located near Ash Grove.

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Route 66 - Missouri - A neglected neon sign advertising the Gardenway Motel, Villa Ridge.

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Route 66 - Kansas - Burning rubber along the Kansas stretch of Route 66.

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Route 66 - Kansas - The famous highway finds its way onto all sorts of souvenirs and handicrafts, such as in this roadside store in Riverton.

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Route 66 - Kansas - The Cars on the Route gas station, Galena.

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Route 66 - Kansas - The Rainbow Curve Bridge. Constructed in 1923, it is the only remaining Marsh Arch Bridge on Route 66.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - Historic Lucille's Roadhouse, in Hydro.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - Texola's own special greeting to drivers traveling through Oklahoma state on Route 66.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - The historic and carefully preserved Conoco garage replete with rusting, long retired pumps. It stands in the town of Commerce.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - Pony Bridge crosses the South Canadian River and is also known as William H. Murray Bridge.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - An old auto repair shop, unusually bereft of neon and livery.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - The 66-foot tall soda bottle in front of POPS, downtown Arcadia. This is the biggest soda bottle display in the world!

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - The famous Route 66 Gate in Tulsa.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - The charming Round Up Cafe, a country-style cafe and diner in Stroud.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - The spruce facade of the historic 1923 Richardson Building, in Arcadia.

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Route 66 - Oklahoma - The distinctive Round Barn building in Arcadia.

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Route 66 - Texas - A lone cafe sign marks the highway's entry into Texas.

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Route 66 - Texas - Old cowboy boots hanging from a tree in Vega, the "Crossroads of the Nation."

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Route 66 - Texas - One of the most recognized art installations on Route 66, the old Cadillac cars at the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo remain a popular diversion.

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Route 66 - Texas - "The Heart of Old Route 66" mural in McLean.

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Route 66 - Texas - Leftovers: An abandoned restaurant near the highway.

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Route 66 - Texas - The notable U-Drop Inn, a former diner built in 1936, is famous for its art deco architecture. It's located in Shamrock.

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Route 66 - Texas - The iconic Bent Door Cafe and Midway 66 Gas Station, in Adrian. This really is the midway point on the highway.

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Route 66 - New Mexico - Bathed in neon, the Blue Swallow Motel on Tucumcari Boulevard, Tucumcari, is a historic landmark.

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Route 66 - New Mexico - Tucumcari also boasts equally colorful and attractive cafe-restaurants.

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Route 66 - New Mexico - A vivid wall mural brightens up the highway in Gallup.

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Route 66 - Arizona - Two markers, the famous Twin Arrows, are all that's left of the Twin Arrows service station.

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Route 66 - Arizona - Antique Gas Pumps at Hackenberry General Store, Hackberry.

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Route 66 - Arizona - A contemporary motel sign glows above the world-famous highway.

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Route 66 - Arizona - A rare "I Love Lucy" poster displayed inside a Twisters Soda Fountain, a 1950's-style soda fountain found in the town of Williams.

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Route 66 - Arizona - Assorted Americana litters the front of the famous Seligman Sundries store, Seligman.

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Route 66 - Arizona - Route 66 meanders over the desert and into California state.

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Route 66 - California - Neglected but strangely poignant, an old motel sign hangs on for dear life in Bagdad, in the middle of the vast Mojave desert.

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Route 66 - California -

End of the Trail: Route 66 concludes in Los Angeles, with the Santa Monica pier in the background.

See also: Essential tips for road trips with kids 

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