The Mother Road Turns 100. These Luxury Hotels Are Part of the Story

Route 66 turns 100 this year, and travelers are marking the milestone the way Americans have always celebrated the open road: by driving it. The 2,400-mile stretch connecting Chicago to Santa Monica carries a mythology few highways can match. Roadside diners, neon signs and wide-open plains define the route's reputation. 

What has changed is where road-trippers choose to rest. Boutique and luxury hotels now line many of the route's major stops. Travelers can experience the road's history without sacrificing comfort. These hotels have become part of the Route 66 story themselves, anchoring the journey at both ends.

Chicago Where the Road Begins

The official starting point of Historic Route 66 sits in downtown Chicago, and the hotels closest to it carry their own considerable histories. The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, has operated continuously for more than 150 years. That run makes it the longest continuously operating hotel in North America. Originally built as a wedding gift for Bertha Honoré Palmer, the property sits steps from the "Begin Historic Route 66" sign and is a member of Historic Hotels of America.

The hotel's "Get Your Kicks Near Route 66" package gives travelers a fitting send-off. The package includes deluxe accommodations, two cocktails at Potter's Bar, and two of the hotel's original brownies, a dessert invented on the property. A Google Map of must-see stop-offs and a Spotify playlist of Route 66-inspired cruising songs round out the package, giving guests a curated head start before they leave the parking garage.

A few blocks away, the Waldorf Astoria Chicago offers families a different kind of starting point. The Gold Coast property sits close to both the historic downtown marker and Navy Pier, newly designated as Route 66's ceremonial starting point for the 2026 centennial. Its Family City Escape package includes an in-room tent experience, a kid-friendly snack amenity, and access to the indoor pool. Complimentary valet parking removes one more hassle from a trip that's about to involve plenty of driving.

Tulsa Art Deco and Route 66 History

Cyrus Avery, the man most credited with mapping Route 66's original path, was born in Tulsa. Two downtown hotels offer a glimpse into the city's connection to the Mother Road.

Tulsa Club Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton, an AAA Four Diamond property, occupies a restored Art Deco landmark originally designed by architect Bruce Goff. The building connects directly to Tulsa's oil-boom identity, and the restoration preserved original architectural details while adding elevated dining and upscale accommodations. Its downtown location places guests within reach of Tulsa's Route 66 attractions, music history, and arts districts.

The Mayo Hotel has its own legacy to offer. Open since 1925, the property has hosted a long list of notable guests, including Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, President John F. Kennedy, Babe Ruth, and Charlie Chaplin. The hotel's rooftop lounge once served as Elvis's private penthouse during his visits to Tulsa, and it now welcomes guests for evening cocktails with sweeping skyline views.

The restored boutique hotel retains its classic architecture throughout. For visitors chasing Route 66 nostalgia rather than novelty, the Mayo offers one of the more convincing stops along the Oklahoma stretch.

Oklahoma City A Century of Hospitality

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The Skirvin Hilton has occupied a corner of downtown Oklahoma City since 1911, sitting directly along the highway's original alignment through the city. The hotel has also hosted many famous guests throughout its history.

A multimillion-dollar renovation touched nearly every corner of the hotel, from guest rooms to the grand lobby, while preserving the building's historic character. The refresh also brought Perle Mesta, a new signature restaurant led by Chef Andrew Black, Oklahoma's only James Beard Award-winning chef. Route 66 travelers passing through Oklahoma City get a stay with more than a century of accumulated stories and a dining scene now backed by serious culinary credentials.

Albuquerque Two Centennials One Address

In Albuquerque, Hotel Parq Central sits directly on Route 66 and is designated a city landmark. The building opened in 1926 as a hospital for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway employees, an origin story that ties the property to an earlier chapter of American transit history. This year, the hotel marks its own 100th anniversary alongside the highway's centennial, and it's treating the overlap as a reason to celebrate all year.

The Apothecary Lounge, the hotel's rooftop bar, serves two centennial cocktails throughout the year. The "Mile Marker 505" leans on sloe gin and apricot liqueur, a nod to Albuquerque's area code. The "Sunset Limited" takes its name from the oldest continuously operating named train in the country. 

Cottage suite guests get a centennial gift package that includes a candle from local Albuquerque maker Upside Goods. On September 18, the Apothecary Lounge hosts a rooftop party straight out of the 1920s, complete with themed cocktails and Jazz Age music.

Beverly Hills Old Hollywood Still Standing

The Beverly Hills Hotel has answered to "The Pink Palace" since long before that kind of nickname became a marketing strategy. Open since 1912, the Dorchester Collection property sits minutes from the historic Route 66 corridor along Santa Monica Boulevard. Its banana-leaf wallpaper, pink poolside cabanas, and signature glamour have stayed largely unchanged through decades of Hollywood transformation.

The Fountain Coffee Room, a 1950s-style counter-service diner inside the hotel, still serves classic breakfasts and comfort food at a vintage counter where guests have been eating since the golden age of Hollywood. Marilyn Monroe was among those who enjoyed the hotel’s pool. For travelers who take Route 66 as a trip through American cultural history as much as American geography, the Beverly Hills Hotel holds a legitimate claim to that story.

Santa Monica Where the Road Ends

The Route 66 endpoint sits at the Santa Monica Pier, less than a mile from Viceroy Santa Monica. In 2023, the property completed a $21 million renovation, emerging with a modern beach-house aesthetic built on sun-washed tones, natural textures, and mid-century references. Guests can book a poolside cabana, dine at Sugar Palm, or step onto Santa Monica's beach paths and shopping district within minutes of arriving.

For travelers who have spent days or weeks on the road, the hotel offers something the highway cannot: stillness. After 2,400 miles, the Pacific makes a fitting final stop.