If you’ve been watching the blog, you already know: 2026 is Route 66th’s 100th anniversary! To celebrate, plenty of destinations along the way are planning a suite of Route 66 100th anniversary events, festivals, and so much more to kickoff this historic moment. The celebrations officially begin on April 30, and now’s the time to start planning for your Route 66 Centennial adventure.
RV travel is, in our opinion, the very best way to see the Mother Road—and not just because RVs are our passion. When it comes to a long drive with many stops along the way, RVing allows you to carry everything you need for the journey and stay in comfort, without having to worry about unpacking and repacking your suitcase or adapting to a dozen different hotel beds. Instead, your home away from home will simply travel with you to keep you cozy and energized so you can enjoy the Route 66 centennial festivities!
Route 66 Centennial Events and Festivals
Without further ado, let’s dive into the must-know details about these Route 66 events and festivals.
Route 66 Centennial Kick-Off Event: Springfield, MO
April 30 – May 2, 2026
Although the road starts in Chicago and ends in LA, Springfield, MO holds the exalted designation as the “Birthplace of Route 66.” That’s because, on April 30, 2026, the city sent a telegram to federal highway officials proposing the name that stuck: U.S. Route 66.
One hundred years later, Springfield will be the place to be, with NBC’s TODAY show broadcasting live on the morning of Thursday, April 30 starting at 8 a.m. and highlighting the Mother Road’s history. At 4 p.m., there will be a formal dedication ceremony at Birthplace Plaza (the intersection of Jefferson Avenue and St. Louis Street). This marks the exact anniversary, to the hour, of when that fateful telegram was sent.
Throughout the weekend, kickoff festivities will continue with a sculpture dedication, parade, and vintage automobile show. Expect live music, a convivial atmosphere, and tons of new friends — and consider staying at one of these local Springfield, MO RV parks or campgrounds.
Seligman Centennial Celebration: Seligman, AZ
April 30, 2026
The tiny community of Seligman, about halfway between Flagstaff and Kingman, is often overlooked — but on April 30, they’ll unveil new monument signs in town for the Route 66 Centennial. The information booth will open at 9 a.m., and the opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at Seligman Centennial Park. Between 11 a.m. and the early afternoon, enjoy Route 66 book signings, DJs, vendors, and food trucks, including a Mother Road Brewery booth.
You can also take this opportunity to meander Seligman’s historic district, featuring facades from the original Route 66 era — not to mention being close to other must-see Arizona destinations, including the Grand Canyon. (Here are some nearby campgrounds to consider in the Flagstaff area.)
Route 66 Fun Run: Seligman, Kingman, Oatman and Topock, AZ
May 1 – 3, 2026
Don’t worry — this isn’t the kind of fun run you need to be in shape for! Arizona’s Route 66 Fun Run, which is actually an annual event even when it’s not the centennial, is actually a 140-mile drive that visitors from around the world converge in these small communities to participate in. After parading through these historic towns, the weekend is capped off with a fun and delicious community barbecue.
The Annual Route 66 Fun Run actually dates all the way back to 1987, when the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona. To celebrate the state’s decision to bring back Route 66 as a historic highway, the association threw the first Fun Run the very next year in 1988. Since then, this event has been a well-known car rally and celebration of Americana. Learn more and register today!
Ash Fork Heritage on Route 66 Day: Ash Fork, AZ
May 16, 2026
Home to the Route 66 Historic Museum, Ash Fork, Arizona is just a few more miles west of Seligman where many of the above-mentioned festivities will occur. If you hang out until mid-May (and goodness knows there’s plenty to explore in Northern Arizona in the meantime), you can enjoy a full day of food, fun, and nostalgia in Ash Fork, including a 10 a.m. parade with classic cars, floats, pedestrians, and at least a few folks on horseback.
Heritage Day will also feature a chili cookoff, a vintage fire engine display, a craft fair, and live flagstone demonstrations. (Ash Fork is otherwise known as the Flagstone Capital of the United States). Given its close proximity to Sedona (and all the incredible natural areas surrounding it), there are plenty of places to set up camp, whether you’re looking for a luxurious, resort-style stay or happy to rough it in the wilderness.
Williams Route 66 Centennial Car Show: Williams, AZ
June 5 & 6, 2026
Route 66 is a road — which means celebrating its birthday is just as much about cars as it is about the highway itself. In Williams, Arizona in early June, enjoy the 11th annual Williams Historic Route 66 Car Show, this time with the additional festive energy of the centennial behind it.
As the organizers put it on their website, “this event brings together classic car lovers, custom builders, hot rod enthusiasts, veterans, locals, and travelers from all over the country for one of Northern Arizona’s most anticipated automotive weekends.” Whether you’re coming with a vintage car of your own or just want to peruse and enjoy the local music and vendors that will accompany the spectacle, good nearby options for hanging your hat include The Canyon Motel & RV Park and Grand Canyon RV Glamping.
Flagstaff Route 66 Centennial Celebration: Flagstaff, AZ
June 6, 2026
Free, family-friendly, and full of historic reenactments, classic cars, and nostalgic touches like sky writing, Flagstaff’s Route 66 Centennial Celebration is not one to miss. Along with the festivities that will take over town from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day, you’ll also be a stone’s throw from some of the most scenic and sought-after destinations in the entire American Southwest, including Grand Canyon National Park as well as Red Rock State Park, Slide Rock State Park, and Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. Better yet, many of these state parks also double as perfect campgrounds.
AAA Route 66 Road Fest: Tulsa, OK
June 27 & 28, 2026
If there’s an organization that knows roads, it’s AAA, and AAA is celebrating Route 66’s 100th birthday in the very heart of it all in Tulsa, Oklahoma this year. Set up at the Sagenet Center in Tulsa’s Expo Square, this weekend-long celebration will include classic cars, road-trip-oriented vendors perfect for RVers, fresh local food, family-friendly activities, and more.
While you’re in the state, take the opportunity to explore! Oklahoma is home to more than 400 miles of historic Route 66 roadway. Along with RV parks in and around the town of Tulsa, we also recommend nearby natural preserves like Keystone State Park that allow RV camping and a balance between urban and outdoor adventures.
Kingman Route 66 Fest: Kingman, AZ
October 16 & 17, 2026
Looking for an opportunity to explore the Northern Arizona desert in a less-heated season? While many of the Centennial celebrations will take place in May and June, Kingman Route 66 Fest is scheduled for October, when the weather is milder and the sun casts golden light along the land. The Friday schedule includes a classic car show, a DJ with curated Route 66 music, a photobooth and a silent disco (where everyone will be dancing to the same music, but in their headphones, making it look silent from the outside). Saturday will include many of the same activities, but also a Queen of the Mother Road pin-up contest.
The nearby Fun Zone includes train rides, zip lines, inflatable jumping zones and more, making this a great event for kids and adults alike. Sunrise RV Park and Kingman KOA Journey are two great options in town, but this area is also surrounded by BLM lands where dispersed camping is freely available.
RV Planning Tips for Route 66 Centennial Events
Now that you’ve got the events in mind, here are some quick tips to help you plan for your trip with the least amount of friction and the most amount of fun.
- Book ahead. Major Route 66 Centennial events are very likely to draw large crowds, and many are held in very small communities. Reserving your campsites ahead of time is critical! Same for your RVshare rental vehicle. (Psst: Want to see a lot of the Mother Road? We’ve recently introduced one-way RV rentals, as well.)
- Consider your route timing. As you can see, many of these events take place in April and May, which gives you plenty of time before and after to explore the areas they’re held in, and beyond. Take some time to create a full-blown Route 66 RV trip itinerary that goes beyond one event!
- Keep it RV-friendly! While you’re trip-planning, keep in mind that many parts of historic Route 66 are, well, historic. These old alignments can include narrow roads and low-clearance bridges, so check ahead of time if you’re driving a large Class A motorcoach or towing a big fifth-wheel trailer.
Why Renting an RV from RVshare Is the Best Way to Celebrate
We’ll admit it, we’re a little biased. But when you rent an RV from RVshare, you’ll enjoy nationwide pickup locations near all the major Route 66 entry points, as well as a variety of RV sizes and styles to fit your travel needs. (In this case, since you’ll likely be driving on historic roads, you might consider a Class B camper van, for example—those can be a lot harder to find at the big-box rental outfits!)
Enjoy all the benefits of RV travel, such as flexibility and the opportunity to stay close to celebrations and campgrounds without daily packing and unpacking, without the long-term ownership obligations of storage and maintenance. Renting an RVshare vehicle is the perfect choice for a once-in-a-lifetime centennial road trip experience, and we’ve got your back every step (and mile) along the way.)
Route 66’s 100th anniversary in 2026 brings a unique opportunity to experience the Mother Road’s history and festivities in communities from Chicago to Santa Monica. And you already know that RV travel offers unmatched flexibility and comfort for visiting multiple centennial celebrations along the historic highway—and beyond. Start planning your Route 66 RV adventure now to attend these once-in-a-century events and make the most of your journey. The Mother Road awaits!