A Century of Diners and Dives Along Route 66
Savor tasty meals on the 'Mother Road' from Chicago to SoCal
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It was called “the Mother Road,” a ribbon of sometimes-paved road that stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Route 66 enticed hungry travelers to stop at the diners that dotted the highway — some later became dives, but drive-ins hadn’t even been invented.
Route 66, also known as the “Will Rogers Highway” (named after the actor), opened on November 11, 1926. Travelers slept in colorfully themed motels and ate in even more original cafes and diners. In honor of the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the Route — made famous by the song performed by Nat King Cole and the TV show — we’ll take a bite at eating your way along THE way.
Today’s traveler heading west from Chicago — on several historical stretches of the all-paved Route 66 — will find many updated, wildly themed eating establishments.
Photo courtesy of Luna Cafe
Illinois
In Mitchell, four hours south of Chicago, the Luna Café was built in 1924 with the sign on the building advertising “Great Chicken, Steaks, and Seafood.” But this place no longer has a kitchen. Instead, it has a reputation as a dive (apologies to Guy Fieri). Word has it that Al Capone, the notorious gangster, was a regular when it housed an illegal gambling operation in the basement and a brothel upstairs. There’s still a bar — so you can quench your thirst, but not satisfy your stomach.
Ariston Café in Litchfield was built the same year as the Luna Café by Pete Adam, a Greek immigrant. This diner has Steaks in the $30 range. Ariston Café is one of the oldest continuously-operating diners along the Mother Road. Originally on Route 4 in Carlinville, the diner was moved to Litchfield in 1935 after Route 66 shifted east, bypassing Carlinville.
Photo Courtesy of St. Robert Route 66 DIner.
Missouri
St. Robert’s Route 66 Diner, just off the main route in St. Robert’s, has all the charm of a travel eatery, including a lit jukebox. Diners come here for everything from deliciously thick milkshakes to succulent chicken-fried chicken.
Another choice in Missouri is Stogey’s Coney Island, where you may choose a namesake hot dog with toppings of your choice or try the Fiesta Frito Pie. Stogey’s can be visited in Joplin, near where Route 66 crosses from Missouri to Oklahoma.
Photo courtesy of Pop’s Soda Ranch.
Oklahoma
Continuing west into Oklahoma, Pop’s Soda Ranch in Arcadia is not to be missed. The diner, gas station, and convenience store have a towering 66-foot soda bottle that lights up at night with multicolored LED lights.
The quirky statue hints at what’s inside. Pops offers a choice of over 700 different fizzy drinks, from classic to out-of-the-box options like buffalo wing soda, lemon meringue pie, and cherries ‘n mint soda. Also called Pops Soda Ranch, Pops features a wide menu of American diner staples, including burgers, fries, and chicken strips. Breakfast options include buttermilk pancakes, chicken waffles, and customizable omelets. The meal can be ordered with a bottomless fountain soda.
Courtesy of MidPoint Cafe and gift shop.
Texas
Adrian, may be home to fewer than 200 residents, but the town is a popular stop for road trippers eager to snap a selfie at the official Route 66 halfway-point sign. Motorists wishing to break their journey can also refuel at the Midpoint Café, which takes its name from its unique location, precisely 1,139 miles from both Santa Monica and Chicago.
Dating back to 1928, the café has changed hands on numerous occasions since it first opened, with many owners giving it a new name and identity. In fact, Fran Houser, who operated Midpoint Café between 1990 and 2012, inspired the character Flo, the owner of Flo’s V8 Café in Pixar’s 2006 animated feature “Cars.”
Courtesy of Albuquerque’s 66 Diner.
New Mexico
Stepping into Albuquerque’s 66 Diner feels like venturing back in time to the 1950s. Complete with curved ceilings, monochrome tile floors, retro booths, and vintage signage, the New Mexico diner embodies the charm of mid-century American diner culture. Despite its vintage aesthetic, 66 Diner was actually built in the 1990s to replicate the 1945 gas station-turned-diner that burned down in 1995. A photo of the original Sam’s 66 Service Center can still be found displayed at the diner’s entrance.
The menu at 66 Diner blends classic American dishes with New Mexico flavors. Visitors can start with Cheddar Fries, Onion Rings, or Chips & Queso. Other highlights include burgers and sandwiches like the Green Chile Cheeseburger and the Hot Meatloaf Sandwich. Meanwhile, the diner’s New Mexico specialties include Huevos Rancheros, Breakfast Burrito, and Green Chile Chicken Bacon Mac N’ Cheese.
Tasty ribs at Roadkill Cafe.
Arizona
Heading on west, be sure to stop in the town of Seligman, AZ, at the red café with the sunshine yellow neon sign that draws you to the Roadkill Café/OK Saloon! A giant elk stands outside, and thousands of signed dollar bills line the rustic walls and ceiling. The menu offers dishes with names such as The Chicken that Almost Crossed the Road, Smidgeon Pigeon, the Funky Skunk and Mystery Meat.
Arizona boasts more than 600 miles of Route 66, but the 17-mile segment around Seligman really stands out. When the highway opened in 1926, Seligman’s streets became lined with motels and eateries, teeming with neon signs, and offering stays and sustenance to more than 500,000 road travelers a year.
Courtesy of Roadkill Cafe.
When a new Interstate bypassed Seligman in 1978, the community became a ghost town for almost 10 years until revitalized by citizens and fans — including Jim and Jean Pope and their four children, who turned an overnight stay in 1963 at the Navajo Motel into the restaurant still run by their children and grandchildren. The motel is now called the Historic Route 66 Motel.You might also try Delgadillo’s Snow Cap in Seligman, Mr D’z Route 66 Diner, located in Kingman across the street from the Arizona Route 66 Museum, and Falcon Family Restaurant in Winslow.
California
Before its western terminus at the Santa Monica Pier, Route 66 traverses about 315 miles of southern California, passing through cities such as Barstow, San Bernardino, and Pasadena.
Courtesy of Holland Burger.
Emma Jean’s Holland Burger Café in Victorville has been serving truck stop diner fare since 1947.
Another stop towards the end of the route is outside Barstow in Yemo. Peggy Sue’s 50’s Diner sits about 3 miles north of Route 66. Built in 1954 with 9 stools and nine booths, this roadside diner definitely has a throwback atmosphere and lots of comfort diner food.
And Mitla Café in San Bernardino, built in 1937, became a Route 66 classic and is known for authentic Mexican food.
These listings barely scratch the surface of the purportedly good and often fun or funky dining spots along this historic highway. So get out there, hit the road and find your very own Kicks on Route 66!
Check goodsam.com/camping for RV parks along your way. They’ll welcome you and probably have many more local suggestions.
Bob & Becky Bazemore
Bob and BeckyBazemore are former journalists and 16-year consultants with Good Sam. Their travels and work have taken them through Alaska, western Canada, the Pacific Northwest, and much of the Eastern Seaboard — RVing the U.S. along the way. After 12 years full-time RVing, they now hang their hats in Port St. Lucie, Florida, when not on the road.
