The Route 66 Journal is a weekly magazine about one road. Every week we publish what changed on Route 66: centennial events, closures and detours, motels and diners that open or close, and the history behind the places you drive past.
It is published by Europe Trip, the team behind Route 66, The Definitive Field Manual, and it follows the same rule as the book: if we couldn't verify it, we leave it out.
Helena
I write about one road. For the current edition of the Field Manual the whole route was driven end to end in April 2026, 23 days from Chicago to Santa Monica, with every motel called on the phone and every coordinate taken on site.
That rule runs this journal too. When a diner closes, I say it closed. When a date for an event isn't confirmed by the people running it, it doesn't go on the calendar. And every article lists its sources at the bottom, so you can check my work.
How we work
- Facts, dates and prices come from the businesses, organizers and public agencies involved, and each article links its sources.
- Photos are public domain or openly licensed, credited under each image.
- Sponsored placements from local businesses are always labeled as sponsored. They never change what we write in our guides.
- We fix mistakes. Write to traveler@europetrip.us and we correct the article and note the date.
For businesses on the road
If you run a motel, diner, shop, museum or event on Route 66, see our partnerships.