By Cole Quinnell – Photography By the Author & Patrick Hill
While Route 66 was originally created to move traffic smoothly across the country, it still exists today to tell stories. A century after it first connected the nation, the Mother Road remains a part of automotive culture. It’s imperfect, inefficient, and often inconvenient—and that’s exactly why fans keep seeking it out.
That lasting appeal inspired Pavement Pounder Events’ Route 66 to the SEMA Show 2025 presented by Heatshield Products. The concept was simple: invite automotive enthusiasts, drive hot rods along historic pavement, and end the journey at an iconic gearhead destination: the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Covering just over 2,200 miles, this first-year event proved that the appeal of Route 66 isn’t just nostalgia, but the way the road still rewards those willing to travel it properly.
Choosing the Right Starting Line
Instead of starting in downtown Chicago, the trip kicked off in Pontiac, Illinois, the first westbound town on Route 66 with a wealth of preserved history. Pontiac offers murals, museums, and a welcoming downtown, making it easy to gather a group without the hassle of city traffic. Participants came from across the country, with a diverse mix of vehicles—wagons, trucks, muscle cars, and modern performance cars—all built to be driven. Some arrived early to check out the local Route 66 Museum and nearby sites, setting the tone before even logging the first mile.
Check-in occurred at the host hotel, where windshield banners, event materials, and casual chatting quickly transformed strangers into a group of friends. By the end of the evening, the focus had shifted from logistics to excitement.
Day One: Illinois to Missouri, With Weather Included
The first day of driving covered about 350 miles from Pontiac to St. Robert, Missouri. Rain began early and persisted for much of the trip, highlighting a fact that Route 66 veterans know well: weather is part of the experience.
Stops included the giant muffler man statues in Atlanta, Illinois, followed by lunch at Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill, a destination loaded with automotive memorabilia. The afternoon brought a detour to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge near St. Louis, a former Route 66 crossing of the Mississippi River that features a unique bend halfway across its span.
The final landmark of the day was Devil’s Elbow Bridge, a 1923 route realignment tucked away from modern traffic. By the time the group reached St. Robert for dinner, everyone was hungry for the Mother Road–inspired dishes at the Route 66 Diner in St. Robert.
Day Two: Backroads, History, and the First Mechanical Challenge
Missouri’s stretch of Route 66 features some of the most intact and least-traveled parts of the highway. The day started with a visit to Spencer Station, where original pavement is still largely intact and historic buildings have been restored.
In Carthage, the group visited the Boots Court Motel, the oldest operating motel on Route 66. Not long after leaving town, the trip’s only major mechanical issue arose with a failed hydraulic throwout bearing. Ironically, it was the 2005 Ford Mustang GT that was purchased just weeks before the trip for photographer Patrick Hill to drive on the tour. Patrick and the Mustang were abandoned in Carthage.
The rest of the group continued toward Kansas. The brief but significant stretch of Route 66 through Kansas features the town of Galena, home to the Kan-O-Tex gas station and a famous roadside tow truck that inspired “Mater” in the movie Cars.
The day wrapped up in Oklahoma after dinner at the Rock Café in Stroud, a Route 66 landmark that combines comfort food with strong connections to the road’s recent revival.
Day Three: Open Space and Long Miles
By day three, the rhythm of the trip was firmly set. Oklahoma and Texas offered wider horizons, longer sightlines, and stretches where Route 66 runs alongside Interstate 40. Stops included the iconic Conoco Tower Station in Shamrock, Texas, followed by lunch at the Big Texan in Amarillo.
After lunch, a brief drive west brought the group to Cadillac Ranch, where participants added their own marks to the ever-changing art installation. From there, the group stopped at the official midpoint of Route 66 in Adrian, Texas.
The day ended in Tucumcari, New Mexico, at the Blue Swallow Motel. With its neon signs, individual garages, and preserved rooms, the motel provided a true glimpse into Route 66’s golden age.
Day Four: Elevation, Detours, and Adjustments
Northern New Mexico and Arizona feature higher elevations and extended interstate routes. Crossing the Continental Divide elevates vehicles above 7,000 feet. Plans to tour Petrified Forest National Park were halted by the historic government shutdown, forcing a last-minute change. However, this allowed for an unplanned stop at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Arizona, where teepee-shaped rooms and vintage cars highlighted Route 66’s roadside charm.
That evening’s stay at La Posada in Winslow, Arizona, provided a stark contrast to the previous night’s accommodation. Built in 1930 as a luxury railroad hotel, the property is an artistic blend of upscale desert lodging and resort amenities.
Day Five: The Final Stretch to Las Vegas
The last day featured some of the most iconic Route 66 landmarks. But first, we stopped at Two Arrows, a once-bustling trading post now reduced to a single remaining arrow that most travelers just pass by on the Interstate.
Stops in Seligman, Cool Springs Station, and Oatman followed. The mountain drive into Oatman, with tight curves and elevation changes, added a final technical challenge before descending into the desert.
By early evening, the group arrived in Las Vegas under their own power. The trip wrapped up with a private dinner at Shelby American, providing a fitting transition from the grit of Route 66 to the polish of SEMA week.
About Pavement Pounder Events
Pavement Pounder Events is a new company founded by Cole Quinnell, an editorial colleague from many years ago. Cole was the mind behind Hot Rod Power Tour, and Pavement Pounder Events gives him a chance to revisit his passion for creating driving adventures for car enthusiasts. MR
