ADOT’s role in keeping Route 66 road-trip-ready

We all love the nostalgic, mystical spirit of Route 66. That old-fashioned wonder you feel when cruising down America’s Mother Road, imagining the travelers, families and adventurers who came before you. With the Route 66 centennial just around the corner, have you ever wondered about ADOT’s role in keeping Route 66 as iconic and road-trip-ready as ever?

Here in Arizona, we’re lucky to have the longest remaining portion of original Route 66 in the United States -- 385 miles of it, in fact. 

While Arizona gets to boast the longest stretch of the original Route 66 in the country, not all of those 385 miles are maintained by ADOT. Today, local entities maintain segments of former US Route 66 that can be found alongside Interstate 40 and as city streets in communities such as Winslow, Flagstaff, Williams and Kingman. Many of these roads are signed as “Historic Route 66.”

ADOT does maintain State Route 66 that lies between Kingman and Seligman. This 67-mile highway encompasses a stretch of the original Route 66 that wasn’t absorbed by Interstate 40. Our crews perform routine maintenance and patching to help keep SR 66 in good condition.

Keeping Route 66 special is something we can all take part in. In celebration of Route 66’s 100th anniversary, ADOT is inviting volunteers to participate in a litter cleanup along Historic Route 66 in Flagstaff. By joining the cleanup through our Adopt a Highway volunteer program, you can help keep this iconic road beautiful.

If you’d like to join us, please register on our Adopt a Highway webpage by Oct. 2.

Can’t make the cleanup? There are even more ways you can help support Route 66, like purchasing the Motor Vehicle Division’s Route 66 license plate. Proceeds from this specialty license plate benefit the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona, helping support the preservation and promotion of the historic highway.

After 100 years, Route 66 is still inspiring roadtrippers to take the scenic route. ADOT is proud to play its part by maintaining the stretches of the road under our care and giving Arizonans opportunities to help preserve this legendary highway