Top 16 'Ghost-Highway' Historic Route 66 Segments to drive for a Taste of Vanishing Americana this year
There's a certain magic to Historic Route 66. It’s more than just a road; it’s a ribbon of asphalt that ties together a nation's history, dreams, and iconic imagery. It’s the "Mother Road," the path of Dust Bowl migrants, post-war vacationers, and anyone seeking adventure with a full tank of gas and an open map. But the Route 66 of today isn't the one your grandparents drove. The relentless march of the Interstate Highway System bypassed hundreds of miles, leaving behind forgotten stretches of the original road.
These aren't just empty roads; they are 'ghost highways.' They are fragments of a time before cruise control and multi-lane efficiency, where the journey itself was the main attraction. Driving these segments is like stepping into a time machine. You'll find cracked pavement, crumbling motor courts, and the silent, sun-bleached skeletons of gas stations. As my good friend Goh Ling Yong always says, the best stories are found on the roads less traveled, and on Route 66, this couldn't be more true.
So, if you’re looking to experience the authentic soul of the Mother Road, you have to leave the interstate behind. This is for the explorers, the photographers, and the history buffs who want a real taste of Vanishing Americana. Here are 16 of the most evocative and drivable 'ghost-highway' segments of Historic Route 66 to add to your road trip itinerary this year.
1. The Auburn Brick Road, Illinois
Just south of Springfield, you'll find a perfectly preserved 1.4-mile stretch of the original 1931 alignment. This is the authentic red brick road that so many travelers experienced in the early days of the route. Driving on it is a noisy, bumpy, and absolutely unforgettable experience that connects you directly to the past.
The slow, rhythmic thump-thump-thump of your tires on the hand-laid bricks is a sound you won't hear on any modern highway. Lined with cornfields and old-growth trees, the road is narrow and feels intimate. It’s a powerful reminder of the craftsmanship and sheer labor that went into building America's first great highways.
Pro Tip: Drive it slowly in both directions. Park safely on the gravel shoulder and walk a portion of it to truly appreciate the texture and history under your feet. It's located between Chatham and Auburn and is well-marked with historic signs.
2. Dead Man's Curve, Illinois
South of Towanda lies one of the most famous and sharpest turns on the original route. This 90-degree curve was notoriously dangerous in the early days, earning its ominous name. Today, it’s a quiet piece of bypassed road, but the legend remains. The original 1926 alignment curves sharply, while a later 1940s alignment provides a gentler, banked turn.
You can park and walk along a section of the original roadbed, now a pedestrian path. There are fantastic informational signs and a recreated "ghost" of a Meramec Caverns barn sign. It’s a brilliant spot to visualize the evolution of road engineering and understand the challenges early motorists faced.
Pro Tip: The site features a memory lane with plaques dedicated to Route 66 icons and businesses from the area. Take your time to read them; it adds incredible depth to the experience.
3. The Hooker Cut, Missouri
This engineering marvel from 1941 blasted a path through a massive hill in the Missouri Ozarks, saving drivers a treacherous, winding climb. For its time, the four-lane, 90-foot-deep cut was an impressive sight. Today, I-44 soars over the area, and the original Hooker Cut sits quietly below, a deep, mossy canyon of concrete.
Driving through it feels like entering another world. The temperature drops, the sound is muffled by the high rock walls, and you can almost hear the echoes of vintage cars roaring through. It’s a slightly spooky, incredibly atmospheric segment that highlights the raw ambition of the original road builders.
Pro Tip: Located near the town of Hooker, this section is easy to find. Look for the exit for Devils Elbow, another must-see stop with its iconic bridge and historic Elbow Inn.
4. Red Oak II, Missouri
While not a highway segment itself, Red Oak II is the ghost of Route 66's soul brought back to life. Artist Lowell Davis grew up in the original Red Oak, and when his hometown was abandoned, he couldn't bear to see it die. He began moving the original buildings—a general store, a blacksmith shop, a Phillips 66 station—to his farm, creating a perfect, explorable time capsule.
Located on a quiet country road that was part of the original 1926-1961 alignment, a visit here is essential for understanding the communities the Mother Road served. It's a surreal, beautiful, and deeply personal tribute to a lost way of life. You can wander freely and soak in the atmosphere.
Pro Tip: Red Oak II is about 4 miles north of Carthage. Bring your camera, as every single building is a masterpiece of Americana art and a fantastic photo opportunity.
5. The Marsh Arch Bridges, Kansas
Route 66 only cuts through 13 miles of Kansas, but it packs in some incredible history. The most notable are the concrete Marsh Arch "Rainbow" Bridges. Of the three that remain on the route, the most famous and picturesque is the one just west of Riverton. Built in 1923, its elegant arches have carried travelers for a century.
Driving over this historic, one-lane bridge feels like a true honor. It was saved from demolition by local preservation efforts and now serves as a testament to the community's love for the road. The bridge is no longer part of the main highway, so you can safely park and admire its design.
Pro Tip: Just a minute's drive from the bridge is the Eisler Bros. Old Riverton Store, one of the oldest continuously operating stores on the entire route. Stop in for a deli sandwich and some true Mother Road hospitality.
6. The Sidewalk Highway (Ribbon Road), Oklahoma
Between Miami and Afton, Oklahoma, you’ll find one of the most unique and primitive sections of Route 66. This is the "Ribbon Road," a 9-foot-wide stretch of the original 1922-1926 pavement. Paved with asphalt over a concrete base, it was a cost-saving measure that resulted in a road barely wider than a modern car.
Driving here is a quirky adventure. You’ll need to pull over onto the gravel shoulder if another car approaches. The narrow road winds through farmland and trees, giving you a visceral sense of just how different early road-tripping was. It's a must-drive segment for its sheer oddity and historical significance.
Pro Tip: The Ribbon Road is not a single continuous stretch but several sections. A good GPS or a detailed Route 66 guide is essential to navigate it properly.
7. The William H. Murray Bridge, Oklahoma
Spanning the South Canadian River near Bridgeport, this magnificent 3,944-foot-long pony truss bridge was a vital link when it opened in 1934. It allowed travelers to avoid the unreliable and often dangerous river ferries. Today, the bridge stands silent, bypassed by a modern bridge on I-40.
While the bridge itself is closed to traffic, you can drive the old segment of Route 66 right up to its entrance. Standing at the barricades and looking out across its rusty, latticed expanse is a hauntingly beautiful experience. It’s a monument to the Great Depression-era public works projects that built so much of the road's infrastructure.
Pro Tip: The best views and photos are from the eastern approach. The old road leading to the bridge is also a great, quiet drive.
8. The Jericho Gap, Texas
For a taste of the Mother Road at its most primitive, look no further than the Jericho Gap. This notorious, unpaved stretch between Alanreed and Groom was the bane of early travelers. The local "black gumbo" soil would turn into a thick, inescapable mud pit with the slightest rain, trapping cars for days.
Today, it remains an unpaved county road. In dry conditions, it's a passable—if bumpy—dirt track that offers a glimpse into the hardships of the past. You can see the old, abandoned cement culverts and imagine the desperation of motorists stuck in the mire. This is not for the faint of heart, but it’s an unforgettable adventure.
Pro Tip: DO NOT attempt this road if there has been recent rain. Seriously. A 4x4 vehicle is highly recommended even in dry weather. Always check local conditions before you go.
9. Glenrio, Texas/New Mexico
Glenrio is the ultimate Route 66 ghost town. It sits right on the Texas-New Mexico border, and when I-40 bypassed it by just a few hundred yards in 1973, its fate was sealed. The entire town—motels, gas stations, cafes—was abandoned almost overnight.
Today, you can drive down the original Main Street and see the decaying ruins of the Little Juarez Cafe, the State Line Motel, and other businesses. The wind whistles through broken windows, and the silence is profound. It’s a stark and powerful monument to what happened when the traffic, and the lifeblood of a town, was diverted.
Pro Tip: The entire town is on the National Register of Historic Places. Please be respectful, take only pictures, and leave only footprints. This is private property, so admire the buildings from the road.
10. The Pre-1937 Santa Fe Loop, New Mexico
Before 1937, Route 66 took a massive detour north from Santa Rosa to Santa Fe, then snaked back down to Albuquerque. This entire "Santa Fe Loop" is a ghost of a former alignment. The later, more direct route cut travel time significantly, but it bypassed the state capital and some of the most scenic driving in New Mexico.
Driving this old alignment takes you through a completely different landscape of high desert, piñon-juniper forests, and historic villages. The section from Santa Rosa up towards Las Vegas (NM) and then over to Santa Fe follows old roads that feel a world away from the interstate.
Pro Tip: Focus on the stretch between San Jose and Santa Fe. You’ll pass through the historic Pecos Pueblo National Historical Park, a fascinating stop that predates Route 66 by centuries.
11. The Laguna Pueblo to Mesita Stretch, New Mexico
West of Albuquerque, I-40 largely paves over the old route. However, there are several beautiful bypassed loops you can take. One of the best runs parallel to the interstate from the Laguna Pueblo past Mesita. This quiet two-lane road offers stunning views of the red rock mesas and the high desert landscape.
Here, the road feels old. You'll drive over historic stone culverts and see the old telephone poles still marching alongside the pavement. It’s a peaceful, scenic drive that lets you slow down and appreciate the vastness of the Southwest, with the constant rumble of I-40 just a mile away, serving as a reminder of the progress that left this section behind.
Pro Tip: Look for the Owl Rock, a natural rock formation that was a classic landmark for early travelers. It's a great photo spot.
12. The Oatman Highway, Arizona
This is perhaps the most famous—and thrilling—bypassed segment of Route 66. When I-40 was built, it went straight through the flatlands, leaving the treacherous, winding Sitgreaves Pass to history. Today, this narrow road with its steep drop-offs and no guardrails is an absolute bucket-list drive.
The road twists and turns up the Black Mountains, offering breathtaking (and slightly terrifying) views. The destination is Oatman, a revived ghost town where wild burros—descendants of miners' pack animals—roam the streets. It's an automotive challenge and a historical adventure rolled into one.
Pro Tip: Drive this road from east to west (from Kingman towards Oatman) for the most dramatic views. Take it slow, be mindful of oncoming traffic on the hairpin turns, and give the burros the right of way.
13. The Twin Arrows, Arizona
East of Flagstaff, near the town of Winona, you’ll find one of the most iconic and melancholy ruins on the entire route. The two giant, yellow wooden arrows piercing the earth were once the sign for the Twin Arrows Trading Post. When I-40 bypassed this spot, the trading post died, and the arrows were left to rot.
Recently, the arrows have been restored, but the abandoned diner and gas station behind them remain a powerful symbol of decay. They stand on a lonely, windswept stretch of bypassed Route 66. Stopping here feels like paying respects at a roadside memorial for a bygone era.
Pro Tip: The exit for Twin Arrows from I-40 is now part of the Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort. You can easily access the historic site from the casino road. It's a fantastic spot for sunrise or sunset photography.
14. The Seligman to Kingman Stretch, Arizona
While heavily traveled by Route 66 enthusiasts, this 87-mile section is a 'ghost' in the sense that it was almost completely erased from the map. It was the first stretch to be bypassed by I-40 in Arizona, and it’s where Angel Delgadillo, the "Guardian Angel of Route 66," started the preservation movement that saved the road.
This is the longest continuous stretch of the original Mother Road left in the country. Driving it, you'll pass through forgotten towns like Peach Springs and Hackberry, with its iconic General Store. The landscape is vast and cinematic, exactly what you imagine when you picture a Route 66 road trip. It’s less about ruins and more about a preserved spirit.
Pro Tip: Stop in Seligman and talk to the locals. This town is the heart of the Route 66 revival, and its story is the story of the road's survival.
15. The Mojave Desert (Amboy to Ludlow), California
If you want to feel truly alone with the ghost of the Mother Road, drive the sections through the California Mojave Desert. The stretch from Amboy to Ludlow is particularly stark and beautiful. The road is often cracked and empty, stretching for miles across a vast, barren landscape under an enormous sky.
Here you will find the iconic Roy's Motel and Café in Amboy, a restored mid-century modern masterpiece that stands as a lonely beacon in the desert. You’ll also pass the Amboy Crater and miles of abandoned buildings. The silence and heat are palpable, and you get a real sense of what a formidable journey this was before air conditioning.
Pro Tip: Travel with plenty of water, gas, and a reliable vehicle. Cell service is spotty at best. This is a true desert experience, so be prepared.
16. Cajon Boulevard, California
As Route 66 makes its final descent from the high desert into the Los Angeles basin, it follows the winding path of Cajon Boulevard. This road runs parallel to the chaotic I-15, but it feels like a different universe. This was the final, challenging leg for weary westward travelers.
Today, you can still drive this twisting, historic pavement. Along the way, you’ll see the ruins of old service stations and the iconic, abandoned Wigwam Motel in Rialto just off the old alignment. It’s a forgotten frontage road that holds the last whispers of the journey's end before the route disappears into the urban sprawl of Southern California.
Pro Tip: Look for the Blue Cut, a section where the road was carved through blue-hued rock. It's a small but significant piece of the original road engineering.
Your Turn to Find the Ghosts
Exploring these bypassed 'ghost highways' is about more than just driving; it's about connecting with the spirit of the American road trip. It's about honoring the communities that thrived and died by the roadside and experiencing a piece of history that is slowly, but surely, vanishing. As we at Goh Ling Yong's blog know, the best adventures often lie just off the beaten path.
So next time you're planning a trip, consider trading a bit of interstate speed for a lot of roadside soul. Get a good map, pack your sense of adventure, and go chase some ghosts on the Mother Road.
What are your favorite forgotten stretches of road, on Route 66 or elsewhere? Share your hidden gems and road trip stories in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
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