One of the best parts of a Route 66 road trip is the unexpected stops along the way. Sure, the open road and classic diners are part of the fun—but it’s the quirky shops, oversized roadside statues, and “only on Route 66” souvenirs that really make the drive memorable.
Along this legendary highway, you’ll find everything from antique malls with giant pink elephants out front to gift shops shaped like teepees and soda ranches stocked with hundreds of fizzy flavors. These aren’t just places to grab a magnet or T-shirt—they’re experiences in their own right.
Illinois
Pink Elephant Antique Mall (Livingston, IL)
You can’t miss the giant pink elephant (and other oversized fiberglass buddies) out front of this antique mall in Livingston. Housed in a repurposed high school, it’s a sprawling kitsch emporium with 50+ dealers offering vintage, collectibles, roadside art, sweets & ice cream. There’s a hot-pink Twistee Treat diner, the Mother Road Fudge Factory, and dozens of photo ops (dinosaurs, neon signs, muffler men). Great stop if you love rummaging junk-treasure, craving candy, or want some serious Instagram fodder. It’s a full sensory sandwich—sweet, bright, noisy, weird—but in the best way.
Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum + “Home Again on Route 66” (Pontiac, IL)
This hall of fame/museum is the sort of Route 66 shrine you’ll love: classic 66 cars, memorabilia, restored signage, and tons of history. After soaking up the nostalgia, pop into “Home Again on Route 66,” the adjoining gift shop, to nab unique souvenirs (old postcards, vintage ads, patches) that you won’t find in a chain store. If you’re tracing the story of the Mother Road, this checkpoint is essential for both heart and shelf space.
Missouri
Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store (St. Robert, MO)
A pun-loving wonderland. Uranus is exactly what it sounds like: cheeky, fun, punny. Expect shelves of fudge (lots of flavors), old general store goods, gag gifts, Route 66 swag, novelty tees, outsized signs, and hearty photo ops. It mixes sweets with silliness, so bring a bit of boldness (and a sweet tooth). If you like your road trip stops loud, silly, and full of Americana, Uranus delivers.
Fanning 66 Outpost & the Route 66 Red Rocker (Cuba, MO)
This once-general store site has been reborn into a fantastic roadside stop. The “Red Rocker” (aka a gigantic rocking chair) is the main photo draw. Inside, you’ll find Route 66 souvenirs, snacks, homemade fudge & popcorn, rustic décor, local knives & taxidermy. The store sits where the old Fanning General Store operated (1930–72), so there’s some history in its bones. Friendly atmosphere, quirky goods, and great for stretching legs and camera fingers.
Kansas
Old Riverton Store (Riverton, KS)
A preserved vintage general store straight out of a postcard. Opened in 1925, it still sells deli items, gas (in earlier days), and shelves of Route 66 souvenirs: postcards, signs, kitschy hats, nostalgic candy. You’ll feel like you slipped back in time—wooden floors, aged counters, creaky boards. It’s small, charming, and perfect for those moments when you want less commercial, more genuine character in your souvenirs.
Cars on the Route (Galena, KS)
If you watched Cars, you’ll recognize this one: the tow truck “Mater” inspiration is parked outside. This shop leans heavily into Cars fandom while also offering Route 66 merchandise: toy cars, shirts, local crafts. It’s fun for families and animation lovers, and the real-world touch (seeing the inspiration physically) elevates it beyond mere memorabilia.
Oklahoma
Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on 66 (Tulsa, OK)
An old gas station turned into a playful gift shop full of cosmic weirdness: 1950s vibe, neon signs, Route 66 merch, alien or outer-space knick-knacks, and that classic Muffler Man—the Space Cowboy—standing guard. If you like pop culture meets roadside relics, this place will have you grinning at every shelf. Great stop for souvenirs that are more “playful oddity” than glossy mass commercial.
POPS 66 Soda Ranch (Arcadia, OK)
One of the show-stoppers of Route 66: a giant 66-foot soda bottle outside that glows with LED lights after dark. Inside, Pops is part gas station, part diner, part specialty store, featuring over 700 varieties of soda from around the world (yes, weird flavors included), a full menu of classic diner grub, candy, and merch. Whether you’re thirsty, nostalgic, or just want to see something absurdly fun, Pops checks all the boxes.
Blue Whale of Catoosa Gift Shop (Catoosa, OK)
The Blue Whale is a classic photo-stop—a big, blue concrete whale by a pond that’s been beloved for decades. The gift shop next door sells whale and Route 66 themed keepsakes: postcards, small art, local crafts. It’s calm (especially compared to Uranus or Pops), peaceful, perfect for a quick quiet break—and maybe a picnic by the water.
Texas
Lile Art Gallery (Amarillo, TX)
Run by Bob “Crocodile” Lile—artist, historian, and all-around Route 66 stalwart—this gallery specializes in Cadilite jewelry: pieces made from the layers of paint that fall off the cars at Cadillac Ranch. Vivid, gaudy, beautiful, each piece is a slice of wearable Americana. The shop also features mosaics, local artwork, and friendly stories. Drop by if you want something artistic, unique, and deeply tied to Route 66 lore.
Midpoint Café & Gift Shop (Adrian, TX)
Officially halfway between Chicago & Los Angeles, this diner-meets-gift shop embraces the place: “Halfway to Everywhere.” Classic diner food, burgers, pies, and Route 66 merch. The mid-point sign makes it a must-visit, and the mix of locals, long-haulers, and tourists keeps the vibe friendly. Great spot to rest, refuel, and take stock—you’ve gone far, you’ve got far to go.
Devil’s Rope & Route 66 Museum Gift Shop (McLean, TX)
Barbed wire museum—yes, really. It’s exactly the kind of niche oddity that makes Route 66 worth doing. The museum traces the history of barbed wire (tools, art, fences!), and the gift shop offers related souvenirs plus regular Route 66 stuff: shirts, mugs, postcards. If you like learning weird history, this stop gives more than just tchotchkes.
New Mexico
Tee Pee Curios (Tucumcari, NM)
This neon-trimmed teepee building is iconic. Inside, shelves are packed with local crafts, Route 66 swag, driftwood art, Native American jewelry, postcards, and the kind of souvenirs you buy when you want something meaningful of the region. Being in Tucumcari, which already feels like a movie set, this shop leans into the surreal, the nostalgic, and the beautifully kitschy.
Clines Corners Travel Center (near Moriarty, NM)
A large, classic travel center that feels like its own small mall. Opened in the 1930s (though expanded since), it’s now famous for its huge gift shop. You’ll find everything: Native American crafts, Route 66 souvenirs, turquoise jewelry, local foods, kitchenware, and plenty of tacky tonics and snacks. Good place for one-stop shopping before the long drive across empty stretches.
Richardson’s Trading Company (Gallup, NM)
A genuine trading post with decades of history, where you’ll find Navajo rugs, Native American jewelry and art, pottery, and crafts. Richardson’s gives you the regional flavor: handmade, thoughtful, often with a story behind the artist. It’s one of those places where you can bring home something beautiful (not just silly) that still screams “Route 66 road trip.”
Arizona
Angel & Vilma Delgadillo’s Original Route 66 Gift Shop (Seligman, AZ)
Founded by “Mr. Route 66,” Angel Delgadillo, this shop is more than merch—it’s a legacy. Angel was key in getting Route 66 designated a historic highway. The gift shop sells classic items: signs, postcards, vintage photos, and local crafts. And meeting or hearing about Angel’s stories makes shopping feel part of the history. If you want a sense of what Route 66 used to be, this is the place.
Hackberry General Store (Hackberry, AZ)
This is a nostalgia-bomb: dusty shelves, old gas pumps out front, classic Route 66 souvenirs, retro photo ops. Hackberry feels like stepping into a postcard from the 1950s. It used to serve as a supply station for the mining road; now it’s kind of a living museum of Americana. Great for photos, soaking up atmosphere, and grabbing a cold drink.
Jack Rabbit Trading Post (Joseph City, AZ)
Famous for its “HERE IT IS!” sign and giant jackrabbit out front, this curio stop has been drawing wanderers for decades. Inside: classic Route 66 knick-knacks, postcards, T-shirts, and local crafts. It feels like the kind of place that birthed the idea of a souvenir shop on a roadside. Fun, simple, and deeply emblematic of the Mother Road.
California
Roy’s Motel & Café (Amboy, CA)
A classic mid-century Googie-style icon deep in the Mojave. The neon sign, the café, the motel—much of it is preserved for photo-stops. The gift shop here is small but heavy on ambiance: Route 66 postcards, desert-themed art, vintage-look signs. Out here, the desolation makes the stop magical: a bright neon oasis in vast silence. Come for the sunset photo, stay for the mood.
66-to-Cali (Santa Monica Pier, CA)
The literal End of the Trail shop. After all your miles across deserts, plains, and towns, this is where Route 66 meets the Pacific. Here you’ll find T-shirts, signs, classic souvenirs marking your completed journey: “Route 66 Ends Here,” surfboard art, pier-themed stuff. It’s touristy, sure—but standing there, ocean breeze, the sound of waves, makes it feel earned.
