by Nichol Quinn

-

30 October 2023

Blogs

USA

The United States of America (USA) has a population of almost 331 million residents and is the fourth largest country in the world, behind Russia, Canada, and China. The country is made up of 50 states and Route 66 covers eight of them, acquiring the reputation as The Main Street of America!

Is this experience on your bucket list? If so, be sure to get your USA Travel Insurance so you can have peace of mind while driving along this iconic route. 

What is Route 66?

Route 66 is also known as The Mother Road and stretches over 2,000 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles, making it the ultimate road trip. It was established on November 11th, 1926, and became the shortest, year-round route between the Midwest and the Pacific Coast, serving as a major path. The route begins in Chicago, heads southwest through Illinois and Missouri and a small section of southeast Kansas. The route then turns in a more westward direction through Oklahoma and Texas, with the final stretch in New Mexico and Arizona before its termination point in Los Angeles. Whilst driving along Route 66 you’ll find murals, statues, museums, and plenty of scenic viewpoints.

The History

During the 1930s, Route 66 was the primary route for the migrating farm workers from the Midwest to California and continued during World War II due to employment in California. The route also became one of the key routes for moving military equipment across the country. In 1938 Route 69 became the first highway to be completely paved.

Route 66 became the main highway for holidaymakers travelling across the country in the 1950s and 1960s, which resulted in many restaurants, motels and service stations opening along the route due to the traffic. Local businessowners caught the attention of passersby through building giant, quirky landmarks that could be seen whilst driving down the highway.

Route 66’s Centennial

2026 will mark 100 years of Route 66, and there’ll be a host of events and activities taking place to celebrate. In commemoration, the ‘Route 66 Centennial Commission Act’ was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President on December 23rd, 2020. The Act creates an authorisation that will recommend activities to celebrate the anniversary. Members will recommend the production of various written materials, films, and documentaries to commemorate the history of Route 66.

Fancy ticking Route 66 off your bucket list in 2024?

It’s often hard to know where to start, so you should plan the journey and find out what attractions you intend to visit on the way. With so many must-see roadside attractions, it’s easy to feel lost and overwhelmed.

Here is everything you need to know about Travel Insurance for the USA.

It is essential to get USA Travel Insurance before travelling due to the cost of medical treatment in the states. Buying USA Travel Insurance as soon as you have booked covers you should the unexpected happen. You can compare up to 48 prices online in minutes with cover for hundreds of pre-existing medical conditions and there are no upper age limits on our single trip Travel Insurance and annual multi-trip Travel Insurance policies.

USA Travel Insurance

Pack your USA Travel Insurance with Just Travel Cover. Here, we specialise in Travel Insurance cover for pre-existing medical conditions with no upper age limit.