You hear it before you see it—that low, rolling rumble—then the chrome hits the sun and you’re in the middle of Route 66 Car Shows, and Flagstaff’s Mother Road Classic does it best.
You don’t have to be a car person to feel it. This is about nostalgia. Road trips. That unmistakable Mother Road energy that still hums through towns like Flagstaff. Classic Chevys line the curbs. Mustangs gleam. Owners lean in, ready to tell the story behind the build.
And here’s the thing—this isn’t just one Car Show Route 66 moment. Route 66 Car Shows roll through eight states, from Illinois to California, each one with its own vibe, its own crowd, its own reason to pull over and stay awhile.
If you’re searching for the best car shows in Arizona, Flagstaff’s Mother Road Classic leads the pack. Cool mountain air. Historic downtown streets closed to traffic. Rows of vintage rides with that perfect mix of polished and gritty. It feels local—but it draws a crowd that knows exactly what they came for.
Inside this guide, you’ll find a full Route 66 Car Show calendar—from Illinois to California—so you can map out your road trip around the can’t-miss stops.
Plan it right, and you’re not just attending a Route 66 Car Show. You’re stepping into a living piece of American road culture—one rumble, one story, one gleaming hood at a time.
Summary
This story will cover:
- Behind the scenes at an authentic Route 66 car show
- List of all major Route 66 car shows sortable by date, city and state
- Route 66 Car AZ Car Shows Calendar
- Route 66 Car Shows in New Mexico
The Route 66 car show lists will help immeasurably with your Route 66 travel planning. But more on that in a sec!
- Looking for Route 66 accommodations?
- Find your dream hotel!
- Plan your fun
- Rent a car
- Get the best travel insurance
Ready to shift gears? I’m handing the wheel over to someone who lives and breathes the vintage car scene!
Suzanne Edmonds, our guest host from the Route 66 Car Club, is about to give you an insider’s peek at what really goes down at authentic Route 66 car shows. Not only is she the club’s secretary, but she’s also the powerhouse chair behind the Mother Road Classic in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Buckle up, friends—Suzanne’s taking us under the hood:
“Car people are a slightly different breed,” says Suzanne. “When looking at a rusted relic of a car, they see potential where others see ruin. Their eyes perceive what once was and what could be. Their brains start calculating the steps to bring that potential to fruition. Their hands remember the sensation of past resurrections. They foresee the path before them.
“Car people are the ultimate optimists.
“So, too, they look at a vacant Flagstaff parking lot and imagine the Route 66 Car Show it could hold,” she adds.
“In the winter of 2023, the parking lot of Flagstaff City Hall was partially buried under icy mounds left by snowplows—a testament to the heaviest winter the old town had seen in years. Even then, the Flagstaff City Hall lot, the parking area across the street, and Aspen Street running between them were transforming in the minds of a handful of optimists. They could be the perfect sites to bring a car show back to downtown Flagstaff after an absence of nine years.
“What once was, and what could be.
“The Mother Road Classic pays homage to Route 66, which is not only the name of the car club but also the famed ribbon of asphalt that still runs through the heart of Flagstaff,” says Suzanne.
Route 66 Car Show: The Mother Road Classic
“The Mother Road Classic is smaller than the original Flagstaff Route 66 Days Car Show that spread across downtown in yesterdays. The current Route 66 car show limits its entries to 200 cars,” explains Suzanne.
“Many vehicles come from out of the area, and their drivers related how pleased they were to have Route 66 car shows back in the heart of Flagstaff.
“The tree-lined streets and access to Wheeler Park make for a picnic-like venue, which participants, sponsors, vendors and spectators appreciate,” she says.
The Mother Road Classic happens August 15, 2026, in Flagstaff, AZ Get the schedule and entry form.
Check out the Feature Car Exhibit at Mother Road Classic
“Since the Mother Road Classic pays homage to Route 66, a special award is given to the vehicle that best represents the spirit of the Mother Road in addition to the more typical car show awards,” concludes Suzanne.
Examples of honorees over the years:
• the 1911 Stevens Duryea, originally owned by Percival Lowell, founder of the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona,
• a 1965 Chevrolet tow trunk, one of two tow trucks in Flagstaff in the 1960s and 70s, and
• a 1928 Springfield Brewster Rolls Royce that drove itself from Jerome the morning of the show.
For information, contact the Route 66 Car Club on its website.
Getting ready to drive the Mother Road? Here’s the gear I’m packing while planning my Route 66 trip.
Route 66 Car Shows by Month, State and City
You can sort the following list of Route 66 car shows by month, state and city. Make sure to reserve your accommodations now because many of these small Route 66 towns are limited when it comes to beds!
Route 66 Car Shows
| Date | Town | State | Route 66 Car Show Name | Website | Accommodations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 260501 May 1 – 3, 2026 | Seligman | Arizona | AZ Route 66 Fun Run | www.historic66az.com/fun-run/ | Check availability |
| 260516 May 16 – 17, 2026 | Kingman | Arizona | Kingman Route 66 Street Drags | www.kingmanrt66streetdrags.com | Check Availability |
| 260516 May 16, 2026 | Flagstaff | Arizona | Bob Sarkesian Memorial Car Show | www.flagstaffcarcruisersclub.com | Check availability |
| 260606 June 6, 2026 | Grants | New Mexico | Spokes on 66 Car Show | Grantsmainstreetproject.com/spokes-on-66-car-show | Check availability |
| 260607 June 7, 2026 | Albuquerque | New Mexico | Albuquerque Lowrider Super Show | Lowriderexperience.com | Check availability |
| 260605 June 5 – 6, 2026 | Williams | Arizona | Historic Route 66 Car Show | williamshistoricroute66carshow.com | Check availability |
| 260623 June 13, 2026 | Edwardsville | Illinois | Edwardsville Route 66 Car Show and Festival | www.edwardsvilleroute66.com | Check availability |
| 260605 June 6, 2026 | Vinita | Oklahoma | Vinita Route 66 Festival Car Show | vinitaroute66festival.com/car-show | Check availability |
| 260627 June 27 – 28, 2026 | Tulsa | Oklahoma | AAA Route 66 Road Fest | route66roadfest.com/car-show | Check availability |
| 260815 August 15, 2026 | Flagstaff | Arizona | The Mother Road Classic | route66carclub.org | Find your best rate |
| 260829 August 29, 2026 | Berwyn | Illinois | Berwyn Route 66 Car Show | BerwynRt66.com | Check availability |
| 260912 September 12, 2026 | Sapulpa | Oklahoma | Route 66 Blowout Car Show & Festival | www.sapulpamainstreet.com | Book your room now! |
| 260926 September 26, 2026 | Maplewood | Missouri | Maplewood Route 66 Celebration | www.cityofmaplewood.com | Get your best prices when you book your hotel now at our trusted site. |
| 260925 September 25-26, 2026 | Springfield | Illinois | International Route 66 Mother Road Festival | Route66fest.com | Check your dates for the best deals |
| 260926 September 26, 2026 | Claremont | Oklahoma | Annual Route 66 Cruisers Car & Motorcycle Show | Route66CruisersOK.org | Find your best rate |
| 261002 October 2 – 3, 2026 | Winslow | Arizona | Just’ Cruis’n Car Club Show | www.justcruisncarclub.com | Check availability |
| 261002 October 2 – 3, 2026 | Williams | Arizona | JDM Route 66 Classic | Route66jdm.com | Check availability |
| 260606 June 6, 2026 | Amarillo | Texas | Route 66 Trains Planes and Automobiles | Texasroute66festival.com | Check availability |
| 260807 August 7-8, 2026 | Springfield | Missouri | Car Show and Cruising | www.route66festivalsgf.com/carshow | Check Your Dates |
| 251011 October 10, 2026 | San Bernardino | California | Rendezvous Back To Route 66 | Rte66rendezvous.wixsite.com | Check Your Dates |
| 260403 April – October, 2026 | Gallup | New Mexico | First Friday Night Rides | www.fnrcarsandcoffee.co | Grab a hotel room before they’re gone! |
| 260815 August 15, 2026 | Winslow | Arizona | Sittin Low on 66 Car Show | Visit Winslow-Route 66 | Check availability |
If your favorite Route 66 car shows are not listed here, email us the dates, city and link to the website, and we’ll get ‘er listed!
Route 66 Car Shows by State (Illinois to California)
Planning a road trip around Route 66 Car Shows? Here’s where to find them—state by state—from Illinois to California.
Illinois Route 66 Car Shows
Kick things off where the Mother Road begins. Illinois Route 66 Car Shows bring out vintage classics, small-town charm and that first taste of the open road.
> Edwardsville | Edwardsville Route 66 Car Show and Festival | www.edwardsvilleroute66.com |
> Springfield | International Route 66 Mother Road Festival | Route66fest.com |
Missouri Route 66 Car Shows
Missouri leans into nostalgia. Expect hometown crowds, polished chrome and plenty of stories behind every hood.
| > Maplewood | Maplewood Route 66 Celebration | www.cityofmaplewood.com |
Kansas Route 66 Car Shows
Short stretch, big personality. Kansas Route 66 Car Shows are quick to visit—but worth the stop.
Oklahoma Route 66 Car Shows
Oklahoma goes all in. Some of the most iconic Route 66 Car Shows happen here, with festivals that turn into full weekend events.
| > Sapulpa | Route 66 Blowout Car Show & Festival | www.sapulpamainstreet.com |
| > Tulsa | AAA Route 66 Road Fest | route66roadfest.com/car-show |
| > Vinita | Vinita Route 66 Festival Car Show | vinitaroute66festival.com/car-show |
Texas Route 66 Car Shows
Wide-open skies and classic Americana. Texas Route 66 Car Shows feel as big as the road itself.
| > Amarillo | Route 66 Trains Planes and Automobiles | Texasroute66festival.com |
New Mexico Route 66 Car Shows
Vintage rides meet desert landscapes. New Mexico brings color, culture and a different kind of Route 66 vibe.
| > Albuquerque | Albuquerque Lowrider Super Show | Lowriderexperience.com | Check availability |
| > Grants | Spokes on 66 Car Show | Grantsmainstreetproject.com/spokes-on-66-car-show |
Arizona Route 66 Car Shows
This is where elevation meets attitude. From Flagstaff to Kingman, car shows in Arizona along Route 66 are some of the most scenic—and most fun.
| > Flagstaff | The Mother Road Classic | route66carclub.org |
| > Kingman | Kingman Route 66 Street Drags | www.kingmanrt66streetdrags.com |
| > Seligman | AZ Route 66 Fun Run | www.historic66az.com/fun-run/ |
| > Williams | Historic Route 66 Car Show | williamshistoricroute66carshow.com |
| > Williams | JDM Route 66 Classic | Route66jdm.com |
| > Winslow | Just’ Cruis’n Car Club Show | www.justcruisncarclub.com |
| > Winslow | Sittin Low on 66 Car Show | Visit Winslow-Route 66 |
California Route 66 Car Shows
Finish strong. California Route 66 Car Shows bring the energy all the way to the coast.
| > San Bernardino | Rendezvous Back To Route 66 | Rte66rendezvous.wixsite.com |
Route 66 Car Shows in Arizona | AZ Car Shows Calendar
The following is a list of 2026 Route 66 Car shows in Arizona:
May 1-3, 2026, Seligman, AZ, Route 66 Fun Run. Over 800 vehicles join the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona to cruise Route 66 in Seligman. Sponsored by the Seligman Chamber of Commerce. More information.
May 17–19, 2026, Kingman, AZ, Kingman Route 66 Street Drags | The city closes Route 66/Andy Devine in the middle of Kingman, AZ, for a week of authentic street racing! Watch or participate in 1/8 mile drag races right down the middle of Historic Route 66. Get the scoop!
May 16, 2026, Flagstaff, AZ, Flagstaff Classic Cruisers | Bob Sarkesian Memorial Car Show benefiting the Cedar Closet Thrift Store. At the Village Center, 1808 E Route 66 #2, Flagstaff, AZ, next to China Star.
June 5–6, 2026, Williams, AZ, Historic Route 66 Car Show | The Historic Route 66 Car Show is held in the heart of downtown Williams, directly along the famed Route 66. The festivities usually commence with a “Cruise the Loop” event on Friday evening, allowing attendees to parade their cherished vehicles along the historic road. Come Saturday, the spotlight shifts to the main attraction: a Route 66 car show showcasing many vintage and custom vehicles. Hosted by the American Legion. | Grab the lowdown. |Check availability
August 15, 2026, Flagstaff, AZ, The Mother Road Classic | Get the schedule and entry form. | Reserve your room now at our favorite hotel finder.
August 15, 2026, Winslow, AZ,Sittin Low on 66 Car Show | More information | Check availability
October 2-3, 2026, Winslow, AZ, Just’ Cruis’n Car Club Show | The almost 30-year-old club holds the Route 66 car show on the streets of historic downtown Winslow on Old Route 66 at the Standin’ on the Corner Park. Experience the fun with a Poker Run, Sock Hop and Burnout Contest on eastbound Route 66. Get more info.
October 2 -3, 2026, Williams, AZ, JDM Route 66 Classic | Annual car show encompasses ALL Japanese classics built 1998 and earlier. The AZ car show Route 66 judging is informal and peer-based, with ALL proceeds from registrations, raffle tickets and t-shirt sales supporting Raising Special Kids. | route66jdm.com | Get your best rate from our favorite hotel finder.
Route 66 Car Shows in New Mexico
Here is a list of the significant Route 66 car shows in New Mexico in 2026:
June 6, 2026, Grants, NM, Spokes on 66 Car Show | This Route 66 car show includes music, food, and fun! With classic and newer cars, motorcycles, trucks and lowriders
June 7, 2026, Albuquerque, NM, Albuquerque Lowrider Super Show | This car show on Route 66 features pedal bikes, motorcycles, vehicles and hoppers. Stay in the loop.
Friday Night Rides Gallup, NM | Friday Night Rides is a monthly event held on the 1st Friday of every month outside Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe in Downtown Gallup.
If you do not see your favorite Route 66 car shows on this list, please email us, and we’ll get them listed!
Let’s make this coming Route 66 Car Show season the best ever!
Getting ready to drive the Mother Road? Here’s the gear I’m packing while planning my Route 66 trip.
If you enjoyed this story, please shout out to Suzanne in the comments below and share the calendar with your favorite Route 66 communities!
- Looking for accommodations?
- Find your dream hotel!
- Plan your fun
- Rent a car
- Get the best travel insurance
Table of Contents
Map Your Route 66 Car Show Stay
UNSTOPPABLE Stacey was NOT provided with accommodations, meals or other compensation for the purpose of this guide. The Arizona travel writer believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.
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6 thoughts on “Route 66 Car Shows You Can’t Miss—Including Flagstaff’s Mother Road Classic”
Great piece!
Thanks for your kind words, Darla! Will I see you in Milwaukee? I think I will drive part of Route 66 to get there!
Great information for Route 66! Everyone should make this trip at least once in their life.
Thanks for your kind words about my story about Route 66 car shows. Do you have a favorite classic car, Scott?
I love classic cars – they let you go back in time…just for a moment…
Thanks so much for your comment, Jo! I love classic cars, too! Do you have a favorite?