Route 66
The Mother Road, Historic Route 66, Main Street of America
Route 66 opened in 1926 and ran about 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. John Steinbeck called it the Mother Road in The Grapes of Wrath, and a 1946 song told everyone to get their kicks on it. Interstates replaced it, and it was removed from the highway system in 1985, but long stretches survive with neon motels, old diners and gas stations frozen in time. In a dream, Route 66 often carries nostalgia and the romance of the open road, along with a wish to take the long, characterful way instead of the fastest one.
Dream variations
- Driving an old stretch of Route 66You're looking for the stories that faster roads skip. Stop where the locals stop, and ask someone how the place used to be.
- A neon motel sign saying VACANCYThere's room for you somewhere you didn't plan to stop. Take the room that's offered instead of driving on in search of a better one.
- The old road ending in weedsA route you once relied on, maybe a habit or a way of staying in touch, isn't kept up anymore. Look for the newer road that took its place; it often goes the same way.
- Heading west on the Mother RoadYou're leaving a hard stretch behind and carrying a lot of hope toward a new start. Pack patience along with the hope, because the journey counts too.
Related symbols
- Road tripWindows down, snacks on the seat and miles of open highway: a road trip dream celebrates…
- HighwayA highway is built for speed and distance, with clear lanes, exits and few chances to…
- RoadThink of the road in your dream as your path through life: it shows where you're headed…
- HotelNobody lives in a hotel forever, so a hotel dream is often about a temporary phase in…
More in Places
Symbol of the day
TicketA ticket is a small piece of paper that says you're allowed in, or allowed to go.
Read more →Dream interpretations are for entertainment.