Route 66 Printables

Motorcycle next to a building with a large "Route 66" sign — Lorenzo Garassino / Getty Images

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Updated on March 17, 2019

Route 66—once an important road connecting Chicago with Los Angeles—is also known as "The Main Street of America." While the route is no longer an official part of the American road network, the spirit of Route 66 lives on, and it is a road trip that is attempted by thousands of people each year.

History of Route 66

First opened in 1926, Route 66 was one of the most important corridors leading from east to west across the United States; the road first came to prominence in The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, which traced the journey of farmers leaving the Midwest to find their fortunes in California.

The road became a part of pop culture, and has appeared in several songs, books, and television shows; it was also featured in the Pixar movie Cars. The route was officially decommissioned in 1985 after larger multilane highways were built to connect the cities on the route, but over 80 percent of the route is still present as a part of local road networks.

Learn Through Printables

Help your students learn about the facts and history of this iconic U.S. road with the following free printables, which include a word search, crossword puzzle, alphabet activity, and even a theme paper.

01

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Word Search

In this activity, students will locate 10 words commonly associated with Route 66. Use the activity to discover what they already know about the road and spark a discussion about the terms with which they're unfamiliar.

02

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Vocabulary

In this activity, students match each of the 10 words from the word bank with the appropriate definition. It’s a perfect way for elementary-age students to learn key terms associated with Route 66.

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Crossword Puzzle

Beverly Hernandez / http://homeschooljourneys.com

Invite your students to learn more about Route 66 by matching the clue with the appropriate term in this fun crossword puzzle. Each of the key terms used has been provided in a word bank to make the activity accessible for younger students.

04

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Route 66 Challenge

Beef up your students' knowledge of the facts and terms related to the history of Route 66. Let them practice their research skills by investigating at your local library or on the internet to discover the answers to questions about which they're unsure.

05

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Alphabet Activity

Elementary-age students can practice their alphabetization skills with this activity. They'll place words associated with Route 66 in alphabetical order. Extra credit: Have older students write a sentence—or even a paragraph—about each term.

06

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Draw and Write

Have younger children draw a picture of Route 66. Use the internet to hunt for photos of famous stops and attractions along the famous route. The many pictures you find should make this a fun project for kids. Then, have students write a short sentence about Route 66 on the blank lines below the picture.

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Tic-Tac-Toe

Cut the pieces off at the dotted line, then cut the pieces apart. Then, have fun playing Route 66 tic-tac-toe. Fun fact: Interstate 40 replaced the historic Route 66.

08

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Map Activity

Students will identify the cities along Route 66 with this printable worksheet. Just some of the cities the students will locate include: Albuquerque; New Mexico; Amarillo, Texas; Chicago; Oklahoma City; Santa Monica, California; and St. Louis.

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Theme Paper

Have students write a story, poem, or essay about Route 66 on a blank sheet of paper. Then, have them neatly recopy their final draft on this Route 66 theme paper.

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Bookmarks and Pencil Toppers

Older students can cut out the bookmarks and pencil toppers on this printable, or cut out the patterns for younger students. With the pencil toppers, punch holes on tabs and insert a pencil through holes. Students will remember their Route 66 "journey" every time they open a book or pick up a pencil.