Booking.com makes it easier than ever to star in your own movie-inspired Route 66 Road Trip | News
Start the engine. Cue the playlist. Booking.com, the official travel partner of the Route 66 Centennial, is offering a road trip experience this spring that puts travelers behind the wheel of a movie-inspired classic car. This unique opportunity arises as road trips become increasingly popular. Research from Booking.com shows that the US is one of the largest road trip markets in the world.
Introducing the Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip: Hollywood Style. Hit the road in an iconic, movie-inspired classic car, explore part of the original Route 66 from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, and embark on an adventure with $10,000 in Booking.com Wallet Credits to cover your entire trip.
Travelers can choose their own movie-inspired ride: a top-down 1966 Ford Thunderbird, best friends forever, a sunny yellow VW bus for a 1960s family trip, or a time-traveling DeLorean, available exclusively to Booking.com customers. With more than 8.6 million accommodations and car rentals in more than 45,000 locations in 144 countries, as well as attractions and flights, Booking.com connects your trip seamlessly from start to finish.
How to book
The Ultimate Route 66 Road Trip: Hollywood Style Cars opens May 20, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET on a first-come, first-served basis. The trip will take place from June 25 to 28, 2026 and will cost just $1.00 – a nod to the highway’s 100th anniversary. One dollar gets you a three-night stay for two people in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM, which is part of the original Route 66, $10,000 in Wallet Credits from Booking.com, and a professional glam session and car photo shoot.
Three cars. Three vibrations. One legendary highway.
Travelers can choose from three cars from Booking.com car rental partner DriveShare, with a curated itinerary for each. Research from Booking.com from 2026 shows that 57 percent of road trippers say that scenic stops along the way are the draw and that these itineraries are built around that appeal:
Two Women & a ’66 Thunderbird (1966 Ford Thunderbird): An escape to freedom focused on female friendship. The experience begins with an overnight stay at Sunset Motel Moriarty, a vintage, neon-lit Route 66 classic, where you pick up your car and drive with the top down through Albuquerque’s bohemian Nob Hill neighborhood, then fuel up at Sugar Nymphs Bistro before heading to 66 Diner for milkshakes and intimate conversations. In Santa Fe, dine at The Shed, a 1953 adobe landmark, before returning via Madrid’s artist villages on the Turquoise Trail for a final night at The Monterey Motel. True freedom is best shared.
Book the ’66 Thunderbird experience.
Big Dreams, Small Yellow Van (1960s VW bus): an exciting adventure that exchanges shine for personality. The experience begins with a stay at Casas de Suenos Old Town Historic Inn, then cruise in your van before experiencing the eclectic energy of the ABQ Trolley Co. City Tour or take the Ghost Tour through the Old Town. Order waffles à la mode at 66 Diner. Stop at the whimsical Tinkertown Museum on the Turquoise Trail, check in at Pueblo Bonito Inn in Santa Fe and dine at Café Pasqual’s. The van brings you together, but the road changes you.
Book the Volkswagen Bus Experience from the 1960s.
Stainless Steel, Neon Horizons (1981 DeLorean): A retro-futuristic cruise along Route 66. Check in at ARRIVE Albuquerque and have breakfast at the vintage counter of Duran Central Pharmacy. Take professional photos in your Delorean against the neon signs along Central Avenue, then order a milkshake at 66 Diner. In Santa Fe you can dine at The Shed (1953 Adobe, active since 1692). Near El Vado Motel: sleek car, vintage motel, retro-futuristic dream fully realized.
Book the ’81 DeLorean experience.
“The Route 66 Centennial is the ultimate time to take a bucket list US road trip, and we’ve made it easier than ever,” said Ian Ackland, Managing Director, Americas at Booking.com. “This experience encapsulates everything that makes American road trips so special: the history, the freedom, the small-town charm, wrapped in a little Hollywood magic. By seamlessly connecting iconic car rentals to our extensive network of local stays and attractions, we help travelers create the road trip of a lifetime while supporting the small businesses and partners that are the heartbeat of this historic highway.”
When you hit the open road, Booking.com is there to help you make your dreams come true. Visit Booking.com to plan your Route 66 adventure and make the drive even more rewarding by using the Booking.com Genius Rewards Visa Signature® Card. You’ll instantly unlock Genius Level 3 status for discounts and room upgrades, and earn significant Wallet Credits for every mile to help fund your next great American road trip.
