Below we have created a guide to exploring Indigenous heritage on Route 66. It’s important to learn before you travel, participate respectfully and ask permission, support local Indigenous communities, and continue to educate yourself when traveling through Indigenous communities and landscapes. Remember that tribal nationals are distinct sovereign governments, and they should not all be lumped together under one Native American umbrella. Every tribe is unique, has a different story, different traditions, different languages and laws. For a more thorough prelude to traveling through Indigenous lands, check out our introduction.

Practical Tips to Authentically Experience Indigenous Heritage on Route 66

1. Take tribally guided experiences: Tribally guided tours keep revenue local and ensure accurate interpretation. Some examples include Navajo-guided tours in Canyon de Chelly and pueblo-approved tours at Acoma Sky City.
2. Buy directly from artists & tribally owned businesses: Avoid buying “Native-style” wares at non-tribal souvenir stands. Many tribes operate trading posts and artisan co-ops along I-40/Route 66. If you want to double check, you can always ask for provenance, receipts, or artist contact info.
3. Stay with tribal enterprises: Tribal hotels, RV parks (Acoma Sky City RV Park is an example), lodges and campgrounds return more revenue to communities than external chains.
4. Attend sanctioned cultural events: Powwows, festivals, artist markets, and film events are some great examples, but be sure to check whether events are open to the public or invitation-only; follow hosting tribe guidance. (Tribal tourism pages will list these.)
5. Work with Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs): Tribes often have site-specific rules about photography, drone use, and access to sacred places; contact THPOs before planning stories or visits. The NPS Route 66 project documented THPO involvement in interpretation planning.
6. Donate or support community programs: If you want to do more for the community than just visit, try supporting a local nonprofit or program that supports language revitalization, youth cultural programs, or artisan training.
7. Respect photography and sacred places: Don’t photograph ceremonies or restricted sites; when in doubt, ask. Many tribes explicitly request permission for photos or forbid it at certain places.

Illinois

The varying landscapes of Illinois, from its biodiverse prairies, woodlands, wetlands and river valleys have long been home to the Potawatomi (Bodéwadmi), Odjibwe, Odawa, Illinois Confederation (Illiniwek: Cahokia, Kaskaskia, Peoria, Michigamea, Tamaroa, and related groups), Cahokia, Kickapoo, Sauk (Sac), Meskwaki (Fox), Miami, Shawnee, Ho-Chunk (Winnebago), Chickasaw, Dakota Sioux and Menominee people. 

Today, you can still experience the culture at plenty of Indigenous-owned businesses in the area. To try some delicious Indigenous cuisine, visit Ketapanen Kitchen, a pop-up kitchen and catering company run by Chef Jessica Walks First Pamonicutt of the Menominee Tribe. There are also plenty of museums and centers to visit if you’d like to experience even more of the local tribe’s cultures. For beading classes, art exhibitions, and cultural events, we’d recommend stopping by the American Indian Center.

Kansas

Route 66 just clips the southeast corner of Kansas, and the tribes that call the state home today include the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation, Kickapoo Tribe in Kansas, Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas and Nebraska. Other tribes that have historically lived in the area include Kaw Nation, Osage Nation, Wichita Tribe, Pawnee Nation, Kiowa Tribe, Comanche Nation, Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes, Delaware Tribe of Indians, and the Shawnee Tribe.

Along Route 66’s stretch in Kansas, there aren’t many Indigenous-owned businesses or attractions (the stretch through the state is only 13 miles long), but you can visit the Baxter Springs Heritage Center and  Museum for some local Native American history displays.

Texas

Texas is a vast state, and its wide-open grasslands, rolling prairie and endless skies have been home to Indigenous people for generations. The tribes that have left their mark on this area in the past include the Comanche Nation, Kiowa Tribe, the Tonkawa Tribe, the Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas, the Wichita, Caddo, and Coahuiltecan peoples. Today, the state is still home to the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo.

To explore Indigenous heritage in Texas, it’s worth taking a small detour off Route 66 to visit the Texas Tribal Buffalo Project. Take a tour at this non-profit Indigenous women-owned ranch to learn about how this group is revitalizing the Texas Indigenous cultures and agricultural practices by reconnecting with the buffalo.

Arizona

The iconic saguaro cacti, stunning red rocks and ponderosa pine forests of Arizona are home to the Ak-Chin Indian Community, Cocopah Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Fort Mojave Indian Tribe, Gila River Indian Community, Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Navajo Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, Quechan (Yuma) Indian Tribe, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, San Carlos Apache Tribe, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation, Tonto Apache Tribe, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation and Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe.

Like New Mexico, Arizona has a wealth of Indigenous culture and experiences to discover. We’d recommend stopping by the Grand Canyon West Skywalk for a memorable Grand Canyon adventure (and maybe do some river running at the bottom of the Canyon with the Hualapai Tribe). Reserve a guided tour in Canyon de Chelly National Monument with Beauty Way Jeep Tours or a Navajo-guided tour in Monument Valley. For authentic shopping, consider visiting Chee’s Indian Store on the AZ/NM border on the Navajo Reservation.   

Images from a backcountry tour in Canyon de Chelly National Monument, lead by a member of the Diné.

Traveling Route 66 offers more than a journey through iconic landscapes and neon roadside stops. It is a path across the ancestral and living homelands of countless Indigenous nations, each with their own histories, traditions, and vibrant cultures. From Chicago to Los Angeles, travelers have the opportunity to engage authentically with these communities through tribally guided tours, artisan shops, museums, and cultural centers. By choosing experiences, accommodations, and goods offered directly by Indigenous peoples, you ensure that tourism dollars stay within these communities and support cultural preservation, education, and economic development.

Approach every stop with respect, curiosity, and humility. Ask permission where appropriate, follow tribal guidance on photography and access, and recognize that these lands remain home to sovereign nations. The most meaningful experiences on Route 66 come from listening, learning, and celebrating the resilience and creativity of Indigenous peoples while traveling through the landscapes they have cared for for generations.