Hiker Walks Route 66 to Celebrate Centennial

A 66-year-old traveler is walking from Chicago to Los Angeles to mark the historic highway's 100th anniversary.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Hiking

Screen-print poster illustration of a cracked desert road stretching toward the horizon, evoking the scale of a historic cross-country journey. — Josyan Sieurac, 66, has embarked on a 2,450-mile walk from Chicago to Los Angeles to mark the 100th anniversary of Route 66. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Beginning his journey on September 26, 2026, Josyan Sieurac is walking the nearly 2,450-mile stretch of Route 66. The 66-year-old trekker aims to complete the cross-country trip in 90 days without using cars, trains, or planes.

Why it matters

The journey serves as a personal tribute to the centennial of the historic Route 66, highlighting the endurance required to traverse the iconic path on foot. Sieurac's movement across the U.S. celebrates the legacy of the highway through a modern-day physical challenge.

Sieurac is covering 2,450 miles, recently completing a 31-mile stretch between Bristow and Chandler, Oklahoma. The 66-year-old traveler maintains a pace that includes running or walking at least a marathon distance every day.

The players

Josyan Sieurac

The 66-year-old traveler is currently walking the length of Route 66 to honor its upcoming centennial.

The details

Sieurac document his cross-country progress through photographs and digital updates as he navigates the route from Chicago to Los Angeles. He relies entirely on walking and running to traverse the highway without the aid of any motorized transit.

September 26, 2026: The trek began in Chicago.

Culture Shift

This trek fits into a broader trend of individuals using long-distance physical challenges to interact with American cultural heritage sites. By choosing to walk rather than drive, Sieurac highlights a slow-travel movement that contrasts with the traditional vehicular history of Route 66.

Residents along Route 66 may see Sieurac passing through their communities as he maintains his daily marathon-length pace. His journey serves as a logistical reminder of the highway's scale and the physical effort required to traverse the iconic path manually.

The takeaway

Sieurac's journey demonstrates that large-scale historical celebrations can be deeply personal and physically demanding. Setting a goal to cover 2,450 miles highlights the persistence required to pursue such an ambitious cross-country endeavor.