Our Daily Show Interview! Route 66 Heritage Jeep Run Set for June 6th!
LITCHFIELD/GRANITE CITY – Over 300 Jeeps will cruise Route 66 before coming together at Granite City’s Route 66 Centennial Grand Finale Celebration.
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, Jeep owners are invited to join the Jeep run and travel the last 100 miles of Route 66 in Illinois. The run starts at 9 a.m. at Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield and travels through the countryside to Granite City. Jeeps are expected to arrive in Granite City in time for their Route 66 celebration from 4–10 p.m.
“The Mother Road has been here connecting these communities for 100 years. It’s not just a piece of pavement,” said organizer Matthew Walburn. “This is kind of epic because it is about connection. It’s about connecting these communities together, connecting people to these communities, listening to the stories of these individuals that actually put forth the energy to keep these communities alive and thriving.”
Walburn explained that he grew up with parents who are “hardcore Route 66 people.” He also developed a passion for Jeeps and Jeep runs. As 2026 is the 100th anniversary of Route 66, he decided to celebrate in a big way by organizing the Jeep run.
But he never expected such a positive response. People from 12 states and Canada are joining the Jeep run. There are a few spots left for participating Jeeps; you can sign up here by making a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project. Walburn shared that they have raised over $6,000 for the organization through Jeep run registrations.
“If we can help celebrate Route 66, this beautiful stretch of road that connected the nation from Chicago to Santa Monica, California, then we can celebrate that, bring in the community, and bring in some economic impact into the area, all while supporting the Wounded Warrior Project and our veterans and bringing them all the way home — then we’ve truly done something special,” he said.
The Jeep run ends at Civic Park in Granite City with live music, food trucks, neon signs and an exciting evening. The band Case 44 will play and community members are invited to celebrate the end of the Jeep run.
But Walburn emphasized that anyone can come out for the Granite City celebration, and it’s about much more than just welcoming the Jeepers to town.
“It’s less about the Jeeps rolling into town. It’s really about the community coming out and celebrating together,” he explained.
If you would like to join the Jeep run, you can visit the official Facebook event page to learn more and connect with Walburn for any questions. Check out the official Granite City’s Route 66 Centennial Grand Finale Celebration Facebook event page for more about the Granite City event.
Sponsored by Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau and Louisa Foods, the event promises to be a fun one for all who participate or join the evening celebration. Walburn hopes the run and the Granite City finale help connect people to Route 66 and each other.
“We’re not just a Jeep run. We’re connecting these communities,” he added. “It’s really visiting the communities and hearing the stories from the locals. There’s nothing better than that.”
