Two of the most iconic Ferris wheels in the country are teaming up this Saturday to offer free rides in celebration of Route 66’s centennial anniversary!
Chicago’s Navy Pier, which symbolizes the eastern endpoint of Route 66, and our very own Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, the western endpoint, will provide free rides on their respective Ferris wheels this Saturday (6/6/2026) for exactly 66 minutes, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:06 a.m. local time in each city.
To participate in the Route 66 Pier-to-Pier Celebration, visitors will need to RSVP through the official websites of Navy Pier or Pacific Park. Organizers will distribute the passes on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited capacities. Guests who secure a free ride spot on either the Centennial Wheel or the Pacific Wheel will also have the option to purchase souvenir photographs for $6 during that specific time frame.
Those without a reservation can still buy standard individual tickets or unlimited ride wristbands.
Connecting the Coasts
The dual-city Route 66 pier-to-pier event links the endpoints of the famous American highway, which was commissioned in November of 1926. Navy Pier recently received a dedication as the new symbolic eastern starting point for Route 66. Meanwhile, the Santa Monica Pier maintains its status as the highway’s official western terminus, marked with the designated “End of the Trail” sign.
“The connection between Chicago and Santa Monica has always been at the heart of Route 66,” said Jim Harris, Executive Director and Historian at the Santa Monica Pier. “This celebration brings together two iconic destinations linked by history, nostalgia, and the timeless excitement of reaching the end — or beginning — of America’s most famous highway.”
Historic Attractions
Both amusement attractions recently observed significant milestones. Santa Monica’s Pacific Park reached its 30th anniversary on May 26, 2026, and its Pacific Wheel is the only solar-powered Ferris wheel in the world, using more than 174,000 LED lights. Visitors to the admission-free Santa Monica location will also find two dedicated Route 66 photo areas and the Route 66 West Coaster.
Over in Chicago, Navy Pier Centennial Wheel celebrated its 10th anniversary on May 27, 2026. The site carries historical weight as the city where George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. introduced the first-ever Ferris wheel at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. The current pier, which spans more than six city blocks, originally opened in 1916.
