By Lookout Staff

November 18, 2025 -- "Won't you get hip to this timely tip" and earn $10,000 for a new song about a trip that captures the kicks you get on Route 66.

That's the challenge for songwriters who enter the Santa Monica Route 66 Music Contest sponsored by Santa Monica Travel and Tourism (SMTT) as part of the official kick-off of the legendary highway’s Centennial celebration next year.

The contest offers an opportunity for songwriters "from all genres to craft original songs that capture the spirit, history, and cultural significance of the famous highway’s connection to our beachside city," tourism officials said.

"Whether it’s a nostalgic tribute to road trips, a reflection on the SoCal landscape, or a modern take on the Route 66 legacy, the contest encourages diverse interpretations of this historic route."

Hit songs ranging from Roger Miller's "King of the Road" to the Eagles' "Take It Easy" have been said to evoke the iconic road without mentioning its name.

Meanwhile, the perennial hit song "Route 66" by Bobby Troup -- which urges listeners to "Get your kicks on Route 66"-- has been covered by everyone from Nat King Cole (1946) to the Rolling Stones (1964) to Depeche Mode (1987).

Its lyrics note the road winds "more than two thousand miles all the way" from "Chicago to LA," and while it mentions a string of towns along the way, it makes no mention of Santa Monica.

"Affectionately known as The Mother Road, Route 66 runs 2,448 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica and officially terminates at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Olympic Boulevard," SMTT notes.

"Route 66 holds a significant place in Santa Monica’s history, marking the terminus of this iconic highway that served as a lifeline for travelers during the mid-20th century.

"As the 'End of the Trail' for Route 66, Santa Monica became emblematic of the American Dream and the promise of the open road," according to SMTT's website.

"This final stretch of Route 66 represented the culmination of countless journeys across the United States, embodying the spirit of adventure and exploration that defined an era."

On January 3, Santa Monica will be the starting point for The Drive Home, a road trip journey by America’s Automotive Trust in partnership with the National Route 66 Centennial Commission across the length of the storied highway which was replaced as the main route west by Interstate 40.

“As part of the 100-year celebration, we look forward to welcoming visitors from around the globe to begin or end their Route 66 journey in our urban beach city,” tourism officials said.

The Santa Monica Route 66 Song Contest "presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for music lovers to be part of this historic anniversary by invoking their artistic imagination and sharing what the road’s legacy and Santa Monica’s connection means to them,” said Misti Kerns, President/CEO of Santa Monica Travel & Tourism.

The competition will run through April 30, 2026, with the winner to be selected in June 2026. For full contest details, visit santamonica.com/route66