Cadillac Ranch
Time Needed: 1-2 hours
Experience Type: photo op, Route 66
Ten Cadillacs jut nose-first from a dusty Texas field, their tailfins reaching skyward like colorful sculptures. Cadillac Ranch is a Route 66 icon where everyone’s an artist. Visitors are encouraged to grab a can of spray paint and leave their own mark.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- Spray Paint the Cars – Bring your own paint or snag a can from the on-site vendor (or half-used leftover ones nearby) to add your colors to the graffiti-covered Cadillacs.
- Create Your Own Art – Go beyond simple spray painting by using stencils, bold colors, or custom designs to make your mark on this ever-changing roadside masterpiece.
- Snap a Sunrise or Sunset Photo – Golden light makes the neon colors pop and casts dramatic shadows across the prairie for unforgettable shots.
- Walk the Row of Cadillacs – Admire each of the ten classic models, buried nose-first at the same 60-degree angle as the Great Pyramid of Giza.
- Learn the Backstory – Created in 1974 by art collective Ant Farm, Cadillac Ranch celebrates America’s love affair with the open road.
Recommended Reading: Make the most of the Texas stretch of Route 66 with Moon Route 66 Road Trip. This guide covers historic stops, retro roadside gems, scenic detours, maps, driving tools, and classic Americana highlights.
Photo Credit: Heidi Kaden/Unsplash