What nickname was U.S. Route 66 given because it linked many American towns and communities?

U.S. Route 66 was given the nickname “Main Street of America.”

The phrase reflected the highway’s role in connecting communities across the central United States. Route 66 ran from Chicago through the Midwest and Southwest to Santa Monica, passing through numerous small towns as well as major cities.

The nickname emphasized the road’s importance to everyday commerce, travel, migration, and roadside business. It appeared alongside other descriptions, including “the Mother Road,” a phrase popularized by John Steinbeck in The Grapes of Wrath.

“Main Street of America” should not be confused with the official highway number or with the name of a single road in one town. It was a promotional nickname for the entire cross-country route.