Route 66 winds from Chicago to Los Angeles, across eight states and 2,500 miles of the USA. It starts by a lake and ends at the ocean. It goes through major cities and one-horse towns, sweeps across prairies, over mountain passes and deserts.

It's the most famous road trip on the planet.

But why? Of all the roads in the world, what is it about Route 66 that seizes people’s imaginations? 

Marcel Theroux and his producer Pete went to find out.