These Retro Route 66 Photos Are a Mood Board for Your Next Summer Road Trip

If you haven’t caught the travel bug yet, you sure will after seeing these pics.

Ariel Meredith was photographed by Ben Morris on Route 66. / Ben Morris/Sports Illustrated

Grab your luggage and buckle up because these 2015 snapshots are taking you for a ride down Route 66!

Ariel Meredith, Ashley Smith, Hannah Ferguson and Sara Sampaio brought photographer Ben Morris’s camera on a cross-country road trip in this decade-old feature—and yet, it’s still making us want to hit the road now more than ever.

Ariel Meredith and Ashley Smith were photographed by Ben Morris on Route 66. / Ben Morris/Sports Illustrated

“I feel like I’m 12 all over again,” Meredith beamed at the time. “I’ve never experienced a cross-country road trip.”

The model, who made her debut with the magazine in 2009 and returned for its 2012, 2013 and 2014 issues, delved into the group’s journey, where they made a few pit stops along the way.

Ariel Meredith was photographed by Ben Morris on Route 66. / Ben Morris/Sports Illustrated

“We went from Chicago all the way to Amarillo, Texas,” Meredith explained. En route, the crew visited the St. Louis Arch, Tent Rocks and the Tex Randall Statue among many bars and diners. “We jump out whenever we see something awesome and shoot it and just make memories,” Smith added.

Ariel Meredith, Ashley Smith, Hannah Ferguson and Sara Sampaio were photographed by Ben Morris on Route 66. / Ben Morris/Sports Illustrated

The photo shoot proved to be a bonding experience as all four models and the SI Swimsuit crew hopped in an RV together for the duration of the shoot. For some, the experience was deemed familiar, while others added that it was always a bucket list moment.

Hannah Ferguson was photographed by Ben Morris on Route 66. / Ben Morris/Sports Illustrated

“I’m from Texas, so [this shoot] is right up my alley,” Ferguson declared. The trip marked her sophomore year in the fold before joining the magazine two more times in 2016 and 2017. “I’ve done the drive from Texas, New Mexico, Arizona up to California [but] never like this with a crew and shooting—especially for Sports Illustrated,” the model joked.

Sara Sampaio was photographed by Ben Morris on Route 66. / Ben Morris/Sports Illustrated

Hailing from Portugal, the experience provided a period of reflection for fellow sophomore Sampaio, who noted, “One of my grandad’s dreams was to [drive] Route 66, and it kind of became mine too."

Like Sampaio, Smith was taking every moment in stride. “When you go to these places, you feel the history,” Smith elaborated. Smith, who was a rookie at the time, also called the experience her “biggest job yet” and could only define the feeling as “someone handing you your dream.”

Ashley Smith was photographed by Ben Morris on Route 66. / Ben Morris/Sports Illustrated

And of course, the models didn’t forget to pack their swimwear for the trek across the United States. Pairing string bikinis with cowboy boots and adding statement pieces like overalls and leather jackets, the models made traveling look effortlessly stylish.

By the time shooting wrapped, they were met with a moment of gratitude. “I encourage everyone to come and experience this,” Meredith concluded. “Because it’s a part of American history.”

Next. Voting Is Now Open for the 2025 SI Swim Search Winner. Voting Is Now Open for the 2025 SI Swim Search Winner. dark