diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/Configuration/ClusterOptions.cs b/src/NATS.Server/Configuration/ClusterOptions.cs
index 4571522..0920d69 100644
--- a/src/NATS.Server/Configuration/ClusterOptions.cs
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/Configuration/ClusterOptions.cs
@@ -5,4 +5,5 @@ public sealed class ClusterOptions
     public string? Name { get; set; }
     public string Host { get; set; } = "0.0.0.0";
     public int Port { get; set; } = 6222;
+    public List<string> Routes { get; set; } = [];
 }
diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/NatsServer.cs b/src/NATS.Server/NatsServer.cs
index 9a1f717..cfb03e4 100644
--- a/src/NATS.Server/NatsServer.cs
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/NatsServer.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ using NATS.Server.Auth;
 using NATS.Server.Configuration;
 using NATS.Server.Monitoring;
 using NATS.Server.Protocol;
+using NATS.Server.Routes;
 using NATS.Server.Subscriptions;
 using NATS.Server.Tls;
 using NATS.Server.WebSocket;
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ public sealed class NatsServer : IMessageRouter, ISubListAccess, IDisposable
     private readonly SslServerAuthenticationOptions? _sslOptions;
     private readonly TlsRateLimiter? _tlsRateLimiter;
     private readonly SubjectTransform[] _subjectTransforms;
+    private readonly RouteManager? _routeManager;
     private Socket? _listener;
     private Socket? _wsListener;
     private readonly TaskCompletionSource _wsAcceptLoopExited = new(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously);
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ public sealed class NatsServer : IMessageRouter, ISubListAccess, IDisposable
     public string ServerNKey { get; }
     public bool IsShuttingDown => Volatile.Read(ref _shutdown) != 0;
     public bool IsLameDuckMode => Volatile.Read(ref _lameDuck) != 0;
+    public string? ClusterListen => _routeManager?.ListenEndpoint;
     public Action? ReOpenLogFile { get; set; }
     public IEnumerable<NatsClient> GetClients() => _clients.Values;
 
@@ -99,6 +102,8 @@ public sealed class NatsServer : IMessageRouter, ISubListAccess, IDisposable
         // Close listeners to stop accept loops
         _listener?.Close();
         _wsListener?.Close();
+        if (_routeManager != null)
+            await _routeManager.DisposeAsync();
 
         // Wait for accept loops to exit
         await _acceptLoopExited.Task.WaitAsync(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5)).ConfigureAwait(ConfigureAwaitOptions.SuppressThrowing);
@@ -287,6 +292,12 @@ public sealed class NatsServer : IMessageRouter, ISubListAccess, IDisposable
             AuthRequired = _authService.IsAuthRequired,
         };
 
+        if (options.Cluster != null)
+        {
+            _routeManager = new RouteManager(options.Cluster, _stats, _serverInfo.ServerId,
+                _loggerFactory.CreateLogger<RouteManager>());
+        }
+
         if (options.HasTls)
         {
             _sslOptions = TlsHelper.BuildServerAuthOptions(options);
@@ -414,6 +425,9 @@ public sealed class NatsServer : IMessageRouter, ISubListAccess, IDisposable
             _ = RunWebSocketAcceptLoopAsync(linked.Token);
         }
 
+        if (_routeManager != null)
+            await _routeManager.StartAsync(linked.Token);
+
         _listeningStarted.TrySetResult();
 
         var tmpDelay = AcceptMinSleep;
@@ -1069,6 +1083,7 @@ public sealed class NatsServer : IMessageRouter, ISubListAccess, IDisposable
         _tlsRateLimiter?.Dispose();
         _listener?.Dispose();
         _wsListener?.Dispose();
+        _routeManager?.DisposeAsync().AsTask().GetAwaiter().GetResult();
         foreach (var client in _clients.Values)
             client.Dispose();
         foreach (var account in _accounts.Values)
diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/Routes/RouteConnection.cs b/src/NATS.Server/Routes/RouteConnection.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95595ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/Routes/RouteConnection.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using System.Text;
+
+namespace NATS.Server.Routes;
+
+public sealed class RouteConnection(Socket socket) : IAsyncDisposable
+{
+    private readonly Socket _socket = socket;
+    private readonly NetworkStream _stream = new(socket, ownsSocket: true);
+
+    public string? RemoteServerId { get; private set; }
+    public string RemoteEndpoint => _socket.RemoteEndPoint?.ToString() ?? Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N");
+
+    public async Task PerformOutboundHandshakeAsync(string serverId, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        await WriteLineAsync($"ROUTE {serverId}", ct);
+        var line = await ReadLineAsync(ct);
+        RemoteServerId = ParseHandshake(line);
+    }
+
+    public async Task PerformInboundHandshakeAsync(string serverId, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var line = await ReadLineAsync(ct);
+        RemoteServerId = ParseHandshake(line);
+        await WriteLineAsync($"ROUTE {serverId}", ct);
+    }
+
+    public async Task WaitUntilClosedAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var buffer = new byte[1024];
+        while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            var bytesRead = await _stream.ReadAsync(buffer, ct);
+            if (bytesRead == 0)
+                return;
+        }
+    }
+
+    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        await _stream.DisposeAsync();
+    }
+
+    private async Task WriteLineAsync(string line, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var bytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes($"{line}\r\n");
+        await _stream.WriteAsync(bytes, ct);
+        await _stream.FlushAsync(ct);
+    }
+
+    private async Task<string> ReadLineAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var bytes = new List<byte>(64);
+        var single = new byte[1];
+        while (true)
+        {
+            var read = await _stream.ReadAsync(single, ct);
+            if (read == 0)
+                throw new IOException("Route connection closed during handshake");
+
+            if (single[0] == (byte)'\n')
+                break;
+            if (single[0] != (byte)'\r')
+                bytes.Add(single[0]);
+        }
+
+        return Encoding.ASCII.GetString([.. bytes]);
+    }
+
+    private static string ParseHandshake(string line)
+    {
+        if (!line.StartsWith("ROUTE ", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Invalid route handshake");
+
+        var id = line[6..].Trim();
+        if (id.Length == 0)
+            throw new InvalidOperationException("Route handshake missing server id");
+
+        return id;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/Routes/RouteManager.cs b/src/NATS.Server/Routes/RouteManager.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2774fa2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/Routes/RouteManager.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,190 @@
+using System.Collections.Concurrent;
+using System.Net;
+using System.Net.Sockets;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
+using NATS.Server.Configuration;
+
+namespace NATS.Server.Routes;
+
+public sealed class RouteManager : IAsyncDisposable
+{
+    private readonly ClusterOptions _options;
+    private readonly ServerStats _stats;
+    private readonly string _serverId;
+    private readonly ILogger<RouteManager> _logger;
+    private readonly ConcurrentDictionary<string, RouteConnection> _routes = new(StringComparer.Ordinal);
+
+    private CancellationTokenSource? _cts;
+    private Socket? _listener;
+    private Task? _acceptLoopTask;
+
+    public string ListenEndpoint => $"{_options.Host}:{_options.Port}";
+
+    public RouteManager(ClusterOptions options, ServerStats stats, string serverId, ILogger<RouteManager> logger)
+    {
+        _options = options;
+        _stats = stats;
+        _serverId = serverId;
+        _logger = logger;
+    }
+
+    public Task StartAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        _cts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(ct);
+        _listener = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork, SocketType.Stream, ProtocolType.Tcp);
+        _listener.SetSocketOption(SocketOptionLevel.Socket, SocketOptionName.ReuseAddress, true);
+        _listener.Bind(new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Parse(_options.Host), _options.Port));
+        _listener.Listen(128);
+
+        if (_options.Port == 0)
+            _options.Port = ((IPEndPoint)_listener.LocalEndPoint!).Port;
+
+        _acceptLoopTask = Task.Run(() => AcceptLoopAsync(_cts.Token));
+        foreach (var route in _options.Routes.Distinct(StringComparer.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
+            _ = Task.Run(() => ConnectToRouteWithRetryAsync(route, _cts.Token));
+
+        return Task.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        if (_cts == null)
+            return;
+
+        await _cts.CancelAsync();
+        _listener?.Dispose();
+
+        if (_acceptLoopTask != null)
+            await _acceptLoopTask.ConfigureAwait(ConfigureAwaitOptions.SuppressThrowing);
+
+        foreach (var route in _routes.Values)
+            await route.DisposeAsync();
+
+        _routes.Clear();
+        Interlocked.Exchange(ref _stats.Routes, 0);
+        _cts.Dispose();
+        _cts = null;
+    }
+
+    private async Task AcceptLoopAsync(CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            Socket socket;
+            try
+            {
+                socket = await _listener!.AcceptAsync(ct);
+            }
+            catch (OperationCanceledException)
+            {
+                break;
+            }
+            catch (ObjectDisposedException)
+            {
+                break;
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _logger.LogDebug(ex, "Route accept loop error");
+                break;
+            }
+
+            _ = Task.Run(() => HandleInboundRouteAsync(socket, ct), ct);
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task HandleInboundRouteAsync(Socket socket, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        var route = new RouteConnection(socket);
+        try
+        {
+            await route.PerformInboundHandshakeAsync(_serverId, ct);
+            Register(route);
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            _logger.LogDebug(ex, "Inbound route handshake failed");
+            await route.DisposeAsync();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private async Task ConnectToRouteWithRetryAsync(string route, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        while (!ct.IsCancellationRequested)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                var endPoint = ParseRouteEndpoint(route);
+                var socket = new Socket(AddressFamily.InterNetwork, SocketType.Stream, ProtocolType.Tcp);
+                await socket.ConnectAsync(endPoint.Address, endPoint.Port, ct);
+                var connection = new RouteConnection(socket);
+                await connection.PerformOutboundHandshakeAsync(_serverId, ct);
+                Register(connection);
+                return;
+            }
+            catch (OperationCanceledException)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+            catch (Exception ex)
+            {
+                _logger.LogDebug(ex, "Failed to connect route seed {Route}", route);
+            }
+
+            try
+            {
+                await Task.Delay(250, ct);
+            }
+            catch (OperationCanceledException)
+            {
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    private void Register(RouteConnection route)
+    {
+        var key = $"{route.RemoteServerId}:{route.RemoteEndpoint}";
+        if (!_routes.TryAdd(key, route))
+        {
+            _ = route.DisposeAsync();
+            return;
+        }
+
+        Interlocked.Increment(ref _stats.Routes);
+        _ = Task.Run(() => WatchRouteAsync(key, route, _cts!.Token));
+    }
+
+    private async Task WatchRouteAsync(string key, RouteConnection route, CancellationToken ct)
+    {
+        try
+        {
+            await route.WaitUntilClosedAsync(ct);
+        }
+        catch (OperationCanceledException)
+        {
+            // Shutdown path.
+        }
+        catch (Exception ex)
+        {
+            _logger.LogDebug(ex, "Route {RouteKey} closed with error", key);
+        }
+        finally
+        {
+            if (_routes.TryRemove(key, out _))
+                Interlocked.Decrement(ref _stats.Routes);
+
+            await route.DisposeAsync();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static IPEndPoint ParseRouteEndpoint(string route)
+    {
+        var trimmed = route.Trim();
+        var parts = trimmed.Split(':', 2, StringSplitOptions.TrimEntries | StringSplitOptions.RemoveEmptyEntries);
+        if (parts.Length != 2)
+            throw new FormatException($"Invalid route endpoint: '{route}'");
+
+        return new IPEndPoint(IPAddress.Parse(parts[0]), int.Parse(parts[1]));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/NATS.Server/ServerStats.cs b/src/NATS.Server/ServerStats.cs
index 21ebd7d..41d6690 100644
--- a/src/NATS.Server/ServerStats.cs
+++ b/src/NATS.Server/ServerStats.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ public sealed class ServerStats
     public long TotalConnections;
     public long SlowConsumers;
     public long StaleConnections;
+    public long Routes;
     public long Stalls;
     public long SlowConsumerClients;
     public long SlowConsumerRoutes;
diff --git a/tests/NATS.Server.Tests/RouteHandshakeTests.cs b/tests/NATS.Server.Tests/RouteHandshakeTests.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..586dbfa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/NATS.Server.Tests/RouteHandshakeTests.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Abstractions;
+using NATS.Server.Configuration;
+
+namespace NATS.Server.Tests;
+
+public class RouteHandshakeTests
+{
+    [Fact]
+    public async Task Two_servers_establish_route_connection()
+    {
+        await using var a = await TestServerFactory.CreateClusterEnabledAsync();
+        await using var b = await TestServerFactory.CreateClusterEnabledAsync(seed: a.ClusterListen);
+
+        await a.WaitForReadyAsync();
+        await b.WaitForReadyAsync();
+
+        using var timeout = new CancellationTokenSource(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5));
+        while (!timeout.IsCancellationRequested && (a.Stats.Routes == 0 || b.Stats.Routes == 0))
+        {
+            await Task.Delay(50, timeout.Token).ContinueWith(_ => { }, TaskScheduler.Default);
+        }
+
+        a.Stats.Routes.ShouldBeGreaterThan(0);
+        b.Stats.Routes.ShouldBeGreaterThan(0);
+    }
+}
+
+internal static class TestServerFactory
+{
+    public static async Task<ClusterTestServer> CreateClusterEnabledAsync(string? seed = null)
+    {
+        var options = new NatsOptions
+        {
+            Host = "127.0.0.1",
+            Port = 0,
+            Cluster = new ClusterOptions
+            {
+                Name = Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N"),
+                Host = "127.0.0.1",
+                Port = 0,
+                Routes = seed is null ? [] : [seed],
+            },
+        };
+
+        var server = new NatsServer(options, NullLoggerFactory.Instance);
+        var cts = new CancellationTokenSource();
+        _ = server.StartAsync(cts.Token);
+        await server.WaitForReadyAsync();
+
+        return new ClusterTestServer(server, cts);
+    }
+}
+
+internal sealed class ClusterTestServer(NatsServer server, CancellationTokenSource cts) : IAsyncDisposable
+{
+    public ServerStats Stats => server.Stats;
+    public string ClusterListen => server.ClusterListen!;
+
+    public Task WaitForReadyAsync() => server.WaitForReadyAsync();
+
+    public async ValueTask DisposeAsync()
+    {
+        await cts.CancelAsync();
+        server.Dispose();
+        cts.Dispose();
+    }
+}