We start our tour along the Route 66 states with this article dedicated to Illinois. This series of articles does not intend to provide you with a detailed guide with step-by-step directions to follow on the route (by the way: do you know how to plan a road trip on Route 66 and what are the Route 66 best stops?), but rather help you get an idea of what you can find along the route, so that you can organize your road trip by the attractions that you consider most fascinating.
The main towns and attractions we will encounter along Route 66 are presented here from east to west. If for some reason you prefer to move from west to east, all you have to do is start at the end. Let’s explore the best attractions of Route 66 in Illinois! Take note of things to do and places to visit: your journey will be unforgettable.
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Route 66 Illinois: Attractions Map
Chicago
The starting point of our journey in this Mid-West state. The sign that marks the beginning of Route 66 is located in Adam Street, in front of the Chicago Art Institute (we have already talked about it in this article), near the shores of Lake Michigan. Summarizing all the activities to do in this city and the places you can visit in one article would be an impossible task, so we refer you to our section dedicated to Chicago (coming soon!).
Plainfield
If you like American classic cars, you can’t miss a tour of the Midwest Hot Rod, a large exhibition space with dozens of magnificent, fully-restored vintage cars
Joliet
If you go through this city you should know that there is a little fun fact related to it: it is said that the local prison inspired the name of John Belushi’s character, Joliet Jake, in the movie The Blues Brothers, as well as being the location of some backdrops in the same film.
The jewel in the crown of this small city is undoubtedly the Rialto Square Theater (102 N Chicago St.), built in 1926 and recently renovated. If you are interested in visiting it internally, guided tours are available. If you want to learn more about the history of this city, you should visit the Joliet Area Historical Museum (204 N Ottawa St.) which, among other things, houses a permanent exhibition about Route 66. If along the way you decide to stay in this city longer I suggest you visit this site for more information on everything that Joliet has to offer.
Wilmington
This town has become famous among those who travel Route 66 as it is home to the much-photographed Gemini Giant located in front of the Launching Pad Drive-In Restaurant.
Dwight
The Ambler-Becker Texaco Station you will come across is an old, fully restored 1930s gas station that now houses a visitor’s center. The gas station has been listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places since 201 and has been recognized as the one that was in service the longest along Route 66, from 1933 to 1999. The Frank L. Smith Bank (122 W Main St.) is also located in Dwight. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright around 1905.
If you’re fascinated by old train stations, you can’t miss a photo of the charming Dwight Station (W Waupansie St, Dwight, IL 60420), built in 1891 and also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Odell
This small town is home to the Standard Station, a charming gas station now completely restored, where a stop for a souvenir photo is definitely a must.
Pontiac
Just before entering the city, you will come across the historic Old Log Cabin Restaurant (Corner of Old Route 66 & Aurora St), built in 1926 and still in operation. Besides its history, the peculiarity of this restaurant is the fact that it has always been aligned with Route 66; even when the latter changed its route slightly to become a four-lane road, the owner decided to rotate his restaurant by 180 degrees.
In Pontiac we also find the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum (110 W Howard St), located in the city’s characteristic old fire station. It contains hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia connected with the Mother Road.
The city of Pontiac is also famous for its many murals, especially along Main Street, that are definitely worth a visit and a few photos. A statue of Lincoln near the local courthouse is there to remember his many visits to the town between 1810 and 1860. For further information about this city, you can read our article entirely dedicated to what to do in Pontiac.
Bloomington – Normal
If you’re passing through these parts, you can’t miss a photo of the Sprague Super Service Station, an old two-story Tudor-style gas station. Also worthy of note is the fully restored Normal Theater (201 McKnight St.), which opened in 1937 and was one of the first to be designed to show movies with sound.
The small town of Bloomington is the birthplace of the Republican Party, which held its first convention there in 1856. Also of note are the David Davis Museum (1000 Monroe Dr.), located in a beautiful mansion dating back to 1872 that may be worth a tour to see its beautiful interior, and the Prairie Aviation Museum (2929 E Empire St.), which houses a small collection of military aircraft.
Shirley – Funks Grove
Here you can find (and buy) the well-known maple syrup that the Funk family has continued to produce since 1824.
Atlanta
In this city, you will see another of the famous muffler men, only this time, instead of holding a rocket, the man is found with a more common giant hot dog. If you want to stop of for refreshments, go to Palm’s Grill Café (110 SW Arch St.), which has been open since 1934, where the time seems to have stood still.
Lincoln
If you’ve always loved the wagons of the Far West, you’ll be glad to know that this city is home to the largest covered wagon in the world, so a visit is a must, especially since in this case it was also driven by Abraham Lincoln, to whom the city is dedicated.
For lovers of contemporary history, a visit to the Heritage in Flight Museum (1351 Airport Rd.) may be interesting instead, where airplanes and vehicles from the World Wars I and I are on display. If, while walking, you come across a statue of a slice of watermelon, don’t be surprised: it’s there for a very specific reason. It commemorates the moment in 1865 when Abraham Lincoln baptized the community that had wanted to take his name in his honor.
Springfield
At this point you have reached the capital of the state of Illinois. From an American history point of view, Springfield is the city with the most sites dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, as you can read on our article on the things to do in Springfield. If you are interested in the history of one of the most famous American presidents, you can go to the Lincoln Home Visitor’s Center and visit the family tomb and mausoleum at Oak Ridge Cemetery (1441 Monument). If you go, remember to pet Lincoln’s bronze nose because it is said to bring you good luck. Springfield is also home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum (212 N. Sixth St.) with many interactive sections.
To stay on the theme of Route 66, there is the Cozy Dog Drive-In (2935 S 6th St.), the restaurant that invented the famous corn dogs. Also noteworthy is Shea’s Gas Station Museum (2075 N Peoria Rd.), which as you can guess from its name, is a real museum of gas pumps and all those objects that were used at gas stations (unfortunately the museum has recently closed, thank you Chiara for the report). In Springfield there is also a drive-in that is stil open, the Route 66 Twin Drive-In Theater (1700 Knights Recreation Drive), located inside a large leisure complex: Knight’s Action Park.
Staunton
This town is famous for hosting Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, where you can find many Route 66 memorabilia items and the historic cars that have traveled it over the years, there is also an installation similar to the Cadillac Ranch, only instead of Cadillacs old Volkswagen Golfs have ben used.
Glenarm
If you feel like taking a break or having a picnic you can opt for Glenarm Park, where you can admire the restored Sugar Creek covered bridge.
Litchfield
In this city, you will find another drive-in that is still working, the Sky View Drive-In Theater (1500 N Old Route 66)
Mitchell
This is the last town before leaving Illinois behind: here you can visit the remains of Bel-Air Drive-In and Luna Café (201 E Chain of Rocks Rd), famous for its neon Martini glass and the legend that Al Capone and his gang frequented the place.
Before crossing the Mississippi, you can pay a visit to the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the charming old bridge that is now closed to traffic and is accessible only to pedestrians and bicycles.
Warning: there have been reports of thefts near this bridge. We thank Laura, who unfortunately was a victim of one of these unpleasant episodes, for the report.
Where to Stay Along Route 66 in Illinois
If you want some advice on the best hotels and motels along this stretch of Mother Road you can read the section dedicated to where to stay along Route 66 in Illinois in our in-depth article.
Discover the characteristic accommodations along Route 66
Travel resources
Here are some guides you can rely on:
- Lonely Planet Route 66 Road Trips: an overview of the main attractions along the Mother Road
- Route 66 Adventure Handbook a detailed description of all the towns and attractions you will encounter along the way
- Route 66 EZ 66 Guide: (detailed map plus attractions and advice on how to follow the original route
If you want to delve into the individual attractions of each city, each has its own institutional site, in most cases very well maintained, where you will find all the additional information you need. We also recommend this site dedicated entirely to Route 66 in Illinois, where, in addition to additional information and places, you can find various brochures, including the full version from which these maps were taken.
Let’s continue the journey…
Here’s what not to miss in the next few states:
The Launching Pad Drive-in in Wilmington is most definitely open!
Thanks for the update
Closed again according to Website