Historic Route 66 in Illinois

Illinois has about 300 miles of preserved Route 66. The route passes Joliet, Wilmington's Gemini Giant, Pontiac's museums, Funks Grove maple syrup, Lincoln, Springfield's Cozy Dog and Litchfield's Ariston Cafe. It ends at the Chain of Rocks Bridge on the Mississippi. Signs are good but you will leave and rejoin the interstate. It suits nostalgia and cheeseburger lovers.

The stops

1. Start

   Chicago, IL

2. Town

   Chicago start

   Jackson and Michigan is the traditional start.

3. Town

   Joliet

   Old prison and the 1926 Rialto Square Theatre.

4. Roadside

   Gemini Giant, Wilmington

   Giant astronaut statue and diner.

5. Town

   Pontiac

   Route 66 museums and murals.

6. Food

   Funks Grove

   Maple syrup farm directly on the old road.

7. Town

   Lincoln

   Only town named for Abraham Lincoln while he was alive.

8. Town · Overnight

   Springfield

   Lincoln sites and the Cozy Dog Drive In.

9. Food

   Litchfield

   Ariston Cafe and Skyview Drive-In.

10. Historic

    Chain of Rocks Bridge

    Mississippi bridge with a kink, for walkers and cyclists.

11. Finish

    Chain of Rocks Bridge, IL

Where to stay

• Night 1

  Pontiac / Bloomington

  Pontiac motels · Bloomington hotels

• Night 2

  Springfield

  Springfield hotels · Lincoln Trail area camping

• Night 3

  St. Louis side

  Collinsville motels · St. Louis hotels

When to go

Apr–Oct; many roadside stops are seasonal

On the road

Follow Historic Route 66 signs; some sections are gravel or one-way. Check the Illinois Route 66 site for current detours.