Riding Route 66 from Chicago to Bloomington
| Route 66 Across Illinois |
| Chicago to Bloomington |
| Bloomington to Springfield |
| Springfield to St. Louis |
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The Mother Road in Illinois
Route 66 was one of the United States' first continuous stretches of paved highway, and served as a major path for those who migrated west.
"The Mother Road" was established on November 11, 1926, and ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles.
The beginning point for a Route 66 road trip could be either Chicago or Los Angeles, depending on the direction of the trip. Most travelers seem to start their journey on Route 66 in Chicago, and head westbound, the direction taken by those leaving the Dust Bowl and those seeking a new life in the West. That is the direction we take on this website.
Chicago: The Route Begins
Illinois was the first of the eight states through which Route 66 passed to have its segment of U.S. 66 paved, at a time when much of the route across the country was still a gravel or dirt road. Illinois Route 66 took over Illinois State Highway 4, a pre-existing, fully paved two-lane road between Chicago and St. Louis.
Historic Route 66 spanned 301 miles in Illinois, traversing mostly level terrain.
The beginning point of Route 66 in Chicago has changed over the years. Today, the starting point is at East Adams Street at South Michigan Avenue, and the end point is at East Jackson at South Michigan. One way streets in the area can be difficult to navigate for first-time Route 66 visitors!
While in Chicago, many Route 66 travelers seek out Grant Park, the Willis Tower, Chicago Architecture River Cruise, Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Science & Industry, the Magnificent Mile, Lincoln Park Zoo and the lakeshore shopping areas.
Chicago ... the beginning point of Route 66 when heading westbound |
Lodging and Dining Options in Chicago
Hotel listings and traveler reviews for Chicago
Restaurant reviews for Chicago Attractions and things to do in Chicago Chicago Route 66 reviews, photos, walking tours, hotels |
Cruises on the waterways of Chicago |
Cloud Gate ... aka "The Bean" in Millennium Park |
A popular stop for Route 66 travelers, at 565 West Jackson Boulevard in Chicago ... Lou Mitchell's website |
Route 66 Highlights After Leaving Chicago
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Once outside the metropolitan Chicago area, Route 66 followed the Pontiac Trail, a former Indian trail and stagecoach road.
From its beginning in Chicago, Route 66 headed southwest to Romeoville, Joliet, Wilmington, Dwight, Odell, Pontiac, Bloomington, Atlanta, Lincoln and Springfield. The segment from Chicago to Springfield is roughly a 2.5 hour drive.
Leaving Chicago and arriving in Joliet, travelers like to visit the Joliet Museum, Rialto Square Theatre and the Jacob Henry Mansion.
The City of Dwight features a restored Ambler-Becker Texas service station as well as a wealth of historic structures. Odell, just down the route, is the locale of another restored gas station.
Pontiac is a great stopover traveling down Illinois, with the always popular Route 66 Hall of Fame a "must see" attraction. Other attractions include the Pontiac-Oakland Auto Museum and the Livingston County War Museum.
Lincoln is home to the Postville Courthouse that Abraham Lincoln practiced law in, the world's largest covered wagon, The Mill Museum on Route 66, a telephone booth on top of the town hall, Lincoln College, and the Lincoln Heritage Museum.
Springfield was the hometown of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln. Visitors can tour the house where he lived, Lincoln Tomb State Historical Site, the Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, and the Illinois State Capitol Building.
Leaving Springfield, Route 66 traversed Litchfield, Staunton and Hamel, and then continued on to the Chain of Rocks Bridge at St. Louis, where it turned west through Rolla, Springfield, Joplin and into Kansas and Oklahoma.
We've driven much of Route 66 in all eight states, including segments in Illinois. On this website we present road trips including original photographs, travel experiences and personal commentary.
Now let's head west on The Mother Road, where we will make stops at these locations on Route 66 in Illinois starting in Chicago and ending at Granite City near St. Louis:
| Chicago | Atlanta |
| Romeoville | Lincoln |
| Joliet | Williamsville |
| Wilmington | Springfield |
| Braidwood | Auburn |
| Gardner | Virden |
| Dwight | Nilwood |
| Odell | Litchfield |
| Pontiac | Mt. Olive |
| Chenoa | Staunton |
| Lexington | Livingston |
| Towanda | Hamel |
| Normal | Edwardsville |
| Bloomington | Collinsville |
| McLean | Granite City |
Illinois, Land of Lincoln ... Where the Road Begins Read more about the Route 66 license program at IllinoisRoute66.org |
Map showing the approximate route of U.S. Highway 66 from Chicago to Bloomington
Alignments varied over time
Guides & Displays Along Route 66 in Illinois
Visitors can explore unique people, places, and stories through a series of interpretive displays placed along Illinois' Route 66. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration, the Schmeeckle Reserve at the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point, and Illinois Route 66 communities have developed and installed three types of interpretive displays:
Each display is placed in a location that has Route 66 significance and explains that importance through various media forms. Read more about the displays at IllinoisRoute66.org The Illinois Route 66 Wayside exhibits can be found in 17 communities along the Mother Road. Each wayside is placed at a site with historic significance and tells the story of the site’s relationship to Route 66. The interpretive stations use illustrations, pictures, and audio to explore each site.
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Highlights from Chicago to Bloomington-Normal Along Route 66
There are literally dozens, really hundreds, or interesting stops along Route 66 in Illinois. We have presented on this page some of the more well-known and popular destinations on the Route from Chicago to Bloomington-Normal, seen as one travels from north to south. The distance from downtown Chicago into Bloomington is about 140 miles, depending on which alignments you choose to explore ... enjoy the road trip!
Joliet, IllinoisJoliet is part of the original 1926 alignment of Route 66 in Illinois. The segment of Route 66 from Joliet to Wilmington was placed on to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. When traveling on Route 66, be sure visit the Joliet Area Historical Museum, the Route 66 Welcome Center, the Rialto Square Theatre and the Joliet "Kicks on 66 sign" (below). For more information link to VisitJoliet.com |
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| Rich and Creamy in Joliet on 920 N. Broadway Read more about this restored ice cream store  |
Dick's Towing Service 911 North Broadway in Joliet, Illinois  |
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WilmingtonThe Gemini Giant - 810 E. Baltimore Street |
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Route 66 mural at 200 N. Water Street in Wilmington
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BraidwoodThe Polk-A-Dot Drive-In, in business since 1956, is located at 222 N Front Street in Braidwood The great atmosphere at this family-owned restaurant transforms visitors back to the 1950s. The Polk-A-Dot offers table side juke boxes, photo memorabilia of rock and roll stars, child and adult sized tables and booths. And a great menu! Popular with Route 66 travelers are the numerous photo opportunities, from Superman to the Blues Brothers to Elvis and Marilyn, and more! Read more about the Polk-A-Dot Drive-in ... Phone 815.458.3377 |
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Gardner, IllinoisThe Streetcar Diner In 1932 a 20th century Kankakee horse-drawn streetcar was moved to Gardner to operate as a diner. The streetcar became a cottage and playhouse in 1937. It was moved behind the Riviera Restaurant in 1955. Later it was restored to the Route 66 Association of Illinois and inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in 2001. It is located at 5650 Highway 53 S, Gardner, IL 60424
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Dwight, Illinois
As Route 66 made its way through the area, Dwight was directly in its path. The C&A Railroad Depot, built in 1891, served for a time as the Village Hall, and is now home to the Dwight Historical Society and the Dwight Economic Alliance. Across the street from the Depot is the First National Bank of Dwight, designed by Architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1905, and put on the National Register of Historic Places. Lions Lake Park is a pleasant place to stop on your road trip, with bathrooms provided. Ambler’s Texaco Station was built in 1933 at the corner of Route 17 and Old Route 66, and serviced travelers until 1998. The station operated as a gas station until 1999 and was an auto repair shop until 2002, when the owner Phillip Becker generously donated the station to the Village of Dwight. So, sometimes it is called the Ambler/Becker Station. The building, now a popular Route 66 Roadside Attraction, has been renovated and is now Dwight's visitor's and information center.
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My family's destination is Dwight ...
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The "Route 66 Experience" hub at Ambler's |
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Odell, Illinois1932 Standard Oil Gas StationPatrick O’Donnell built a gas station in Odell, Illinois based on a 1916 Standard Oil of Ohio design, commonly known as a domestic style gas station. In 1997, the station was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. |
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The Odell Pedestrian TunnelA tunnel was built in Odell to safely cross St. Paul Catholic Church goers and school children underneath busy Route 66. In later years, Route 66 was moved to the west and the tunnel was no longer required, and was filled in. The site is at the corner of South West Street and West Hamilton Street in Odell, Illinois. There are other Route 66 pedestrian tunnels, such as the ones in Pontiac, Illinois and Chelsea, Oklahoma. |
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Pontiac, IllinoisA popular stop in Illinois along Historic Route 66 is Pontiac, known for the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum, and many murals! It offer visitors a wide variety of attractions, hotels and lodging, and dining options. Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum website More about Pontiac attractions at VisitPontiac.org
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Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum |
Bob Waldmire's VW bus |
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Welcome to Pontiac Route 66 mural |
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The Motor Police ... Patrolling Route 66This Wayside Exhibit is located just south of Pontiac, before Chenoa, 0.3 miles north of E 1500 N Road, on the right side of Old 66 when motoring south. It features a silhouette of a patrolman on a motorcycle, and is situated outside the former District 6 Illinois State Police office. Built in 1941, the building is an example of sleek Art Moderne architecture that reflects the streamlined design of automobiles of the era. The Illinois State Police remained headquartered in the building until 2003 when the police moved to a new facility in Pontiac. The historic headquarters remains vacant today, not open to the public; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. |
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Chenoa, IllinoisChenoa is located in McLean County, Illinois, at the intersections of Interstate 55, Historic Route 66, and U.S. Route 24. An early alignment of Route 66 in Chenoa was in use from 1921-1944, and traveled through town on Morehead Street. Remnants of the old road can still be seen south of town beginning at the intersection of Old 66 and US Highway 24. |
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Lexington, IllinoisLexington was founded in 1836. Today, the city's Memory Lane is a well-preserved stretch of the original 1926-1930 Route 66 alignment. The road is open year-round to pedestrians and bicyclists, and for automobiles on special events. |
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Towanda, Illinois
Shown below are scenes in Towanda, Illinois along Route 66 ... Dead Man's Curve to the right. Be sure to get out of your vehicle, and enjoy a 1.6 mile walk along Old 66 and experience the Mother Road up close and personal! |
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Normal, IllinoisCirca 1931 Sprague's Super Service and its large, unique, brick, two-story Tudor Revival architecture is a popular stop on Route 66. Visit Ryburn Place Gifts & Gab at 305 Pine Street in Normal, a former Route 66 segment. |
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Bloomington - Normal, Illinois
The Bloomington - Normal area is located in the heart of Illinois, at the intersections of 39, 55 and 74 and within two hours of Chicago and St. Louis. It features a number of Route 66 attractions. Be sure to check out the "Cruisin with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center"! For more information, visit the website of the |
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Lodging Options Along Route 66 in Illinois
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More Information about Illinois Route 66 |
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| Route 66 Across Illinois |
| Chicago to Bloomington |
| Bloomington to Springfield |
| Springfield to St. Louis |
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Earlier Times: Vintage Views along Route 66 in Illinois
We have included below a sampling of our collection of vintage travel postcards dealing with Illinois and Route 66. What was Route 66 like in its earlier years, as visitors drove around and across Illinois? What did all the service stations, motels and public buildings look like when they were new? What did the traveling public experience on the Mother Road? We wonder such things when we travel Route 66 today. Those earlier times in the 1930s, 40s and 50s were not always captured on film. But the use of colorful postcards was common in those decades. These portray the historic road in its prime and help us to visualize, and appreciate, "earlier times" as we drive Route 66 today across Illinois. |
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Road Trip Travel Guides for Various States Along Route 66
Need help and ideas when planning your road trip on Route 66? Here are travel guides and reviews by state ...
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