Historic Route 66
Cruisin' Illinois 66
| Departure: | Chicago, Illinois |
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| Destination: | Crossing the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Illinois |
| Time to allow: | 2 days |
Follow the historic Route 66 from one end of Illinois to the other. Each stop reflects the heritage of the famous Route 66.
Day 1
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Start: Chicago
It will be hard to separate the exhilaration of being immersed in the heart of the city from the anticipation of the adventure you're about to begin. Chicago sets the stage for Illinois Route 66 - the opening act of a great American experience - and provides a grand historical context where the road begins.
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Stop 1: Lou Mitchell's Restaurant
Directions from previous place: Go west on E. Jackson Dr. and turn left onto S. Michigan Ave. Turn right into E. Van Buren St. and then right onto S. Jefferson St. Turn right onto W. Jackson Blvd. and go east until you see the restaurant.
Distance from Previous Site: 1.54 miles / 2.5 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 6 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 40 minutes Make a point to start off your journey on Route 66 with breakfast at the legendary Lou Mitchell's restaurant. You'll get an immediate "flavor" for the hospitality served up on Route 66 - great food and plenty of it is the road's tradition.
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Stop 2: Midewin Tallgrass Prairie
Directions from previous place: Follow W. Jackson Blvd east to Canal St. and turn right. Follow Canal St. to I-290 W. Take this road to I-90 and go south until you can merge on to I-55 S. to St. Louis. Follow this road for 51.4 miles, until you see the exit for Wilmington. The exit will turn into N. River Rd., which will go through the prairie.
Distance from Previous Site: 51.4 miles / 82.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 58 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Stop at the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie to enjoy the transition from the urban landscape of Chicago to the rolling prairie and wide open spaces Route 66 is known for. Browse through the visitor center at the prairie to gain an appreciation for the natural and historic context of the area. You may want to plan your trip to include a guided tour.
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Stop 3: Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad Restaurant
Directions from previous place: Continue going southeast on N. River Rd. Follow this road until you get to IL-53. Turn right and follow the to E. Baltimore St. Turn right onto this road and follow until you see the Gemini Giant.
Distance from Previous Site: 1.5 miles / 2.4 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 5 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 15 minutes This classic 36-foot muffler man statue stands near the Launching Pad Restaurant. He is one of the most photographed icons of the Illinois road and is a must-see every time you drive Route 66.
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Stop 4: The Polk-a-Dot Drive In
Directions from previous place: Turn right, going southwest on IL 53 for approximately 5 miles, until you the road becomes N. Front St. The Polk-a-Dot is on the right (west) side of the road.
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 10 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes From its humble beginnings as a kitchen in a polka-dotted school bus, the Polk-a-Dot Drive In now has several Route 66 nostalgia exhibits. Stop by this classic drive-in for some fantastic food and a photo op with life-sized replicas of Marilyn Monroe, Betty Boop and the Blues Brothers.
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Stop 5: Standard Oil Service Station
Directions from previous place: Follow IL 53 until you get to Main St. Turn left and then left again onto IL 129. Follow this road until it merges with I-55. Follow I-55 until you get close to Dwight. Here the Old IL-66 will diverge. Turn left to follow IL-66. Continue on this road until it merges back with I-55 after Dwight. Continue on I-55 until the road diverges again near Odell. Turn left to follow IL-66 into Odell. Turn left onto Prairie St. and then right onto Tremont St. Turn right onto West St. and follow it to the Standard Oil Service Station.
Distance from Previous Site: 27.59 miles / 44.1 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 32 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Examine an early gas station and learn what it was like for travelers. The recently restored depression era Standard Oil Station in Odell reflects the condition of life on the road during the 1930s through 1960s.
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Stop 6: Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup
Directions from previous place: Follow West St. until you get to Historic Route 66 and turn left to go southwest. Follow this road for 21 miles. The road will merge with I-55. Follow this road until it diverges near Lexington. Follow Route 66 around Lexington until it merges again with I-55. Follow I-55 until the Fox Creek exit. Take Fox Creek Rd. west to Beich Rd. and turn left. Follow this road back to Route 66 and continue on it to the Funks Grove.
Distance from Previous Site: 58 miles / 92.8 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 27 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 45 minutes Since the 1920s, the maple trees here have provided a unique tourist stop. The family run grove still produces the best maple sirup around. February is usually a great time to experience the sirup-making process at the farm.
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Stop 7: Historic Downtown Atlanta
Directions from previous place: Follow Rout 66 southwest for 7 miles until you get to McLean. Stay straight to go onto N. Fisher St. Follow this road to S. Main St. and turn left. Follow S. Main St. to E. 200 North Rd. and turn right. Turn left to get back on Route 66. Follow this road to Atlanta and turn right onto E. South St. Follow this road to NE Arch St. and turn right to view the historic downtown area.
Distance from Previous Site: 12.6 miles / 20.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 22 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 40 minutes Walk along the redbrick, mural-covered historic buildings lining Downtown Atlanta.
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Overnight Point: Sangamon Street in Lincoln
Directions from previous place: Take Arch St. southwest until you merge with I-55. Take this road south 3.3 miles to Lincoln. Near Lincoln Route 66 will split off. Follow it into town until it turns into Lincoln Parkway. Turn left onto Kickapoo St. and follow it to IL-10. Turn right onto this road and then left onto Sangamon St.
Distance from Previous Site: 10.17 miles / 16.3 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 22 minutes Sangamon Street in Lincoln houses quaint shops and restaurants near where Abraham Lincoln christened the town with the juice of a watermelon.
Total Distance Traveled in Day 1: 167.8 miles / 268.5 km
Day 2
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Stop 1: Shea's Gas Station Museum
Directions from previous place: Go southwest on N. Sangamon St. and turn right onto Lincoln Ave. Turn left onto N. Logan St. and then right onto 5th St. Turn left when you come to I-55 W. Merge onto I-55 S going toward Springfield. Follow this road for 18.1 miles and take the exit toward Sherman. Continue toward Sherman and Springfield for 4.6 miles and turn left onto Peoria Rd. Follow this road for 1.3 miles, until you see the Gas Station Museum.
Distance from Previous Site: 30 miles / 48.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 37 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Walk among Bill Shea's, a longtime station owner and Route 66 enthusiast, collection of vintage gas pumps, signs, photos and service station memorabilia.
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Stop 2: The Cozy Drive In
Directions from previous place: Follow Peoria Rd south for 3 miles and turn right onto E. Spruce St. Turn left onto S. 5th St. and follow it for 1.4 miles, until you see the Cozy Drive In.
Distance from Previous Site: 5 miles / 8.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 15 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes The Cozy Drive In is the original home of the hot dog on a stick and an internationally recognized Route 66 icon. Step in and browse through wall after wall of great stories, art and history of the restaurant and its connection to Route 66.
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Stop 3: The Ariston Cafe
Directions from previous place: Follow I-55 south for 41 miles toward Litchfield. When you get there take the IL-16 exit into town. Turn right when you come to Old Route 66 and follow this road until you see the Café.
Distance from Previous Site: 42.5 miles / 68.0 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 43 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour After a nice cruise south of Springfield, you'll be ready for a "fill up" and there's no better place for classic 66 fine dining than the Ariston Cafe. For more than 75 years, the Adam Family has treated Route 66 travelers to quality food, reasonable prices and exceptional service - the hallmark of Route 66 travel.
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Stop 4: Russell Soulsby Station
Directions from previous place: Take N. Sherman St. north to IL-16 and turn left. Follow IL-16 to US-66 and turn left. Follow this road for 7.8 miles toward Mt. Olive. Turn left onto CR-29 and follow it to W. 1st St, turn right. Follow W. 1 St. until you get to the Soulsby Station.
Distance from Previous Site: 9.14 miles / 14.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 19 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Wander around this carefully preserved historic building, it is one of the oldest filling stations along Route 66. Learn about the two Route 66 legends are honored here, Russell Soulsby the proprietor and Tom Teague, noted author and founder of the Soulsby Station Society.
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End: Crossing the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge
Directions from previous place: Take W. 1st St west and turn right onto Prange St. Take this road to IL-138 and turn left. Follow IL-138 west to US-66. Turn right onto E. Frontage Rd. and follow it to Williamson Ave. Turn left onto Sievers Rd. and then right onto Williamson Rd. Turn left onto IL-4. Follow this road for 6.2 miles and turn right onto IL-140. Go 2.3 miles and turn left onto IL-57. Follow IL-157 to I-270 and take it west. Exit near Cedar Park onto Old Chain of Rocks Rd. and follow this road to the bridge.
Distance from Previous Site: 42.27 miles / 67.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 1 hour 10 minutes The Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (1929), was the original point at which Route 66 crossed the Mississippi River.Take a walk across one of the world's most unique and historic bridges and learn more about Route 66 and the bridge's story at a number of exhibits along the way. The view of the St. Louis skyline is spectacular and the sensation of the River's power is thrilling.
