Picture this: A 300-mile stretch of historic American roadway. Quirky, one-of-a-kind photo ops along the way. Iconic museums. Retro diners. Throwback gas stations. You’ll find all of this and more on Illinois Route 66. It starts in downtown Chicago – you can stand right where the original road begins on East Jackson Blvd. From there, you’ll begin your epic journey through Illinois. You can’t start a road trip hungry, so make your first stop at Dell Rhea’s Chicken, a famous roadhouse on Route 66 in Willowbrook. Featured on “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives,” this fried chicken powerhouse started as a lunch counter in the late 1920s and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Route 66 will take you right into Joliet, where all sorts of iconic attractions await. When you’ll see two fiberglass Blues Brothers statues on a roof, you’ll know you’re at Rich & Creamy, a seasonal ice cream stand perfect for a sweet treat. The Route 66 Welcome Center is a great place to get your fill of history and merchandise, and the Rialto Square Theatre in downtown Joliet is one of the most beautiful theatres in the world and worth a visit.
The Old Joliet Prison dates back to the 1850s and has been recently reborn as a tourist destination. With its distinct castle-like exterior, this historic prison has been featured in several movies and TV shows, most notably The Blues Brothers and Prison Break. For something faster paced, visit the Chicagoland Speedway & Route 66 Raceway, which plays host to some of the nation’s biggest racing events like NASCAR’s Chicagoland 400 and NHRA’s Route 66 Nationals. Continue on and stop at the Launching Pad visitor center in Wilmington to say hello to the Gemini Giant, a 30-foot-tall statue of an astronaut holding a rocket ship and one of three remaining Muffler Men statues on Route 66. Then, grab a quick bite to eat at Braidwood’s Polk-a-Dot Drive In where you can snap photos with fiberglass statues of Elvis, The Blues Brothers, Betty Boop, James Dean and more. The photo opportunities continue in Pontiac where you can visit the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum, home of the Bob Waldmire Experience. The museum is filled with fascinating memorabilia – motel signs, photographs, maps, vintage gas pumps and more. And of course, you can’t miss a chance to take a classic selfie with the iconic Route 66 mural, which is the world’s largest outdoor painted Route 66 shield. The Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and Resource Center features antique and classic automobiles, artifacts and an exhaustive library of old highway maps, design drawings and owners manuals. Visit EnjoyIllinois.co.uk/route66
Illinois is called the Land of Lincoln, and as Route 66 takes you through the Springfield area, you’ll see why. Do not miss a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, a state-of the-art facility that was carefully designed with exacting historical detail. Dedicated to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the Presidential Museum features hightech exhibits, interactive displays and multimedia programs. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site, which has been completely restored to its 1860 appearance, reveals much about Lincoln as a husband, father, neighbor and politician. The Lincoln Tomb is a stunning granite monument home to the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, his wife Mary, and three of their four sons. (Lincoln’s oldest son is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.) At the entrance, there is a bronze bust of Mr. Lincoln where visitors from around the world stop to rub his nose for good luck. When you ask for directions to the Capitol, locals might ask “Which one?” The Old State Capitol is a reconstruction of Illinois’ 5th statehouse where Lincoln delivered his famous “House Divided” speech. You can also watch modern day Illinois politics in action at the second beautiful dome in the city, the New Illinois State Capitol. For more architectural delights, visit the Dana Thomas House, one of the most unique and lavish structures designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It is perhaps the most complete of his early dwellings, having over 100 pieces of original furniture, art glass light fixtures and lamps.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, stop by Springfield’s famous Cozy Dog Drive In, home to the one and only Cozy Dog (known to many as a corn dog). The diner has been a Route 66 landmark since 1949. Motorheads Bar & Grill is home to one of the coolest restaurants and bars you have ever seen, plus a Route 66 museum showcasing some of Springfield’s historic past. Motorheads is a great place for lovers of old cars, vintage signs and neon. If you really want to eat like a local, order Springfield’s famous Horseshoe Sandwich, created in 1928 at the Leland Hotel. Today, the open-face sandwich consists of two slices of toast with meat or veggies of your choice. It’s then topped with French fries and smothered in cheese sauce. Just about every restaurant in town has their own take on this popular dish. If you’re watching your waistline, ask for the Ponyshoe. Just a short drive from Springfield is a rare opportunity to drive on an actual stretch of preserved Route 66 brick road. The Historic Route 66 Brick Road is an original, 1.4-mile hand-laid stretch of Route 66. It’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was completed in 1931 and curves through cornfields near Auburn. This is a photo op you don’t want to miss.
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As you cruise further south, there are plenty of quirks to be found. To start, quench your thirst at the original Doc’s Soda Fountain, a historic family-owned drugstore building from the late 1800s that now serves travellers lunch and drinks from the old-fashioned soda fountain. In Carlinville, you can walk through one of the best old town squares with all sorts of historic buildings that have been transformed into a quaint shopping and dining district. When you reach Mt. Olive, you can visit one of the oldest, most original service stations located on historic Route 66. The Soulsby Service Station was opened in 1926. It eventually shuttered and has since been refurbished. The sunshine yellow pumps and bright Shell Oil sign are a true blast from the past and worth pulling over. Just over 5 miles away, you’ll find Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, a one-of-a-kind attraction showcasing all different kinds of rabbits. Snuggle with a bunny, check out Volkswagen rabbits, pay tribute in the bunny cemetery and finally, climb up on the giant bunny made perfect for a photo. See that hot pink elephant on the side of the road? That means you’re almost to the Pink Elephant Antique Mall. Look through thousands of antiques and rare finds, take a selfie with the iconic, larger than life décor and grab lunch at the colourfully decorated 50s style diner. Weezy’s is another great place to stop for a bite. From the outside, it might look like just a tiny, old building. But on the inside, the walls are decked out in old Route 66 signs and photographs.
In downtown Edwardsville, you’ll want to make a stop at The Wildey Theatre, which was first opened in 1909. Through some recent restorations, the theatre is now a premium venue for guests to experience the best live performances and most famous classic films. The Route 66 journey continues south to Collinsville, where you’ll find the Brooks Catsup Bottle Water Tower. It’s a landmark roadside attraction built in 1949 that stands at 170 feet tall. You quite literally can’t miss it. After that, hop out of the car to explore a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cahokia Mounds. Within this 2,000-acre tract lies the archeological remains of the Mississippians known today as Cahokia. Your visit would not be complete without a climb to the top of Monk’s Mound – the largest man-made mound north of Mexico. Your final stop on Illinois Route 66 is the Chain of Rocks Bridge. It’s a significant landmark for travellers as it links the states of Illinois and Missouri together. Now, the bridge has no vehicular traffic and allows visitors to walk and bike across the river. It’s a prime spot for photos capturing the mighty Mississippi river.
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Ready to get your kicks on Route 66? Start planning your Illinois trip today! Visit EnjoyIllinois.co.uk/route66 GALENA
ROCKFORD
CHICAGO AURORA
JOLIET
MOLINE ROCK ISLAND
OTTAWA
GALESBURG
PONTIAC PEORIA
BLOOMINGTON ATLANTA QUINCY
LINCOLN
CHAMPAIGN
SPRINGFIELD
DECATUR
LITCHFIELD
ALTON
EDWARDSVILLE COLLINSVILLE BELLEVILLE
CHESTER CARBONDALE
CAIRO
HERITAGE CORRIDOR
The first 100 miles of Route 66 is situated between Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. This region is filled with miles of trails and waterways that stretch from suburban Chicago all the way to Starved Rock State Park.
visit springfield
The next stretch of Route 66 takes you through the Springfield region, the perfect place to step back in time. Nowhere else in the world has such an extensive and authentic collection of historic Abraham Lincoln sites.
great rivers & routes
The final leg of Illinois Route 66 runs through the Great Rivers & Routes region, home to another iconic highway, the Great River Road. It’s also the only place in the U.S. where you can see the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois Rivers come together. October 2018 • 4000 UK