Great River Road 2019

HOTELS Hampton Inn Litchfield, IL 217-324-4441

Galena

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Litchfield, IL 217-324-4556

Quad Cities

Comfort Inn Edwardsville, IL 618-655-3007 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Edwardsville, IL 618-655-3007 TownePlace Suites St.Louis - Edwardsville Edwardsville, IL 618-655-3007 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Collinsville - St. Louis Collinsville, IL 618-301-5002

Chicago, IL 245 mi / 394 km Joliet

Bloomington Quincy

Kansas City 258 mi / 415 km

Springfield Alton

Grafton St. Louis

Litchfield Edwardsville Collinsville

Hampton Inn Collinsville, IL 618-346-4400 The BEALL Mansion Bed & Breakfast Inn Alton, IL 866-843-23255

Pere Marquette Lodge & Conference Centre Grafton, IL 618-786-2331

Louisville 278 mi / 447 km

Branson 274 mi / 441 km Memphis 307 mi / 494 km

Best Western Premier Alton - St. Louis Alton, IL 618-462-1220 Hampton Inn & Suites St. Louis - Alton Alton, IL 618-433-8999

Indianapolis 245 mi / 394 km

ONE CALL BOOKS IT ALL! We can assist you with the following: • Sample Itineraries • Dining Options • Lodging • Step-on Guides • Museum Reservations

GOT QUESTIONS? PLEASE CONTACT: Brett Stawar, President Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau bstawar@Riversandroutes.com | 1.800.258.6645

Where the Mother Road meets The Great River Road

Katie Bennett, Sales Manager Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau kbennett@Riversandroutes.com | 1.800.258.6645

RiversandRoutes.com

RiversandRoutes.com

GREAT ROUTES AND DETOURS Looking for something new for your groups? Visit Southwest Illinois! Start with a drive along the iconic Route 66, leading your group through Collinsville & Edwardsville, just minutes from St. Louis.

Take a detour to connect with the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, stopping in Hartford, Alton & Grafton. Your group will enjoy historic sites, fun photo ops and more!

TWO GREAT DRIVES - ONE GREAT TRIP

TAKE A DETOUR AND SWITCH IT UP!

IT

SNAP A PIC ON ROUTE 66

IN

FROM SPRINGFIELD TO ST. LOUIS, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED FOR QUIRKY AND QUAINT PLACES TO EAT, STAY AND PLAY.

ER Y AR

NEAR ST. LOUIS, HEAD OFF ROUTE 66 AND HIT THE OPEN ROAD. PREPARE TO BE STUNNED BY 33 MILES OF BEAUTY ALONG THE MEETING OF THE GREAT RIVERS NATIONAL SCENIC BYWAY.

INE

Y AR

Sauce it up with a selfie at the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, just south of Collinsville.

10:00 AM Grab a sweet treat at the iconic Doc’s Soda Fountain, named one of the best soda

fountains in the U.S. by Country Living Magazine

1:30 PM Search for Route 66 treasures at the

Pink Elephant Antique Mall

9:30 AM Climb Monk’s Mound at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

2:30 PM Don’t miss a photo stop at the World’s

Largest Catsup Bottle, proudly standing

170 ft over Collinsville

10:30 AM Explore the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, National Trail Site #1 on their journey

3:30 PM Enjoy magnificent views of the Mississippi River as you walk or bike across the Chain of Rocks Bridge, a significant landmark for travelers driving Route 66

5:00 PM Dinner at one of the area’s family-owned restaurants 7:00 PM Stay overnight in Collinsville Area You’ll be absolutely fizzing after enjoying the range of beverages on offer at Doc’s Soda Fountain.

Ariston Café in Litchfield, one of the oldest Route 66 restaurants still satisfying hunger today.

12:00 PM Let the Tourism Bureau help with lunch plans!

4:00 PM Soar over the Mississippi bluffs onboard the new Grafton Sky Tour aerial lift to Aerie’s

Resort and Winery

RiversandRoutes.com

2:00 PM Explore the story of the Mississippi River at the National Great Rivers Museum, Great Rivers Research and Education Center and the Audubon Center at Riverlands

6:00 PM Visit Illinois’ largest state park and enjoy a delicious fried chicken dinner at Pere Marquette State Park & Lodge 8:30 PM Check into your hotel and stay in Alton or Grafton area

At Grafton Sky Tour & Aerie Resort, drink in the view on a gondola tour before a wine tasting at the top.

Enjoy bird watching or learn more about the Great Rivers at Audubon Center at Riverlands.

Trace the historic expedition of Lewis & Clark at the Lewis & Clark National Trail Site #1.

CO TE E S LD I N R S U O GE W TA I ER

Towering figures outside, antiques on the inside – the Pink Elephant in Livingston has it all!

11:30 AM Enjoy lunch at the oldest café on Route 66, The Ariston Café

Take a tour, rent a bike or hike the trails at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton.

H

Chain of Rocks Bridge, a bridge with a 30 degree bend halfway across.

ER

Route 66 has more than its fair share of iconic stops to grab the perfect photo.

IN

NAMED THE MOST INSTAGRAM-WORTHY ROAD TRIP

RAR Y2

IT

INT

MAKE SURE YOUR CAMERAS AND PHONES ARE CHARGED UP, THE JOURNEY IS JUST BEGINNING AND THERE’S MUCH MORE TO SNAP.

READY FOR MORE BREATHTAKING SHOTS? The roadway rests between majestic limestone bluffs and the waters of the Mississippi River, so there are photo ops galore.

Marvel at the remains of a prehistoric civilization at Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville.