Take This Road Trip To The Most Charming Route 66 Towns In Illinois
By Melissa Mahoney|Published December 10, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
There’s no other American road quite as famous as Route 66 which starts in Chicago, Illinois, and travels westward where it ends in Santa Monica, California. Also known as the “Mother Road,” Route 66 in Illinois takes travelers on a nostalgic journey through charming towns and past historic and quirky roadside attractions which are always worthy of a stop.
This road trip along the Illinois portion of Route 66 is approximately 310 miles and takes a total drive time of five-and-a-half hours. You can use our interactive map to guide you and feel free to add your own stops along the way!
On this road trip, it's best to begin where Route 66 begins in downtown Chicago. Stop to take a photo of the sign before hitting the road on this epic adventure!
No trip along Route 66 would be complete without a stop at Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in the charming village of Willowbrook. Grab a bite to eat at this famous restaurant that's best-known for its fried chicken baskets.
Between learning the history of the Mother Road at the Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum and walking across the town's three swinging bridges over the Vermilion River, you can spend quite a bit of time in Pontiac.
There are quirky roadside attractions aplenty along Route 66 including the World's Largest Railsplitter Covered Wagon, a must-visit while passing through Lincoln. Also in town, you can explore several historical sites like The Mill Museum on Route 66, the Postville Courthouse State Historic Site, and the Lincoln Heritage Museum.
Litchfield is home to a lake, a drive-in, and the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center. It's a lovely town with friendly locals, so you'll probably want to spend a fair amount of time exploring all it has to offer.
Did you know that the World's Largest Catsup Bottle can be found in Collinsville right along Route 66? It's true! And what a great place to stop and snap some pics. Also be sure to drop by Old Herald Brewery for a pint and something to eat while passing through town.
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7. Granite City
Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Parking, 4205-4207 Chain of Rocks Rd, Granite City, IL 62040, USA
Our road trip along Route 66 in Illinois ends in Granite City which is located across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. This is where the Illinois portion of the Mother Road ends at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge that spans over the Mississippi River.
Route 66 in Illinois passes through numerous charming towns and small cities that offer both historic and quirky attractions. It’s always worth taking a trip along the Mother Road! What are some of your favorite places along Illinois’ Historic Route 66? To learn more, visit the Illinois Route 66 website.
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