From the heart of downtown Chicago, where towering skyscrapers rise beside the waters of Lake Michigan, a legendary road begins its journey west. It’s here, at the corner of Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, that travelers find the first Route 66 sign -- a small marker that points the way toward adventure.

For nearly a century, this has been the starting line of America’s most famous road trip, a stretch of asphalt that winds from the Windy City through rolling farmland, small-town diners, and roadside icons that capture the soul of the open road.

The Birthplace of the Mother Road

llinois holds a special place in Route 66 history. When the route was officially designated in 1926, Chicago was chosen as its eastern terminus, linking the industrial heart of the Midwest to the promise of the American West. For early travelers, the road offered a way out of the city and into opportunity. Farmers hauled goods to markets, families sought new beginnings, and adventurers loaded their Model Ts with maps and dreams.

Much of the original alignment through Illinois still exists, offering visitors a drive through living history. The route cuts southwest through Joliet, Pontiac, Bloomington, Springfield, Litchfield, and Collinsville before crossing the Mississippi River at East St. Louis. Along the way, it reveals a mix of urban energy, small-town charm, and pure Americana.

Chicago: The Gateway to the Road

Chicago’s role as the eastern anchor of Route 66 gives travelers a dramatic starting point. Before setting out, many begin with breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s, a legendary diner on Jackson Boulevard that’s been serving hungry travelers since 1923.

Known as the “First Stop on the Mother Road,” Lou Mitchell’s remains one of the most enduring connections to the highway’s earliest days.

Downtown Chicago also offers several ways to trace the road’s beginnings. The Route 66 Start Sign near the Art Institute of Chicago marks the official launching point. From there, drivers can follow the classic route past the old Harpo Studios and into the city’s vibrant neighborhoods before the skyline gives way to open country.

The Heritage Corridor, Joliet to Pontiac: Neon, Nostalgia, and Classic Cars

Stretching from the Chicago suburbs to the Mississippi River, Illinois’ Route 66 Heritage Corridor captures the spirit of the Mother Road at its most authentic, where roadside Americana, industrial history, and small-town character come together mile by mile.

Along this nationally recognized corridor, travelers encounter classic Route 66 icons -- vintage diners, restored gas stations, historic motels, and neon signage -- set alongside canals, railroads, and river towns that tell the deeper story of how transportation shaped the Midwest.

Thank you to Heritage Corridor Destinations for their support of this issue.

Communities such as Joliet, Pontiac, and Dwight preserve both the romance and the reality of Route 66, offering museums, murals, and walkable downtowns that reward those who linger. Guided by the work of Illinois Route 66 Heritage Corridor, this stretch of Route 66 invites travelers to experience Illinois not as a pass-through state, but as a destination where history, culture, and the open road are inseparably linked.

Joliet is home to the Route 66 Welcome Center and Museum inside the historic Joliet Area Historical Museum. Exhibits here highlight the role the road played in shaping America’s car culture.

Travelers exploring Illinois soon discover that the state sits at a crossroads of America’s most historic highways. While Route 66 carries visitors westward from Chicago, another legendary road -- the Lincoln Highway -- also passes through the region. The two iconic routes intersect near Joliet, creating a unique meeting place of early American road travel.

Today, communities throughout the Illinois Heritage Corridor celebrate this rich transportation history, offering travelers the chance to experience two of the nation’s most famous highways in one memorable destination.

Just outside town, the restored Gemini Giant, a towering fiberglass “Muffler Man,” stands watch over the old Launching Pad Drive-In, welcoming visitors with a smile straight from the 1960s.

Further down the route, Dwight and Odell offer glimpses of classic service stations lovingly preserved for visitors.

The Odell Standard Oil Station, built in 1932, is now a small museum , a picture-perfect example of the mom-and-pop businesses that thrived when Route 66 was in its heyday.

In Pontiac, the Route 66 experience comes to life in full color. The Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum tells the story of the people and places that defined the Mother Road, with vintage cars, memorabilia, and the world’s largest Route 66 shield painted on the side of a downtown building. Pontiac also boasts the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum, and murals throughout town celebrate both Route 66 and America’s automotive heritage.

Springfield: The Heart of Illinois and of Route 66

As the road rolls south, travelers reach Springfield, the state capital and one of the most vibrant stops along Route 66. Here, the connection between history and hospitality runs deep. Abraham Lincoln lived and worked in Springfield, and visitors can tour the Lincoln Home National Historic Site, the Old State Capitol, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

But Springfield’s connection to Route 66 is equally rich. The Cozy Dog Drive In , home of the original corn dog on a stick, has been serving travelers since 1949.

A special Thank You to Visit Springfield Tourism for their support of this issue.

The restaurant remains in the founding family, and the walls are lined with Route 66 memorabilia and photos from the road’s early days. Just outside of town, the Route 66 Drive-In Theater at Knight’s Action Park still offers double features under the stars, continuing a tradition of open-air entertainment that defined midcentury America.

Litchfield to Staunton: The Golden Age of Travel

Between Springfield and the Mississippi River, the road feels frozen in time. The towns of Litchfield, Mount Olive, and Staunton showcase some of the best-preserved roadside attractions in the Midwest.

In Litchfield, the Ariston Café stands as one of the oldest continually operating restaurants on Route 66. Established in 1924, the café serves hearty Midwest fare in a vintage setting that embodies the golden age of highway dining.

A short drive south brings travelers to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center, filled with local memorabilia and photographs chronicling the town’s connection to the highway. Further along, in Staunton, the Country Classic Cars showroom and museum features a collection of restored vintage automobiles -- the perfect homage to the road that made America fall in love with the car.

For a nostalgic rest stop, the Soulsby Service Station in Mount Olive and the Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton offer plenty of photo ops and stories from the days when Route 66 was the main street through town.

The Crossroads of Route 66

Alton, Illinois, sits at one of the most dramatic crossroads along the Route 66 journey, where the Great River Road meets the legacy of the Mother Road at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers.

Long before Route 66 carried motorists west, Alton was already a river town shaped by movement, commerce, and history—and that layered past still defines the visitor experience today.

A special Thank You to Rivers & Routes Tourism for their support of this issue.

Travelers following Route 66 through the region can explore limestone bluffs, historic neighborhoods, riverfront parks, and a revitalized downtown that celebrates everything from Lincoln-era history to classic Americana.

With scenic drives, outdoor recreation, and easy access to river views that feel timeless, Great Rivers & Routes Tourism invites Route 66 travelers to slow down, explore, and discover why Alton remains one of Illinois’ most compelling river destinations just beyond the pavement of the Mother Road.

Largest Catchup Bottle

As Route 66 approaches the Mississippi River, one of its quirkiest landmarks rises above Collinsville -- the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle. Built in 1949 as a working water tower, the 170-foot-tall bottle has become an unexpected icon of roadside Americana, reminding travelers that on Route 66, even condiments can achieve legendary status.

Crossing the Mississippi: The Road West

The Illinois stretch of Route 66 ends dramatically at the Chain of Rocks Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River into St. Louis. Built in 1929, this mile-long bridge is famous for its unique 22-degree bend midway across the river.

Today, it’s open to pedestrians and cyclists -- a fitting gateway between the Midwest and the West. Standing there, with the river flowing beneath and the skyline of St. Louis rising in the distance, travelers can sense the excitement that must have filled the hearts of those who first drove west on Route 66 nearly a century ago.

Route 66 Illinois Today

Illinois has embraced its role as the starting point of the Mother Road. The state’s tourism agencies, local historical societies, and Route 66 associations have worked tirelessly to preserve landmarks and create experiences for a new generation of travelers.

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway organization connects visitors to dozens of attractions, from restored motels and diners to interpretive exhibits and festivals celebrating the route’s legacy.

The Route 66 Association of Illinois was founded in 1989 to preserve and promote the legacy of the Mother Road. Through its research, advocacy, and preservation efforts, the association helps ensure that the history and stories of U.S. Route 66 continue to be shared. Click here to learn more about Route 66 in Illinois.

Every summer, thousands of visitors from around the world come to drive the Illinois section, take part in classic car rallies, and experience small-town Americana firsthand. What they find is not just nostalgia -- but a living, breathing highway that continues to inspire freedom and adventure.

The Road That Starts It All

For nearly 100 years, Illinois has been where Route 66 begins , a place where the road meets the horizon and the spirit of adventure takes hold. From the big-city energy of Chicago to the quiet streets of small towns that still welcome travelers with a wave and a smile, this is where the story of the Mother Road begins.

“Get your kicks on Route 66,” the song goes -- and for every traveler starting the journey, Illinois is the first verse in a timeless American story.