Route 66, and its 2,500 miles, is known affectionately as "The Mother Road." It's the quintessential cross-country road trip experience. From Chicago through the beating heart of America, the route officially ends at the Santa Monica Pier. The road reached peak popularity in the late 1940s and early '50s before being officially removed from the U.S. Highway System in 1985. After a few years, travelers from around the country and beyond started feeling tinges of nostalgia, and by the end of the 1980s it was once again becoming one of the most popular road trip routes.
Looking for more tips for your Route 66 trip? We've got you covered.
7326 Williamsport-Galion, Mount Gilead, Ohio, United States
Route 66 is renowned for its classic American cuisine. If you’re not still full of donut holes (or even if you are), visit Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket, just outside Chicago, for some of the best fried chicken you'll ever taste. The roadhouse has been serving its home-cooked goodness since 1946, and even if you’re not ready to eat just yet, the neon sign is a classic photo op.
Lexington, Illinois, United States
103 North Robinson Street, Bloomington, Illinois, United States
For travelers with a sweet tooth, Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup in Shirley is a must-see (and must-taste). Funks Grove produces more than 2,000 gallons of maple syrup—or “sirup”— per year using old-fashioned sap-gathering techniques. The finished product comes in beautifully designed bottles.
Atlanta, Illinois, Illinois, United States
For the full Lincoln experience, spend the night at the Pasfield House Inn in Springfield. This gorgeous bed and breakfast is owned and operated by Tony Leone, a local historian, who greets his guests with that famous Prairie State hospitality. The Georgian-style inn is a Springfield landmark, and oozes with style.
The home was built in 1896 and has been lovingly preserved under the care of Leone since 1996. The six-suite bed and breakfast sees quite a lot of visitors, especially history buffs on Lincoln-inspired pilgrimages.
On your way out of St. Louis, hit up the sprawling Laumeier Sculpture Park and Museum. Stretch your legs among the weird and wild outdoor art exhibits, which include a gigantic eyeball in the middle of a field.
