The stretch of Route 66 from Chicago, Illinois, to St. Louis, Missouri, is home to aluminum-and-chrome diners, historic, family-owned cafes, bizarre attractions, and other reminders of the route’s charming past. You’ll also see plenty of cornfields and flat prairie land between the bustling cities and sleepy towns along this first leg.
If you plan on starting your Route 66 adventure in Chicago, this is the perfect campground for tenting, RVing, or cabin camping. The South Shore Line offers rail service directly from the state park to downtown Chicago.
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Start your epic journey at the route’s original 1937 terminus at Lake Shore Drive and E. Jackson Drive in downtown Chicago.
Don’t miss the Route 66 Starts Here sign at the corner of S Michigan Avenue and E Adams Street. The sign (along with a handful of replica signs on the same block) is located in a busy section, so you may need to find parking elsewhere and walk to the sign for a photo.
Lou Mitchell’s is the perfect place to get breakfast—and a cup of the “world’s finest coffee”—before you leave the Windy City. The restaurant has been serving home-cooked comfort food to travelers since 1923, predating the designation of Route 66 by 3 years. Before sitting down, diners are handed a freshly-made donut hole and a miniature box of candy. And because one donut hole is never enough, you can order some to-go.
Chicago's landmark is considered one of the country's finest fountains due to its Beaux-Arts-style landscape design, finely wrought bronze sculpture, and innovative use of technology.
It's one of the first stops Ferris Bueller makes on his day off, so you know it's an essential Chicago icon. The Skydeck really does offer great views when the weather is good, plus the glass-floored "ledge" is an unforgettable experience for those brave enough to step on to it.
Tinley Park, Illinois, United States
On a balmy August evening in 2004, Chicago residents reported seeing a series of red or white lights that formed a triangle shape. Several videos captured the light show, and it was even reported by local news outlets. The phenomenon occurred about 45 miles from O’Hare International Airport, but the lights moved too slowly to be a commercial plane. What makes this one of the more significant UFO sightings is that it was investigated by the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), a non-profit with thousands of civilian volunteers. The mysterious occurrence was also featured on the History Channel’s UFO Hunters.
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.
The Illinois stretch of Route 66 is home to several great roadside attractions, but nothing shouts "retro kitsch" louder than a massive Muffler Man. Snap a picture with the Gemini Giant the newly-reopened Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington. Named for the Gemini space program, he’s one of many similar statues made by International Fiberglass. The giant stands guard over the Launching Pad Drive-in, which also houses a gift shop, a restaurant, and the Mini Americana Museum.
The Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum is full of fascinating, family-friendly exhibits, and the staff’s love of the route is infectious. Don’t miss the wall art and wishing well in the museum’s backyard.
Atlanta, Illinois, Illinois, United States
Next up is the adorable town of Atlanta (yes, Illinois has one, too). This charming place is full of classic Route 66 attractions. Don’t forget to visit the town’s octagon-shaped library, built in 1908. The 40-foot-tall clock tower next door is still wound by hand every eight days.
Atlanta is also home to the Route 66 Arcade Museum, a fantastic hidden gem. It features a collection of vintage arcade machines (made between 1934 and 1982) that you can still play for just a quarter.
Atlanta is also where you’ll find the iconic 19-foot-tall Paul Bunyon Muffler Man holding a hot dog, one of the most famous statues along Route 66. He’s perpetually standing guard just across from The Palms Grill Cafe.
You did it—one leg down, five more to go. As you travel further southwest, the weather will get warmer, the road will get flatter, and the views will only get better. While it’s true that you never forget your first, so much of Route 66 is still in front of you—so keep going and let the Show-Me State show you why almost 100 years after its creation, the Mother Road is still the best place to get your kicks.