Before Route 66 stretches west toward wide-open deserts and Pacific sunsets, it eases you into the adventure right here in Illinois. This is where the Mother Road officially begins (at least if you’re heading west), and it sets the tone for everything that follows: historic pavement, oversized roadside icons, comfort food classics, and plenty of reasons to pull over “just one more time.”
From downtown Chicago’s famous “Begin” signs to quiet brick roads that still echo with early automobile travel, Illinois offers a greatest-hits collection of what makes Route 66 so beloved. This stretch balances big-city energy with small-town charm, mixing photo-worthy public art, neon nostalgia, and some of the most recognizable roadside attractions in the country. It’s a place where Muffler Men tower over parking lots, murals turn Main Street into an open-air gallery, and vintage gas stations invite you to imagine a time when filling up was an event, not a chore.
Illinois Route 66 delivers a road trip experience that feels both foundational and unforgettable. These top ten things to do on Route 66 in Illinois highlight the moments that define this section of the Mother Road: places to take photos, stories to collect, and memories that stick with you long after the miles roll by.
Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Illinois
1. Start at the Start Sign
Illinois is the first state on Route 66 (if you’re motoring west, that is), and there is no better way to kick off your road trip than to start at the very beginning at the Historic Route 66 Begin Sign in Chicago.
Perhaps the most photographed sign on the Mother Road, stopping here for a celebratory photo is a defining moment for any road tripper who is about to hop in their car towards the California coast for the adventure of a lifetime. And, even if you’ve traveled the opposite direction, starting in Santa Monica and ending in the Windy City, you deserve a photo here too. We won’t tell!
Bonus!
You can actually find several Route 66 start signs in downtown Chicago: one on a post above the stoplight at the northwest corner of Adams and Michigan Avenue, one across the street in the middle of the block on Adams (probably the famous one), one at the small park at the corner of Adams and Wabash (underneath the el), and a new(ish) interpretive sign across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago.
On March 25, 2026, the city of Chicago moved the “official” starting point to Navy Pier. This move marked the tourist attraction as the symbolic Beginning of the Trail, creating a pier-to-pier journey from Navy Pier in Chicago to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica. A new sign marks the spot in front of Harry Caray’s Tavern and, inside you’ll find a new Route 66-themed mural.
2. Look Up to Admire a Muffler Man
While there are plenty of roadside attraction to pull over for on the Illinois stretch of Route 66 there’s one particular type that stands out above (and taller than) the rest: the muffler man.
Muffler men roadside attractions are fiberglass giants who stand anywhere from 14 to 25 feet tall. Each has a similar design and was built between 1963 and 1972 by International Fiberglass in Venice, California. With signature stances, these big men stood outside of a variety of businesses to call attention from the road.
For many years, this state was known for the “three gentle giants of Illinois”: the Gemini Giant spaceman, the Paul Bunyon Muffler Man Holding a Hot Dog, and the American flag waving Lauterbach Giant. But now there are even more to see across the state’s portion of the road!
Bonus!
If you can’t get enough muffler men on your Route 66 road trip, have no fear, Illinois has a whole museum dedicated to them! The American Giants Museum in Atlanta pays tribute to Muffler Men and other oversized fiberglass creations that once were a mainstay of American advertising. There are even a few unique giants to see outside, too!
3. Drive in Front of a Giant Mural
The biggest and most well-known Route 66 mural in Illinois can be found in Pontiac, right on the back side of the Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum. Painted by Diaz Sign Art in 2006, the Route 66 Shield Mural features images of a towering Route 66 shield, a Chicago skyline, a St. Louis Skyline, and a banner reading “Pontiac, Illinois.” Pose in front of the oversized artwork for fun photos or drive your car right up onto the original brick path for the ultimate Instagram shots. It’s a quintessential stop for anyone traveling the Mother Road!
Bonus!
More than 20 other works of public art are painted across the historic Pontiac downtown area. Be sure to look for all the Murals on Main Street while you’re in town on your Route 66 road trip!
4. Eat a Cozy Dog
While in Springfield, try the local version of a corn dog that you won’t find anywhere else: the Cozy Dog. The Cozy Dog Drive In has been serving these plump, battered and fried hot dogs on a stick since the 1940s. In fact, the recipe hasn’t changed since then, the restaurant still uses their same equipment from the 1960s, and the business has been family owned since the beginning.
After a long day on the road, pull over to try this local specialty for yourself. Grab a dog or two, a side of piping-hot fries, and an ice-cold soda, and see why the Cozy Dog continues to hold a cozy space on Route 66 travelers’ itineraries.
Bonus!
The Cozy Dog is just one of the many iconic dishes to try while road tripping through Illinois. From horseshoes to fried chicken to chili cheese fries, check out more of the Best Route 66 Foods to Eat in Illinois.
5. Take a Selfie with a 3D Shield
In honor of the Route 66 centennial celebration in 2026, many communities along the Main Street of America installed new attractions and selfie spots along the Mother Road. Along “the first 100 miles of Route 66” in Illinois, 3D Route 66 Shield Sculptures to entice road trippers to pull over and snap a photo or two.
The metal sculptures each feature an open Route 66 shield that is marked with the town’s name where it is found positioned next to a 5-foot tall “66.” The interactive sculptures are designed so you can crawl inside or pose behind or next to the various elements for fun road trip souvenir photos.
Bonus!
These 3D Route 66 Shield Sculptures aren’t the only selfie spots you’ll find on Illinois Route 66! Along “the last 100 miles of Route 66” you’ll find giant 12-foot-tall black and white cutout shields with hollow sixes perfect for leaning, sitting, or striking a pose.
6. Pretend to Fill up Your Tank at a Vintage Service Satation
Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station in Dwight, Illinois was built by Jack Shore in 1933 along historic Route 66. Also known as the Ambler-Becker Station, Vernon’s Texaco Station, or Becker’s Marathon Gas Station, the service station operated for around 66 years, making it the longest operating service station on The Mother Road. The vintage service station has been repaired and restored to its original look, with a white awning covering two bright red Texaco gas pumps. While you can no longer fill up your tank at this Illinois Route 66 attraction, you can still pull up to the station in your modern (or vintage) vehicle, and play pretend.
Bonus!
Ambler’s isn’t the only vintage service station on Route 66. Plan time in your road trip itinerary to also explore Soulsby Service Station in Mount Olive, Sprague’s Super Service Station in Normal, and Standard Oil Filling Station in Odell.
7. Bask in the Glow of a Neon Sign
Neon signs are synonymous with Route 66. The glowing icons once lit the way for travelers to find lodging, garages, and other businesses across the Mother Road. At the Route 66 Experience at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield you can bask in the glow of faithfully recreated neon signs from defunct Illinois businesses that once graced the Illinois stretch of Route 66. Find signs for the A. Lincoln Motel (Springfield), Coliseum Ballroom (Benld), Chain of Rocks Motel (Granite City), Bel-Air Drive-In Theater (Mitchell), and Route 66 itself. The signs were crafted by Ace Sign Company in town. For the best experience, arrive after dark to see all of the signs and exhibits lit up in a neon glow.
Bonus!
The neon signs aren’t the only thing to explore at the Route 66 Experience in Springfield!The exhibition takes visitors on a walkthrough of the highlights of all 421 miles and 92 communities on Illinois Route 66. This condensed version of The Mother Road starts at the Route 66 Begins sign in Chicago and ends at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Madison, with photos, neon signs, informative displays, and replica roadside attractions in between. There’s even a Muffler Man exhibit pays homage to all the best Route 66 Muffler Men in Illinois.
8. Learn All About Route 66
The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac, Illinois tells the story of the Mother Road from inception to present day with thousands of artifacts, memorabilia, articles, and more. Stop in to learn about all of the famed stops, places, and people who have been inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame. Highlights include booths from the world’s first Steak and Shake, artist and traveler Bob Waldmire’s VW Van, displays on all the classic must see Route 66 stops (from Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant to Cozy Dog Drive In), vintage gas pumps, maps, and more.
Bonus!
The Illinois Route 66 Museum isn’t the only place to learn about the Mother Road in The Prairie State. Throughout the state, find dedicated Route 66 Wayside Exhibits and Route 66 Experience Hubs that give a deeper picture of the surrounding communities and attractions.
9. Take Photos with a Giant Pink Elephant
There are so many big roadside attractions across Illinois Route 66, and every single one is worth pulling over for to take photos at. But there is one place that holds a menagerie of giants on one fun campus: the Pink Elephant Antique Mall in Livingston.
The Pink Elephant Antique Mall is an old converted gym from the Livingston High School building that now serves as a flea market with more than 50 antique dealers. Over the years, the property has expanded in its kitschy decor from just a few fiberglass beings to a treasure trove of giants and oddities. Today the facade is painted hot pink, white, and turquoise blue stripes and they’ve added several more tourist attractions including a big UFO Futuro house, and an ice-cream shaped Twistee Treat Diner facade. At the heart of it all is a giant pink elephant beckoning road trippers from the road to take photos and stay a while.
Bonus!
The big pink elephant at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall isn’t the only giant elephant to look for one Illinois Route 66! In Springfield, you’ll also find Pinky the Pink Elephant with a Martini and a Big Green Elephant in town.
10. Drive on a Stretch of Original Road
Drive Route 66 in Illinois as it was meant to be driven on the Illinois Original Historic Route 66 Brick Road in Auburn. This 1.4-mile-long preserved stretch of the Mother Road was originally laid in 1931 and is covered in restored hand-laid brick over a concrete road bed.
Bonus!
This isn’t the only place to traverse an original section of the Route 66 roadway. In Lexington you can take a stroll down Route 66 Memory Lane and in Springfield explore the Carpenter Park Original Route 66 Pavement.
Illinois may be where Route 66 begins, but the adventure is far from over. Continue your journey west and explore the top things to do in every state on The Mother Road. Each state adds its own scenery, stories, and roadside icons—proof that on Route 66, the best way forward is to keep going.
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Missouri
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Kansas
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Oklahoma
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Texas
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in New Mexico
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in Arizona
- Top Ten Things to Do on Route 66 in California.
