U.S. Route 66
4.7(155)google
4.6(11)yelp
Road TripHistoric TownPhoto SpotMust-See
Overview
U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) was one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. Established on November 11, 1926, with signage erected the following year, the highway ran from Chicago, Illinois, through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona before terminating in Santa Monica, California, covering 2,448 miles (3,940 km). US 66 became a major route for westward migration, particularly during the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, and contributed to the economic development of communities along its path.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1-2 hours
Best TimeThe summer months from May to September offer the ultimate cross-country Americana road trip vibe along this legendary mother road. Cruise this specific Wilmington asphalt stretch between 6:00 PM and 7:30 PM; the golden hour sunset bathes the retro roadside neon, historic diner architecture, and the famous 'Gemini Giant' muffler man in deep nostalgia.
Getting ThereThis refers to the historic driving stretch passing through Wilmington, IL. Driving is the only true way to explore: take I-55 S out of Chicago to exit 241 for IL-102 toward Wilmington, then immediately merge onto the historic alignment of Route 66 (S Water St). Iconic stops offer dedicated roadside pull-offs for convenient photography.
Travel Tips
- Sections of historic Route 66 are completely severed by Interstate 55 infrastructure; default smartphone mapping layers will misroute you, making specialized Route 66 navigational navigation apps mandatory.
- Roadside monoliths like the Gemini Giant track active high-velocity thoroughfares where cross-traffic hits 50 mph; park completely clear of the shoulder dust and cross asphalt lanes with extreme caution.
- Rural vintage museum outposts along the pavement maintain highly volatile hours, typically locking portals by 16:00; compress your long-distance driving manifests to center landmark scouting in the morning.
Reviews
Positive
- The Illinois starting stretch of America's historic Mother Road; retro neon signs and pristine vintage gas stations offer unrivaled historical wonder.
- Entirely free with zero ticket gates; driving along the wide highway opens into rustic towns with great peaceful solace, maximizing road-trip fun.
- The Wilmington icon 'Gemini Giant' looks incredibly photogenic, equipped with large, high-capacity free roadside pullover slots for easy access.
- The routes maintain rows of century-old authentic rural diners and pubs with low per-capita expense and zero tourist-trap markups, high in value.
Heads up
- Because the historic highway layout is sprawling, retro markers are spaced sparse and fractured, making it easy to get lost without digital maps.
- Select famous vintage filling stations and boutique roadside museums run on restrictive, random schedules, locking doors all weekdays.
- The lengthy country route lacks cohesive public accessible paths or modern restrooms, forcing reliance on worn legacy commercial gas station stalls.
- Deep winter freezes cause over half of the roadside ice-cream retro shacks and souvenir joints to close seasonally, leaving the route bleak and bare.