Illinois Route 66
Your Guide to the Mother Road
Cruise down America’s most famous highway in Central Illinois! Echoing the legendary stories of America’s pioneer spirit, Route 66 has linked the Bloomington-Normal area with the rest of the world since it was commissioned in 1926, providing not just a physical path from Chicago to the West Coast, but granting our close-knit communities the unique opportunity to connect with people from around the world, to welcome them to McLean County and show them why life here is so special.
*Include Service Boxes
Our Route 66 Communities
Get to know the cities, towns, and villages lining the Illinois portion of Route 66 in McLean County. See the remarkable sights and photo ops waiting to be discovered — just as generations of travelers have done before — and create your own legendary tales to be shared for years to come.
CHENOA
Laid out in 1856 by Matthew T. Scott, the City of Chenoa sits at the intersection of Route 66 and US-24, bringing nearly 8,000 vehicles through the community each summer (3,000 on Route 66 and 5,000 on US-24). The city is home to two Route 66 alignments, with the original running on North Morehead Street and a later alignment running on the city’s western edge.
Former Bob’s Kat-e-Korner Dolls & Gifts
328 S. Morehead St.
Former Chenoa Pharmacy
209 Green St
Matthew T. Scott House
227 N. First Ave.
Original Route 66 Pavement
US-24 and Morehead
Route 66 of Chenoa Roadside Attraction Tourist Info & Walkway
501 E. Cemetery Ave.
Lexington
Platted in 1836, the city of Lexington proudly boasts a connection to two U.S. presidents — Abraham Lincoln, who visited frequently during his legal career, and Theodore Roosevelt, who gave a speech at the train depot in 1902. Traditionally a farming community, Lexington experienced economic booms from both the railroad and Route 66.
American Eagle Statue
North Cedar and West Main streets
The Castle
10 N. Spencer St.[
Crazy Presidential Elephant
1000 W. Main St.
John Patton Log Cabin
Harrison and North Cherry streets
Lexington Arrow Sign
1103 W. Main St.
Memory Lane
Route 66 and Parade Road
The Shake Shack
512 W. Main St.
Uncle Vait’s Pizza
905 W. Main St.
TOWANDA
Settled in 1826 and platted in 1854, Towanda differed from Central Illinois communities of its time by being centered around the railroad rather than a central square. After IL-4 was built through the city in the early 1900s, it was incorporated into the original Route 66 alignment in 1926.
Dead Man’s Curve
Route 66 and West Monroe Street
Kicks Bar & Grill
404 E. Jackson St.
Money Creek Bridge
Route 66 over Money Creek north of town
Original Route 66 Pavement
North 1900 E Road and West Jackson Street
Towanda Route 66 Parkway & Arboretum
Route 66 and North 1900 E Road
Normal
Originally named North Bloomington, the Town of Normal delights travelers with a collection of Route 66 attractions radiating outward from its revitalized Uptown, a historic district bursting with charm just steps away from the sprawling Illinois State University campus.
Carl’s Ice Cream and Carl the Giant
1700 W. College Ave.
Children’s Discovery Museum
101 E. Beaufort St.
DESTIHL Brewery & Beer Hall
1200 Greenbriar Drive
DESTIHL Restaurant & Brew Works
318 S. Towanda Ave.
The Normal Theater
209 W. North St.
Route 66 Shield and Normal Sign
One Normal Plaza along Pine Street
Ryburn Place at Sprague’s Super Service
305 Pine St.
BLOOMINGTON
Centered around a historic Downtown filled with longstanding, red-brick buildings, the City of Bloomington boasts a long, proud history with two American icons: Abraham Lincoln and Historic Route 66. In fact, the route Lincoln followed from Springfield to Bloomington during his legal career — originally a trail used by Indigenous peoples — ultimately paved the way for the Mother Road in the 20th century.
Bloomington Route 66 Installation Sign
South Morris Avenue and Tanner Street
Casey’s Garden Shop
1505 N. Main St.
Cruisin’ with Lincoln on 66 Visitors Center
200 N. Main St.
David Davis Mansion
1000 Monroe Drive
Fat Jack’s Bar
511 N. Main St.
Grady’s Family Fun Park and Grady’s Pizza
1501 Morrissey Drive
Green Top Grocery
921 E. Washington St.
“Illinois Dancer” Mural at Herb Eaton Studio Gallery
411 N. Center St.
The Lucca Grill
116 E. Market St.
McLean County Museum of History
200 N. Main St.
Miller Park and Zoo
1020 S. Morris Ave.
Parkview Inn
1003 S. Morris Ave.
Route 66 Mural at Red Raccoon Games
301 N. Main St.
FUNKS GROVE/SHIRLEY
Named for two pioneer brothers, Isaac and Absalom Funk, the unincorporated community of Funks Grove was settled along a forested area, from which the family’s famed maple sirup farm would grow into a multi-generational enterprise. Years later, the town of Shirley was established in 1854 along the St. Louis, Chicago, and Alton Railroad. Pick up a bottle of maple-flavored sweetness and marvel in these communities’ vast, natural spaces along the Mother Road.
Funk Prairie Home and Gem & Mineral Museum
10875 Prairie Home Lane, Shirley
Funks Grove Country Store
8047 E. 550 North Road
Funks Grove Nature Spaces
4532 N. 725 East Road, McLean
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup
5257 Old Route 66, Shirley=
MCLEAN
Home to one of the most famous truck stops along Historic Route 66, the Village of McLean is brimming with stories of the railroad and Route 66 — both of which played vital roles in the village's establishment and growth. Today, this small village relishes its Route 66 history and boasts a welcoming, friendly environment for cross-country travelers.
Arcadia: America’s Playable Arcade Museum
107 S. Hamilton St.
Dixie Family Restaurant
315 Dixie Road C
McLean Depot Train Shop
266 Dixie Road
McLean Route 66 Sign
260 Dixie Road
Pinball Paradise
102 E. Morgan St.
Route 66 Mural
201 E. Morgan St
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