Day 4 – Chicago, Illinois, to Lincoln, Illinois
After all the planning, anticipation and excitement, today was finally the day we would begin our journey along the legendary Route 66, heading west towards Santa Monica and the end of the Mother Road.
There was just one small problem. It was raining!
A wet start wasn’t exactly what I’d ordered for our first proper day riding Route 66. Still, you can’t control the weather, and there was no point sitting around waiting for the clouds to get the message. We had a Harley to ride, a road to follow and plenty of roadside attractions to discover.
Our destination for the day was Lincoln, Illinois, around 147 miles (236 km) away. That might sound like a fairly easy day’s ride, but Route 66 isn’t about blasting from A to B and collecting a participation certificate. It’s about exploring the old road, discovering its history and stopping at all those wonderfully quirky places that make the journey special.
And we had plenty of those on today’s itinerary!
Route 66 – The Attractions Along the Way
Our plan was to visit the following locations as we made our way west through Illinois.
The Launching Pad Drive-In and Gemini Giant – Wilmington
Our first stop was the Launching Pad Drive-In and Gemini Giant in Wilmington.
The Gemini Giant is one of those classic Route 66 roadside landmarks that makes you appreciate just how wonderfully eccentric American roadside attractions can be. These enormous statues, often called muffler men, were designed to catch the attention of passing motorists. And if a giant spaceman holding a rocket doesn’t get your attention, perhaps you need to check whether your eyes are open!
It’s the sort of photo opportunity that belongs on any Route 66 itinerary.
Two-Cell Jail – Gardner
Next up was the Two-Cell Jail in Gardner.
This little historic jail is a reminder of a different era, when a couple of cells could be enough to keep the local troublemakers out of circulation. It’s a small attraction, but places like this help tell the story of the towns that grew up along the old highway.
Thankfully, we were only there to look around. Being locked up on the first full day of our ride would have played havoc with the itinerary!
Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station – Dwight
We continued to Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station in Dwight.
Old petrol stations are an important part of Route 66 history. Before modern highways and sprawling service centres took over, these stations were essential stops for motorists travelling long distances. They supplied fuel, offered a place to rest and helped keep travellers moving along the road.
Ambler’s is a great example of that heritage and well worth a look if you’re exploring this stretch of Illinois.
Odell Station – Odell
Our next stop was Odell Station in Odell, another historic service station that recalls the days when Route 66 was a major highway for travellers heading across America.
It’s easy to take modern service stations for granted, but these old roadside stops played an important role in the development of motoring tourism. They also make fantastic photo stops, particularly for anyone who appreciates a bit of automotive history.
Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum – Pontiac
Pontiac was next, where we visited the Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum.
For anyone interested in the history of the Mother Road, this is a worthwhile stop. Route 66 is about far more than a strip of bitumen connecting Chicago with California. It’s a story of communities, businesses, travellers and the changing face of America.
Museums like this help preserve those stories and the memorabilia associated with the highway.
Pontiac Oakland Museum – Pontiac
While in Pontiac, we also visited the Pontiac Oakland Museum.
This one is a must for the car fanatics!
If you enjoy classic cars and automotive history, make sure you allow yourself enough time here. It’s the sort of place where you can easily get sidetracked admiring the vehicles and the stories behind them.
Of all the stops on today’s itinerary, this was one I particularly wanted to include. Having travelled Route 66 with a good mate back in 2013, I already had a fair idea of which places were worth visiting, and this museum was firmly on the list.
Sprague’s Super Service – Normal
We then continued to Sprague’s Super Service in Normal.
Another piece of Route 66 history, this former service station is a reminder of the businesses that supported motorists during the highway’s heyday. The buildings themselves are part of the attraction, offering a glimpse into the architecture and services that once lined the road.
It’s another worthwhile stop for anyone keen to explore the original Route 66 heritage rather than simply follow the modern highways.
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup – Funks Grove
Next was Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup.
Yes, sirup with an ‘i’ — that’s how they spell it!
This family business is famous for its pure maple product, making it a slightly different sort of stop among the petrol stations, museums and giant roadside statues. Route 66 isn’t just about old cars and faded signs; part of the fun is discovering the local businesses and regional treats along the way.
It’s always worth allowing time for these unexpected diversions. After all, you never know what you’ll find when you get off the main highway and have a proper look around.
Bunyon Giant – Atlanta
Our final listed stop was the Bunyon Giant in Atlanta, Illinois.
Another classic example of America’s love affair with oversized roadside attractions, this giant statue is holding a hot dog rather than the more traditional axe. It’s one of those wonderfully odd landmarks that makes you wonder who first came up with the idea — and then decide that, whatever the reason, it’s definitely worth a photo!
Route 66 has no shortage of these larger-than-life characters, and they’re a big part of the road’s personality.
Don’t Rush Route 66!
All these attractions are worth visiting if you’re travelling along Route 66. My biggest piece of advice is to take your time and don’t rush.
There’s a surprising amount to see and do, even over a relatively short distance. You could easily spend longer exploring this stretch of Illinois, particularly if you enjoy museums, classic cars, old service stations and quirky roadside landmarks.
Having completed the trip with a good mate in 2013, I had a reasonable idea of where we wanted to be each day. That previous experience helped us plan our stops and work out how much ground we could realistically cover.
Even so, Route 66 rewards those who allow themselves a little flexibility. Some places deserve a quick photo, while others are worth a longer wander. Trying to cram everything into a tight schedule can turn a great road trip into a race against the clock — and that’s certainly not what we travelled halfway around the world to do!
Arriving in Lincoln, Illinois
After a full day exploring the old road, we eventually arrived at our destination: the township of Lincoln, Illinois.
We had booked the Super 8, located at 2809 Woodlawn Road. Once we’d checked in and freshened up, it was time to think about dinner.
After a day in the saddle and plenty of sightseeing, we were ready for a feed.
Mexican Food for Dinner – El Mazatlan
For dinner, we headed to El Mazatlan, which would be the first of many Mexican restaurants we visited during our American adventure.
Mexican food was going to feature regularly on this trip, and we were more than happy about that. There’s something comforting about sitting down to a good meal after a day on the road, especially when you’ve spent much of it dodging the weather and exploring new places.
With dinner sorted, we could finally relax and reflect on our first day riding Route 66.
The rain hadn’t exactly delivered the ideal start, but we’d still managed to visit a stack of classic attractions and make our way to Lincoln without rushing past the things we’d come to see.
The Mother Road was living up to its reputation already — history, cars, quirky landmarks and plenty of reasons to stop along the way.
Tomorrow, we’d continue west. Hopefully, the weather gods would decide they’d had their fun and give us a drier ride!
The Thirsty Tourists — Touring is thirsty work!
