The U.S. highway system gives the Chicago-to-Los Angeles road its famous number.
About the road
Built for motion. Remembered for people.
Route 66 connected cities and small towns, carried commerce west and helped create the roadside businesses that still give the journey its character.
The route becomes a path west for families seeking new opportunity.
Motor courts, diners, neon and roadside attractions flourish.
Route 66 is decommissioned, and communities accelerate preservation work.
Travelers and towns celebrate a full century of the Mother Road.
Our purpose
Keep every mile local.
We connect travelers with Illinois Route 66 communities, independent businesses, events and planning resources. We encourage accurate information, respectful travel and direct support for the people preserving the road.