Route 66: The Mother Road
Illinois – Missouri – Kansas
Unlike today’s fast paced freeways, Route 66 went through the center of every town along the way. Thus it became known as “The Mainstreet of America.” It is believed by many to be the most storied and magical road in all the world. People, by the thousands, come from all over the globe to travel this historic highway and rediscover the magic. Don’t look for Route 66 on any current roadmaps. You won’t find it. Officially, it no longer exists; it has been decommissioned. However, traveling with R & J, we will explore what was once Route 66. We will drive entirely on the original “alignments,” the old pavement, with the exception of a few miles where none of the original highway remains. We stop and explore many major attractions and nostalgic landmarks. Songs, movies, TV shows, and books have been created trying to recapture this magic. Now you can discover for yourself the golden memories of what we remember as “the good ol’ days.”
Day 1 – Home to Bolingbrook
– Day of travel thru Wisconsin to Chicago area. Lunch on own
– White Fence Farm Dinner (Historic Route 66 landmark restaurant)
– Hotel: Holiday Inn – Bolingbrook, IL
Day 2 – Bolingbrook to Normal
– Joliet: Route 66 Welcome
Center, Rialto Theatre tour
– Wilmington: Gemini Giant & Launching Pad Drive In
– Polk-A-Dot Drive In
– Dwight: 1932 Texaco Gas Station, 1891 Train Depot
– Odell: 1932 Standard Oil Filling Station – very first gas pumps.
– Meramec Cavern Barn Advertising
– Cayuga, IL – 1926 Old Log Cabin Restaurant
– Pontiac: Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum, 1875 Courthouse
– Sections of abandoned, original pavement, signs, Memory lane
– Dinner at Central Station in Bloomington
– Hotel: Hampton Inn, Normal, IL
Day 3 – Normal to Springfield
– Beer Nuts Factory
– Shirley, IL – Old Country Store & Railroad Depot
– Funks Grove, most poplular & famous spot on ILL 66
– Rt. 66 Dixie Travel Plaza. Location of very first Truck Stop
– Atlanta: Bunyan Giant, Clock Tower, 1900’s Grain Elevator
– Lincoln: 1950’s Tropics Restaurant, 1891 Postville Courthouse
– Famous Train Depot Abe Lincoln used, Pig Hip Restaurant
– Elkhart: Bluestem Bake Shop. Lunch
– Springfield: Abraham Lincoln Tomb, Abraham Lincoln Museum
– Dinner at Cozy Drive In, Creator of the world famous Corn Dog
– Hotel: Drury Inn, Springfield, IL
Day 4 – Springfield to St. Louis
– Bill Shea’s Historic 66 Museum – Meet Route 66 icon himself
– Lincoln Home National Historic Park
– Sugar Creek Covered Bridge, Punkie’s Palace
– Our Lady of the Highway Shrine
– Litchfield: Skyview Drive In Theatre, Wabash Train Depot
– Maverick Steakhouse – lunch on own
– Mt. Olive; 1926 Soulsby Shell Station Fascinating car rack
– Hamel Original Roadhouse, BelAir Drive In
– Chain of Rocks Bridge over the Mississippi; Very historic
– St. Louis, Missouri
– Hotel: Drury Plaza Hotel, Downtown St. Louis by the Arch
– Dinner at the hotel
Day 5 – St. Louis
– Gateway Arch, Mississippi River Cruise, Grants Farm
– Ted Drewes Drive In Route 66 World Famous Custard
– Hotel: Drury Plaza Hotel
Day 6 – St. Louis to Rolla
– Route 66 State Park Visitor Center
– Pacific: Old gas station, Red Cedar Inn, Monroes Diner
– Grey Summit; Gardenway Motel, Sunset Motel
– Many scenic stretches of old 66
– Meramec Caverns, Lunch at Meramec
– Jesse James Museum & Toy Museum
– St. James Winery, Mule Trading Post
– Dinner at Zeno’s, Historic 66 Café
– Hotel: Drury Inn, Rolla, Missouri
Day 7 – Rolla to Springfield
– Travel much original alignment of route 66
– Arlington: Vernelle’s Motel, Totem Pole Cabins
– Some of the country’s earliest 4 lane divided highway
– Devils Elbow, Elbow Inn
– St. Robert; Ft. Leonard Wood
– Waynesville; Frog Rock, DeVille Motel, 1960’s Phillips Station
– Lebanon; Munger Moss Motel & Holiday Motel, Wrink’s Market
– Very scenic classic stretches of old 66
– Springfield, MO; Historic 66 sights in Springfield
– Dinner: Lambert’s –Home of “Throwed Rolls”
– Hotel: Drury Inn, Springfield
Day 8 – Springfield thru Kansas to Joplin
– Little Theatre, Springfield
– Plano; Tydol Station, Casket Factory
– Halltown; Whitehall Merchantile
– Gary Parita Sinclair Station Meet Rt 66 icon
– Avilla; Avilla Post Office
– Carthage: Jasper County Courthouse & Square
– Carterville & Webb City; 66 Drive-In Theatre
– Enter Kansas; Trace the 12.5 miles of Route 66 in Kansas
– Galena, KS; 4 Women on the Route Station
– Eisler Bros. Store – Welcome to Kansas
– Rainbow Arch Bridge, Old DX Station, 66 Visitors Center
– Hotel: Drury Inn, Joplin, MO
Day 9 – Joplin to Des Moines
– Travel day
– Dinner: Machine Shed Restaurant
– Hotel: Drury Inn, Des Moines, IA
Day 10 – Des Moines to Home
– Travel home with an early afternoon arrival
Motorcoach Per Person Pricing Information
Motorcoach Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
23 Meals, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach
09/19/2012 09/28/2012
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
Famous landmarks
Storied drive-ins
Romantic town squares
Nostalgic museums
Fascinating personalities of the road
Real “Filling Stations”
Classic motels and cafes
Historic train depots
Land of Lincoln
Original ”Portland Cement” pavement
