Vacation 2014: Route 66 to St. Louis

  • Post category:Vacation
  • Reading time:5 mins read

Stacy and I have always been big into road trips throughout our relationship. When we started discussing where we were going to go on our honeymoon, we decided to take the ultimate road trip…Route 66. Since we live outside of Chicago, we were able to drive it the whole way to Santa Monica. Many people think that Route 66 starts in Chicago, Illinois and ends in Los Angeles, California, but this is only partially true. While Chicago has always been the official start of Route 66, Los Angeles was the end only until 1935 when it was moved further west to Santa Monica, California.

We wanted James to experience some of what the most famous road in the United States—maybe the world—had to offer so we took a mini-Route 66 trip down to St. Louis. Here’s a cool video that showcases part of the route we traveled on our way to St. Louis:

 

 

A couple of days before we left, Stacy took James to the pediatrician to get checked out. Her mommy instincts told her that James was starting to get sick. The doc looked him over and sent him down for some bloodwork. Some of the levels were slightly elevated so he wrote a prescription for an antibiotic to cover any illness that may be starting. Stacy also updated the medical binder and packed it just in case James needed any medical treatment while we were on our trip. Fortunately, he didn’t.

Between Stacy and I, we took around 250 pictures on this short 4-day road trip. I obviously couldn’t post all of those pictures here. It was tough, but I managed to cut it down to 57 pictures to share here. As Stacy and I learned from our honeymoon Route 66 trip from Chicago to Santa Monica, you need to either give yourself enough time to see all the sites along the route or pick and choose which sites you want to see and which ones you can skip. There are so many places to stop along the way; so much history.

Let’s hit the road. James is all buckled in and ready to go.

 

James resting in a red car seat during a car ride on Route 66, wearing sunglasses, a white shirt, dark shorts, and a patterned neck pillow, with the vehicle’s gray interior and a blurred view of trees through the window in the background.
James ready to cruise down Route 66

 

Joliet, Illinois

Blue “Joliet 66 Roadside Attraction” sign with an informational plaque about Route 66 Park, set in front of our red Dodge Grand Caravan and surrounded by trees and greenery in a roadside park area.
Route 66 Park, Joliet, IL

 

White ice‑cream stand with teal trim and flower boxes, topped by a large pink‑ice‑cream‑cone sign reading “Joliet Kicks on 66” and a saxophone‑playing figure, with a “Rich & Creamy on Broadway” sign on the wall and a “Closed” notice in the window along a street with trees and power lines.
Rich & Creamy Ice Cream, Joliet, IL

 

While we were in Joliet, we stopped by the United Cerebral Palsy office to check out their accessible playground.

 

Red wooden sign with white “United Cerebral Palsy” lettering and circular logo in front of a brick building with large windows, surrounded by grass, bushes, and a tree, with a “One Way Do Not Enter” sign and part of a car window visible in the foreground.
United Cerebral Palsy, Joliet, IL

 

Colorful accessible playground with swings, slides, and climbing structures in bright red, yellow, and blue, shaded by two blue canopy roofs and set on a soft safety surface, surrounded by grassy fields, trees, and nearby houses, capturing a well‑maintained community play space.
Accessible playground behind the United Cerebral Palsy offices, Joliet, IL

 

Colorful accessible playground with ramps, platforms, and bright red, yellow, and blue play panels set on a soft rubber surface with circular patterns, shaded by a large blue canopy and surrounded by grass, trees, and nearby houses, highlighting an inclusive community play space.
Accessible playground behind the United Cerebral Palsy offices, Joliet, IL

 

James seated in a blue adaptive swing with a red safety harness while Stacy stands behind to support or push, set in a grassy playground area with nearby houses, parked cars, and a second identical swing, highlighting accessible equipment designed for safe, supported outdoor play.
James on a swing at the accessible playground behind the United Cerebral Palsy offices, Joliet, IL

 

Wilmington, Illinois

From there we made a quick stop at the Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois. Unfortunately, like so many places along Route 66, it didn’t make it and had to close.

 

Brick building with yellow “Launching Pad Drive In” lettering and window signs reading “Closed” and “For Sale,” accompanied by a large green‑and‑white "Gemini Giant" statue holding a silver rocket, set beside a street with trees and houses in the background.
Launching Pad Drive-In, Wilmington, IL

 

View from inside a vehicle showing James in a red child car seat in the foreground, with a large green‑shirted "Gemini Giant" statue wearing a helmet visible outside the open door beside a purple pickup truck.
James looking at the Gemini Giant outside of Launching Pad Drive-In, Wilmington, IL

 

 

Braidwood, Illinois

Further down the road we met some friends for lunch at the Polk-a-Dot Drive-In in Braidwood, Illinois.

 

Parking lot outside the Polk-a-Dot Drive In in Braidwood, Illinois with a roof sign reading “Malts Hot Dogs Sodas,” with several parked vehicles and Stacy in a blue cap and purple tank top standing beside a red car near a stroller on a sunny day.
Polk-a-Dot Drive In, Braidwood, IL

 

Stacy, Jeff, and James posing in front of a large Elvis Presley statue in a white jumpsuit holding a black guitar, standing on a platform labeled “Polk‑A‑Dot Drive Inn” in Braidwood, Illinois, with a nearby road sign marking the junction of Illinois 113 and Historic U.S. Route 66.
Outside the Polk-a-Dot Drive In, Braidwood, IL

 

Gardner, Illinois

After lunch, we continued our journey down the old Route and made a stop in Gardner. Stacy and I remember passing by the Riviera Roadhouse on our honeymoon roadtrip in 2005. We were saddened to hear that it burned down five years later.

 

Stone monument engraved with the years 1854 and 2004, featuring a central metal plaque honoring Gardner, Illinois’ sesquicentennial with an image of the two cell jail standing behind it, set on a grassy area.

 

Historic two cell jail containing simple metal bed frames and buckets, open iron-bar doors displaying signs for security monitoring and the 1906 construction in Gardner, Illinois, with a green wooden chair and clipboard positioned in front of the preserved cell.
Two cell jail, Gardner, IL

 

Stone monument on a concrete base near a building with green trim, engraved with a dedication thanking Bob and Peggy Kraft for donating a Route 66 Hall of Fame streetcar to Gardner, Illinois and commemorating their Riviera Roadhouse, which burned in 2010, crafted by Mike Potter.

 

Small historic diner with a rounded roof and large windows, marked by a “Riviera Restaurant” sign on a pole, with a stone monument in front and a grassy lawn, trees, and an adjacent white building in the background, capturing a restored piece of classic roadside Americana.

 

Dwight, Illinois

Bright red Dodge Grand Caravan parked in front of a white vintage gas station with green trim, two classic red Sinclair gas pumps, a “Route 66 Roadside Attraction” sign on the roof, and potted flowers near the windows, capturing nostalgic Americana along a historic highway in Dwight, Illinois.
Ambler-Becker Texaco Station, Dwight, IL

 

Red sign with white lettering mounted on an exterior wall, describing the historic Ambler‑Becker Texaco Station in Dwight, Illinois, with a green‑framed doorway and a yellow‑and‑blue Monroe sign nearby, capturing a preserved Route 66 landmark.
Ambler-Becker Texaco Station, Dwight, IL

 

Lexington, Illinios

Roadside sign surrounded by green foliage, featuring a blue “66 Roadside Attraction” marker above a black plaque describing Memory Lane as an original 1926 section of historic Route 66 that visitors can walk year‑round and drive during special Lexington, Illinois events.
“Memory Lane”, Lexington, IL

 

Large roadside billboard surrounded by trees and open fields, featuring retro red, white, and blue graphics with two classic cars and the message “Welcome to Route 66 Lexington’s Memory Lane,” evoking vintage highway and car‑culture nostalgia.
“Memory Lane”, Lexington, IL

 

Weathered section of Route 66 in Lexington, Illinois stretching into dense green trees, with a small rabbit mid‑leap across the cracked pavement, capturing a quiet moment of wildlife along an overgrown rural roadway.
Rabbit crossing over “Memory Lane”, Lexington, IL

 

Brown metal historical marker on a post surrounded by grass, featuring the Illinois State Historical Society emblem and text describing the history of U.S. Route 66, its 1926 construction, and the preserved original concrete section located at the site.
Lexington, IL

 

Towanda, Illinois

Large wooden roadside sign reading “Historic Route 66 – A Geographic Journey – Towanda, Illinois,” standing behind tall golden grass with a paved road and green trees in the background.
Towanda, IL

 

Blue “66 Roadside Attraction” sign with a detailed plaque explaining the Towanda Geographic Journey Linear Parkway, noting the 1954 Route 66 alignment beneath the viewer and the original 1926 alignment nearby, set outdoors with greenery in the background.
Towanda, IL

 

Large painted map of the United States on worn outdoor pavement, with white state outlines, blue Great Lakes, a yellow line depicting Route 66, visible cracks in the surface, and a “1 inch = 10 miles” scale marking near the bottom, set beside bushes and a gray building.
Route 66 map, Towanda, IL

 

Paved path with grass growing through cracks, lined by trees and bushes, featuring a tall “Welcome to Illinois Route 66” sign with an illustrated state outline, Abraham Lincoln, a corn stalk, and industrial buildings, with additional informational signs visible in the background.
Towanda, IL

 

Red van parked near a grassy area with a wooden fence and tree, featuring two “Fans of James” monkey‑face stickers on the rear window, with nearby signs marking “Route 66 Parking Only” in a roadside park setting.
Towanda, IL

 

Funks Grove, Illinois

Roadside sign surrounded by greenery and wildflowers, featuring a blue “Route 66 Roadside Attraction” marker above a brown “Illinois 66 Midpoint Funks Grove” sign with a maple‑leaf graphic, highlighting a historic stop along the Illinois stretch of Route 66.
Funks Grove, IL

 

Stacy sitting in a red Adirondack chair outdoors, holding James against her chest, surrounded by brightly colored chairs, a small green table, potted plants, and a red wooden wall, capturing a quiet moment of comfort on a sunny patio.
James and Stacy taking a break in Funks Grove, IL

 

Large roadside sign on a wooden frame in a grassy area with trees and a road behind it, featuring cream‑colored panels with maroon lettering and a maple‑leaf graphic pointing toward Funks Grove’s pure maple sirup.
Funks Grove, IL

 

Atlanta, Illinois

Historic small‑town street in Atlanta, Illinois with brick and wooden storefronts displaying signs for local businesses, including a financial office, a grill, a café, and a museum, with benches, potted plants, an American flag, and parked cars visible, capturing a preserved downtown streetscape with classic architectural details.
Atlanta, IL

 

Large roadside statue of Paul Bunyan in a red shirt, blue pants, and black boots holding an oversized hot dog, standing on a concrete surface with trees and greenery in the background, capturing a classic mid‑century roadside attraction it Atlanta, Illinois.
Paul Bunyan Statue, Atlanta, IL

 

Springfield, Illinois

We checked into a hotel for the night. The following morning, we had breakfast at Cracker Barrel and went to the Illinois State Museum before continuing on our journey to St. Louis.

 

Stacy and James seated at a table at a Cracker Barrel restaurant,James in a stroller and Stacy wearing a pink polka‑dot top, with a drink and a menu on the table, set against wood‑paneled walls and a framed picture.
Breakfast at the Cracker Barrel, Springfield, IL

 

Cozy Dogs restaurant in Springfield, Illinois with a white exterior, brown shingled roof, and a rooftop “FOOD” sign with yellow arrow accents above a circular “66 Diner” logo, with several parked cars in front — including a vehicle marked “Storm Spotter on Board” — on a sunny day with trees and nearby buildings in the background.
Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, IL

 

Stacked roadside signs under a small roof, including a blue “Route 66 Roadside Attraction” marker, a red Cozy Dog Drive In sign describing the Springfield, Illinois landmark and its famous hot dog on a stick, and a green “Reserved” parking sign below.
Cozy Dog Drive In, Springfield, IL

 

Modern Illinois State Museum building with tall black pillars, a flat roof, and a landscaped lawn with trimmed bushes and a shade tree, featuring a black “Illinois State Museum” sign in front and a colorful banner on the building promoting fossils, artifacts, and the PLAY Museum.
Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

 

Green double doors labeled “Hall of Illinois Dinosaurs” with a sign reading “Closed Due to Lack of Specimens,” framed by dinosaur artwork and blocked by a red rope barrier.
Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

 

James getting some belly time on a white blanket inside the van, wearing a white shirt, dark shorts, and red wrist guards, watching a cartoon on a tablet placed on the floor beside a bottle of soda.
James watching a visual book on his iPad and getting some belly time, Springfield, IL

 

Illinois State Capitol building with a large central dome, ornate neoclassical stonework, and a tall spire, framed by trees and parked cars under a clear blue sky.
Springfield, IL

 

Virden, Illinois

Colorful mural on a brick wall reading “Welcome to Virden” and “Established 1852,” depicting the town’s history through scenes of early farming, a steam locomotive, the Virden Hotel, early automobiles, a biplane, a Route 66 sign, modern vehicles, and portraits of historical figures.
Virden, IL

 

Red‑brick rural road with yellow dashed center lines curving through open fields, bordered by grassy shoulders, utility poles, and distant farm buildings under a clear sky, on Route 66 in Virden, Illinois.
Old cobblestone road still in use, Virden, IL

 

Girard, Illinois

Vintage‑style Doc’s Soda Fountain storefront with large glass windows, white lettering for sandwiches, ice cream, and sodas, a glowing “Lunch Open” neon sign, red brick facade with a striped awning, black metal outdoor tables and chairs, and a Historic Route 66 sign beside the entrance on a small‑town street in Girard, Illinois.
Doc’s Soda Fountain, Girard, IL

 

Stacy pretending to give James a sip of her milkshake inside a vintage soda shop, with a red “Drink Coca‑Cola Ice Cold” cooler and shelves of old‑fashioned bottles and memorabilia in the background.
It’s too bad James can’t eat by mouth. The milkshakes at Doc’s Soda Fountain in Girard, IL were quite refeshing.

 

Staunton, Illinois

Route 66 Roadside Attraction sign for Henry’s Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois, posted above a red informational plaque and set in a grassy area with a trailer painted with a rabbit in the background.
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, Staunton, IL

 

Small vintage gas station at Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois with old fuel pumps along a gravel driveway, a peaked‑roof pump canopy, and a metal garage behind it, with several parked vehicles and signs including a round “Standard” gas sign and a red‑and‑yellow “Certified Motor Tune‑Up” sign, all set in a rural area with trees and grass.
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, Staunton, IL

 

Row of vintage Volkswagon Rabbits positioned vertically with their front and rear ends pointing upward beside overgrown grass, with a dirt pile in the foreground and a nearby garage building displaying a Route 66 emblem in the background at Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Illinois.
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch, Staunton, IL

 

Edwardsville, Illinois

Roadside sign in a grassy area with trees behind it, advertising the Mustang Corral and Mustangs on 66 Gift Shop, featuring the running‑horse Mustang logo and text promoting parts, supplies, accessories, and classic Mustangs for sale, with a smaller “Welding” sign below.
Mustang Corral, Edwardsville, IL

 

Mustang Corral, Edwardsville, IL

 

Collinsville, Illinois

Tall red water tower shaped like a Brooks Old Original Catsup bottle, standing on a black metal framework above nearby trees and buildings, in Collinsville, Illinois with cars and road signs visible in the foreground.
Worlds Largest Catsup Bottle, Collinsville, IL

 

Saint Louis, Missouri

We met some friends at the Saint Louis Science Center, enjoyed a nice lunch at Fitz’s Bottling Company restaurant, and had some frozen custard at Ted Drewes.

 

View of the St. Louis skyline from our van as we cross over the Mississippi River, with the Gateway Arch rising above downtown buildings, a bridge crossing the river in the foreground, and soft evening light reflecting off the water.
The Gateway Arch, Saint Louis, MO

 

James seated in a supportive adaptive stroller, wearing a turquoise graphic shirt, denim shorts, and bright sneakers, with another stroller and indoor furniture visible in the background.
At the Saint Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO

 

James in a stroller looking up at a large Triceratops skeleton displayed under red lighting, with the dinosaur’s horns and skull prominently illuminated, at the Saint Louis Science Center.
At the Saint Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO

 

James in his stroller and another boy in a wheelchair observing a large theropod dinosaur skeleton posed with its mouth open and illuminated by red and purple lighting in a museum gallery, with Stacy standing nearby behind the display barrier, at the Saint Louis Science Center.
At the Saint Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO

 

James lying in a stroller, wearing a turquoise shirt and holding a brown‑and‑white stuffed monkey, resting with their head against the toy on a colorful blue, green, and tan floor.
James and his new friend Louie at the Saint Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO

 

James and a friend seated in wheelchairs inside the Saint Louis Science Center with bright yellow railings and large interactive structures in the background, one wearing an orange shirt and plaid shorts and the other in a teal shirt holding a stuffed monkey, with visitors standing near the exhibits behind them.
At the Saint Louis Science Center, St. Louis, MO

 

Jeff leaning over James seated in a supportive stroller at a restaurant table, gently rubbing his cheek while menus, beverage taps, and other diners are visible in the background.
At Fitz’s Bottling Company Restaurant, St. Louis, MO

 

Bronze statue of a guitar‑playing Chuck Berry beside Stacy crouching next to James in a stroller, both wearing sunglasses, with glass‑block windows, red patio umbrellas, and greenery in the background, outside of Fitz's Bottling Company in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Chuck Berry statue outside of Fitz’s Bottling Company, St. Louis, MO

 

White building with icicle‑style trim and a large red “Ted Drewes” sign, with a red minivan parked out front and customers gathered near the menu board under the overhang, in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, St. Louis, MO

 

Like I said towards the beginning of this post, if you plan on travelling down Route 66, you either need to give yourself enough time to see everything along the way or pick and choose which attractions you want to see. There is so much out there. We took two days to get to St. Louis from Chicago, and we didn’t stop and see everything along the way. We could have probably spent another day or two making more stops along the way. We only gave ourselves two days to make it to St. Louis so we made a list of the sites we wanted to stop at, and the ones we could skip. Would I have liked to stop at them all? Hell yes!

I think James enjoyed himself. Some day we hope we can do the full trip with him, all the way to California. Stacy and I did the full trip in a week on our honeymoon, but we’d probably plan for two weeks if we were to do it again.

If you are interested in taking a trip down Route 66, there are plenty of books and websites available that you can use to help plan your trip. I can’t recommend anything, because I’m sure the books we bought before our honeymoon almost ten years ago are a bit outdated. A lot has changed since then. Some places are no longer there, and there may be some new attractions that have popped up in recent years.