Route 66

Day 1: Chicago IL to Springfield IL

Route 66: Day 1 Chicago IL to Springfield IL

Postcard from Springfield, Illinois

First 202 miles done. Feat: three flash  flooding alerts, two tornadoes, two weird giants, one delicious hot dog, a number of charming small cities, a glorious sunny entrance into Springfield. An eventful birthday, I say.


Route66 Chicago to Springfield: the Begin sign in downtown Chicago
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: the Begin sign in downtown Chicago


Driving from Chicago to Springfield Cheat Sheet

Accommodation in Springfield:

Where to eat and what to see between Chicago IL and Springfield IL

  • Launching Pad, 810 E Baltimore St – btw East & Daniels -, Wilmington. Home of the Gemini Giant. I had a great hot dog and a Route 66 branded root beer.
  • Route 66 Museum,110 W Howard St, Pontiac. Worth stopping at least to take a picture of the murales


Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: Ready to go!
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: Ready to go!

Driving from Chicago to Springfield FAQ

How many miles are from Chicago to Springfield?

There are 202 miles between Chicago and Springfield.

How long does it take to drive from Chicago to Springfield?

You can drive from Chicago to Springfield in about 3 hours but it really depends on a few factors including traffic (leaving Chicago) and the weather. It took me about 7 hours both cause I stopped for lunch and to take some picture but mostly cause of the heavy rain.

What’s the best thing about driving from Chicago to Springfield?

Driving from Chicago to Springfield you pass from a number of pretty charming towns.

What are the major attractions along the way in a road trip from Chicago to Springfield?

Excluding Chicago for obvious reasons the main attractions from Chicago to Springfield are a few classic iconic figures such as the Launching Pad in Wilmington and the Hot Dog Muffler Man in Atlanta. The small towns of Joliet and Pontiac are worth a stop.

What type of car is best to drive from Chicago to Springfield?

It depends on the season. In summer you can drive from Springfield to Cuba with any car. In coldest months a mid size SUV is more practical cause the weather can get pretty nasty.


Route 66 pictures: photos taken from Chicago to Springfield

Route 66 Chicago to Springfield - Midwest summer weather
Driving the Route 66: first day, 2 tornado alerts. Great start, right?

Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: Dick's on Route 66
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: Dick’s on Route 66

Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: the Gemini Giant, Wilmington
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: the Gemini Giant, Wilmington

Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: a great hot dog and a fresh root beer
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: a great hot dog and a fresh root beer to relax a bit after the tornados

Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: the Hot Dog Muffler Man giant in Atlanta, IL
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: the Hot Dog Muffler Man giant in Atlanta, IL

Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: almost in Springfield
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: almost in Springfield

Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: an old gas station
Route 66, Chicago to Springfield: an old gas station

My itinerary on the Route 66



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