Route 66 is one of America’s most iconic road trips, stretching from Chicago to Santa Monica and packed with quirky roadside attractions, historic towns, and classic diners along the way. It’s a route that mixes nostalgia with unique and fun stops you won’t find anywhere else.
Plus, KOA campgrounds are conveniently located all along the Mother Road, making it easy for tent campers, cabin campers, and RVers to rest and recharge along the way. From the Windy City to the Santa Monica Pier, Route 66 and KOA are the perfect pairing for a road trip you’ll never forget.
Although you can travel Route 66 in either direction, this cross-country road is traditionally traveled east to west, beginning in Chicago, Illinois, and ending in Santa Monica, California. This initial stretch from Chicago to St. Louis is the farthest north and east you’ll get on the Mother Road. Prepare yourself for plenty of Midwestern charm, historic eateries (including real hot dogs and the fiberglass kind!), and two of the biggest cities you’ll encounter on your trip.
KOAs along the way:
St. Louis N.E /I-270 / Granite City KOA Journey
Route 66 Begin Sign | Chicago, IL
If you’re looking for a sign that it’s time to begin your trip, look up at the corner of East Adams Street and South Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Near Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Western shore of Lake Michigan, you’ll find the official “BEGIN” sign for the historic roadway. Covered in stickers from fellow travelers, the sign is located in an area with a lot of pedestrian and car traffic, so snap a quick photo or be prepared to stash your car in a nearby garage.
Old Joliet Prison | Joliet, IL
If the Old Joliet Prison sounds or looks familiar to you, you might have The Blues Brothers or Prison Break to thank. Originally known as Illinois State Penitentiary, the imposing limestone structure has made several TV and film appearances, including most famously in the beginning of the 1980 film featuring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as the titular brothers Elwood and “Joliet” Jake Blues. In the 1930s, Route 66 was rerouted away from Joliet and through the nearby town of Plainfield—but that hasn’t stopped the prison, which was operational from 1852 to 2002, from reinventing itself as a tourist attraction, offering self-guided historical tours and photography opportunities.
Gemini Giant | Wilmington, IL
In 1965, the owners of Wilmington, Illinois’ Dari-Delight restaurant paid $3,500 (more than $35k in today’s dollars!) for a 30-foot-tall, 438-pound Muffler Man to place outside of their business. Just a few years before the Moon landing, the restaurant rebranded as the “Launching Pad,” and the fiberglass giant was outfitted with a shiny silver helmet and rocket to match. The fate of the property and its iconic mascot has been uncertain over the years, transferring owners several times and falling on hard times. In 2024— for the first time in its history—the Gemini Giant was separated from the restaurant and sold at auction. The winning bid was made by the Joliet Area Historical Museum, which donated the statue back to the city and installed it in its new home on Wilmington’s South Island (a half mile from where it stood originally).
Atlanta, IL
If one roadside giant isn’t enough, you’ll be able to get your fill of fiberglass in the town of Atlanta, Illinois. The small town acknowledges both its shortcomings and appeal in its tagline: “Very small. Very friendly. Very Route 66.” This lesser-known Atlanta is home to a historic clock tower, the Route 66 Arcade Museum, a smiley face water tower, and seven murals painted by The Walldogs in conjunction with local residents. While Atlanta may have only a few thousand human residents, it’s chock-full of iconic statues rescued and restored from across the country thanks to the newly-opened American Giants Museum. Even if the museum is closed for the day, you can still visit Atlanta’s most famous resident, a 19-foot Paul Bunyon-style Muffler Man clutching an enormous hot dog that has stood outside SW Arch Street since 2003.
World’s Largest Catsup Bottle | Collinsville, IL
130 miles south of Atlanta, you’ll find a historic ketchup or “catsup” bottle capable of topping the Bunyon’s giant hot dog. Built in 1949 to supply the Brooks catsup plant (with water, not condiments!), if the bottle was functional, it’s estimated that the 70-foot-tall tower would have the capacity of approximately 640,000 regular glass catsup bottles. Relocated to Collinsville in the mid-1990s and set atop a 100-foot-tall platform, the water tower was restored by volunteers and added to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2002.
Gateway Arch | St. Louis, MO
For a more famous “world’s largest” record holder, exit Illinois and cross the Mighty Mississippi River into St. Louis, Missouri. Designed by architect Eero Saarinen and completed in 1965, the 630-foot-tall Gateway Arch is the centerpiece of Gateway Arch National Park. At less than 200-acres, it’s the country’s smallest national park! To get to the top of the world’s tallest arch—and Missouri’s tallest accessible structure—visitors have three choices: climb two sets of more than 1,000 stairs, or take the elevator or tram. An observation area near the top of the arch offers sweeping views of The Gateway City up to 30 miles in each direction.
Route 66 has so much more to explore
You still have so much left to see after you cross through the Gateway to the West, but take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come and prepare for what’s to come. From now on the roads will continue to flatten out, the skies will open up, and you’ll fall even more in love with the Mother Road with each passing mile.
About the Author: Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is the largest system of open-to-the-public campgrounds in the world, with over 500 locations across the United States and Canada. Founded in Billings, MT in 1962, KOA’s family of campground brands – KOA Journey, KOA Holiday and KOA Resort – today serve more than a million camping families each year. KOA is dedicated to “connecting people to the outdoors and each other” by providing people with a variety of camping experiences and the information they need to make the most of their camping trip. Read more of their camping and travel resources by visiting KOA.com/blog.
