Historic Route 66
Driving Directions

Driving the Byway

For Arizona:

This is a disjoint byway comprised of seven pieces. To travel all seven pieces you will have to take I-40 in-between. The longest connection of segments run from Topock north to the intersection with I-40, following the road until it joins with I-40 again, ending at mile marker 144 near Ash Fork. Follow 1-40 to the next segment of the byway which runs from mile markers 191 to 211 in Flagstaff. Continue along I-40 to reach the next segment of the byway which runs from mile markers 252-257 in Winslow. The next portion of the byway is from mile markers 274-277 in Joseph City. To reach the last section of the byway continue following I-40 to reach mile markers 285-289 in Holbrook.

For New Mexico:

From Amarillo, Texas, take I-40 westbound to the New Mexico border. Get on Historic Route 66 and take it to Tucumcari, where you get back on I-40. In Montoya, get back on Route 66 and follow it past Newkirk, Cuervo, and Blue Hole. Once you reach Santa Rosa, you pick up on I-40 again. At the intersection of I-40 and State Route 84, take 84 (which is actually Route 66) northbound toward Las Vegas. When you come to Romeroville, stay on Route 66 as it curves back to the southwest and passes San Jose, Rowe, Pecos, and Glorieta, and then as it goes up to Santa Fe. Continue through Santa Fe down to Algodones, where Route 66 continues as NM 313 through Santa Ana Pueblo, Bernalillo, and Sandia Pueblo.

When you reach Albuquerque, there are four different ways you can choose:

  • You can head east and go past Nob Hill, Tijeras, Edgewood, and Moriarty to Longhorn, where the original Route 66 ends and you turn around and go back the way you came.
  • You can go west and meet up again with I-40 near Rio Puerco, where you continue on I-40 to where it meets up again with Route 66 at the Cibola County line.
  • You can continue straight ahead and stay on Route 66 as it goes south through Isleta Pueblo and back up to join post-1938* Route 66 near Correo.
  • You can continue on Route 66 past Mesita, Laguna Pueblo, Budville, Cubero, San Fidel, McCartys, Grants, Milan, Bluewater, Prewitt, Thoreau, Top O' the World, Iyanbit, Ft. Wingate, and Gallup to the Arizona state line.

*Prior to 1938, Route 66 took the way up to Santa Fe and down to Albuquerque. After 1938, a more direct route was taken, and Route 36 cut directly from Albuquerque to Santa Rosa. Thus parts of the Historic Route 66 are pre-1938 and some are post-1938.

For Illinois:

The byway route is clearly marked by navigation signs.

From Lake Shore Drive and Jackson Boulevard in Chicago:

  • Travel straight on Jackson Boulevard 0.2 miles. The road enters a section of one-way streets.
  • Southbound travelers turn right on Michigan Avenue and travel for 0.1 miles, before turning left on Adams and traveling for 2.3 miles.
  • Northbound travelers turn right on Jackson Boulevard, and continue for 2.4 miles to the byway's eastern terminus.

Continuing along the byway:

  • Turn left onto Ogden Avenue and continue for 10.7 miles.
  • Turn left onto Lawndale and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn right on Joliet Road and continue 1.2 miles.
  • Turn right onto 55th Street and continue for .9 miles.
  • Turn left onto East Avenue and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn right on Joliet Road and continue for 2.7 miles until Joliet Road becomes I-55 Southbound.
  • Continue south on I-55 for 8.9 miles.
  • The byway continues south on Joliet Road through exit 269, while the Plainfield Braceville Loop takes Exit 261 westward.

To follow the Plainfield/Braceville Loop:

  • Take exit 261 from I-55 towards IL-126.
  • Follow IL-126 for 2.7 miles, then turn left onto IL 59.
  • Continue along IL-59 for 15.7 miles until you reach I-55 South.
  • Follow I-55 for 13 miles, and exit at exit 251.
  • Continue down IL-129 until you reach S. Mitchell Street in Braceville.
  • Turn left, and continue down the main designation of the byway.

To follow the main designation:

  • Take Exit 269 from I-55.
  • Continue down Joliet Road (IL 53) for 8 miles. The road will change to N. Broadway and Ruby Street before entering a section of one-way streets.
Southbound Travelers:
  • Turn right on Chicago Street and continue for .3 miles.
  • Veer left on Ottawa Street, and continue for .9 miles.
Northbound Travelers:
  • Continue straight on Chicago Street for .3 miles, then turn right onto W. Washington Street and travel for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto N. Scott Street and continue for .9 miles.
  • Turn left onto Columbia Street and continue for 0.1 miles.

Continuing southward toward Gardener:

  • Turn right from Ottawa Street onto Chicago Street and continue for 2.8 miles.
  • Chicago Street becomes S Chicago Street (both are IL 53), continue for 8 miles.
  • Continue for 4.6 miles down IL 53, then veer right on Baltimore Street and continue along IL 53 for 12.6 miles.
  • Turn left onto CR 6000E and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn right onto East Washington St. and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn left onto N Center St. and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn right onto Depot St. and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn right onto E Jefferson and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto N Jackson St. and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn right onto W Parker St. and continue for .2 miles.
  • W. Parker Street changes to Old Route 66, continue for .4 miles.
  • Turn left onto Old Route 66 and continue for 6.4 miles.

From Gardener to Pontiac:

  • Turn left on S Brewster Rd (IL 53) and continue for 1.7 miles.
  • Turn right onto W Waupansie St. and continue for .8 miles. The road will curve left.
  • Turn left onto S Old Route 66 and continue for .8 miles.
  • Turn right on Odell Rd. and continue for .4 miles.
  • Turn left on US 66 and continue for 5.7 miles.
  • Turn left onto N West St. (Old Route 66) and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn right on W Prairie St. and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn Left onto N&S West St. and continue for .8 miles.
  • Turn left onto US 66 and continue for 9.9 miles.

Through Pontiac:

  • Turn left onto Howard Street (IL 116) and continue for .4 miles.
  • Turn left onto Ladd Street (IL 28) and continue for .6 miles. The road curves right.
  • Turn right onto Lincoln and continue for .3 miles.
  • Wind along N Division St. for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto Aurora St. and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn right onto E Indiana and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn left onto N Main Street and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto E Water Street and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn left onto Vermillion Street and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn right onto W Reynolds St. and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn right onto Ladd Street (IL 28) and continue for .7 miles.
  • Turn left onto Howard Street (IL 116) and continue for .4 miles.
  • Turn left onto US 66 and continue for 7.5 miles.

From Pontiac to Normal/Bloomington:

  • Turn left onto N Morehead Street and continue for 0.4 miles.
  • Turn right onto W Cemetery Street and continue for 0.3 miles.
  • Turn left onto US 66 and continue for 51.9 miles.
  • Turn right onto Shelbourne and continue for 0.4 miles.
  • Turn left onto Henry Street and continue for 0.4 miles.
  • Turn right onto Pine Street and continue for 0.8 miles.
  • Turn left on Linden Street and continue for 0.4 miles.
  • Turn right on Willow Street and continue for 0.6 miles.
  • Turn left on Main Street (BUS 51) in Normal and continue for 0.2 miles.

The road goes into one-way sections through the Normal/Bloomington area.

To travel south from N. Main to Veteran's Parkway:

  • Veer right onto W College Avenue (BUS 51) and continue for 0.1 miles.
  • Veer left onto Kingsley Street (BUS 51) and continue for 0.4 miles.
  • Veer left onto N Center Street (BUS 51) and continue for 0.6 miles.
  • Turn right onto N Center Street and continue for 0.6 miles.
  • Turn right onto W Front Street and continue for 0.1 miles.
  • Turn left onto S Madison Street (BUS 51) and continue for 0.6 miles.
  • Turn right onto Oakland Avenue and continue for 0.7 miles.
  • Turn left onto S. Morris Avenue and continue for 1.1 miles.
  • Turn right onto Veteran's Parkway.

To travel north from Veteran's Parkway to N. Main:

  • Turn left onto S. Morris Avenue and continue for .9 miles.
  • Turn right onto W. Wood Street and continue for .8 miles.
  • Turn left onto S. Main St. and continue for .8 miles.
  • Turn left onto E. Front St. and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn right onto N. Main St. and continue for 2.25 miles.

Continuing south along the byway to Atlanta:

  • Turn right onto Veteran's Parkway (BUS 55) and continue for 2 miles.
  • Merge onto I-55 and continue for 2 miles.
  • Take Exit 154 and turn right onto CR 34 in Shirley. Continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn left onto US 66 and continue for 8.2 miles.
  • Turn left onto N. Steward Rd. and continue for .3 miles.
  • Steward Rd. intersects with E. South Street. Continue straight along E. South Street for .1 miles.
  • Turn right on E. Carlisle Street and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn left onto S. Main Street and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn right onto US 136 and continue for .4 miles. Do not cross railroad tracks.
  • Turn left on US 66 and continue for 4 miles.

From Atlanta to Williamsville:

  • Turn right onto NE Arch Street and continue for 1.5 miles.
  • Turn right onto US 66 (CR 2250 N) and continue 7.7 miles.
  • Turn left onto BUS 55 (Kickapoo Street) and continue for 1.6 miles.
  • Turn right onto Broadway Street and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn left onto Logan Street (BUS 55) and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn right onto Fifth Street and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn left onto US 66 and continue for 2.7 miles.
  • Turn left onto Old Rt. 66 (Frontage Road) and continue for 3.3 miles.
  • Turn left onto Old Route 66 (CR 22) and continue for .5 miles.
  • Continue along US 66 for 9.2 miles.

From Williamsville to Springville:

  • Turn left onto Elm Street and continue for 1 mile. The road veers right.
  • Turn right onto Old Rt 66 and continue for 0.6 miles. Use the right lane of the old 4-lane road.
  • Turn left onto CR 2 and continue for 0.4 miles.
  • From the overpass, turn left onto I-55 and continue for 4.5 miles.
  • Take Exit 105 on the right and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn right on S Sherman Blvd. and continue for 7.2 miles into Springfield. The road will change names to N Peoria Rd. and then 9th Street.

At 9th Street, the byway splits into two loops.

To follow the Route 4 loop:

  • Turn right on Capitol Avenue in Springfield and continue for .7 miles.
  • Turn left on 2nd Street and continue for .9 miles.
  • Turn right on South Grand Ave E (IL 54 and continue for .8 miles.
  • Turn left on MacArthur Boulevard and continue for 1.5 miles.
  • Turn right on Wabash Avenue and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn left on Chatham Road and continue for 3.1 miles.
  • Turn right on Woodside Road and continue for .8 miles.
  • Turn left on IL 4 (S. Veteran's Parkway) and continue for 3 miles.
  • Turn right on W Walnut Street (IL 5A) and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn left onto N. Church Street and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn right onto N Main Street (IL 4) and continue for 1.6 miles.
  • Continue along IL 4 for another 4.9 miles.
  • Turn right on Hambuch Rd and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn left on Curran rd. and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn right on IL 4 and continue for 4.7 miles.
  • Turn left on Harrison Ave. and continue .7 miles.
  • Turn right onto W Sycamore Street and continue .3 miles.
  • Turn left onto IL 4 (Springfield Street) and continue for 3.1 miles.
  • Turn right onto Loud Street and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn left onto Wrightsman and continue for .6 miles until you exit the town of Virden.

From Virden to the square in Carlinville:

  • Go straight, (Wrightsman will become IL 4) and continue 2.6 miles.
  • Turn right onto IL 4 and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto Madison Street and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn left onto 6th Street and continue for .9 miles.
  • 6th Street becomes Cambridge Road, continue along Cambridge Road for 1.9 miles.
  • Turn right on Wylder Road, continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn left onto Standard City Road and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn right onto Morean Rd. and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn left onto Vine Street and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn right onto Morean Street and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn left onto IL 4 and continue for 1.8 miles.
  • Turn left onto Donaldson Road and continue for .5 miles.
  • Donaldson Road curves right, continue for .7 miles.
  • Donaldson Road curves left, continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn right on Allen Road and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn left on IL 4 and continue for 2.9 miles.
  • Turn left onto Harvest Road and continue for .6 miles.
  • Harvest Road curves right, continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn left on IL 4 and continue for 3.2 miles until you reach the square in Carlinville. IL 4 will become Broad Street.

The byway enters a section of one-way roads around the square in Carlinville.

When traveling south:

  • Turn right on the north side of the square, then immediately turn left and continue down the west side of the square for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto the south side of the square, then turn right to continue along Broad Street.

When traveling north:

  • turn right along the south side of the square, then turn left along the east side of the square.
  • Continue for .1 miles, and then turn left along the north side of the square. Turn right to return onto Broad Street.

Continuing south towards the end of the Route 4 loop:

  • Travel along Broad Street for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto IL 4 (W 1st South Street) and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn right onto IL 4 and continue for 5.2 miles.
  • Turn right onto Deerfield Rd. and continue for .9 miles.
  • Turn right to follow Deerfield Rd. and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn left onto IL 4 (Springfield Rd.) and continue for 4.5 miles.
  • Continue along IL 4 for .4 miles, then turn right onto E Elm Street (IL 4 and 16) and continue for .5 miles.
  • Turn left onto S Macoupin Street (IL 4) and continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto W Easton Street (IL 4) and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn left on Green Street and continue for .8 miles.
  • Green Street becomes IL 4, under the names Staunton Road and N Hardroad; continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn left on N Hardroad and continue for 1.5 miles.
  • Turn left to continue along N Hardroad (IL 4 and IL 138), travel for .6 miles.
  • Continue along IL 4 for 5.9 miles.
  • Turn right to continue along IL 4 (W North Street) for .1 miles.
  • Turn left to continue along IL 4 (S Hibbard Street) for .2 miles.
  • Turn right to continue along IL 4 (W Pearl) for .4 miles.
  • Turn left to continue along IL 4 (S Hackman Street) for 1 mile.
  • Turn right to continue along IL 4 (Oxfort Road) for .2 miles.
  • Turn left to continue along IL 4 for 1.9 miles. The primary designation joins up with IL 4 at this point.

To take the primary designation from 9th Street in Springfield, the byway follows a one-way section of road.

To travel south:

  • Continue on 9th Street for 1.5 miles.
  • Turn right on South Grand Avenue East and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn right on 6th Street and continue for 1.5 miles.
  • Turn left on Enos Avenue and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn left on 5th Street and continue for 3 miles.
  • Veer left on 5th Street, continue .1 miles to merge with 6th Street.

To travel north from 6th Street:

  • Travel north for 3 miles.
  • Turn left onto Enos Street and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto 5th Street and continue for 1.5 miles.
  • Turn left onto South Grand Avenue and continue for .4 miles.
  • Turn left onto 9th Street, and travel for 1.5 miles to resume the primary route.

Continuing south along the byway towards Litchfield:

  • Follow S. Sixth Street as it becomes I-55 for 5.5 miles.
  • Take exit 88, turning right then left to find E Lake Shore Drive, continue along E Lake Shore Drive for 1.2 miles.
  • Turn right onto CR 125 E (Old Rt. 66) and continue for 1.3 miles.
  • Turn right onto CR 9S and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto Old Route 66 and continue for 3 miles.
  • Turn right, then left to continue along Old Rt 66 for another 1.75 miles.
  • Turn left onto Frazee Road and continue for 2 miles.
  • Turn left onto IL 104 and continue for .1 miles, then merge onto I-55 at Exit 82.
  • Turn right to enter I-55, and continue for 1.3 miles.
  • Turn right onto Brown Street and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto S Reichart Road and continue for 3.1 miles.
  • The road name changes to W Frontage Road, continue 5.5 miles, cross CR 17 and continue along 66.
  • The road name changes to Witt Street, continue for .3 miles.
  • The road name changes to Frontage Road (CR 295 E), continue for 13.5 miles.

From Litchfield to the intersection of the Route 4 loop:

  • Turn left on CR 24 and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn right along US 66 and continue for 3.3 miles.
  • Turn left on CR 1800N, then immediately turn left onto Old US Rt 66, continue for 3.5 miles.
  • Turn right on CR 1800 N, then immediately turn left onto Old US Rt 66 and continue for 4.5 miles.
  • Turn left to continue along Old US Rt 66 for 4.5 miles.
  • The road changes to E Frontage Road; continue .7 miles.
  • Turn right to continue along E Frontage road for 1.9 miles.
  • Veer left onto Keller St. and continue for .3 miles.
  • Veer right onto Rt 16 Rd / Henry St. and continue for .3 miles.
  • Veer left onto Historic Old Rt 66 and continue for .6 miles.
  • Turn left to continue along Historic Old Rt 66 for .3 miles.
  • The road changes to Sievers Road, continue for 1 mile.
  • Turn right, then left onto Williamson Road, continue for 1.2 miles to the intersection of the Route 4 Loop.

To continue along the byway:

  • Turn left onto IL 4 and continue for 3 miles.
  • Turn right onto Possum Hill Rd and continue for .1 miles.
  • Turn left onto W Frontage Road (IL 157) and continue for 3.5 miles.
  • The road changes to Hillsboro Ave. (IL 157), continue for .6 miles.
  • The road continues as IL 157 for 6.6 miles.
  • Veer left on Hillsboro Ave (IL 157 & IL 143) for 1 mile.
  • Turn right onto E Vandalia and continue for .8 miles.
  • Veer right on St Louis St. for .5 miles.
  • Turn left onto West Street and continue for .2 miles.
  • Veer right on IL 157 for 2.5 miles.
  • Veer right to continue along IL 157 (N Bluff Rd) for 2.2 miles.
  • Turn right on Chain of Rocks Road and continue for 4.6 miles.

To follow the Chain of Rocks Bridge Spur:

  • merge right onto I-270 W and continue for .2 miles.
  • Turn right onto Old Alton Road and continue for .3 miles.
  • Turn right onto W Chain of Rocks Road and continue for 4.2 miles.

To continue along the byway:

  • Turn left on Nameoki Rd. (IL 203) and continue for 2.7 miles.
  • Veer left to continue along Nameoki Rd (IL 203) for 2.3 miles.
  • Turn right on Edwardsville Rd. (162) and continue for 1.7 miles.
  • Turn left on McCambridge Drive (IL 203) and continue for .5 miles.

To follow the Cahokia Mounds/ Collinsville Spur:

  • Continue straight down IL 203 for 1 mile. Be sure to stay on IL 203.
  • Turn left on Collinsville Rd. and continue for 5.2 miles.
  • Turn right onto S Ramey Drive and continue for .2 miles.

To cross the Mississippi River into Missouri:

  • Veer left on IL 203 and continue for 2.6 miles.
  • Enter I-55 ramp at Exit 4.
  • Turn right on I-55, and travel 3 miles to cross into Missouri on the Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge.