Illinois Unveils 301-Mile Route 66 Centennial Tourism Campaign: 12-County Road-Trip Guide from Chicago to the Mississippi River

SEO Title: Illinois 301-Mile Route 66 Centennial County Guide (2026)
Meta Description: Illinois marks the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a 301-mile, 12-county tourism campaign from Chicago's Cook County to Madison & St. Clair.
Slug: illinois-route-66-centennial-301-mile-county-guide-2026
Standfirst: To mark the 100th anniversary of America's Mother Road in 2026, the Illinois Office of Tourism has launched a statewide campaign spanning 301 miles across 12 counties, from the iconic "Begin Route 66" sign in Chicago to the Mississippi River gateway.

Article

Illinois is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Route 66 with a coordinated 12-county tourism campaign extending 301 miles across the state.

Organized by the Illinois Office of Tourism alongside regional bureaus like Choose Chicago and the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau, the initiative distributes centennial events across every county along the highway to drive long-haul heritage road trips.

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Northern Gateway & Central Heritage Corridors

• Cook County: Home to Chicago and the internationally recognized "Begin Route 66" sign, serving as the official starting point.
• Will & Grundy Counties: Featuring Joliet's historic theaters, the Red Carpet Corridor Festival, and Gardner's vintage service stations.
• Livingston County: Anchored by Pontiac's Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum and downtown murals.
• McLean & Logan Counties: Highlighting Bloomington-Normal's "Cruisin' Through the Century" initiative and Lincoln's giant Covered Wagon attraction.

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Capital Celebrations, Historic Diners, and Mississippi River Finish

• Sangamon County: Springfield hosts centennial rallies linked to the Illinois State Fair and the Motorheads Route 66 Celebration.
• Macoupin, Montgomery & Bond Counties: Featuring Carlinville's historic square and Litchfield's Ariston Café (one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants on Route 66).
• Madison & St. Clair Counties: Anchoring the "Last 100 Miles" initiative across Edwardsville, Collinsville, and the historic Chain of Rocks bridge crossing the Mississippi River into Missouri.

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Data Tables

1. Illinois 301-Mile Route 66 Centennial 12-County Corridor Directory

County	Anchor Municipality	Signature Route 66 Attraction / Event	Strategic Tourism Focus
Cook County	Chicago	Official "Begin Route 66" Sign	Starting line gateway & urban culture
Will County	Joliet	Historic Theaters, Red Carpet Corridor Fest	Classic roadside heritage & auto gathering
Grundy County	Gardner	Preserved Vintage Service Stations	Authentic small-town Americana
Livingston County	Pontiac	Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum	Flagship heritage museum & mural trail
McLean County	Bloomington-Normal	"Cruisin' Through the Century" Program	Interactive historical storytelling
Logan County	Lincoln	Giant Covered Wagon & Lincoln Sites	Combined presidential & Route 66 history
Sangamon County	Springfield	Motorheads Celebration & State Fair	State capital events & car rallies
Macoupin County	Carlinville	Historic Square & Preserved Architecture	Slower-paced heritage driving routes
Montgomery County	Litchfield	Historic Ariston Café	Culinary road-trip dining heritage
Bond County	Greenville area	Traditional Small-Town Main Streets	Classic roadside hospitality
Madison County	Edwardsville / Collinsville	"Last 100 Miles" Initiative & Great Race	Documentary premieres, concerts, public art
St. Clair County	Chain of Rocks area	Chain of Rocks Bridge Corridor	Western riverfront gateway to Missouri

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Key Takeaways

• 301-Mile Statewide Corridor: 12 Illinois counties participate in the 2026 Route 66 100th anniversary campaign.
• Chicago Start to Mississippi Finish: Spans from Cook County's "Begin Route 66" sign to St. Clair's Chain of Rocks bridge.
• Flagship Attractions: Features Pontiac's Route 66 Hall of Fame, Litchfield's Ariston Café, and Springfield's Motorheads rally.
• Economic Distribution: Distributes visitor spending across small towns and historic roadside businesses.

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FAQ

Where does Route 66 officially begin in Illinois?

Route 66 officially begins in downtown Chicago, Cook County, marked by the historic "Begin Route 66" sign on Adams Street.

What is the total length of Route 66 across Illinois?

The historic highway stretches 301 miles across Illinois, passing through 12 participating counties.

What historic restaurant is featured on the Illinois Route 66 route?

The Ariston Café in Litchfield, Montgomery County, is one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants along the entire length of Route 66.