Chicago, IL to Joplin, MO

Kirk Woodward's Diary of Route 66 Chicago, IL to Joplin, MO

Chicago The beginning of Route 66 is now taken to be Adams Street @ Michigan Avenue. Adams street is not cut through to Lake Michigan and most of the Route 66 literature talks about "from the shore of Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean." That's because before Chicago installed one way streets, the street south of Adams, Jackson - which does go through to Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan but now is eastbound one way - was Route 66. I stayed overnight at the Grant Park Best Western Hotel (Michigan Ave @ 11^th.

There are two ways to "run 66" out of downtown Chicago. The first is to take Adams Street straight west, following the Route 66 signs. You'll eventually be directed up on I-55, thence to Joliet Road and south. BUT that route is through some tough looking territory in the third largest city of the United States and over two "grid" bridges. ("Grid" bridges have a steel grid work for a floor - a really scary sensation on a motorcycle, much like grooved pavement.)

My recommendation is to get a quick picture of that "Begin" sign, then turn left at the very next intersection, take Jackson to Lake Shore Drive and Lake Shore Drive

south to Interstate 55.

And another thing: I arrived in downtown Chicago with just fumes in my gas tank. That's because when I got on I-55 north of Joliet I assumed I would have many opportunities to buy gas in the 40 miles that separated me from downtown. NOT! I saw not a single station! Finally, in desperation, I pulled into a Loop parking garage and explained my problem. They directed me to a station four blocks away - and I held my breath all the way there. I didn't dispute the sky high price.

Leaving via I-55 I looked very closely and now assume that there is no gas available between Joliet Road and downtown Chicago on I-55.

Joliet, IL I left I-55 at State Route 6 in anticipation of "moteling" for the night and draining off profits from one of the river boat casinos Joliet promotes. The only casino I saw was The Empress and they were full up. Never saw another! That might be because I was northbound and Joliet splits the highway onto one way streets. Perhaps the southbound traffic has access to the casinos? Crossing not one but two "grid" bridges in rush hour scared me bad enough that all I wanted from Joliet was out.

Dwight, IL Phil and Debbie Becker's Amoco gas station is a delightful mix of old and new. The station is new, sparkling clean, and they had one of the best selections of Route 66 merchandise I saw on my trip. They are just south of I-55 at Dwight.

Pontiac, IL I've never been disappointed by the courthouse squares of towns in the United States. They are uniformly neat, clean and nice places to take a break. Pontiac was no exception.

Funk's Grove Rest Stop (South of Bloomington-Normal, Exit 149)

Funk's Grove
It is not often that an Interstate Rest Stop makes a "must see" ranking, but this one earns it. In addition to the usual amenities, you'll see the land much as the first settlers did. The grove of trees the stop is situated in is old growth timber. There is a stillness and quiet that will make for a delightful break from the Interstate. The well publicized "Sirup" sign and the "city" of Funks Grove is east of I-55, Just South of Shirley, IL.

Dixie Truck Stop

McLean, IL
Always open - the legend goes that they lost the key to the front door in the 30's and haven't needed one since. Elsewhere on the road I'd been told they would have a terrific selection of Route 66 merchandise but I was disappointed.

Lincoln, IL Of the 19 or so towns in the U.S. named Lincoln, this is the only city that took the name while Abraham Lincoln was still alive. The Postville Courthouse State Historical Site - right on Route 66 - memorializes Lincoln's twice yearly visits when he was "circuit riding" as an attorney living in nearby Springfield, IL.

The "circuit riders" were a party made up of the Judge, District Attorney and a group of lawyers who would arrive a day or two before court commenced. Lawyers such as Lincoln would set up for business in the courthouse, local inn or wherever they could find room to meet with prospective clients

Court was a social as well as a judicial event. Citizens flocked to the country seat for court sessions and to sell farm products, buy supplies, visit neighbors, talk politics, gossip and listen to news and stories from the judge and lawyers. Often the judge, lawyers and litigants stayed in the same inns, sharing meals and telling stores in the evening after court adjourned for the day.

Springfield, IL The "Land of Lincoln" focal point. The state captial and site of the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned. New Salem State Park is where Lincoln lived and worked before his public life. Lincoln, his wife Mary and other family members are buried in Springfield.

Niehaus Cycle

Drive In Theater

Litchfield, IL
Take exit 52 from I-55 and turn north at the third traffic light. Niehaus will be on the right, Route 66 Courts on the left. Niehaus is the largest motorcycle dealership I've ever visited. Two buildings packed with bikes and gear . . . 26 employees. Still run by the Niehaus family - brothers Brad and Brian now in charge.

Litchfield has marked Route 66 twice. First is the divided highway Route 66 and then Old Route 66, a two laner where the Niehaus shop is located. Their mail order business ships all over the world and they often pick up bike customers at the St. Louis airport and bring them back to take delivery of their motorcycle at their dealership.

The drive in theater at Litchfield is the only drive in theater I saw that is still in operation. It was quite a blast from the past for me. We loved drive-ins when our children were small. It was the perfect, cheap, evening's entertainment for the whole family. We'd hit the swings and the refreshment stand hard and could usually count on the kids to fade not long after the cartoon. If I was staying the night in Litchfield, it would be on my agenda.

Route 66 between Litchfield and Springfield runs exactly parallel to I-55. A nice break from freeway blasting.

St. Louis, MO State Route 157 between Staunton and I-270 approximates Rte 66 but there was a lot of construction going on I-270. I understand from others that heavy construction on I-270 has pretty much been a way of life for years. I-270 does pass just north of the famous Chain of Rocks Bridge but that brief view wasn't worth the hassle to me. A group is seeking to turn the now closed Chain of Rocks Bridge into a recreation area and when that comes to pass I would want to come this way and visit.

Following I-44 & I-55 to the south and east of the city will give you a dramatic peek at the Arch. It is very impressive but you won't be able to take a picture unless you exit the Interstate or your passenger is ready to snap away when you cross over the Mississippi River.

At the entrance to Six Flags just west of St. Louis I stumbled on a neat little road north of the Interstate. It might or might not be original Route 66 but it was a delightful hill and dale twistie with a posted limit of 40mph. I never got that fast. Fox Creek Road is what the signs said. It led into Route 100 which is original Route 66. Headed toward Chicago you would take exit 257 to get to Rte 100 and Fox Creek Road.

Meremec State Park

Sullivan, MO
64 miles west of St. Louis. This is the first time I camped anywhere - including mountains of Colorado - where I couldn't use my cellular phone. "No Service" blinked continuously. The heavily advertised Meremec Caverns is at Stanton, MO, the state park is at Sullivan, MO. Camping is also available at the Caverns (a KOA) but the state park only charged $6.00 for my heavily wooded tent site. It is tough for any "for profit" campground to compete with state and national parks - the state and national folks got the choicest locations first and by virtue of their tax revenues don't have to charge as much.

Bourbon, MO When I stopped to take this picture I really wondered how many miles of film had been used to capture the Bourbon, MO water towers.

Where I stood to take the picture I also saw a most interesting wild flower beside the road. It looked like nothing so much as a snowflake, but I'm hoping someone seeing this knows more about it.

Exit 230 Two museums side by side at this exit: The Jesse James Museum and Antique Toy Museum. James is said to have used the Meremec Caverns as a hideout.

Missouri Interstate Without a doubt the most scenic Interstate highway (is that an oxymoron?) I rode following Route 66. You are skirting the northern Ozark Mountains and there are hills and curves galore. The hills are steep enough that the engineers designed in a third climbing lane on the Interstate. I don't recall seeing that before.

Missouri was also the first place I've seen the mileage stated in kilometers . . . just on the one sign saying "St. Louis, 100 miles, 161 kilometers."

The Historic Route 66 signs while welcome were somewhat confusing. I would exit the Interstate then the 66 sign would have arrows pointing both left and right. I wasn't certain which direction to go in order to continue in the direction I wanted to go.

Missouri also calls their access roads "Outer Roads."

Waynesville, MO Interesting little town. Business Route I-44 gives you a good look at the town.

Sleeper, MO The Historic Route 66 sign is clear and you wind up on Route "F," but after going 7 or 8 miles north I decided I was wandering further afield than I wanted to so I backtracked to the Interstate. Route "F" shows up a lot around this part of Missouri, so perhaps it is one of the earlier alignments of 66.

Geologists will notice that there is little or no "folding" of the rock layers the Interstate has cut through in this part of Missouri. In Oklahoma (and elsewhere) the folding or setting on edge of the rock layers can be seen - can you imagine the force necessary to accomplish that?

Phillipsburg, MO Route "C" (south of the city) traces the Route 66 alignment. (Missouri uses letters of the alphabet - in addition to numbers - to identify their state highways.) The stretch of "C" between Phillipsburg and Lebanon is a delight for motorcyclists . . . up hill and down, 30 mph curves, etc. Route 5 intersects "C" south of Lebanon . . . "C" turns to gravel beyond its join with 5.

Springfield, MO One of 22 Springfields in the United States. The Historic Route 66 sign got me into town but, other than the City Hall, I didn't see anything on the route that I would recommend to others. In retrospect, I would have stayed on I-44.

Joplin, MO Joplin is where you need to decide if you are going to jog off the Interstate and follow Rte 66 through Kansas. Those 13 miles were lopped off the route when the Interstate opened. I took the Kansas jog,

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Chicago	The beginning of Route 66 is now taken to be Adams Street @ Michigan Avenue. Adams street is not cut through to Lake Michigan and most of the Route 66 literature talks about "from the shore of Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean." That's because before Chicago installed one way streets, the street south of Adams, Jackson - which does go through to Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan but now is eastbound one way - was Route 66. I stayed overnight at the Grant Park Best Western Hotel (Michigan Ave @ 11^th. There are two ways to "run 66" out of downtown Chicago. The first is to take Adams Street straight west, following the Route 66 signs. You'll eventually be directed up on I-55, thence to Joliet Road and south. BUT that route is through some tough looking territory in the third largest city of the United States and over two "grid" bridges. ("Grid" bridges have a steel grid work for a floor - a really scary sensation on a motorcycle, much like grooved pavement.) My recommendation is to get a quick picture of that "Begin" sign, then turn left at the very next intersection, take Jackson to Lake Shore Drive and Lake Shore Drive
	south to Interstate 55. And another thing: I arrived in downtown Chicago with just fumes in my gas tank. That's because when I got on I-55 north of Joliet I assumed I would have many opportunities to buy gas in the 40 miles that separated me from downtown. NOT! I saw not a single station! Finally, in desperation, I pulled into a Loop parking garage and explained my problem. They directed me to a station four blocks away - and I held my breath all the way there. I didn't dispute the sky high price. Leaving via I-55 I looked very closely and now assume that there is no gas available between Joliet Road and downtown Chicago on I-55.
Joliet, IL	I left I-55 at State Route 6 in anticipation of "moteling" for the night and draining off profits from one of the river boat casinos Joliet promotes. The only casino I saw was The Empress and they were full up. Never saw another! That might be because I was northbound and Joliet splits the highway onto one way streets. Perhaps the southbound traffic has access to the casinos? Crossing not one but two "grid" bridges in rush hour scared me bad enough that all I wanted from Joliet was out.
Dwight, IL	Phil and Debbie Becker's Amoco gas station is a delightful mix of old and new. The station is new, sparkling clean, and they had one of the best selections of Route 66 merchandise I saw on my trip. They are just south of I-55 at Dwight.
Pontiac, IL	I've never been disappointed by the courthouse squares of towns in the United States. They are uniformly neat, clean and nice places to take a break. Pontiac was no exception.
Funk's Grove Rest Stop (South of Bloomington-Normal, Exit 149) Funk's Grove	It is not often that an Interstate Rest Stop makes a "must see" ranking, but this one earns it. In addition to the usual amenities, you'll see the land much as the first settlers did. The grove of trees the stop is situated in is old growth timber. There is a stillness and quiet that will make for a delightful break from the Interstate. The well publicized "Sirup" sign and the "city" of Funks Grove is east of I-55, Just South of Shirley, IL.
Dixie Truck Stop McLean, IL	Always open - the legend goes that they lost the key to the front door in the 30's and haven't needed one since. Elsewhere on the road I'd been told they would have a terrific selection of Route 66 merchandise but I was disappointed.
Lincoln, IL	Of the 19 or so towns in the U.S. named Lincoln, this is the only city that took the name while Abraham Lincoln was still alive. The Postville Courthouse State Historical Site - right on Route 66 - memorializes Lincoln's twice yearly visits when he was "circuit riding" as an attorney living in nearby Springfield, IL. The "circuit riders" were a party made up of the Judge, District Attorney and a group of lawyers who would arrive a day or two before court commenced. Lawyers such as Lincoln would set up for business in the courthouse, local inn or wherever they could find room to meet with prospective clients Court was a social as well as a judicial event. Citizens flocked to the country seat for court sessions and to sell farm products, buy supplies, visit neighbors, talk politics, gossip and listen to news and stories from the judge and lawyers. Often the judge, lawyers and litigants stayed in the same inns, sharing meals and telling stores in the evening after court adjourned for the day.
Springfield, IL	The "Land of Lincoln" focal point. The state captial and site of the only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned. New Salem State Park is where Lincoln lived and worked before his public life. Lincoln, his wife Mary and other family members are buried in Springfield.
Niehaus Cycle Drive In Theater Litchfield, IL	Take exit 52 from I-55 and turn north at the third traffic light. Niehaus will be on the right, Route 66 Courts on the left. Niehaus is the largest motorcycle dealership I've ever visited. Two buildings packed with bikes and gear . . . 26 employees. Still run by the Niehaus family - brothers Brad and Brian now in charge. Litchfield has marked Route 66 twice. First is the divided highway Route 66 and then Old Route 66, a two laner where the Niehaus shop is located. Their mail order business ships all over the world and they often pick up bike customers at the St. Louis airport and bring them back to take delivery of their motorcycle at their dealership. The drive in theater at Litchfield is the only drive in theater I saw that is still in operation. It was quite a blast from the past for me. We loved drive-ins when our children were small. It was the perfect, cheap, evening's entertainment for the whole family. We'd hit the swings and the refreshment stand hard and could usually count on the kids to fade not long after the cartoon. If I was staying the night in Litchfield, it would be on my agenda. Route 66 between Litchfield and Springfield runs exactly parallel to I-55. A nice break from freeway blasting.
St. Louis, MO	State Route 157 between Staunton and I-270 approximates Rte 66 but there was a lot of construction going on I-270. I understand from others that heavy construction on I-270 has pretty much been a way of life for years. I-270 does pass just north of the famous Chain of Rocks Bridge but that brief view wasn't worth the hassle to me. A group is seeking to turn the now closed Chain of Rocks Bridge into a recreation area and when that comes to pass I would want to come this way and visit. Following I-44 & I-55 to the south and east of the city will give you a dramatic peek at the Arch. It is very impressive but you won't be able to take a picture unless you exit the Interstate or your passenger is ready to snap away when you cross over the Mississippi River. At the entrance to Six Flags just west of St. Louis I stumbled on a neat little road north of the Interstate. It might or might not be original Route 66 but it was a delightful hill and dale twistie with a posted limit of 40mph. I never got that fast. Fox Creek Road is what the signs said. It led into Route 100 which is original Route 66. Headed toward Chicago you would take exit 257 to get to Rte 100 and Fox Creek Road.
Meremec State Park Sullivan, MO	64 miles west of St. Louis. This is the first time I camped anywhere - including mountains of Colorado - where I couldn't use my cellular phone. "No Service" blinked continuously. The heavily advertised Meremec Caverns is at Stanton, MO, the state park is at Sullivan, MO. Camping is also available at the Caverns (a KOA) but the state park only charged $6.00 for my heavily wooded tent site. It is tough for any "for profit" campground to compete with state and national parks - the state and national folks got the choicest locations first and by virtue of their tax revenues don't have to charge as much.
Bourbon, MO	When I stopped to take this picture I really wondered how many miles of film had been used to capture the Bourbon, MO water towers. Where I stood to take the picture I also saw a most interesting wild flower beside the road. It looked like nothing so much as a snowflake, but I'm hoping someone seeing this knows more about it.
Exit 230	Two museums side by side at this exit: The Jesse James Museum and Antique Toy Museum. James is said to have used the Meremec Caverns as a hideout.
Missouri Interstate	Without a doubt the most scenic Interstate highway (is that an oxymoron?) I rode following Route 66. You are skirting the northern Ozark Mountains and there are hills and curves galore. The hills are steep enough that the engineers designed in a third climbing lane on the Interstate. I don't recall seeing that before. Missouri was also the first place I've seen the mileage stated in kilometers . . . just on the one sign saying "St. Louis, 100 miles, 161 kilometers." The Historic Route 66 signs while welcome were somewhat confusing. I would exit the Interstate then the 66 sign would have arrows pointing both left and right. I wasn't certain which direction to go in order to continue in the direction I wanted to go. Missouri also calls their access roads "Outer Roads."
Waynesville, MO	Interesting little town. Business Route I-44 gives you a good look at the town.
Sleeper, MO	The Historic Route 66 sign is clear and you wind up on Route "F," but after going 7 or 8 miles north I decided I was wandering further afield than I wanted to so I backtracked to the Interstate. Route "F" shows up a lot around this part of Missouri, so perhaps it is one of the earlier alignments of 66. Geologists will notice that there is little or no "folding" of the rock layers the Interstate has cut through in this part of Missouri. In Oklahoma (and elsewhere) the folding or setting on edge of the rock layers can be seen - can you imagine the force necessary to accomplish that?
Phillipsburg, MO	Route "C" (south of the city) traces the Route 66 alignment. (Missouri uses letters of the alphabet - in addition to numbers - to identify their state highways.) The stretch of "C" between Phillipsburg and Lebanon is a delight for motorcyclists . . . up hill and down, 30 mph curves, etc. Route 5 intersects "C" south of Lebanon . . . "C" turns to gravel beyond its join with 5.
Springfield, MO	One of 22 Springfields in the United States. The Historic Route 66 sign got me into town but, other than the City Hall, I didn't see anything on the route that I would recommend to others. In retrospect, I would have stayed on I-44.
Joplin, MO	Joplin is where you need to decide if you are going to jog off the Interstate and follow Rte 66 through Kansas. Those 13 miles were lopped off the route when the Interstate opened. I took the Kansas jog,