The next morning, I woke up around 6:45 am, still battling a bit of jet lag and sore legs from cycling yesterday in Chicago, but I was excited about the drive to Springfield via Pontiac. We eventually headed down for breakfast around 8 am and managed to check out of the motel by 9 am. Then, it was officially shopping time! Our road took us first to TJ Maxx to pick up some clothes and other bits and pieces. I was particularly pleased to find some new jeans (a slightly bigger size, perhaps thanks to travel snacks in the car!), shorts, socks (8 years later I am still using them!) and t-shirts.
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After that, we made a stop at Walmart, primarily for food supplies, especially lots of peppered beef jerky in packs of 1kg, which was a great find and only around $20 per pack! We also snagged some really cheap sleeping bags there. The total food shopping bill was $250 (probably half of it was jerky beef).
Most importantly, we were incredibly lucky because my amazing cousin in Chicago had already organised few blankets, gas stove for cooking and a tent for us, plus a ton of fantastic snacks! Her help was absolutely invaluable for the success of this Route 66 trip. We couldn’t have brought so much for the trip with an airplane and buying all just to throw out would have been excessive waste.
Amber’s Texaco Gas Station
As we officially hit the road on Route 66, one of those classic, must-see stops is Amber’s Texaco Gas Station in Dwight, Illinois. Stepping up to this old station feels like stepping back in time, a perfect slice of vintage Americana. It’s not a place to get gas anymore, but justz a beautifully restored piece of history, complete with the iconic Texaco star and classic pumps. Many travellers stop here to take photos, soak in the nostalgia, and really feel the spirit of the Mother Road.
A volunteer guy who was working there was very helpful and friendly. He left a superb impression of the gas station!
We left the pins in the map. Seems a few people came from Lithuania before, but this year we were the first ones!
Standard Oil Gas Station
Our second official stop on our Route 66 adventure brought us to the classic Standard Oil Gas Station. This place is a real step back in time, a perfectly preserved piece of roadside history that just screams vintage Americana. Stepping inside, we found an old lady behind the counter, surrounded by all sorts of Route 66 souvenirs. While she wasn’t the most talkative person we met on the road, her grumpy presence added to the authentic feel of the place.
After soaking in the nostalgia at the gas station, we took a walk to the actual Route 66 sign painted right on the road – it was less than a minute away, thankfully! This wasn’t just any road marking; it was an impressively large and vibrant sign, practically begging for photos. The background for our pictures was equally fantastic, filled with a parade of beautiful motorbikes and old cars, adding to the perfect Route 66 atmosphere. It felt like the road itself was putting on a show for us!
Pontiac’s Route 66 Mural
After those initial stops, we headed towards Pontiac with high hopes of seeing that famous big Route 66 mural. Pontiac is known for its vibrant Route 66 art, and the mural is a major highlight. While exploring the town, we popped into a museum and had a wonderful unexpected encounter – we met a gentleman whose father was Lithuanian! He was incredibly friendly and practically rushed over to us, even he was using walking stick, once he heard where we were from. It’s amazing how you find little connections like that in the most unexpected places, and it just reinforced how welcoming the people along Route 66 can be.
Lucky for us, it turned out there was some kind of Pontiac meet-up happening that day! These kinds of local car shows or heritage events are actually quite common in towns along Route 66, often celebrating classic vehicles and the road’s culture. They had closed off a street for the event and were charging a small entrance fee, but even though we didn’t go into the paid area, it was still cool to see all the classic Pontiac cars around and take pictures with some of them right there in front of the famous Route 66 mural in Pontiac. It felt like a perfect, spontaneous Route 66 moment! Especially when a cherry colour pontiac showed up!
Roszell’s Soda Fountain Mural in Pontiac
Just on the other side of the road from Route 66 artwork there was another delightful mural, particularly if you’re looking for a sweet treat and a dose of nostalgia, was a place like Roszell’s soda fountain. While specific locations can change or be restored, a classic Route 66 soda fountain like Roszell’s would have been a popular spot in its heyday, often found in towns along the route. These places were more than just ice cream shops; they were social hubs where travellers and locals could grab a stool at the counter, enjoy a milkshake or an ice cream sundae, and chat. They represent a charming piece of the past, a reminder of simpler times on the open road.
Daniels Oil Co. Mural in Pontiac
Pontiac is truly a town that embraces its Route 66 heritage through its artwork. Right next to the Roszell’s Soda Fountain Mural, you’ll find the Daniels Oil Co. mural. This painting pays tribute to the old gas stations and the automotive history of the Mother Road, often depicting vintage cars and scenes related to fuelling up for the journey. It’s another great example of how Pontiac uses murals to tell the story of Route 66 and add to the town’s unique character.
Wishing Well Motel Sign in Pontiac
If you look right from Route 66 mural, another fun photo opportunity presented itself: the Wishing Well Motel sign. This vintage-style sign for the Wishing Well Motel, located right in the town center, perfectly captures the spirit of the old roadside motels that dotted Route 66 in its prime. Its presence adds to the nostalgic atmosphere of Pontiac and provides another great spot for travelers to snap a classic Route 66 picture.
Route 66 Driving Map Mural in Pontiac
Speaking of murals, one of the absolute highlights in Pontiac is the incredible Route 66 Driving Map Mural. Painted on the side of a building, this massive artwork isn’t just a pretty picture; it’s a detailed map of the entire historic route, stretching all the way from Chicago to Santa Monica. It’s a fantastic visual representation of the journey ahead and a popular spot for travelers to get oriented, plan their next steps, and, of course, take more photos. Seeing the whole route laid out like that really brings home the scale and history of the Mother Road.
Drink Coca Cola Mural in Pontiac
And speaking of classic Americana, you can’t miss the iconic “Drink Coca-Cola” mural, which is just accross the road from the Driving Map Mural. These vintage advertisements painted on the sides of buildings were a common sight along old highways, and seeing one in Pontiac is a perfect reminder of the era. Just looking at that classic script and the promise of a cold beverage is enough to make you feel a little thirsty, especially after exploring the town in the sun! It’s another simple but effective piece of roadside art that adds to the nostalgic charm of Route 66 towns.
Sprague Super Service Station
Adding to the collection of historic Route 66 sites not far from Pontiac in Normal, IL is the Sprague Super Service Station. This beautifully preserved station is another iconic example of the kind of service stops that were vital to travellers on the Mother Road in its peak time. With its distinctive architecture and vintage pumps, it offers another fantastic photo opportunity and a chance to imagine what travel was like in the earlier days of Route 66. It’s a reminder of the infrastructure that supported the thousands of people who drove this historic highway. We just took some photos from outside and continued on our road.
Bunyon Statue in Atlanta, IL
Continuing our journey down Route 66, we made sure to stop at Atlanta to see their impressive Bunyon giant statue. These large fiberglass figures are classic roadside attractions, and the one in Atlanta is particularly notable. Standing at a towering 19 feet, this statue holds a giant hot dog, making for a truly memorable and slightly quirky photo opportunity. We definitely took some pictures here – it’s hard not to with such an eye-catching landmark! Even if it does look ugly in some way.
Right next to the Bunyon statue, there’s a free high striker game where you can test your strength and see how far you might theoretically get on Route 66 based on your swing. Naturally, I had to give it a try! After a few attempts, I managed to reach all the way up to “Texas” on the marker – a respectable distance, I’d say! The machine itself looked a bit rusty, and I have a sneaking suspicion I might have even blown out a couple of screws with my mighty swing, adding a little extra excitement to the experience.
Lunch at Palms Grill Cafe
After all that exploring and strength testing, we were definitely ready for a meal, and we stopped for a very late lunch at the Palms Grill Cafe. This place is another Route 66 gem, a perfectly preserved diner that truly sweeps you back about 20 years in time with its authentic interior and atmosphere. It felt like we had stepped onto a movie set! I had an amazing burger there – exactly the kind of hearty, satisfying meal you crave on a road trip. The waiter was incredibly friendly and kept our coffee cups magically refilling, which was much appreciated because, let me tell you, we really needed that good coffee! It was a fantastic, authentic dining experience that perfectly complemented our day on the Mother Road. Unfortunately, it seems after pandemic this cafe is permanently closed, so you can possibly just take the pictures from outside.
Lincolns Wagon
As the day wore on and everyone was feeling quite tired, we made one more quick stop to see Lincoln’s Wagon in Lincoln, IL. This is another historical marker along Route 66, often featuring a replica or representation of a wagon from Abraham Lincoln’s era. We just quickly stopped to take some pictures here.
Route 66 – Directions of the World
Another fun and interactive stop along Route 66, often found in towns that embrace the road’s spirit, is a “Directions of the World” sign. These signs typically feature arrows pointing towards various cities and landmarks around the globe, along with their distances. It’s a great visual representation of how Route 66 connects travelers not just across America, but to the wider world, reminding you that people from all over come to drive this historic highway.
The drive for the day was officially scheduled for around 3 hours and 19 minutes, but with all our fantastic stops and photo opportunities along the way, it ended up taking us closer to 7 hours! We covered approximately 220 miles today, a solid start to our Route 66 adventure.
Finally, as the day drew to a close, we entered Springfield, Illinois, just as the sun was beginning its descent. The sky was painting itself in warm hues, casting a beautiful golden light over the city. It felt like we had arrived just in time, a perfect, picturesque end to a day filled with classic Route 66 sights and unexpected encounters.
