From Chicago, Illinois to Springfield, Illinois


ON THIS PAGE:
MAP  DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS

WEATHER AND TRAFFIC 

SIGHTS AND SITES ALONG THE WAY


ELSEWHERE AT my80days.com:



Leg 32, from Chicago, Illinois to Springfield, Illinois

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE


DRIVING INSTRUCTIONS
Expected Date of Travel: Thursday May 31, 2001

Departing from: Chicago, Illinois

Arriving at: Springfield, Illinois

Expected Mileage: 221.2 miles or 356.2 kilometers traveled in 5 hours 51 minutes. Planned route of travel is 31% on Interstate Highway, 4% on non-Interstate highways, 69% on state highways or minor roads and 1% on city streets. (Travel time does not include gas stops, food stops or any sightseeing).

Average Rate of Travel: 37.4 miles per hour or 60.2 kilometers per hour

Route Overview:

This routing traces parts of old US Route 66. I am reliant on detailed maps available at a Belgian site devoted to Route 66. Based on the input of a Chicagoan, I have decided to alter the start of the trip to avoid Chicago's worst neighborhoods.

Depart Chicago (in front of Art Institure of Chicago) heading south on South Michigan Avenue.

Turn left onto Congress Parkway. You'll be facing the beautiful Buckingham Memorial Fountain in Grant Park.

Turn right onto South Columbus Drive. South Columbus Drive merges into Lake Shore Drive (Illinois State Route 43).

At the start of Interstate 55, enter I-55 heading south.

Exit I-55 at Illinois Route 41. turn right heading north.

Turn left onto Joliet Road.

At this point we resume Route 66 as outlined on the Belgian website

After passing under Interstate-294, enter Interstate 55 heading south.

Exit Interstate 55 at exit 269 (Joliet Road). Stay on Joliet Road until it merges into Illinois Route 53. Continue on Route 53 as it passes through Bollingbrook, Romeoville, Joliet, Elwood and Wilmington.

In Gardner, turn right onto Main Street. At second stop sign, turn left. You should be able to use a frontage road for Interstate 55 to continue south.

Near Dwight, the frontage road becomes more prominent as is shown on maps as Old Route 66 stuck hard between the interstate highway and the railroad tracks.

Outside of Pontiac, watch for a right hand turn back onto Old Route 66.

At Chenoa, turn left onto US Route 24 heading east. Watch for a right turn back onto Old Route 66.

As you approach Bloomington, you have to navigate through some normal city streets. The frontage road that is Old Route 66 becomes Arney. Arney makes a right hand turn and becomes Pine. Pine ends at Linden, turn left on Linden. In about four blocks, Linden intersects with Willow. Turn right on Willow. Turn left onto Illinois Route 51.

At the intersection with Business Route Interstate 55, turn right onto I-55.

At the intersection with I-55 and Morris Road, turn right onto Morris and then immediately left onto Springfield (frontage to I-55 Business).

As you approach intersection with I-55 and I-55 Business, make a right turn onto Beich Road. After you cross I-55, you need to make a left hand turn to remain on Beich Road.

Beich Road becomes a frontage road and shortly becomes Old Route 66 again. Continue through Shirley, Funks Grove, McLean, Atlanta and Lawndale.

As you approach Lincoln, Old Route 66 becomes Business Loop for I-55. Use the Business Loop to avoid Lincoln. Once around Lincoln, watch for an exit to a frontage road.

At Broadwell be sure to stay on the frontage road. Continue through Elkhart.

As you approach Williamsville, make a right turn to stay on the frontage road.

At Sherman, jump onto I-55 heading south for the ride to Springfield.

Arrive Springfield.

Comments

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE


WEATHER AND TRAFFIC

Illinois Department of Transportation Home Page

Historical Weather Data
Record Low
Average Low
Mean
Average High
Record High
Precip

Chicago, IL (60601)

44F
56F
66F
75F
91F
Mod.

Bloomington, IL (61701)

45F
57F
69F
80F
91F
Mod.

Springfield, IL (62701)

40F
57F
69F
79F
93F
Mod.
Source:
www.weather.com look for the Records and Averages area of the site.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE


SIGHTS AND SITES ALONG THE WAY

In Cicero Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket is said to offer the best fried chicken in the western world. Quite a compliment. A relic of the original route 66.

Testimony to Route 66's International Appeal, a French fan's Chicago to Saint Louis documentation.

Joliet is site of the state prison from which the Blues Brothers emerged. Here's a site of Blues Brothers links.

Its huge, its giant, its the Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois.

RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE


(c) 2001 Thomas N. Engler Revision Date: 03/18/2001