Route 66 in Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, the capital of Illinois, sits about 216 miles from Chicago and is the biggest overnight stop on the Illinois stretch of Route 66. It is also Abraham Lincoln's hometown, and that shapes what there is to see.
- About mile 216 of 2,448 from Chicago
- 61 stops in and around Springfield
- Main overnight town
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Tap a dot for the photo and a link to the stop (the fork-and-knife markers are places to eat). Open Springfield on the full map to filter by kind or add stops to your trip.
Lincoln sights come first for most visitors. The Lincoln Home National Historic Site preserves the house he lived in for 17 years before the presidency, inside a four-block historic district. A short walk away, the Old State Capitol is the Greek Revival statehouse where both Lincoln and Barack Obama announced presidential campaigns, and the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices stand beside it. The free Illinois State Museum covers fossils, Native American life and everyday history.
Route 66 left its mark here too. The Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop opened in 1921 and claims the country's first drive-thru window, and the Lazy A Motel is a late-1940s motel with garages tucked between its rooms. Shea's Gas Station Museum was a Route 66 gas station museum until its collection was auctioned off in 2015. Springfield also claims the horseshoe sandwich, a local favorite first served at the Leland Hotel in 1928.
Most of the stops we list here are historic buildings, many of them homes and storefronts on the National Register, plus museums, parks and the state's war memorials in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The Sugar Creek Covered Bridge south of town is counted as the oldest of the five historic covered bridges left in Illinois.
Practical note: the downtown sights are within walking distance of each other, so park once. Litchfield is the next town west, about 56 miles on, and St. Louis is about 111 miles away.
Top 10 Route 66 attractions in and around Springfield
Museums (10)
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Route 66 sites (1)
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Historic hotels (3)
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Art & landmarks (3)
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Nature & parks (7)
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Historic bridges (1)
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Historic districts (3)
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Historic buildings (31)
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Where to eat in and around Springfield
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Next towns on Route 66
Route 66 in Springfield: questions
- Did Route 66 go through Springfield?
- Yes. Route 66 ran through Springfield, and many of the stops we list, from the Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop to the Old State Capitol, sit within about a mile of the old road.
- What is there to see on Route 66 in Springfield?
- We list 61 stops in and around Springfield, mostly historic buildings, museums and parks and nature areas. The ones our trip planner rates highest are Shea's Gas Station Museum, Old Route 66 Brick Road Curve and Maid-Rite Sandwich Shop. Every stop is on the map above with a photo where one exists, and the distance from the old road.
- How far is Springfield from the next towns on Route 66?
- Springfield sits at about mile 216 of Route 66, counting from Chicago. The next town east with its own guide is Bloomington, IL, about 71 miles back. Heading west, St. Louis, MO is about 111 miles on. Distances are measured along the road and rounded.
- Is Springfield a good place to stay overnight on Route 66?
- Yes. Our trip planner uses Springfield as one of its main overnight towns, so on a two-week trip a day often ends here. Plan the stops in town for the evening or the next morning.