Day 3 – Riding the Heart of Route 66

By Admin On

Distance covered by motorcycle: ~490 km
Route: Homer Glen, IL → Joliet → Wilmington → Pontiac → Atlanta → Springfield → St. Louis, MO

Day 3 marked the crew’s first full day riding on Historic Route 66, and it didn’t disappoint. The journey was packed with classic Americana, roadside legends, vintage diners, and quirky photo ops that gave Route 66 its legendary status.

🏛️ First Stop: Old Joliet Prison & Route 66 Park

After fueling up in Lemont and grabbing supplies, we rolled into Joliet, where the crew stopped at the iconic Old Joliet Prison — a structure known for its Gothic design and pop-culture fame (think Blues Brothers and Prison Break).
Just down the road, we visited Route 66 Park, home to murals and signs that mark the road’s historical significance through Illinois.

🤖 Wilmington & the Gemini Giant

The next Route 66 icon? The Gemini Giant in Wilmington — one of the most famous Muffler Men roadside statues in America. Standing outside the old Launching Pad Drive-In, it’s a reminder of when space-age dreams met diner culture. A must for any Route 66 photo collection.

🍔 Lunch at Polk-A-Dot Drive In – Braidwood, IL

Pulling into this retro diner was like stepping into the 1950s. Complete with Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, and Betty Boop statues, Polk-A-Dot is classic Route 66. Milkshakes and burgers powered us up for the road ahead.

🏁 Pontiac, IL – Wall Art & History

In Pontiac, we passed Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station (built in 1933) — now a Route 66 museum and photo hotspot.
Nearby, we made a longer stop for lunch at RICE IN SPICE INDIAN GRILL in Bloomington — a nice break from fast food.

📸 The Giants of Route 66: Paul Bunyan & More

The day rolled on with a string of legendary roadside statues:

  • Paul Bunyan Statue – Holding a giant hot dog in Atlanta, IL.
  • World’s Largest Covered Wagon – With an Abraham Lincoln figure reading in the front seat, in Lincoln, IL.
  • The Oil Station and Lauterbach Muffler Man – Springfield’s own tribute to classic Route 66 mascots.

🌉 Rolling into St. Louis via East Route 66

The evening ride took us through Litchfield and into East St. Louis, where we stopped at the Malcolm W. Martin Memorial Park for a spectacular sunset view of the St. Louis Gateway Arch from across the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River Overlook was peaceful — a reminder of how far we’d come in just three days.

We finished the day at our stop in St. Louis, Missouri, proud to have ridden one of the most historically rich segments of Route 66.

🗺️ Highlights of the Day:

  • Total motorcycle distance: ~490 km
  • Riding hours: ~6 hrs 18 mins
  • Route 66 Stops:
    • Old Joliet Prison
    • Gemini Giant – Wilmington, IL
    • Polk-A-Dot Drive-In – Braidwood, IL
    • Ambler’s Texaco Station – Pontiac, IL
    • Paul Bunyan Statue – Atlanta, IL
    • Covered Wagon – Lincoln, IL
    • Lauterbach Muffler Man – Springfield, IL
    • Mississippi River Overlook – East St. Louis

✍️ Quote of the Day:

“Some people chase destinations. We chase the road that made them legendary.”