Great Rivers & Routes in Illinois

Where the Mother Road Meets the River Road

Celebrate 100 years of road trip adventures in the only place in America where the Mother Road of Route 66 meets the scenic beauty of the Great River Road in southwest Illinois. This is a land of roadside giants, historic cafes and quirky group friendly attractions. Relax along the scenic Mississippi River bluffs and prairies and meet the folks who bring the region to life.

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Enjoy These Great Attractions and More:

Macoupin County Courthouse
Pink Elephant Antique Mall
Old Herald Brewery & Distillery
Lewis & Clark State Historic Site
National Great Rivers Museum & Melvin Price Locks & Dam
Electric Neon Sign Park on Route 66

Day-to-Day Great Rivers and Routes Itinerary

Day 1: Route 66

Journey along the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in southwest Illinois (Virden to Collinsville).

Pay a visit to the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield. It features:

motorcoach parking in an adjacent parking lot with access to Museum/Ariston Café and Jubelt’s; free admission; and staff can provide a guided tour of the museum. Reservations aren’t required but are suggested.

Next, dine at group-friendly Ariston Café in Litchfield – the café has served as a roadside diner on the Mother Road for more than 100 years. Visit Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant (across the street from Ariston and Litchfield Museum) and pick up treats for the road.

Then, stop at Pink Elephant Antique Mall, home to the oversized giant Pink Elephant; an expansive antique store; Mother Road Fudge-N-Candy Store and Twistee Treat Diner.

Motorcoach parking is available. Passengers can be dropped off outside the antique mall for ease of entrance. It’s free admission and is great for photo ops with fiberglass outdoor giants and inside at Twistee Treat Diner with life-sized Blues Brothers statues.

Another great stop is the West End Service Station in Edwardsville – a newly refurbished service station that now serves as a museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. It is group friendly and is free admission.

A delicious dinner option is Bella Milano in Edwardsville. It is a family-owned Italian restaurant that offers contemporary Italian with old world flavor. Reservations are requested.

Overnight in Edwardsville. There are plenty of top-notch lodging including Holiday Inn Express, Comfort Inn, and TownPlace Suites.

Day 2: Route 66 and Great River Road

Start your day with a tasty breakfast at Twisted Biscuit Brunch Co. in Edwardsville. From eggs to avocado, Twisted Biscuit has something for everyone.

Continue on Route 66 to Granite City and make a stop at It’s Electric Neon Sign Park. See the ghost neon signs that once lined Route 66 in Granite City. You can also view Route 66 murals and a giant-sized granite ware coffee pot and larger-than-life Make-It-Toy.

Continue on to Collinsville, where you will see the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle Water Tower. This is a great photo opportunity that has street parking for a motorcoach.

Your next stop will be at the legendary Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Center. Cahokia Mounds is the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico and one of the most important archaeological landscapes in North America. UNESCO notes that it flourished primarily during the Mississippian period, covered nearly 1,600 hectares, and may have had a population of 10,000 to 20,000 at its peak.

Monks Mound is the site’s most visually commanding feature, but it is only one part of a much larger ceremonial and civic landscape. Cahokia’s official site also highlights Woodhenge, a reconstructed timber circle aligned with sunrise observations, which helps visitors understand the sophistication of the city’s planning and ritual life. Motorcoach parking is available.

Enjoy lunch at The Press House, a group-friendly restaurant with a private dining area.

Following lunch, enjoy a tour and tasting at Old Herald Brewery & Distillery. Overnight in Collinsville, which features a number of excellent group-friendly properties including Doubletree Inn, Hampton Inn and Drury Inn.

Day 3: Great River Road

Travel to Hartford and visit the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site. visit the place where Lewis & Clark started their journey to map the western U.S. Guided tours are available and reservations for tours is required for large groups. Motorcoach parking is available.

Next, stop at the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower. Located one mile from the state historic site, you can take a guided tour of the Tower’s three viewing platforms. Motorcoach parking is available in adjacent lots. Admission charge is $10 per person.

Another popular stop is the National Great Rivers Museum & Melvin Price Locks & Dam. This is free admission and park rangers provide free tours of the museum and the adjacent Locks and Dam which rises 80 feet above the Mississippi River.

Afterward, have lunch in Alton at the Old Bakery Beer Company. Reservations are recommended for large groups at this certified organic brewery known for burgers and a sandwich lunch menu. Tours of the brewery are available.

Next, travel on the River Road between Alton and Grafton to the historic Village of Elsah, located in the bluffs on the Byway. The nearby Village of Elsah Museum offers a glimpse into daily life along the Mississippi River in the 1800s.

The confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois rivers is also home to the riverfront community of Grafton. The newly opened Grafton SkyTour takes groups from Grafton’s Main Street 300 feet high to the river bluffs on an open-air chair lift or gondola ride. At the top of the bluff sits Aerie’s Resort, home to Aerie’s Riverview Winery and Grafton Zipline Adventures. Zip through the tree canopy of the bluffs on an adventure that includes rope bridges, trails, and a surprise ending.