Great Rivers & Routes Group Itinerary

Explore the Final Miles of Route 66 and Scenic Great River Road

Where the Mother Road Meets the River Road in Southwest Illinois: Enjoy a three-day journey along the Last 100 Miles of Route 66 in Illinois and then follow the scenic Great River Road for unparalleled natural views and outdoor adventures.

For more great travel stories, Read the Full Leisure Group Travel Magazine and Subscribe to the Newsletter for FREE

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: Explore the Famous Route 66

Start your trip with a visit to Doc’s Just Off Route 66 in Girard. Stop at this historic soda shop that was once a pharmacy, general store and museum. This landmark Route 66 stop is part of the Route 66 Hall of Fame in Illinois. Be sure to order a hand-pulled soda. Check out the Route 66 Postcard Mural painted on the side of the building.

Next, stop at what was once known as the Million Dollar Courthouse for its construction costs ($1million in the 1860s), the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville, is renowned for its lavish décor. Pay a visit to the Macoupin County Jail in Carlinville. The Cannonball Jail is open for public tours and recently renovated for accessibility. It is known as the Cannonball Jail because unused Civil War cannon balls were used in the wall construction to prevent inmates from escaping.

Other Carlinville options:

Route 66 Shield: This larger-than-life Route 66 shield is located next to the Cannonball Jail. It is part of the Route 66 Shield Trail that stretches along the Last 100 Miles of Route 66.
Carlinville Square: One of the last roundabouts located on the Mother Road.
Route 66 Postcard Mural: One of 11 Americana-themed murals marking Route 66.

Head over to Litchfield, where you can see the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center. Route 66 history comes to life at this museum and welcome center.

Enjoy lunch at Ariston Café in Litchfield, the oldest continuously operating diner on Route 66.The café just celebrated its 100th anniversary.Another legendary stop is Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant in Litchfield. For over 100 years Jubelt’s has served fresh baked goods and is in the Route 66 Hall of Fame.

Next, take a short trip to Livingston, where you’ll stop at the famous Pink Elephant Antique Mall. It features floor-to-ceiling antiques that line the interior of this antique mall.

The biggest draw is the larger-than-life fiberglass figures that greet visitors including a giant pink elephant, a flying saucer and more. Shop the antique mall, visit the Mother Road Candy Store and pick up candy popular back in the day and take in the Twistee Treat Diner, which has a classic 1950s look. If you are craving something sweet, head over to Hamel and the Route 66 Creamery. Located in a former railway station, the creamery serves up old-school Ski soda, great food and cold treats.

You can also stop at Weezy’s Route 66 Bar & Grill in Hamel. Once used as a boarding house for travelers, this restaurant is filled to the brim with Route 66 memorabilia. The group-friendly restaurant serves up classic American comfort food.

Visit the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park on Route 66 in Granite City. The past comes to light at this NEW attraction featuring two larger-than-life and ghost neon signs from the city’s past. The lights are on from dusk to dawn.

For more great travel stories, Read the Full Leisure Group Travel Magazine and Subscribe to the Newsletter for FREE

Day 2: Where Route 66 Meets the River Road

Begin your day at Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville. Open since 1909, the theatre is a classic. Tour the interior for a birds-eye view of this classic venue. Once home to Vaudeville performers it now hosts some of region’s best live bands. Also in Edwardsville is West End Service Station, a classic Mother Road service station brought back to its original glory after being closed for four decades. The interior serves as a welcome center and museum.

Located in Uptown Collinsville, Old Herald Brewery & Distillery serves up great local drinks alongside lunch and dinner. The building was once home to the city’s newspaper production facility and the interior continues the theme of print journalism.

History buffs will love Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site in Collinsville. The remains of the most civilized prehistoric Native American mound settlement north of Mexico is preserved on this 2,000-acre tract. Seventy of the 120 man-made mounds still exist and visitors can climb the tallest–Monks Mound for views of the St. Louis skyline. Next, take a trip to the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site in Hartford.

Follow the Great River Road to this historic site where Meriwether Lewis & William Clark started their famous exploration of the unknown western U.S. in 1804. At the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower in Hartford, see the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers and much more from platforms 50, 100 and 150 feet high. Spend the night in Alton at one of its group-friendly hotels.

Day 3: Take a Journey on the River Road

Get off to a great start at the National Great Rivers Museum & Melvin Price Locks & Dam, 2 Lock and Dam Way, East Alton. Tour the museum highlighting the impact of the Mississippi River on the region, then see it all from above with a tour of the lock system. You might see a barge lock through the gates.

Next, pay a visit to the Robert Wadlow Statue in Alton. Meet the World’s Tallest Man, Robert Wadlow, who stands 8 feet 11.1 inches tall. At the Piasa Bird Mural, the legendary and mythical Piasa Bird looks out over Alton and the Mississippi River from its perch on the limestone bluffs west of Alton. Stroll through the quaint village of Elsah, which is tucked between towering limestone bluffs along the Great River Road.

Visit the Elsah General Store, the Village Hall Museum and take a drive through Principia College, home to a discovered mastodon named Benny and the world’s largest collection of buildings designed by Bernard Maybeck. Ride the Grafton Sky Tour at Aerie’s Resort, take a thrilling journey down the river bluffs on the Aerie’s Alpine Coaster or just enjoy the views from 300 feet above Grafton at this premier resort.

Enjoy some delicious wine at Grafton Winery. Get a birds-eye view of local wine production at this production facility and wine tasting room complete with outdoor fire pits and indoor fire place. Sample local fruit wines and more.

Finally, stop at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton, Illinois’ largest state park. The Visitor Center tells the story of explorers Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet and highlights local wildlife in the region. Visit the Lodge and Conference Center for a look at the 700-ton indoor fireplace in the building built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Enjoy lunch or dinner at the Lodge Restaurant, famous for its family-style fried chicken.