Chicago To St Louis: By Bike Via Route 66: Pontiac to Springfield

Historic Route 66 by Bike 🚴‍♂️ | Pontiac to Springfield | Cycling the Mother Road (Illinois Route 66 Tour) Historic Route 66 begins at Adams & Michigan in downtown Chicago and stretches 2,500 miles to Los Angeles. In this episode of Get Out and Bike, I continue my bicycle tour along America’s Mother Road — riding the central Illinois stretch from Pontiac to Springfield on a windswept February adventure. This 100+ mile segment of Route 66 travels through classic Midwestern farmland, quiet small towns, historic downtowns, and some of the best preserved Americana anywhere along the route. From deteriorated original 1926 pavement and abandoned bridges to purpose-built bike trails and quirky roadside attractions, this ride showcases both the challenges and charm of cycling Route 66. 🚴 Day 2 & 3 Highlights Include: Riding the original and current alignments of Route 66 The Route 66 trail system through Towanda The Constitution Trail in Normal and Bloomington A stop at the restored Sprague Super Service Station Muffler Men giants and roadside Americana in Atlanta A flat tire setback (and roadside repair!) Historic downtown Lincoln — named for Abraham Lincoln before he became president The World’s Largest Covered Wagon The Sherman-Williamsville Trail Lincoln’s Tomb at Oak Ridge Cemetery The Old State Capitol & Illinois State Capitol in Springfield Along the way, Route 66 closely parallels Interstate 55 and the Amtrak rail line connecting Chicago and St. Louis — a constant reminder of how the interstate system reshaped travel in America and led to Route 66’s decommissioning in the 1980s. This stretch through the Land of Lincoln offers: ✔️ Long rural miles through cornfields ✔️ Historic small-town downtowns ✔️ Dedicated bike paths on original Route 66 pavement ✔️ Route 66 murals and roadside attractions ✔️ Presidential history ✔️ Classic Midwest headwinds If you’re planning to bike Route 66, researching Illinois bike touring routes, or just love American road history, this video provides detailed insight into terrain, navigation, safety, trail connections, and what to expect when cycling the Mother Road. 🎥 This is Part 2 of my Chicago to St. Louis Route 66 Bike Tour Series. Be sure to watch Part 1 (Chicago to Pontiac) and stay tuned for the final leg into St. Louis and across the Mississippi River. 👍 If you enjoy bicycle touring, Midwest cycling, and historic highways, subscribe to Get Out and Bike for more long-distance cycling adventures. #Route66 #HistoricRoute66 #BikeRoute66 #IllinoisCycling #BikeTouring #BicycleTouring #CyclingAdventure #GetOutAndBike #RideIllinois #LandOfLincoln #SpringfieldIL #LincolnIllinois #AtlantaIL #BloomingtonNormal #MotherRoad #CyclingMidwest #adventurecycling #route66bybike #chicagotostlouisbybike