ROUTE 66 RIDE
Sat. September 19th - Sat. September 26th, 2026

Route 66 is Bicycle Illinois's newest week long cycling tour from St. Louis to Joliet along the legendary Old Route 66

Two wheels, one week, and endless adventure -
COME GET YOUR KICKS ON ROUTE 66!

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!
CLICK HERE to register

Please note that we are still developing this new tour. Click Here to join our mailing list and stay up to date on all the latest news and announcements!

Experience the Mother Road on Two Wheels
Pedal along historic Route 66 from St. Louis to Joliet and discover a scenic journey through quaint Midwestern towns, open farmland, and classic roadside attractions. Follow the nostalgic charm of the Mother Road, where vintage gas stations, diners, museums, and glowing neon signs bring America’s golden age of travel to life.

With its gentle terrain and lightly traveled roads, this route offers a relaxed yet rewarding cycling adventure. Every mile reveals a blend of Americana history, local hospitality, and the timeless satisfaction of riding a truly legendary road.

Join us for this fully supported, all-hotel tour - the perfect way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66 and America’s 250th birthday in unforgettable cycling style!

Stay tuned - more details and registration information will become available as our plans continue to progress!

Route Information

Attractions
We will stop at as many of the historic, unique, and quirky attractions along the route that make Route 66 so special, allowing you to experience them firsthand from your bike. Many of these sites will also serve as rest stop locations along the way.

We are currently working with local Route 66 authorities to identify the many attractions along the route (and there are a lot!), as well as the specific cycling route between them, potential rest stop locations, and hotels in each overnight town. If you have suggestions for specific sites to include, please call us at (877) 868-7455 or E-Mail Us - we’d love your input as we continue to develop the route!

Route
We will ride directly on the various alignments of the original Route 66 as much as possible whenever it is safe and enjoyable for bicycling. It will not be possible to travel every mile of the original Route 66 however, as many sections remain active roadways with heavy truck traffic, such as I-55 and Memorial Parkway in Springfield. Click Here for a map showing the alignments of Route 66 we are using as the backbone for the route.

Riding Days and Overnight Stopping Towns
There wiill be seven stopping towns, two arrival/transportation days, and six or seven days of riding. Below are the dates, stopping towns, and approximate daily distances:

• Saturday, September 19th, 2026 - arrival & optional transportation day
  • Optional transportation service from Joliet to St. Louis for you, your bike, and your baggage
  • Arrival in St. Louis, MO
• Sunday, September 20th, 2026 - 70 miles
  • St. Louis to Litchfield
• Monday, September 21st, 2026 - 75 miles
  • Litchfield to Springfield
• Tuesday, September 22nd, 2026 - Layover Day, attractions and mileages to be determined
  • Layover day in Springfield: Hop on your bike and visit many of the historic Abraham Lincoln sites!
• Wednesday, September 23rd, 2026 - 50 miles
  • Springfield to Lincoln
• Thursday, September 24th, 2026 - 55 miles
  • Lincoln to Bloomington-Normal
• Friday, September 25th, 2026 - 40 miles
  • Bloomington-Normal to Pontiac
• Saturday, September 26th, 2026 - 80 miles
  • Pontiac to Joliet
• Sunday, September 27th, 2026 - optional transportation day
  • Optional transportation service from Joliet to St. Louis for you, your bike, and your baggage

Total mileage - approximately 370 miles, an average of about 65 miles per day

Please note: All stopping towns and mileages are subject to change as the route is finalized.

Tour Services
Registration includes seven days of cycling (Sunday through Saturday) and six nights of hotel lodging (Sunday through Friday). The tour will be fully supported, and registration includes all of the services you need, including:

• Hotel lodging every night
• Always available "on call" SAG vehicle support service
• Baggage transportation between stopping towns
• The route which will follow the original alignments of old Route 66 as much as possible
• Interesting and historic attractions along the way to stop and experience first hand such as museums, diners, gas stations, motels, etc.
• Navigation via Ride With GPS app
• The availability of mechanical support services for your bicycle on the road (parts and labor for bicycle repairs are extra)
• Breakfast each morning at our supporing hotels
• A complimentary pair of Bicycle Illinois and Bike Wisconsin cycling socks!

The following extra optional services and merchandise will be available as well:

• Transportation service from Joliet to the St. Louis area for you, your bike, and your baggage on an Amtrak train both before the start and after the end of the tour
• Long term parking in Joliet or the St. Louis area
• Bicycle Illinois merchandise including:
  • Jerseys
  • Water Bottles
  • T-shirts
  • Baseball hats
  • Polo shirts
  • Extra cycling socks

You will be reponsible for the following on your own:

• Any fees at any attractions that require paid admission
• Lunch on the road in one of the small towns we pass through
• Dinner in our nightly stopping towns after the end of each day's ride

Depending on feasibility and interest levels, the following services may be available in future years:

• Continuing the route another day to the start of Route 66 in downtown Chicago
• Indoor and outdoor camping options at main lodging sites in our nightly stopping towns

Transportation Services

Participants have the option to take an Amtrak train either before the tour begins (to the start in St. Louis) or after the tour ends (from Joliet). Mid-route train stops are available in Bloomington and Springfield.

We will transport your bike and baggage on separate support trucks, as Amtrak limits trains to only three bikes per train, which will not accommodate our group size. Please note that you are responsible for purchasing your own Amtrak ticket - we do not handle train reservations.

Hotel accommodations in St. Louis and Joliet are not included with your registration. If you wish to stay overnight in either city, you must add a hotel stay there during the registration process.

Long-term parking in Joliet will be available at the Marion and Chicago Street parking lot, located just one block from the train station, for only $1.50 per day. Long-term parking in St. Louis will be available directly at the Amtrak station there for $10.50 per day.