Illinois is a wonderful state bordering the Mississippi. Famed as the Prairie State, it’s the perfect place to take a road trip. One of the most popular routes is the road trip from Illinois to California. With amazing sights to see, grab a rental car from Hertz and head off to explore Illinois.
Ready to set off? We’ll be taking the Mother Road, aka Route 66. Get in your rental car and brace for all Illinois has to offer. A National Scenic Byway, the route begins at Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain and continues for 300 miles through Illinois and heads west to California. Perfect for those intent on a road trip from Illinois to California, this drive will cross many locations off your bucket list.
We begin in Chicago, where you can cruise about the downtown region in your rental car and get a taste of Illinois breakfast of cheese omelettes. Embark on your road trip from Illinois to California from the Joliet Area where you can tour the Historical Museum’s Route 66 Welcome Centre.
There are many vintage gems along this trip and you’ll want to stop your rental car at these points to enjoy these Illinois treasures. A stop to note is Dwight, where the Ambler-Becker Texaco Gas Station displays a circular red and white Texaco sign. Photo ops are available with the vintage fire engine inside. Drive another ten miles southand you’ll chance upon Illinois’s Odell, where there’s a refurbished Standard Oil Gas Station displaying vintage car repair tools and sells an array of Route 66 souvenirs. Continue down to Atlanta, and stop outside Palms Grill Café, a revived 1930s diner, for some hot dogs. The interior of the diner is full of Art Deco light fixtures, linoleum floors and local girls clad in the iconic diner waitress garb. These pit stops during your road trip from Illinois to Californiamake the trip all the more memorable.
Proceed down to Illinois’s Carlinville in your rental car. Visit the iconic Million Dollar Courthouse, infamous for its tales of corruption. Don’t mind its stained past, the architecture of the building is breath-taking. Head to Litchfield in your rental car and sample Illinois cuisine once again. Fried artichoke hearts, anyone? In nearby Livingston, a signature spot is the Pink Elephant Antique Hall. This is located in a 1940s schoolhouse, where everything from vintage clothing to furniture is on sale. You definitely won’t be disappointed with your purchases.
As you continue down your road trip from Illinois to California, don’t forget to drop by the various bars and grills located along Route 66. They may be small and ramshackle, but they can produce a mean grill. For a fun stop, travellers can head over to Collinsville to check out the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle. Cleverly designed as a water tower, this wacky attraction is sure to add to your collection of memorable photos.
Illinois is truly a state of wonderful food, sights and places of interest. Travel Illinois via rental car for an unforgettable vacation, you won’t regret it!
