Welcome to
Chicago
Chicago is where Route 66 begins — the official 'Begin Route 66' sign sits at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue, right at the foot of the Art Institute. The Mother Road starts amid the Loop's Art Deco skyscrapers, then heads south through 300 miles of Illinois prairie.
Before you launch, Chicago itself offers Millennium Park & Cloud Gate, Navy Pier, the Field Museum, Lou Mitchell's breakfast, deep-dish pizza at Lou Malnati's, and the historic Drake and Palmer House Hilton hotels — a substantive Route 66 launch day.
exploreThings to See & Do
Route 66 Begin Sign
Mile Zero of the Mother Road — where Route 66 officially begins at Adams Street and Michigan Avenue
Art Institute of Chicago
One of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States — sitting on Michigan Avenue at the start of Route 66
Willis Tower Skydeck
The 103rd-floor observation deck with The Ledge — glass boxes extending four feet outside the building
Millennium Park & Cloud Gate ('The Bean')
Chicago's signature public park — Cloud Gate sculpture, Crown Fountain, and free outdoor architecture two blocks from Route 66's start
Navy Pier
Chicago's lakefront entertainment pier — Centennial Wheel, restaurants, boat tours, and free public lakefront access
Tips for Visiting Chicago
Park at a downtown garage and take the L to the Route 66 Begin Sign — traffic and parking are too rough to drive.
Lou Mitchell's breakfast line moves fast — they hand out donut holes while you wait.
The Art Institute, Millennium Park, and Begin Sign are all within a 5-minute walk.