<- Southbound Cicero (0 miles)   Chicago, IL   Northbound -> Terminus of U.S. Highway 66

County: Cook, IL Population: 2,833,321 City: 1926-1956 I-55: 1956-1977 Chicago on the Web: cityofchicago.org Landmarks: Eastern terminus of U.S. Highway 66 from 1926 to 1977. Lou Mitchell's Restaurant on Jackson Blvd. has been on US 66 since the beginning and serves breakfast to many modern day Route 66 tourists at the beginning of their journey.

Here you are, at the beginning. Or the end, depending on where you started.

From the ridiculously tall, sun-blocking skyscrapers of the Windy City rises the Main Street of America, over two-thousand miles of pavement and almost as many great sights and experiences for the modern day explorer. For such a large city, Chicago is filled with the friendly Midwest hospitality, and it's the perfect place to start a nationwide trek across the beautiful U.S. Highway 66.

Chicago itself offers plenty for the tourist, easily more to do than any other road along the highway, but little here is related to Route 66. The highway was just one of many that snaked its way amongst the historic towers, and like most of the others it eventually disappeared as all but a few numbered roads were taken off of the city's streets where they would eventually terminate. Travelers starting here can spend several days taking in the museums, shops and the walks along both Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, but Route 66 historic sites won't greet you until you escape from the city into the south parts of Chicagoland. Still, anyone who hasn't visited the Second City must not only start their journey here but also budget time to at least explore downtown and the Lakefront.

Most Mother Road adventurers start their journey at Lou Mitchell's Restaurant on Jackson. Open since 1924, the business has offered breakfast and safe travel wishes to thousands of Route 66 tourists since interest in the road was renewed, and it's not really a true journey down the highway without a stop here for at least a light helping.


Route 66 followed Jackson Boulevard west from Columbus Drive downtown to Ogden Avenue, where the great diagonal journey started as the road turned southwest. Ogden took the highway out of the City of Chicago and the road turned south on Harlem to get to Joliet Road. Jackson is now one way eastbound and Adams Street is used as the westbound lanes from Michigan Avenue to Ogden Ave.

After the construction of Interstate 55 in the late 50's, Route 66 was moved to the new high-speed expressway.

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