ROUTE
66
Sat. September 19th - Sat. September
26th, 2026
Introducing
the new Route 66 Ride!
Route 66
is Bicycle Illinois's newest
week long tour from the St. Louis
to Chicago
area
along
the legendary Old Route
66!
Please note that we are still developing
this new event and registration is not yet open yet.
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 Chicago
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 be available soon as our plans continue
to progress!
Route Information
There
will be 7 stopping towns, 2 arrival/transportation
days, and 6 or 7 days of riding. Here are the dates,
tentative stopping towns, and approximate distances:
- Saturday, September 19th, 2026 - optional
arrival/transportation day
- Optional transportation
service from Joliet to Edwardsville for you,
your bike, and your baggage
- Arrival in Edwardsville
- Optional loop ride from Edwardsville to St.
Louis over the Old
Chain of Rocks Bridge - 35 miles
- Sunday, September 20th, 2026
- 45 miles
- Edwardsville to Litchfield
- Monday, September 21st, 2026
- 55 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
- Thursday, September 24th, 2026
- 55 miles
- Lincoln to Bloomington-Normal
- Friday, September 25th, 2026
- 80 miles
- Bloomington-Normal to Dwight
- Saturday, September 26th, 2026 -
60 miles
- Sunday, September 27th, 2026 - optional
transportation day
- Optional transportation service from Joliet
to Edwardsville for you, your bike, and your
baggage
Total mileage - approximately 350 miles, an average
of about 60 miles per day
Please note:
All stopping towns and mileages are subject to change
as the route is finalized.
Tour Services
The tour will be fully supported and registration will include all of the
services you need:
- Hotel lodging every night
- Always
available "on call" SAG vehicle support service
- Baggage transporation between stopping towns
- The route which will follow the original alignments
of old Route 66 as much as possible when it is safe
and enjoyable to do so on a bicycle! (unfortunately
it will not be possible to follow Route
66 in its entirety since
much of the original highway is still very active
roadway today such as
I-55,
etc.)
- 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)
- 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:
- 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
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