As much as I’d like to travel the entire Route 66 in its Centennial year, it’s just not possible.
I know that I’m not alone in my FOMO (fear of missing out), so I’ve decided to do a bit of research. Route 66, also known as the Mother Road, passes through eight states. Each state will commemorate the Route 66 Centennial in its own unique way.
For some RVers, it may be better to participate in local centennial events or focus on celebrating a particular segment of this renowned highway in a more focused way. We can still join the celebration, bask in the nostalgia, and have fun without RVing the entire 2,448 miles that make up the Route 66 route. This article will look at some of the ways and places the state of Illinois plans to celebrate the centennial celebration for Route 66.
Planning
Illinois is treating the centennial as a statewide season of events. The Illinois Route 66 Centennial Commission and the Illinois Office of Tourism coordinated grants, signature attractions, and a central calendar of activities that run through 2026.
The state has committed to a year-long celebration that includes large signature events (car rallies, a statewide conference, and a gala in Springfield), and local festivals, and a coordinated “kickoff” with satellite-city celebrations which were held on April 30, 2026.
Must-see events
Joliet
Joliet was one of the official satellite cities for the April 30, 2026, centennial kickoff. It hosted a full-day celebration at the Old Joliet Prison site, including a historic exhibition and statewide media simulcast. If you want easy access to museums and car shows, make Joliet your first stop.
RVers can pick and choose stops that match their interests. Passport-style itineraries and local “giveaway” stops are part of the plans.
Wilmington.
Wilmington’s “Giant Summer Run 6.6K” (June 6, 2026) is part of a statewide set of 6.6K runs and ties into the local centennial activity around the Gemini Giant landmark. It’s a short, family-friendly stop with plenty of roadside Americana.
Pontiac
Pontiac is planning centennial programming that includes film screenings and special events at local theaters and museums. For example, a Route 66 film screening is scheduled as part of the centennial programming in September. Pontiac’s big murals and the Route 66 Hall of Fame make it an easy overnight stop for RVers who like museums and photo walls.
Springfield
The Illinois state capital is a major hub for centennial activity. Here you’ll discover family-friendly events, a Centennial Route 66 5K at the Illinois State Fairgrounds (June 6, 2026), a large “International Route 66 Mother Road Festival” scheduled in late September (Sept 25–27, 2026), and a statewide conference and gala event slated for November 11, 2026.
Springfield also offers many Lincoln-related historic sites. You may choose Springfield as your multi-night base if you’re an RVer who enjoys both history and car-culture events.
Edwardsville
The city is staging a hometown Route 66 festival (June 13, 2026) with a car show, live music, food vendors (Taste of 66), trolley tours, and family entertainment. The festival also connects to a local theatrical centennial production at the Wildey Theatre the weekend preceding the festival. This is a great choice for RVers looking for a community-oriented celebration with live performance options.
Auto culture highlights/rolling festivals
Hot Rod Power Tour and Route 66 Raceway events. Rolling automotive festivals are a big part of the centennial. National tours and the Hot Rod Power Tour have scheduled Illinois stops in June (including events at the Route 66 Raceway). If you enjoy big car shows and rows of vendors, you’ll want to mark these events. Expect large crowds. Arrive early.
Main Street of America Caravan. A cross-country centennial caravan runs across all eight Route 66 states. The Illinois segment is scheduled for June 23–24, 2026.
If you’re following the Mother Road in a convoy or want to join a rolling, organized caravan day, coordinate dates and caravan meet-up locations with the Road Ahead partnership.
Parks, national sites, and historic places nearby
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (Wilmington area). Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, Midewin is just a few miles from the Route 66 corridor near Wilmington. Here you can hike trails, view bison, and check out the welcome center right on Historic Route 53 (the old Route 66). It’s an ideal short detour for RVers who want a nature break between car-culture stops.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site (Collinsville). Near the SW end of Illinois and within a short drive from the Route 66 corridor near Collinsville/Edwardsville, Cahokia Mounds is a UNESCO-inscribed archaeological site and visitor center. It makes a powerful historical counterpoint to the neon-and-diners story of Route 66. I highly recommend it.
Lincoln-related National Historic Sites (Springfield). Springfield’s Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum are a block or two off the original Route 66 alignment. Plan a day or two for Lincoln sites as you choose centennial events in Springfield.
Plan and choose
Choose by vibe. If you want the biggest crowds and the most classic-car action, aim for early–mid June (Hot Rod and Power Tour dates). Also, plan to see the big Springfield festival in late September.
Choose one or two towns within the corridor to linger in. For family-friendly options with kids’ zones and live shows, Edwardsville’s mid-June festival pairs well with local theater performances.
Book strategically. Popular weekends (spring and early fall) will fill up RV parks near Joliet, Bloomington, Springfield, and Collinsville. The state’s centennial planning includes large car shows, and the Power Tour, so you’ll want to reserve a site early.
Events to watch and RSVP for now
- June 6, 2026 — Wilmington Giant Summer Run 6.6K and Springfield Centennial 5K
- June 8–12, 2026 — Hot Rod Power Tour with Route 66 Raceway events
- June 11–13, 2026 — Edwardsville musical and Route 66 festival weekend
- Sept 25–27, 2026 — International Route 66 Mother Road Festival, Springfield
- November 11, 2026 — Statewide Route 66 conference and Epic Centennial Celebration at Motorheads
RV tips for centennial travel
For big events, arrive the day before and check RV parking rules. Many small towns offer volunteer-coordinated overflow parking and “passport” stops during the Red Carpet Corridor event.
Expect limited hookups for big car show weekends. Plan to boondock or use reservable campgrounds and pay attention to RV-size restrictions in historic downtowns.
Small towns sometimes close Main Street to vehicle traffic for parades. Check event pages for road closures and staging times to avoid being boxed in.
If a big event looks too crowded, pick a nearby quieter town that still has centennial programming and use a short hop to return for the parade or cruise-in.
Do you plan to celebrate Route 66’s Centennial? Tell us using the comments below.
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