WHERE THE MOTHER ROAD BEGINS

Since 1926

Route 66 defined a remarkable era in our nation’s history – and it lives on today in Illinois' many Route 66 roadside attractions, museums, and restaurants – it's the shining ribbon of blacktop we call 'The Mother Road'.

Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway

Learn more about the Upcoming Byway Centennial Celebration & the Illinois Route 66 Experience at the State Fairgrounds

Featured Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway Member

Springfield, IL

Knight’s Action Park opened in 1930 as a golf driving range by George Knight Sr. It has evolved into a diverse family fun park with water slides, wave pool, go karts, pedal boats, bumper boats, miniature golf courses, batting cages and more.

Restored in 2002 as the Route 66 Drive-In, it now shows double features on Weekends April and May then nightly from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day and on weekends through October. The drive-in is located right next to Knight’s Action Park.

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Knight’s Action Park & Splash Kingdom
1700 Recreation Drive
Springfield, IL 62711
(217) 546-8881

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Events on Illinois Route 66

  • Route 66 Submerged: A Sunken Road. A Story Resurfaced.

    Lake Springfield Marina 17 Waters Edge Blvd, Springfield, IL, United States

    Step aboard Route 66 SUBMERGED, a 45-minute interpretive boat tour on Lake Springfield that reveals a hidden chapter of America’s most iconic highway. Beneath the surface lies a stretch of…

  • Visionary Violinist Dixon’s Violin Plays The Eagle Theater

    Eagle Performing Arts Center 319 N Plum St, Pontiac, IL, United States

    Pontiac, IL: You've never heard violin like this!  The world's premier visionary violinist, Dixon's life mission is to inspire people - and he has done so across North America, including…

  • Route 66: Main Street of America at Normal Theater

    Normal Theater 209 W North St, Normal, IL, United States

    One hundred years after Route 66 first connected communities across America, a new feature-length documentary invites audiences to discover the people and places keeping its story alive – including Bloomington-Normal and Central Illinois. “ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA,” a documentary by award-winning filmmaker John Paget, begins its Roadshow on September 1, 2026, in Chicago,…

  • Route 66: Main Street of America – Motorheads in Springfield IL

    Route 66 Motorheads Bar-Grill-Museum 600 Toronto Rd, Springfield, IL, United States

    Celebrate the centennial of a truly legendary highway with a special screening of ROUTE 66: THE MAIN STREET OF AMERICA—a powerfully moving new feature-length documentary that follows the road, sharing unforgettable stories of the people and towns we meet along the way.From unexpected roadside attractions to revitalized main streets, each encounter reveals communities finding new life…