Fill your tank, start your engine, and prepare to get your dish on Route 66!

The Mother Road is celebrating its centennial year — and it wouldn’t be a proper celebration without delicious meals, sweet treats, and libations! Your foodie journey starts on The First Hundred Miles of Route 66 in Illinois. Fill your tank, start your engine, and prepare to get your dish on Route 66!

A serious road trip requires some serious fuel. Luckily, Dell Rhea’s Chicken Basket in Willowbrook and White Fence Farm in Romeoville are just 30 miles from the Mother Road’s starting point in Chicago. These landmark Route 66 establishments welcome travelers with hearty meals of fried chicken, corn fritters, and classic American fare.

After your meal, commemorate your visit with the perfect road trip photo. Both Dell Rhea’s and White Fence Farm have Route 66 Shield Monuments on site. Hop inside the massive Route 66 Shields to snap an Insta-worthy photo, then check out the other photo opportunities at each restaurant. Take a photo in front of Dell Rhea’s iconic neon sign or strike a pose with White Fence Farm’s many photo ops, including a giant chicken statue!

No meal is complete without a sweet treat. As you travel farther down The First Hundred Miles of Route 66, Lockport is your stop for handcrafted chocolates, pastries, and espresso drinks. Treat yourself to signature toffees and chocolates from Hollingworth Candies or stop at Krema Coffee Roasters for pastries and craft coffees that are sure to reenergize your trip.

Your next stop is Joliet, home to the Old Joliet Prison, the Rialto Square Theatre, and the new-and-improved Route 66 Park at Broadway Greenway. The 7-acre park welcomes visitors with a neon Route 66 shield sign at its entrance. Enjoy a stroll and take a photo at the park’s Route 66 Shield Monument, then stop for ice cream at Rich & Creamy. The old school ice cream shop serves a variety of sundaes, cones, shakes, slushes, and floats, plus Route 66 merchandise.

Your belly may be full, but the trip has just begun! Cheers to Route 66’s Centennial at The Wine Cafe in Wilmington. A popular spot among locals, The Wine Cafe offers signature wine slushies as well as a curated collection of nearly 200 wines from around the world, including locally made blends and infusions from August Hill Winery.

When you’re finished savoring your sips, head across the street to Wilmington’s South Island, the new home of the iconic Gemini Giant and The Landing Pad Souvenir Shop. Snap a photo with one of the last remaining Muffler Men on the Mother Road, then visit The Landing Pad for one-of-a-kid souvenirs, a nostalgic penny press machine, and fun photo ops.

Your centennial road trip continues in Dwight, IL with a stop at Ambler Becker’s Texaco Station. This historic service-station-turned-visitor-center was once the oldest continuously running service station on Route 66! While you can’t pump gas at the Texaco station, you can refuel across the street at Old Route 66 Family Restaurant. With a large American menu and plenty of Route 66 memorabilia and souvenirs, you’ll be ready to get back out on the open road in no time.

Your final stop on The First Hundred Miles is Pontiac, Illinois — home of the Route 66 Hall of Fame and the largest Route 66 shield in the world! After learning about artist Bob Waldmire’s legacy on Route 66 and touring the Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum, discover the many locally owned eateries in downtown Pontiac.

Feast on American staples like cheeseburgers, fries, and mac and cheese at Route 66 Roadhouse, or treat your tastebuds to international flavors at Lola’s, a homestyle Filipino restaurant offering popcorn chicken, fried rice, BBQ skewers, and crispy chicken tacos.

You may not be able to pack it in a suitcase, but be sure to bring your appetite with you on this historic road trip. Delicious eats and nostalgic memories await you on The First Hundred Miles of Route 66 in Illinois.