Begin Route 66

Begin Route 66, the start of the legendary road in Chicago

At a street corner in central Chicago, a sign marks the start of the legendary Route 66. It is here that the most famous road in the United States begins, running all the way to the west coast. The Chicago audio-guided tour stops here to evoke the legend of this road laden with history and American imagination.

The starting point of a legendary road

It is at the corner of East Adams Street that the Begin sign stands, marking the start of Route 66. The road then runs for thousands of kilometres to the Santa Monica pier, in California, where the End sign awaits. Originally laid out in 1926, Route 66 has since largely disappeared, but its starting point in Chicago remains a place of pilgrimage for road-trip enthusiasts.

What to see

The Begin Route 66 sign is a must for travellers in search of the American legend. People come to be photographed there before dreaming of the immense crossing of the country. Modest in appearance, this starting point symbolises a whole mythology, that of freedom, the road and the wide-open spaces that inspired so many films and songs.

Practical information

The Begin Route 66 sign lies at the corner of East Adams Street, in the Loop, in the centre of Chicago, reachable on foot and by metro. It is an open-air landmark, freely visible at all times, with no ticket office. On the level, it is discovered during a walk in the centre, a stone's throw from the city's great sites.

Where does Route 66 begin in Chicago?

The Begin sign is at the corner of East Adams Street, in the Loop; the road then runs to Santa Monica, in California.

How long has Route 66 existed?

It was originally laid out in 1926; now largely disappeared, it keeps its symbolic starting point in Chicago.