Explore Route 66 By Train, No Driving Required

Take the Amtrak From Chicago, IL to Pontiac, IL

You don’t have to drive The First Hundred Miles of Route 66 in order to enjoy everything it has to offer; you can take the train.  We’re here to help you navigate this easy and affordable trip from Chicago to Pontiac.  Providing comfort, security and a user-friendly schedule, this package is perfect for any age group or mobility level.

Getting There And Away

Online you’ll find several schedules, all departing from Chicago’s Union Station. We like the non-stop 9:25am train that arrives in Pontiac at 11:06am, just in time for lunch. For your return, choose from the 6:23pm or 9:04pm trains. Pick the later and enjoy a leisurely dinner at the end of your day knowing you have a safe and comfortable transport waiting for you at the station. Rides are approximately 2hrs each way, enough time for you to enjoy the scenery. Tracks follow and cross Old and Alt Rt66 at many points through this beautiful part of the Illinois heartland. 

A full day in Pontiac means you can enjoy everything it has to offer from great shopping, excellent restaurants, museums and all things Route 66.  And why not turn your day visit into an overnight stay? There are plenty of name brand lodging accommodations to choose from and all this for about $30 round trip. 

The Illinois Department of Transportation announced last week the state-supported Amtrak passenger trains on the Lincoln Service, Carl Sandburg/Illinois Zephyr and Illini/Saluki lines could resume full service. This includes the stops in Mendota and Princeton, which are on the Illinois Zephyr line. Mark Robinson of Walnut submitted this photo of the Carl Sandburg train returning to Princeton at 9:38 a.m. on Monday,  July 19. Robinson said, "I along with others are happy that the train has returned.  My family plans to use often between Princeton and Plano."

For tickets visit Amtrak.com as schedules and availability may be limited.  Please include ‘Illinois’ when selecting your cities to avoid heading to Pontiac, Iowa involuntarily (although we are sure it’s a nice place too!).  All aboard for Pontiac, Illinois and one of the simplest, easiest and most enjoyable ways to experience the Mother Road.

Chicago Union Station

225 South Canal Street, Chicago

Pontiac Amtrak Station

721 West Washington Street, Pontiac

Online Tickets Only Visit Amtrak.com

Multilingual Interactive Website