The Illinois Department of Transportation recently announced the release of the new Illinois Official Highway Map that commemorates next year’s 100th anniversary of Route 66 with updates that better represent the alignment of the historic road.
The Pontiac (Illinois) Daily Leader reported:
The Illinois Department of Transportation said the map includes updated listings for colleges and universities, Amtrak service, tourist attractions, and recreational areas. It also highlights the historic alignment of Route 66 ahead of its centennial celebration, according to the announcement.
“While your first choice for directions these days typically is a phone, paper maps continue to be popular with the public,” Gia Biagi, Illinois transportation secretary, said. “They also are invaluable. You never know when cell service will drop in an unfamiliar area. It’s good practice to keep a paper copy on hand for these situations as well as for travel planning.”
For convenience, the map includes QR codes linking to IDOT’s Getting Around Illinois site for travel conditions, Amtrak schedules, the Enjoy Illinois tourism campaign, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources parks and historic sites.
The map is funded through the Federal Highway Administration and published by IDOT every two years on recycled paper with vegetable-oil-based inks.
To request a map, email DOT.maps@illinois.gov. Free copies will also be available at interstate rest areas and other IDOT facilities.
A PDF version of the map can be downloaded here.
(Cover image of the 2026 Illinois Official Highway Map)