The Dixie Travel Plaza

Possibly the first truck stop on Route 66, the Dixie Truck Stop has been serving travelers since 1928. Founded by J.P. Walters and John Geske, it began as a small gas operation inside a mechanic’s shop before quickly expanding to offer coffee, donuts, and a six-stool lunch counter for hungry drivers.

Over the decades, the Dixie grew into a full-service, 24-hour stop with a restaurant, showers, bunkhouses, and mechanical services. After a 1965 fire, it was rebuilt along the new Route 66 alignment near Interstate 55, continuing its role as a vital roadside hub.

Family-owned for 75 years, the Dixie was inducted into the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame in 1990. Today, it remains a stop for travelers under Road Ranger, still carrying an old-fashioned diner feel and Midwestern hospitality.

While you’re here, visit the nearby McLean Depot Train Shop and the A Home on the Road interpretive statue in the restored GM&O depot.