The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) Tourism Office announced a partnership with Rivian Automotive to kick off the state’s Route 66 Centennial celebration in 2026. Through a series of engaging videos, the partnership will feature three notable travel influencers from the UK, Canada and the US, who are real-life friends, sharing their experiences driving Route 66 in Illinois in a Rivian R1S electric vehicle (EV) custom wrapped with Route 66 Centennial branding.
“We’re pleased to launch this exciting new initiative as part of the Route 66 Centennial celebration ahead of that milestone anniversary in 2026,” said Danielle Thomas, DCEO Deputy Director of Tourism. “Illinois’ 300-mile section of Route 66 is an iconic attraction that domestic and international travelers want to experience, and this initiative will bring global attention to Route 66 in Illinois and encourage more visitors to explore the state. By highlighting Route 66, we continue to celebrate the significant economic impact it has had on tourism across the state and the importance of preserving it for future generations.”
The video content series will also spotlight Illinois’ unique makers – artisans, artists and entrepreneurs, many of whom are part of the state’s Illinois Made program and embody the spirit and innovation of the route. It’s also an opportunity to highlight how easy it is to take an EV road trip in Illinois by using resources at enjoyillinois.com to plan your trip and find more than 1,200 EV charging stations across the state.
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Three travel influencers, Tonia Hope from the UK, Phil Calvert from Milwaukee, and Brian McIntosh from Canada, will embark on an exciting five-day road trip along historic Route 66 in Illinois in customized Rivian R1S electric vehicles.
“As a Midwesterner who loves to explore diverse cultures and history around the world, I’m so excited to be taking this road trip down Route 66 in Illinois,” said travel influencer Phil Calvert. “This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the past, celebrate the present, and inspire future travelers to embrace a spirit of adventure and sustainability.”
The 300-mile journey along Route 66 will unfold over three episodes, beginning in downtown Chicago and traveling south along Route 66 through central and southern Illinois before concluding at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge in Granite City. Produced by Matador Network, each episode will showcase the friends’ journey to iconic Route 66 landmarks and local businesses.
In Episode 1, we’ll introduce you to some of the incredible sights along the first 100 miles of America’s Mother Road. From the hustle and bustle of Chicago’s majestic Magnificent Mile to the picturesque farmlands of central Illinois, these first 100 miles of what was originally a two-lane black pavement road are lined with old-fashioned diners, fascinating museums, and some of the most popular photo opportunities along the entire route.
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The First Hundred Miles is a comprehensive tourism brand connecting communities between Chicago and Pontiac. On TheFirstHundredMiles.com, you’ll find featured articles on noteworthy attractions, popular restaurant listings, inspiring photo galleries and comprehensive business listings. You’ll also find handy maps and pre-made road trip itineraries to guide you to popular boutique shops, expansive nature preserves and delicious dining destinations.
The series invites viewers to discover the essence of Route 66 in Illinois while inspiring a journey that welcomes all along the way. The content series will also highlight the state’s progress in providing sustainable travel options along Route 66 by promoting convenient electric vehicle charging facilities on the highway. Illinois is the second-largest electric vehicle market in the nation and is home to Rivian’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Normal. Last week, auto giant Volkswagen announced it would invest up to $5 billion in Rivian as part of its expanding electric vehicle commitment.
“We’re proud to have built more than 100,000 electric vehicles at our Normal, Illinois facility, including the Rivian R1S that travel influencers will be driving along historic Route 66,” said Tim Fallon, Rivian’s vice president of manufacturing operations. “We’re excited to be part of the campaign celebrating Illinois excellence.”
The content series is the next chapter in the Illinois Tourism campaign, “Real People. Real Stories. Real Outdoors.” The new Route 66 content series can be found on enjoyillinois.com, as well as on the Enjoy Illinois YouTube and social channels.
