Best State and National Parks Off Route 66

Above, Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois is first on the list. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Once the main thoroughfare between Chicago and Los Angeles, Route 66 has a number of state and national parks to visit along the way.

A couple of national parks are right at Route 66, others are within easy proximity to the "Mother Road".

RV Life has posted a list of state and national parks to see along Route 66.

They begin with:

Many who choose to travel the historic Route 66 are enamored with its history. Others simply want the badge of honor that says they have traveled the famed route themselves. RVers love to see national parks and interesting state parks along their travels. So, what parks will you find on your way from Chicago, Illinois to Santa Monica, California?

When it comes to national and state parks, there are only a couple actually on Route 66. However, you can reach several notable parks with a short detour. The list below includes the best national and state parks to visit within a range of 90 miles from the famous route.

To view what parks are near Route 66, go here.