If you’ve ever wondered, “Does Route 66 go through Illinois?” the answer is yes, and Doc’s Soda Fountain is located right along the historic highway. Doc’s Soda Fountain Route 66 had its start in 1884 as Deck’s Drug Store, which sold groceries, hardware, and drugs, and had a soda fountain. At that time, it was owned by Lewis C. Deck and B.F. Clark until several years later when Deck became the sole owner. Through three generations of the Deck family and 117 years later, Deck’s was closed and the building was sold in 2007 to Bob and Renae Ernst. They called the new business Doc’s Soda Fountain, which serves food, soda (of course), sweet desserts, and frozen treats.

Sitting along the historic Old Route 66 in Girard, Doc's has become a popular stop for both locals and tourists.
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Doc's Soda Fountain/Facebook
Per the Deck family's request, a pharmacy museum was placed inside Doc's. Here, old medicines, advertisements, fixtures, equipment, and other notable items from over the years of the drug store's history are displayed.
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Pappo1966/TripAdvisor
Doc's Soda Fountain has delicious lunch options for hungry locals and Route 66 travelers. There are plenty of sandwiches, wraps, burgers (there's even a veggie burger), and sides to choose from. But there are some sweeter choices on the menu too.
Doc's Soda Fountain/Facebook
Order a fountain soda (it is what they are known for, after all!) and add a mix-in flavor. Choose from chocolate, strawberry, cherry, vanilla, orange, or lime.
Doc's Soda Fountain/Facebook
You can also purchase collectible bottles of Route 66 sodas as a fun souvenir!

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And then there's the ice cream, which can be ordered in many forms here at Doc's. An ice cream sundae is always a classic. Just choose your favorite flavor and toppings, and don't forget the cherry on top.
Doc's Soda Fountain/Facebook
There are so many milkshake choices, all of which have "Cow" in the names. The White Cow is a vanilla milkshake, the Pink Cow is strawberry, and the Brown Cow is...well, you get the idea.
Doc's Soda Fountain/Facebook
If you don't want one of the classic milkshake flavors, try a Speckled Cow (Oreo) or one of the peanut butter options. Whatever you order will surely be a delightful treat!
For something a little different, how about an ice cream soda float? Choose any ice cream flavor and soda mix-in. You can come up with some really creative flavors with this option!
Doc's Soda Fountain/Facebook
A banana split is always a fan favorite. With three scoops of classic ice cream smothered in chocolate sauce, pineapple, whipped cream, and cherries on top of a banana, this is enough to share...or not! It's so good you may just want to keep it for yourself.
Doc's Soda Fountain/Facebook

Doc’s Soda Fountain Route 66 is worth a stop for lunch and a sweet frozen treat! Have you tried the desserts here? Tell us all about your experience in the comments, and check out our previous article for more places to visit along Route 66 in Illinois.

For more information on hours and location, visit the Doc’s Soda Fountain website or the Doc’s Soda Fountain Facebook page.

Route 66 is the ultimate road trip, so if you’d like to explore more of the Mother Road, check out our road trip packing list for everything you’ll need for the drive.

Check out our YouTube video for another picture-perfect destination to visit when you’re done exploring Route 66 in Illinois:

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Illinois Nostalgia

Katie Lawrence | December 05, 2023

What are the most popular foods in Illinois?

Ice cream shops along Route 66 are ever-popular in Illinois, but our state is also known for lots of other delicious foods. Some of the most popular foods in Illinois are:

What unique words and phrases do people in Illinois say?

We Illinoisans practically have our own language. Some unique Illinois words and phrases include:

  • The "El"

For the uninitiated, this is the train that runs through Chicago.

  • Pop

This is the only acceptable term for a carbonated beverage.

  • Knee High by the Fourth of July

If a cornfield is "knee high" by the Fourth of July, it's considered to be a good year for the crop.

Do Illinoisians have any strange habits?

There are definitely some things only people from Illinois do, but we're proud of our quirks. A few strange Illinois habits are:

  • Being totally calm when a tornado siren goes off
  • Just saying you're from Chicago when you actually live in one of its many suburbs (it's just easier that way)
  • Mixing caramel and cheddar popcorn - it really is delicious!

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