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ILLINOIS TRAVEL GUIDE

downtown Chicago, Illinois the Bean in Chicago, Illinois Giant Taco in Casey, Illinois
Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Illinois! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Illinois.

Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.

Author/Contributor: Greg Parsons

 OVERVIEW


The major tourist draw of Illinois is, of course, the city of Chicago. I encourage you to ignore the garbage you hear on social media and certain news networks because Chicago is still the #1 large city to visit in the U.S. in my opinion. Its downtown area is extremely walkable, and no more dangerous than those of other major cities (in fact, it's probably safer). Beyond the city, Illinois has natural scenery that will surprise you, especially in the central and southern sections of the state. There's also the town of Casey, which I believe is the wackiest town in the country, filled to the brim with "world's largest" type roadside attractions.

 TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN ILLINOIS


Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Illinois? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Illinois, in no particular order:

Explore downtown Chicago, my #1 favorite major city in the U.S.
Wander the lively historic district of Galena
Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio in Oak Park
Patron some of Chicago's world-class museums (e.g. The Field Museum, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Art Institute of Chicago, etc.)
Eat some hot dogs and deep dish pizza in downtown Chicago
Catch a ballgame at Wrigley Field in Chicago
Visit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum in Springfield
Head to the rugged and scenic Starved Rock State Park, Illinois's best state park
Embrace the madness of the roadside attraction and "world's largest" sculptures and statues in the town of Casey
Hike among 320-million year old cliffs in the Garden of the Gods Recreation Area in southern Illinois

If I could select only one place to visit in Illinois, I would choose Chicago. It's my favorite city in the country, and the downtown area has always felt perfectly safe to me. Many of the finest museums in the U.S. are here, and it's a wonderfully walkable city.

For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.

 5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN ILLINOIS


Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Illinois. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Illinois bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:

Northwestern Illinois (including Galena and Rockford)
Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford - small but attractive Japanese gardens
Blaum Bros. Distilling Company, Galena - a top-rated family owned craft distillery; one of Galena's top attractions
Discovery Center Museum, Rockford - an excellent children's museum
Galena - a small town with historic red-brick buildings; many boutique shops and art galleries;often touted as the "best small town in IL"
Galena Historic District, Galena - lively tourist district with many boutique shops, art galleries, and restaurants
Ghost tours in Galena - popular paranormal tours
Historic Auto Attractions, Roscoe - an eclectic museum with historic and famous vehicles, military & NASA exhibits, and much more
John Deer Pavilion, Moline - a small but engaging John Deere exhibit hall
Bally's Quad Cities Casino & Hotel, Rock Island - the best casino in northwestern Illinois
Ulysses S. Grant Home, Galena - visit the home of the former Civil War general and 18th president of the U.S.


Northeastern Illinois (including Chicago suburbs and Naperville; see below for Chicago)
Accelerate Indoor Speedway, Mokena - fun indoor electric go-kart racing track
Baha'i House of Worship, Wilmette - visit an impressive Baháʼí temple
Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield - large zoo with more than 2,300 animals
Cantigny Park, Wheaton - large public park with gardens and history museums
Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe - has more than 25 spectacular gardens
Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet - famous NASCAR racing track
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Oak Park - guided tours of the home where the famous architect F.L. Wright lived for 20 years
Home Alone House, Winnetka - see the exterior of the actual home used in the Home Alone movies
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie - one of the finest Holocaust museums in the world
Leaning Tower of Niles, Niles - roadside attraction of a half-size replica of the famous Learning Tower of Italy; one of IL's top roadside sites
Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, Schaumburg - fun dinner theater with staged medieval-style games; one of several locations in the U.S.
Morton Arboretum, Lisle - enormous green space with beautiful gardens and 16 miles of trails; one of the best arboretums in the U.S.
Paramount Theatre, Aurora - historic theater with Broadway shows, concerts, comedy shows, and more
Riverwalk, Naperville - attractive and popular riverwalk along the West Branch of the DuPage River; 1.75 miles of trails
Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park, East Dundee - a good medium-sized, holiday-themed amusement park
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee - large and famous amusement park with 17 rollercoasters
Volo Museum, Volo - awesome museum on 30 acres with historic and famous vehicles, plus many other "mechanical marvels"


Chicago
360 Chicago - this 94th floor observation deck offers what many would say are the best views in Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago - most would probably agree that this is the #1 or #2 art museum in the U.S.
Blue Man Group - one of several locations in the U.S. where you watch a blend of music and visual effects by blue-skinned performers
Buckingham Fountain - one of the largest water fountains in the world; great views of Chicago and close to other great green spaces/parks
Chicago Cultural Center - a beautiful building with two stained-glass domes; holds many events and exhibitions throughout the year
Chicago Magic Lounge - a small live performance theater with focus on magicians
Chicago Riverwalk - see some of Chicago's amazing architecture from this 1.25 mile paved path along a branch of the Chicago River
Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier - a small theater focusing on Shakespeare plays
Cloud Gate / The Bean - a beautiful, 66-foot long, 33-foot tall stainless steel bean sculpture; the most famous photo-op in Chicago
Crown Fountain - two large video screen sculptures in Millennium Park that feature interactive art and a water fountain
Field Museum, The - one of the premier natural history museums in the U.S.; one of Chicago's very best attractions
Guided boat tours in downtown Chicago - e.g. architectural tours, sunset cruises, kayak tours, etc.
Guided food tours in downtown Chicago - several companies offer food tours; Chicago is of the best places for food tours in the U.S.
Guided walking tours in downtown Chicago - several companies offer guided walking tours in downtown Chicago
Holy Name Cathedral - a beautiful Roman Catholic Church in the middle of downtown Chicago
Lakefront Trail - walk or cycle over 20 miles of paths along Lake Michigan's shoreline
Lincoln Park - a public park with greenspaces and many tourist attractions, including a zoo, indoor garden, and good views of Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo - a free zoo with more than 1,100 animals from 200 different species; one of the oldest zoos in the U.S.
Maggie Daley Park - awesome children's playground near Millenium Park; likely one of the best major city playgrounds in the U.S.
Medieval Torture Museum - a grim and gory museum with more than 100 unique items on display (e.g. torture devices)
Michigan Avenue / Magnificent Mile - one of the world's most famous shopping districts
Millennium Park - a public park renown for its two amazing art sculptures (e.g. Cloud Bean and Crown Fountain); close to other green spaces
Museum of Science & Industry - one of the largest science museums in the world
National Museum of Mexican Art - a museum focusing on Mexican, Latino, and Chicano art and culture
Navy Pier - a famous (and touristy) lakefront park; calls itself "Chicago's Waterfront Destination"; has a giant Ferris wheel
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - a good natural history museum
Richard H. Driehaus Museum - visit a Gilded Age palatial home
Shedd Aquarium - visit the largest indoor aquarium in the U.S.
Start of Route 66 - take a photo of the sign that marks the start of the famous Route 66; go to 78-98 E. Adams Street in downtown Chicago
Symphony Center - home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Willis Tower & Skydeck Chicago - score great views of up to four states from 1,353 feet (103rd floor) above downtown Chicago
Wrigley Field - old-time ballpark and home of the Chicago Cubs; 90-minute guided tours are available


Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield - "the most complete Lincoln experience in the U.S."
Casey - a small town with dozens of roadside attractions (probably the biggest cluster of them anywhere in the U.S.)
Caterpillar Visitors Center, Peoria - excellent exhibits on heavy equipment
Dana-Thomas House, Springfield - tours of a Prairie School-style home built by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright
Giant Cross, Effingham - see one of the tallest religious crosses in America
Grandview Drive - a 2.5-mile paved route in Peoria featuring beautiful homes and fine views of the Illinois River
Hot Dog Muffler Man Statue, Atlanta - famous route 66 roadside attraction statue of a tall man holding a hot dog
Illinois Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum, Pontiac - one of several great Route 66 museums in the U.S.
Illinois State Capitol, Springfield - guided tours of the IL state capitol building
Kaskaskia Dragon, Vandalia - a run roadside attraction where you put a coin in a giant metal dragon and it shoots real fire
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield - visit the historic home of Abraham Lincoln (the only home he ever owned)
Lincoln Tomb & War Memorials State Historic Site, Springfield - the final resting place of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the U.S.
Matthiessen State Park, North Utica - see beautiful deep canyons, tall sandstone bluffs, and waterfalls
Nauvoo Historic Sites, Nauvoo - restored historical buildings built by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Old State Capitol State Historic Site, Springfield - visit a Greek Revival style capital building built in the mid 1800s
Starved Rock State Park, North Utica - the best state park in IL; features canyons, waterfalls, unique geology, and scenic views
World's Largest Catsup Bottle, Collinsville - roadside attraction of a water tower painted like a catsup (ketchup) bottle
World's Largest Mailbox, Casey - one of the best of the dozens of awesome roadside attractions found in the small town of Casey
World's Largest Rocking Chair, Casey - one of the best of the dozens of awesome roadside attractions found in the small town of Casey
World's Tallest Man Statue, Alton - measure up against this life-sized statue of the world's tallest man (Robert Wadlow - 8ft, 11in)


Southern Illinois
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville - visit the remains of a pre-Columbian Native American city
Cave-In-Rock State Park, Cave-In-Rock - walk inside a 55-foot wide limestone cave on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River
Garden of the Gods Recreation Area, Herod - hike among beautiful 320-million year old cliffs
Giant City State Park, Makanda - see unique canyons and fascinating rock formations
Jeremy "Boo" Rochman Memorial Park (Boo Castle Park), Carbondale - roadside attraction-type park with dungeons and dragons
Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, Findlay - offers some of IL's best scenery; hike thru a rock passageway and walk along the edge of a bluff
Shawnee National Forest - beautiful forests with scenic views, sandstone cliffs, wilderness areas, and many hiking and backpacking trails
Superman Statue, Metropolis - famous roadside attraction of a 15-foot tall Superman statue


Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Illinois? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.

For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:  IA |  IN |  KY |  MO |  WI

 BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN ILLINOIS


These towns and cities in Illinois are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:

Casey - a small town with dozens of roadside attractions (probably the biggest cluster of them anywhere in the U.S.)
Chicago - a major city that is among the very best cities in the U.S.; famous for its architecture, food (e.g. deep dish pizza, hot dogs), cycling paths, green spaces, professional sports teams/stadiums, and many world-class museums
Galena - a small town with historic red-brick buildings; many boutique shops and art galleries;often touted as the "best small town in IL"

My favorite city in Illinois is Chicago - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 4-5 days there. You could even spend a week if you wanted to visit many of the world-class museums that are in the city.
My favorite small town in Illinois is Galena - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least a full day there.

If you have four days to spend in Chicago, I would consider this itinerary:
Day #1: Visit the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the very best art museums in the U.S.
Day #2: Visit the Field Museum, one of the top natural history museums museums in the country
Day #3: Explore the sites of downtown Chicago on foot, including Michigan Advenue (including the Magnificient Mile shopping district), Millenium Park (including Cloud Gate and Crown Fountain), and Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain
Day #4: Catch the views from 360 Chicago (94th floor observatory) and then take a guided sunset architectural boat cruise on the Chicago River

While in Chicago, make sure to try at least some of these foods: (a) a deep-dish Pizza from Lou Malnati’s; (b) Chicago-style hot dogs from Portillo’s; (c) Chicago-style popcorn from Garrett Popcorn; and (d) Italian beef sandwiches from Al’s Italian Beef. There is so much more amazing food in Chicago, but this is a good start.

Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire U.S.

 WHAT IS ILLINOIS FAMOUS FOR?


Here are some things that Illinois is famous or well-known for:

Abraham Lincoln
Chicago blues
corn dogs
deep-dish pizza
first McDonald's location
first U.S. state at abolish slavery
Frank Lloyd Wright architecture
presidential birthplaces
pumpkins
Route 66 (including the start of the route in downtown Chicago)
skyscrapers

Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for.

 NATIONAL PARKS IN ILLINOIS


While there are currently no national parks in Illinois, there are several other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:

National Monuments
Pullman National Monument

National Forests
Shawnee National Forest

National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail
Trail of Tears National Historic Trail

For more information on Illinois's national parks, visit the Illinois page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.

 STATE PARKS IN ILLINOIS


Illinois manages more than 100 state parks and other similar nature/forest/wildlife areas. Many would agree that these represent Illinois's finest state parks:

Cave-In-Rock State Park, Cave-In-Rock - walk inside a 55-foot wide limestone cave on a bluff overlooking the Ohio River
Giant City State Park, Makanda - see unique canyons and fascinating rock formations
Matthiessen State Park, North Utica - see beautiful deep canyons, tall sandstone bluffs, and waterfalls
Starved Rock State Park, North Utica - the best state park in IL; features canyons, waterfalls, unique geology, and scenic views

My favorite state park in Illinois is Starved Rock State Park. I love hiking, and this state parks offers some of the best hiking in the state.

To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.

 BEST WATERFALLS IN ILLINOIS


Illinois has roughly 20-30 natural waterfalls, although many of them are considered "seasonal" meaning you'll want to visit after recent rains. Many of the best waterfalls in the state can be found within the outstanding Starved Rock State Park. Here are the best waterfalls in Illinois:

Northern Illinois
French Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
Giant's Bathtub Falls, Matthiessen State Park
LaSalle Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
Ottawa Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
St. Louis Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
Thunder Bay Falls, The Galena Territory (privately owned, but the public is currently welcome)
Tonti Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
Wildcat Canyon, Starved Rock State Park

Southern Illinois
Burden Falls, Shawnee National Forest
Cedar Falls, Camp Ondessonk (privately owned, but the public is currently welcome)

For a listing of all known waterfalls in Illinois, visit the World Waterfall Database.

 BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN ILLINOIS


Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Illinois:

Grandview Drive - a 2.5-mile paved route in Peoria featuring beautiful homes and fine views of the Illinois River
Great River Road - a 2,069-mile paved route along the Mississippi River that travels from Minnesota to Louisiana; 550 miles are in Illinois
Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway - a 150-mile paved route from Ottawa to Havana; includes travel on both sides of the Illinois River
Lake Shore Drive - a 16-mile paved route along the shoreline of Lake Michigan with great views of the lake and Chicago; best driven S > N

The Ohio River Scenic Byway may also be worthy of inclusion in the list above, but I haven't driven it yet.

LaRue Pine Hills Road in Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois may also be worth a look. It's possible there are other roads in Shawnee National Forest that have scenic views and/or scenic outlooks as well. It seems like most views in Shawnee National Forest require at least some sort of walk and/or hike though.

For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.

 BEST RAIL TRAILS IN ILLINOIS


Here is a list of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Illinois:

Northwestern Illinois (including Galena and Rockford)
Great River Trail

Northeastern Illinois (including Chicago and Naperville)
Chicago Lakefront Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
Des Plaines River Trail - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
Fox River Trail
Illinois Prairie Path ("IPP") - often rated one of the best rail trails in the U.S.
Millennium Trail

Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
Constitution Trail
Rock Island Trail

Southern Illinois
Tunnel Hill State Trail

For detailed information on all known rail trails in Illinois, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.

 BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN ILLINOIS


There are a few notable amusement parks in Illinois:

Northern Illinois (including the Chicago area)
Magic Waters Waterpark, Cherry Valley
Santa's Village Amusement & Water Park, East Dundee
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee

Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
Knight's Action Park, Springfield
Raging Rivers, Grafton

 BEST MUSEUMS IN ILLINOIS


Illinois has many excellent museums, including some world-class museums in Chicago. I would say that Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C. are the three best cities in the U.S. for museums. The best museums in Illinois include:

Northwestern Illinois (including Galena and Rockford)
Discovery Center Museum, Rockford
Historic Auto Attractions, Roscoe
John Deer Pavilion, Moline
Ulysses S. Grant Home, Galena

Northeastern Illinois (including Chicago suburbs and Naperville)
DuPage Children's Museum, Naperville
Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio, Oak Park
Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, Skokie
Volo Museum, Volo

Chicago
Adler Planetarium
American Writers Museum
Art Institute of Chicago, The - the most visited museum in Chicago and one of the world's best art museums
Chicago Architecture Center
Chicago Children’s Museum
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago History Museum
DuSable Museum of African American History
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
Field Museum, The - the second most visited museum in Chicago
Medieval Torture Museum
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Museum of Science & Industry
National Museum of Mexican Art
Oriental Institute Museum
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
Richard H. Driehaus Museum
Smart Museum of Art

Central Illinois (including Casey, Peoria, and Springfield)
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum, Springfield
Dana-Thomas House, Springfield
Illinois Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum, Pontiac
Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Springfield
Nauvoo Historic Sites, Nauvoo
Old State Capitol State Historic Site, Springfield

 BEST DAY HIKES IN ILLINOIS


Illinois has several interesting hiking trails, many of which lead to geological formations you may not expect from a Midwestern state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Illinois:

Northern Illinois
Dells Canyon & Bluff Trail, Matthiessen State Park
Glacial Park Loop, Glacial Park Nature Reserve
La Salle Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
Morton Arboretum and Big Rock Trail, Lisle
Ottawa Canyon, Starved Rock State Park
St. Louis Canyon Trail, Starved Rock State Park
Walking around downtown Chicago

Southern Illinois
Garden of the Gods Observation Trail, Garden of the Gods Wilderness
Giant City Nature Trail, Giant City State Park
Indian Creek Trail, Giant City State Park
Indian Point Trail, Garden of the Gods Wilderness
Little Grand Canyon Trail, Shawnee National Forest
Rim Rock Recreational Trail, Shawnee National Forest

I also love walking around downtown Chicago (including its riverwalk). You can easily get 5-10 miles (or more) of walking in without going into any undesirable areas. Despite the garbage you may see on social media, the downtown area of Chicago is generally very safe. It's the suburbs of Chicago that are dangerous. I last visited Chicago in 2021 and it remains my favorite city in the U.S.

The highpoint of Illinois is Charles Mound (1,235'), found in Scales Mound Township in northwestern Illinois. A short hike is required to reach the top.

 BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN ILLINOIS


Illinois offers a few great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes/areas in Illinois include:

Giant City State Park
River-to-River Trail
Sand Ridge State Forest
Shawnee National Forest

If you are aware of any other backpacking areas in Illinois, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.

 CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN ILLINOIS


Illinois offers many outdoor adventures, including these classics:

Backpacking the River-to-River Trail
Bouldering at Holy Boulders in Shawnee National Forest
Canoeing/kayaking the Cache River
Canoeing/kayaking the DuPage River
Canoeing/kayaking the Fever River (aka Gelena River)
Canoeing/kayaking the Illinois River
Canoeing/kayaking the Kankakee River
Canoeing/kayaking the Kishwaukee River
Canoeing/kayaking on the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River
Canoeing/kayaking on the Rock River
Cycling the Bloomingdale Trail ("The 606")
Cycling the Chicago Lakefront Trail
Cycling the Des Plaines River Trail
Cycling the Fox River Trail
Cycling the Illinois Prairie Path ("IPP")
Cycling the Tunnel Hill State Trail
Day hiking in Starved Rock State Park
Kayaking the Chicago River in downtown Chicago
Mountain biking the Big Marsh Bike Park
Mountain biking the Farmdale Reservoir Recreation Area
Mountain biking the Kickapoo State Recreation Area
Mountain biking the Palos Forest Preserve
Mountain biking the Saw Wee Kee Park
Rock climbing at Jackson Falls in Shawnee National Forest
Skydiving in Greenville, Ottawa, and Rochelle
Tubing the DuPage River
Tubing the Lower Fox River
Tubing the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River

 SKI RESORTS IN ILLINOIS


There are only a few ski resorts in Illinois, and they are all fairly small. The largest is Chestnut Mountain, which has 19 trails and a vertical drop of 475 feet. There is certainly some fun skiing in the state, but nothing that's really nationally significant.

 ILLINOIS TRAVEL TIPS


For offbeat and unique Illinois attractions, visit one or both of these amazing websites: Atlas Obscura and Roadside America

 UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN ILLINOIS


Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Illinois:

chicken vesuvio
corn dogs
corned beef sandwich
deep-dish pizza
flaming saganaki
horseshoe sandwich
Italian beef sandwich (w/sweet peppers)
jibartito sandwich
pizza puffs
popcorn (e.g. Garrett's)
rainbow cone
shrimp de jonghe
Vienna beef hot dog (e.g. Chicago hot dog)

For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Illinois (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Illinois (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.

 OTHER KEY ILLINOIS INFORMATION


Here is some helpful key information about Illinois:

State Capital:
Springfield

Major Airports:
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) and Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)

Largest Cities:
Chicago (2,756,546), Aurora (177,070), Naperville (151,078), Joliet (150,948), Rockford (147,811), Elgin (116,119), Springfield (114,022)

Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-24, I-39, I-55, I-57, I-64, I-70, I-72, I-74, I-80, I-88, I-90, I-94

State Highpoint:
Charles Mound (1,235') in Scales Mound Township in northwestern Illinois; a short hike is required to reach the top

Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Fox
NBA: Chicago Bulls
NFL: Chicago Bears
NHL: Chicago Blackhawks
WNBA: Chicago Sky

Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Goofy Ridge, Normal, and Sandwich

Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.

The Bean! in Millenium Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois
The Bean! in Millennium Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois

World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois
World's Largest Catsup Bottle in Collinsville, Illinois

Millenium Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois
Millennium Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois

downtown Chicago, Illinois
downtown Chicago, Illinois

downtown Chicago, Illinois
downtown Chicago, Illinois

Home Alone house in Winnetka, Illinois
Home Alone house in Winnetka, Illinois

Leaning Tower of Niles in Niles, Illinois
Leaning Tower of Niles in Niles, Illinois

Giant Taco in Casey, Illinois
Giant Taco in Casey, Illinois

Giant Antlers in Casey, Illinois
Giant Antlers in Casey, Illinois

World's Largest Rocking Chair in Casey, Illinois
World's Largest Rocking Chair in Casey, Illinois

World's Largest Mailbox in Casey, Illinois
World's Largest Mailbox in Casey, Illinois

Maggie Daley Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois
Maggie Daley Park in downtown Chicago, Illinois

take a seat with Roger Ebert in Champaign, Illinois
take a seat with Roger Ebert in Champaign, Illinois

St. Louis Canyon in Starved Rock State Park, Illinois
St. Louis Canyon in Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

 ROAD TRIP GUIDEBOOKS


In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any link to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com (affiliate).

Fodor's Bucket List USA (1st edition; 2021)
Moon USA State by State (1st edition; 2021)
Your Guide to the National Parks (3rd edition; 2022)
Road Trip USA (9th edition; 2021)

 MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES


Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:

Alabama Maryland Oregon
Arizona Massachusetts Pennsylvania
Arkansas Michigan Rhode Island
California Minnesota South Carolina
Colorado Mississippi South Dakota
Connecticut Missouri Tennessee
Delaware Montana Texas
Florida Nebraska Utah
Georgia Nevada Vermont
Idaho New Hampshire Virginia
Illinois New Jersey Washington
Indiana New Mexico Washington DC
Iowa New York West Virginia
Kansas North Carolina Wisconsin
Kentucky North Dakota Wyoming
Louisiana Ohio  
Maine Oklahoma  

As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.

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