If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. At least one scenic byway runs through each of the IDOT regions. We welcome you to visit our Community Involvement webpage for more information on how to get involved in building a more positive transportation environment for you and your community. If you want to take a trip back in time, then pack up the car and head down the historic Lincoln Highway. A typical Sunday drive might leave you finding a new general store to stock up on sweets and other treats. Vast landscapes with beautiful scenery, the ability to connect with nature and fun attractions. When to go: Summertime brings events and festivals to the Great River Road including Great Galena Balloon Race, Floatzilla, and Fort Chartres Rendezvous. Here Are 8 Of The Best Scenic Drives In Oklahoma Posted in Oklahoma Trips July 01, 2021 by Ashley Take These 8 Country Roads In Oklahoma For An Unforgettable Scenic Drive Whether you are looking for a day trip or a weekend getaway, exploring Oklahoma is truly amazing. Download the Byway Guide for more information about exploring the byway. Only a fraction of Illinoisans are lucky enough to travel sections of these roadways let alone the entire byway as part of their daily commute. Youll have the best seat in the house. There are also loads of other historical tidbits along the route ranging from Civil War heroes, river pirates, and more. Lovely houses and magnificent views. It was meant to be a peaceful and fun activity for the whole family. to explore: the northwest, the northeast, the southwest, and southeast. Home to the remarkable Cascade Falls and Giants Bathtub Falls, this park is an ideal place to stretch your legs before you start the longer part of the drive and contains some of the most inspiring nature in Northern Illinois. While no longer an official highway, Illinois still celebrates its 300-mile stretch with restored 1940s gas pumps, quirky museums, and eccentric art and memorabilia on one of the most historic drives in Illinois. . There are also plenty of museums where history enthusiasts can discover the history of each town you pass through, including the Illinois Route 66 Mining Museum, Hawes Grain Elevator Museum, and Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site. Youll love stretching your legs in the Lowden-Miller State Forest and checking out the animals at the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. With more than 24 different attractions, there is something for the whole family. We have been enjoying visiting several of the Presidential libraries, museums, historic homes, etc. For more like this, check out the 10 most scenic drives in Illinois that will take your breath away. Some of the most popular stops along the way include the restored 1891 opera house, the Spoon River Dam, and the London Mills Docks along the Illinois River where visitors can enjoy a picnic or spend time fishing. The endpoint is in Cairo, an abandoned town that is packed with history. When we say homes, these arent your typical cozy houses. Discover top travel stories and even more reasons to #EnjoyIllinois with our free magazine. For more about Route 66, visit the, Camper Checks To Do Before Heading Out This Spring. The Lincoln Highway has a historic past. If youre unfamiliar with this period in history, we suggest you do a little digging to have the full immersive experience. It's a byway that marks the meeting of three major waterways: the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers. The wildlife and foliage on the drive is absolutely beautiful and the wine is a plus! There are places to stop along the way depending on where you are and what you're looking to do, but the best parts are the natural sights and preserves along the way. Its really one of the most delightful drives in Illinois. Enjoyed our drive up the east side of the Mississippi. Check out these, If you want to take a unique boat tour along the Illinois River and Lake Michigan, check out, Meet The Farm Animal That Inspired An Iconic Restaurant Chain In Illinois, Youll Never Forget Your Stay At This Charming Vintage Home In Illinois With Its Very Own Heated Pool, You Could Spend Forever Exploring This Illinois Small Town, But Well Settle For A Weekend, Eat Asian-Fusion And Be Serenaded By Celebrity Impersonators At This Family-Owned Tiki-Themed Illinois Restaurant, The 10 Best Backroads In Illinois For A Long Scenic Drive, 7 Paved Trails In Illinois That Make Hiking The Great Outdoors Easier, Theres A Mule-Pulled Canal Ride In Illinois That Is The Most Unique Thing Youll Ever Do, Take This Road To Nowhere In Illinois To Get Away From It All. They grew up in Austin, Texas and currently live in Chicago, IL with their partner, two dogs, and a cat. There youll find flea markets, tasty meals like homemade chili or pie, handcrafted art, soaps, furniture, and collectibles. The red, yellow, and orange leaves on the trees are straight from a postcard. Each has a scene not to miss. Some of the most popular recreation areas for hiking, boating, and exploration include the Illinois State Conservation Area, Garden of the Gods, and Cave-in-Rock State Park. 1. To learn more about how to nominate a specific section of roadway in Illinois for a natural destination, please navigate to theCommunity Involvement 'Love the Land of Lincoln' website. Grab your family (or just your own sense of adventure) and spend a Saturday touring this beautiful section of the Illinois River Road! The state is also one of the best locations for a road trip, comprising seven scenic byways and many more beautiful highways and roads, boasting gorgeous and exciting stops along the way. Pro Tip: Check out the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festivals website for more info. One of the less threatening wild specimens is pictured here. The Knox County Scenic Drive is one visitors can enjoy all year, but special events offer a little extra fun on the first two full weekends of each October. Fabulous views and thrilling curves with the rivers right beside you. Washington Square Park is Located at Washington Square Park, 101 E Lafayette St, Ottawa, IL 61350. Here is a list of more small cities in Illinois that are worth a visit. Matthiessen State Park Looking where to stay while exploring the Shawnee Hills Wine trail? Follow the Mother Road to discover a myriad of quirky roadside attractions, or hit one of the scenic highways crisscrossing the state. Hop in the car and enjoy the best scenic drives in Illinois, from bluffs along the Mississippi River to winding roads through a national forest and the famous Route 66. Whether youre cruising the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River or winding through charming towns in the countryside, there are over 57,000 square miles of Illinois roads to explore. Navigate the charming small towns of Knox County on this self-guided car tour. Even if you're not a history buff, the park is a lovely place to digest breakfast before beginning your drive. Nature, agriculture Get your kitsch on the Illinois stretch of Route 66. Finally, complete the loop and return to Ottawa via IL-18 E, depart for wherever home is, or stay the night in Peoria, which has lots of attractions for travelers looking for another day of adventures. You can read our complete privacy policy here. Illinois is well-loved for its vast landscape and endless attractions, making it the ideal spot for a road trip. It originally ran from Chicago all the way to Los Angeles, California. Get in touch by emailing bclancy@onlyinyourstate.com. A must-see for everyone. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. is a history-rich byway that hugs the banks of the Ohio River, offers an almost continuous view of the water, and includes three states on its route: Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The Historic National Road Scenic Byway runs from Cumberland, Maryland to Vandalia, Illinois, stretching 164 miles within Illinois. The Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway is a 33-mile section of the much longer 550-mile Great River Road in west-central Illinois. For a more relaxed accomodatiion, Walnut Grove Farm in Knoxville is home to a beautiful bed and breakfast and Prairie Moon Farm is the perfect spot for picking pumpkins just before Thanksgiving and Halloween. Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Flickr/Kirk Kittell If you have a day or two to just breathe in all the sites, then take on Spoon River Valley's scenic 140-mile drive. One of the first highways designed for automobiles, Lincoln Highway begins on US Route 30 and travels through 13 states, connecting New York to San Francisco. The Ohio River Scenic Byway traverses through southern Illinois for 188 miles and, as the name suggests, runs along the Ohio River. If you are a Republican fan, a fan of Reagan's or just love history, this is a wonderful tribute to a great man. The route spanned the entire width of the state because it was part of the larger highway system that ran from New York to California. Although the formation of the road began in 1913, lack of funding made it impossible to pave the full road. Beginning in Marshall youll be treated to gorgeous views, lovely towns, and historic sites all the way to East St. Louis and the great Mississippi River. While there isn't anything else in the immediate vicinity relating to Route 66, it's an easy way to pay homage to this world-famous All-American route. Even if you just drive right through, youll enjoy the serene Illinois woodlands, forests, and wetlands. Scenic overlooks provide plenty of opportunities to see this park in all its fall glory. In Illinois, the Lincoln Highway crosses the entire state, starting in Lynwood in the east and traveling all the way to the great Mississippi River in the town of Fulton. Benjamin Clancy is the Illinois and Indiana writer at Only In Your State, a doctoral candidate at UNC Chapel Hill in Communication, and an artistic type who has attended the Vermont Studio Center residency in poetry writing and makes something like music as "little other." Here you can find more info about planning a trip to Starved Rock. Organized as a territory in 1809, Illinois entered the Union in 1818 with 102 counties. From Grandview Drive, rejoin Il-26 N to travel alongside Illinois River and Billsbach Lake as the sunset lights up the water. This remarkable historic drive offers numerous panoramic views of the Illinois River Valley. From Matthiessen State Park, take IL-40 S through charming Princeton and arrive at the Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park. Guide yourself through Knox County and the 8 rural towns that it comprises. Illinois is a popular travel destination, housing some of the most beautiful cities and charming small towns in the country. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway begins in Chicago and ends up at the Chain of Rocks Bridge, with a plethora of enticing small towns and roadside attractions in between. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Pack a delicious picnic and enjoy a relaxing day at this peaceful spot before hopping back in the car and taking in the rest of the beautiful landscape laid out before you. Whichever route motorists choose to take, they are sure to discover a little something about Illinois and perhaps find a new appreciation for the lovely state. 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scenic drives northern illinois