There youll find flea markets, tasty meals like homemade chili or pie, handcrafted art, soaps, furniture, and collectibles. And if you want more interesting Illinois facts and figures, you can find them, Note: Before heading to Illinois, check the, Illinois Department of Public Health website, Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureaus updates to the COVID-19 crisis in Illinois. The Illinois River Road spans 150 miles. Great Rivers & Routes/Facebook The endpoint is in Cairo, an abandoned town that is packed with history. Illinois is a popular travel destination, housing some of the most beautiful cities and charming small towns in the country. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Here you can find more info about planning a trip to Starved Rock. Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail features 11 family-owned wineries and vineyards surrounded by the lush splendor of the Southern Illinois landscape. The byway traverses along northern Illinois, acting as a National Scenic Byway in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska. this is a very nice 50 mile loop along the great river road, its has lots of stops to picnic or watch barges or birds, the east side is more scenic. Casey is another small town worth a visit, featuring a very unique collection of giant items, including a pencil, a chair, and a golf tee. A Sunday drive elicits connotations of happier, simpler Rockwell-esque times. Not only does it span the entire state, but this famous road actually begins at Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota and winds the length of the country as it follows the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. around Illinois. Route 66 doesn't exist anymore, except in history. TheIllinois portion covers 300 miles, beginning in downtown Chicago, progressing on to Joliet, Bloomington, Springfield, and Litchfield until it ends in Collinsville. At nearly 179 miles, it takes about, to visit the entire byway, from its eastern portal at Lynwood to its Mississippi crossing at Fulton. Titled the "world's most beautiful drive" by President Theodore Roosevelt, Grandview Drive boasts picturesque views of the Illinois River in the charming town of Peoria. Alton was a great stop along the way will come back when we can stay for a couple days. The National Scenic Byways Program is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. If you live in a highly trafficked area, you might forget how meditative it is to drive on the open road. Each of these wineries has its own styles, techniques, and grape varieties that create wonderfully delicious and unique flavors. Love Illinois? If youre looking to escape the bustle of the city, pack up the car and set out on one of these scenic drives in Illinois. Whenever you plan to hit the road in Illinois, here are some essential tips to help you with your journey: Drive from Seattle to Vancouver The Scenic Way! A passion for cocktail creation, international travel and decadent foodie experiences, enjoy Stephanie's romp through the Land of Lincoln. Address: Long Hollow Scenic Overlook, 2918 US Hwy 20 W, Elizabeth, IL 61028, USA Here is a list of scenic drives in Central Illinois. Find your nearest vaccination location at vaccines.gov. Grandview Drive is only 2.52 miles long, making it a quick but scenic drive. TheLincoln Highway, dedicated in 1913, has the distinction of being the first transcontinental road for automobiles in the United States. Along the way, you'll pass many historic places including an old railroad depot, a log cabin from 1832, and a couple one-room schoolhouses. See our web stories that accompany this post. While this region of southern Illinois definitely can feel off the grid, there is no shortage of restaurants offering tasty meals after a day of driving, hiking, or wine tasting. All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com, Enjoy the 8 Most Beautiful Cities in Illinois, These Towns in Illinois Have the Best Main Streets, 7 Most Scenic Road Trips to Take in Alaska, 9 Most Scenic Road Trips to take in Maine, 8 Ideal Destinations For A 3-Day Weekend In Wisconsin, 9 Ideal Destinations For A 3-Day Weekend In Utah, 11 Most Charming Central California Coast Towns. What you wont get from just the name is that this is one of the best Illinois scenic byways. Thank you! The state has a landmass of 57,918 square miles, which includes 186 public use areas, such as state parks, memorials, forests, and conservation areas. There are also many festivals as well as flea markets and farmers markets that take place along this remote road. Our one-way route hits our favorite spots.
Road Trip. 8 Superb Scenic Drives in Illinois To Try This Summer, Always check weather conditions before you set out, especially in winter; visit, Looking for more inspiration beyond Illinois? Also called The Mother Road, the 1,408 miles of Route 66 travels through four statesArizona, Illinois, New Mexico, and Oklahomawith each section offering something unique to see. You can have these simpler times back. Robyne Stevenson. Wildlife Prairie Park is located at 3826 N Taylor Rd, Hanna City, IL 61536. Each event showcases the unique history or culture of the hosting town. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Navigate the charming small towns of Knox County on this self-guided car tour. I was wondering if someone can suggest some nice day trips out of town with beautiful scenic views. Besides the great views youll have throughout the entire trip, youll be entertained nearly every mile of this trip. When we say homes, these arent your typical cozy houses. I noticed it because I saw people taking selfies with the sign in the background. nuCamp RV, TAB, TAG, and Cirrus Copyright 2023, Are you ready to rally? Autumn hues paint a tapestry of yellows and orange across state parks, scenic drives, and national forests. Located at the convergence of the Mighty Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers, the byway winds west and north, with. The, borders the state on the west, offering incredible views that will inspire your imagination and showcase the fertile land that feeds the country. Ottawa is a town with a rich history and an even richer view of the Illinois River. Each community has its own contribution, but one of the most scenic drives is in Alton, Illinois which is known for its historic homes that are perched on the bluffs overlooking the river. Share your favorite places to cruise with us below in the comments. The state has a landmass of 57,918 square miles, which includes 186 public use areas, such as state parks, memorials, forests, and conservation areas. Although this wonderful farming community is not technically a byway, its still a great place to explore. In the heart of Illinois is Fulton County and the Spoon River Valley. Plan Your Visit (although COVID has impacted scheduled events), as well as. The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway follows both sides of the river, creating a 291-mile loop. The Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Festival. Grandview Drive State Park is located at 3615 N Grandview Dr, Peoria, IL 61614. Matthiessen State Park is quite close to Starved Rock and is perfect for adding into . Looking where to stay while exploring the Shawnee Hills Wine trail? In the midst of vast Illinois farmland, weekend travelers discover a topographic Kitsch, awe inspiring, quirky, colorful, beautiful and unforgettable. The red, yellow, and orange leaves on the trees are straight from a postcard. For more about Route 66, visit theIllinois Route 66 Scenic Byway website. Some of the best photo opportunities along the way include the Pig Hip Sign, Bunyon's Statue, and OBrien Tire & Auto Care Giant Tire. This post may contain affiliate links. 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. can explore history, enjoy festivals, and spend time outdoors thanks to a wide range of recreational opportunities.
Additional stops include Batavia, home to old limestone factory buildings, and Rochelle, a popular railroad town. Learn more about the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway on the webpage. Not to mention, these towns feature enchanting scenery untouched by skyscrapers and a plethora of lakes for water recreation and family-friendly activities. Popular stops along the road include the Paramount Theatre built in 1931, Rochelle Railroad Park with locomotives from the 1920s, and the unique communities that span the rolling prairies and riverfront towns on this scenic route in Illinois. To celebrate the people and customs of this region, the riverside towns are known for hosting a variety of festivals and events with art, music, and loads of food. It has nostalgia, nature, and just a good old road trip feel. When to go: Summertime brings events and festivals to the Great River Road including Great Galena Balloon Race, Floatzilla, and Fort Chartres Rendezvous. So beautiful in fall. Considered the most beautiful state park, Starved Rock State Park is home to a surreal landscape of rock formations, canyons, forests, and waterfalls. The river looked very beautiful, and the leaves were changing colors. Wildlife Prairie State Park is just outside of Peoria, so stop into the city for dinner. 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." 2023 Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. Click Here to Enter. Youll have the best seat in the house. There is no better place to take a selfie than at this scenic overlook in Galena, with its picturesque rolling countryside that will make you feel like you are in rural England (no passport needed!). Even if you're not a history buff, the park is a lovely place to digest breakfast before beginning your drive. And while you may be traveling in a modern vehicle, the trip will take you back into history, from when Native Americans inhabited the land through the time of western settlement and onward through times of industrialization. So many of our happiest childhood memories were made on the road. If you are looking for interesting cities in northern Illinois, click here. If you have time and love hiking we would advise you to spend one or more days in this amazing state park. Yes, this drive will take you to the place where the great Illinois River and Missouri River meet the great Mississippi River. Its 824-mile length runs from east to west, crossing through six states: Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois; with 164 miles of it within the Illinois border. Follow the Mother Road to discover a myriad of quirky roadside attractions, or hit one of the scenic highways crisscrossing the state. You may already know that Illinois has severalnicknames, including the Land of Lincoln (also its state slogan) and The Prairie State, but did you also know that popcorn is its official snack food, the eastern tiger salamander the state amphibian, and the monarch butterfly the state insect? At least one scenic byway runs through each of the IDOT regions. It provides visitors with the opportunity to view farmlands, wildlife, and barges carrying commodities up and down the river. It worked! was the nations first federally funded interstate highway, opening the nation to the west and becoming a corridor for the movement of goods and people. Now visitors traversing the. Today, youll find pumpkin picking, homemade pies, jams, and crafts for sale. 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