Illinois

✨ Things to Do

Illinois has you covered whether you’re a sports fan, history buff, nature lover, museum enthusiast, or anything else. There’s something for you in Illinois. 

• Visit Museums – Explore world-renowned institutions like the Museum of Science & Industry, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, and others. 
• Lake Michigan – 63 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline hug the northeastern corner of Illinois. Enjoy swimming, boating, and other water activities. 
• Farmers Markets – Illinois is rich in agriculture. Get fresh regional products like corn, cherries, and even Great Lakes fish. 
• Historic Sites – Step back in time at places like Lincoln Home National Historic Site, Lincoln’s New Salem, and Cahokia Mounds. 
• Experience Nature – Escape into nature at Starved Rock State Park, Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest, and Matthiessen State Park. 
• Catch a Game – Chicago is home to some pretty iconic sports teams like the Bulls, Bears, Cubs, and White Sox.

🗺️ Where to Stay

These are the best places to stay in Illinois for enjoying museums, top attractions, nature areas, and more. 

• Chicago – Stay in the heart and hub of America’s Midwest to experience everything from arts and culture to sports and incredible restaurants. 
• Springfield – The state capital offers many museums and historic sites, great for learning more about Illinois. 
• Rockford – A vibrant small city that’s close to other Midwestern destinations. Home to the Andersonville Japanese Gardens.
• Evanston – This small city has tons of charm, history, and scenery. It’s within an hour’s drive to Chicago for visiting attractions. 
• Peoria – This town alongside the Illinois River offers a little something for everyone with local museums, outdoor attractions, and more. 
• Galena – A picturesque small town in northwestern Illinois, perfect for a quaint and romantic getaway.
• Harrisburg – This town is known as a “gateway to Shawnee National Forest” and is close to the Garden of the Gods.

🛎️ Best Hotels

These hotels all offer something unique, whether you’re seeking a romantic getaway, family vacation, or just a fun trip somewhere new. 

• Chicago Athletic Association – A beautiful boutique hotel directly across from Millennium Park with a rooftop bar and city views. 
• The Langham Chicago – A downtown Chicago hotel decked out with beautiful, modern rooms and luxurious amenities. 
• The Jail Hill Inn – This charming bed & breakfast in Galena, IL was once a former jailhouse from 1878. It has hundreds of 5-star reviews. 
• Deer Path Inn – A cozy and luxurious Inn in Lake Forest, IL. Perfect for a romantic retreat just outside of Chicago.
• Great Wolf Lodge Chicago/Gurnee – A family-friendly resort in Gurnee, IL that features a waterpark, rock climbing wall, and more.

🚗 Best Road Trips

Hit the road and explore everything from small towns to quirky roadside attractions while passing diverse Illinois scenery. 

• Route 66 – This iconic American road begins in downtown Chicago at Buckingham Fountain and continues southwest through Illinois. 
• Great River Road – This must-do road trip extends down the west side of Illinois along the Mississippi River and offers a little bit of everything. 
• Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway – A 33-mile stretch of the Great River Road. This is where the Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri rivers cross. 
• Lincoln Highway – The Lincoln Highway stretches across northern Illinois and passes through places like Joliet, Aurora, Batavia, and Geneva.
• Illinois River Road – This road goes through the center of Illinois and includes Grandview Drive (another scenic drive), Starved Rock State Park, and Buffalo Rock State Park.

⛱️ Best Beaches

You may think “Illinois doesn’t have beaches.” Think again. These beautiful Lake Michigan beaches are perfect for scenery, swimming, and hot summer days. 

• North Avenue Beach – A popular Chicago beach with beautiful skyline views, restaurants, and water activities like paddle boarding.
• Montrose Beach – A large beach on Chicago’s North Side with a restaurant, nearby dog beach, volleyball nets, and decent parking. 
• Illinois Beach State Park – A nature preserve and beach area in Northern Illinois with six miles of beaches plus picnic areas and trails.
• Waukegan Municipal Beach – This beach in Waukegan, IL features recreation areas, natural sand dunes, and a mile of beachfront.
• Gillson Beach – A clean and scenic beach in Wilmette, IL that’s also home to a dog beach, greenspace, and recreation areas.

🎢 Best Theme Parks

Looking for rides, roller coasters, and fun for all ages? Check out these theme parks located all around Illinois:

• Navy Pier – A historic pier in Chicago home to family-friendly rides and attractions, and a hub for shopping and dining. 
• Six Flags Great America – Illinois’ largest amusement park in Gurnee has hair-raising roller coasters, family-friendly rides, and interactive games.
• Santa’s Village Amusement & Water Park – This family-friendly East Dundee, IL amusement park has rides, animal attractions, and a water park.  
• Raging Waves Waterpark – You’ll find tons of water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and more at this large outdoor water park in Yorkville, IL.
• Grady’s Family Fun Park – A Bloomington, IL park with kiddie rides, go-karting, mini golf, and other family-friendly activities.

🖼️ Best Museums

The museums in Illinois are impressive and diverse, spanning science, art, local history, and more. These are a handful of must-see museums. 

• Museum of Science and Industry – One of the largest science museums in the world. MSI features incredible interactive exhibits and historic artifacts.
• The Art Institute of Chicago – This downtown Chicago museum contains an impressive international art collection from throughout history. 
• Lincoln Home National Historic Site – This historic site in Springfield, IL was the former home of 16th President Abraham Lincoln. 
• Illinois State Museum – A heritage museum in Springfield, IL that tells the story of Illinois’ history through interactive exhibits.
• The Field Museum – A large, family-friendly natural history museum in Chicago with millions of specimens on display.

👉 Tips & Things to Know

• 🚗 – Be a Defensive Driver – Practice defensive driving, especially in and around Chicago. Expect some impatient, speedy drivers, traffic, and a little chaos. 
• 🛣 – Prepare for Toll Roads – Keep spare cash and change in your car if you run into toll roads and be mindful of toll signs. Get an I-PASS to avoid fines. 
• ❄️ – Expect Cold Winters & Hot Summers – Illinois experiences temperature extremes. Winters can be snowy, icy, and freezing. Summer heat waves in the 90s are common. 
• 🌿 – Marijuana is Legal – Marijuana is legal in Illinois as of 2020. You have to be 21+ to purchase and there are legal dispensaries around the state. Be familiar with cannabis laws.
• 🇺🇸 – Politics are Divided – Politics are very divided geographically. Most of Illinois is conservative while the Chicagoland area is very liberal.

🧳 What to Pack

• 👟 – Comfortable Shoes – Comfortable walking shoes like gym shoes are a must in Illinois, especially for hiking areas and walking around Chicago. 
• 🧢 – Baseball Cap – A baseball cap is a Midwestern staple. Pack one to protect yourself from the sun and keep hair out of your face. 
• 📱 – Portable Charger – Keep your phone charged and ready to go with a portable charger. You’ll need it for taking photos, looking up directions, and more. 
• 🧥 – Coat – Don’t underestimate winters in Illinois. Keep warm with a good quality coat to keep out the wind, freezing temperatures, and icy conditions.
• ☀️ – Sunscreen – Protect yourself from Illinois’ hot and humid summers with sunscreen. It’s especially important for beach days on Lake Michigan.

🤓 Facts & Info

• Population (2024) – 12.71 million 
• Capital – Springfield 
• Largest Metro Areas – Chicagoland, Greater St. Louis, and Rockford  
• Time Zone – Central Time (UTC -5 / UTC -6 during daylight savings)
• Airports – O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Midway International Airport (MDW), Quad City International Airport (MLI), General Downing-Peoria International Airport (PIA), Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
• Colleges & Universities – University of Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Illinois Urbana – Champaign, Loyola University, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale
• Nickname – The Prairie State, Land of Lincoln
• Demonynm – Illinoisan
• USPS Abbreviation – IL
• Governor – J. B. Pritzker (Democrat)
• Country – United States of America

💵 Costs & Budgeting

• MERIC Cost of Living State Rank – #17 
• 3 Star Hotel Room – $100-$300/night
• 1 Bedroom Apartment Rental – $100-$300/night
• Rental Car – $65-$100/day
• Public Transit Ticket – ~$2.50 ($2.50 to airport from center)
• Take Out Meal for Two – $50
• Sit Down Dinner for Two – $75
• Draft Beer – $8-$12

Lea Rose Allbaugh

Lea Rose Allbaugh is a freelance writer from the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She’s currently based in Chicago (except for when she’s on a traveling stint) and is obsessed with all things travel. She caught the travel bug back in 2015 during an exchange to the Netherlands and has been traveling ever since. Through her writing, she hopes to inspire others to get up and go experience the world. Aside from travel, she loves reading, writing, and anything creative. She writes on her website Written World.

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