The Scenic Ridge Route offers 19 miles of smooth road surface and lots of sweeping corners. 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. It has nostalgia, nature, and just a good old road trip feel. 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. Stop in Fulton, IL to check out the working windmill imported from Holland. Lake Michigan Circle Tour. This area spans three different states: Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Fantastic day or weekend trip. Check out these cozy cabins. hand laid back in the 1930s and Harrys Rabbit Ranch, which contains old Route 66 memorabilia and other kitschy items that made this one of the most renowned Illinois byways. The road has its northern source near Galena before tracking the Mississippi River all the way to Cairo, at the far south end of the state. This byway actually follows the Mississippi River for about 3,000 miles, starting in Minnesota and ending at the Gulf of Mexico. Grandview Drive, Grandview Dr, Peoria, IL, USA. The northern end begins near Elkhart Lake in northern Sheboygan County and the southern end begins at Whitewater Lake in southeastern Walworth County. Photos and Property Details for 1209 SCENIC DRIVE, KNOXVILLE, TN 37919. 8. Guide yourself through Knox County and the 8 rural towns that it comprises. And thats where Patricia always brings it back to basics, one hand out the window, playing airplane just like a kid. Youll experience towering bluffs, rolling hills, river communities, farmlands and sweeping views. Whether you are a professed history buff, a lover of nature, or a boatman you will enjoy all that these sweeping 96 miles of the Illinois and Michigan canals have to offer. It originally ran from Chicago all the way to Los Angeles, California. It begins at the confluence of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, at Pere Marquette State Park, and it ends at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri River at Lewis and Clark State Historic Site. It's very well done overall. Hop out of the car and snack at one of the picnic tables, then try a hike. Below are the Free Visitor Guides for Illinois Area. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. If you're not one to hit the black diamond slopes out in Colorado, Trail Ridge Road is your best way to see the Rocky Mountains. After I came out of the Adler Planetarium the weather changed but even that got a good photo. You've probably worked up an appetite upon completing your hike. This scenic drive on the Illinois River is the perfect place to park and immerse yourself in the surrounding natural beauty. Best time to drive: mid September - end of October. But the Galena end of the highway yields to no other area in its River Road attractions. The downtown area here is meticulously preserved in its historical state, and there are plentiful things to doGrant Park, the Ulysses Grant Home, a three-state view from Horseshoe Mound, and the Blaum Brothers Distillery. This is truly one of the most remarkable Illinois byways to drive. The route begins at the Mississippi Palisades State Park and ends a couple miles shy of Elizabeth. Find top rated Pennsylvania 55+ Communities for active adults considering retiring to Pennsylvania. A haven for nature lovers, this drive is sure to give you a sense of tranquillity and oneness with the natural world. Also, be sure to check out the famous Cahokia mounds and visit the Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower where you can experience breathtaking 150-foot views of Ol Man River. As one of the most scenic drives in Illinois, there's nothing else quite like it. Find out how to get to Illinois by plane, train, bus and driving. Noah Clayton/Getty Images. Notable sites along the route are Burnham Park, Chicago Yacht Club, Drake Hotel, Du Sable Park, Grant Park, Jackson Park, Lake Point Tower, Lincoln Park, Montrose Beach, Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Industry, Promontory Point, Navy Pier, Soldier Field, North Avenue Beach, Oak Street Beach, Belmont Harbor and Temple Sholom. Enjoy all that Southern Illinois has to offer. Time needed: 2.5 hours to 2 days. Along the way you might just discover that theres more to the road than the river. The roadside attractions along Route 66 were designed to attract travelers to local towns and businesses. Traveling along its namesake, this road is partially an old route marked by French explorers and other immigrants who were drawn to Illinois. 5 of the Best Scenic Drives Through Illinois. Keep an eye out for the Great River Road logo on signsa green icon of a riverboat pilots wheelto keep you on the designated scenic byway. Part of HuffPost News. There is just nothing like the breathtaking views of Americas surging central artery of a river from the wooded bluffs and banks above it, and sometimes rolling right along just above the waterline. The scenic park offers heavily wooded areas overlooking the river, and is named for the 55-foot wide cavern situated in the bluffs along the river's edge. The scenic drive around Lake Tahoe may not be one of the state's longest but is most certainly among the most scenic drives in northern California (and Nevada). Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway, The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route. Illinois River Road: Route of the Voyageurs, Click here to add your listing to Go-Illinois.net, Complete the form below to email this page to a friend or family member's email. It parallels the 18-mile Chicago Lakefront Trail, a multi-use path that runs through city parks and is popular with joggers and cyclists. Tunnel of Trees or M-119. Your multi-country journey begins in Zimbabwe at Victoria Fallsthe largest waterfall in the worldfollowed by camping in Botswana's Chobe National Park. If you love the idea of a good old-fashioned Sunday drive then youll love getting into the car and heading down Grand View Drive in Peoria. Although there is a trail that runs along the I & M Canal, you can also take a tour of the canal on a riverboat thats pulled by a mule! It connects 13 community areas from North to South, from Edgewater to South Shore. The sky was a deep blue, the windows were rolled down, Patricia sailed her hand out the window. You dont have to go to Napa to enjoy great wine, scenic beauty, musical entertainment, and a friendly atmosphere. Road Trip At just over 153 miles, this road spans the Illinois section of U.S. 30 which connects Iowa and Indiana. Here, the Illinois forest crowds in close to the roadside, and low speeds and open windows will treat you to birdsong and the buzz, drone and plaintive croaks of a myriad of insects and hopping residents of the woods vernal pools. Ron "Don't Say Gay" DeSantis of . The Great River Road follows the mighty Mississippi, the nations longest river, along Illinois western border. Beautiful winding river through farm country thats peaceful and quiet. If you live in the city, take a break from the hustle and bustle and enjoy a leisurely drive through these picturesque country roads in Illinois. The Morton Arboretum, 4100 IL-53, Lisle, IL 60532, USA. All Rights Reserved and. An incredible hike in southern Illinois. The Scenic Drive roads are marked with [SD] symbols on this map. Explore the regions of Illinois with getaways perfect for exploring the fall col Find unexpected ways to enjoy Illinois in this biannual magazine that explores every corner of the state. On your drive, youll likely see many of these community members on the land working hard on their harvest. This remarkable historic drive offers numerous panoramic views of the Illinois River Valley. While enjoying the long, relaxing stretch of highway be sure to make a few pit stops to check out Ronald Reagans childhood home in Dixon, the amazing Fabyan Villa (they have their very own windmill! Check it out: If you love road trips, check out these seven places in Illinois boonies that are so worth the drive. Run by Veterans, youll board a historic fireboat for one of the most memorable tours in the state. 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. We have been enjoying visiting several of the Presidential libraries, museums, historic homes, etc. Check out these, If you want to take a unique boat tour along the Illinois River and Lake Michigan, check out, Visit These 12 Incredible Charming Small Towns In Illinois, One For Each Month Of The Year, This Walkable Stretch Of Shops And Restaurants In Small-Town Illinois Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination, Few People Know One Of The Nicest Restaurants In America Is Hiding In Small-Town Illinois, The Illinois Resort Where You Can Go Ice Skating, Make Homemade Smores, And More This Winter, 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. You may enjoy watching the changing leaves in a local forest preserve. The cave's history is full of tales of pirates ambushing travelers along the river in the 18th and 19th centuries. If you are interested in participating in or advertising with the Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival, please contact the Area Representative for that community, call 309-647-8980, email - spoonriverdrive@mail.com, write Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive Fall Festival, PO Box 525, Canton, IL 61520, or go to our Contact Us page. If theres one problem we have on any of these Galena-area road trips, its remembering that there is no hurry. Simply a refreshing, beautiful drive no matter the time of the year. Sununu has carefully built a Potemkin Village to convince the national media he is a somewhat safe Republican presidential alternative to Donald Trump or Gov. Six Romantic Spots Along the Great River Road in Illinois, Explore the Regions: Colorful Fall Getaways, Eco-Friendly Hotels and GreenGetaways in Illinois, Five Champaign Restaurants Perfect for a Romantic Outing, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Locations in Illinois, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Known as the Tunnel of Trees, M-119 is one of the most idyllic settings in the state. Road Trip. Dawn Brandt / Getty Images. more. Go at night for the sunset! Considered the most beautiful state park, Starved Rock State Park is home to a surreal landscape of rock formations, canyons, forests, and waterfalls. Color Key: top-5 ranked routes in the state #1#2#3#4#5 Routes ranked below the top-5 are drawn in gray Newest Motorcycle Roads & Rides in Illinois If you want to take a trip back in time, then pack up the car and head down the historic Lincoln Highway. This post may contain affiliate links. Lovely small communities and towns in farm country with something new around every bend. Below Galena, the US 20 rolls along inland out of sight of the river, but there is still plenty to see. It runs beside the scenic Fox River in Northern Illinois alongside historic railroad lines, crossing six bridges, and passing through nature preserves and charming towns. At least one scenic byway runs through each of the IDOT regions. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we are deeply grateful) at no extra cost to you. Considered the most beautiful state park, Its no secret that the small towns of the Prairie State are charming, to say the least, and provide the perfect escape from daily life. Rewrite your bucket list as you soar through the forest on a zipline, take a gondola ride to the top of the bluffs, experience the flavor of Illinois wines, satisfy your sweet tooth with a banana split inspired by a paddlewheel boat, or take a cruise on an actual paddlewheel boat. Have you ever been up and down these roads? Find out how to get to Illinois by plane, train, bus and driving. 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. Click on any scenic byway or backway listed below for complete information. 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. 1. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! There is so much history and pride in the locals here. This drive is stunning with the valley on one side and the river on the other. The Great River Road is one of the most scenic road trips in the midwest. 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!). 1. Design and Development by J Rudny, LLC. For an overview of amazing wineries in Grafton, click here. A must-see for everyone. Plan Your Visit When you travel through one of the most scenic Illinois byways, you are taking the same route the French explorers once did. Many use it to visit antique shops, farmers markets, and other attractions, but you can also drive the whole thing and see the best parts of Southern Illinois. Note: The Great River Road uses different specific highways to stay close to the river and access great attractions. Check out antique shops, artist studios, and local farmers' markets along the way. The scenic byway boasts 300 miles in Illinois alone, ending where the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers converge near Cairo, IL. The M-119, aka the Tunnel of Trees, is one of Michigan's most popular scenic drives. Not only will you connect with these stories, but youll have the opportunity to do so while enjoying great food, fun attractions, and lively festivals. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, NEXT ARTICLE: Emanuel's proposed property taxes and garbage fees could pump up Chicago's budget by $600 million, 5 fast facts you should know about Illinois taxes, State Rep. Avery Bourne Q & A: Meet the General Assembly's youngest member. Whitefish, Montana. We take your privacy seriously and will never sell your data to anyone. Learn more about Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive on the website. Searching for 55+ Communities on Retirenet.com is simple and easy. This project was funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation, This project was funded in whole or in part through a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation. around Illinois. The wildlife and foliage on the drive is absolutely beautiful and the wine is a plus! Schaumburg's many lush, tree-dense neighborhoods contain an array of apartments, condos, townhomes, and houses available for rent, in an overall peaceful environment. Beautiful views! For the best things in southern Illinois, click here. Youll see where Lincolns political career began, take pictures with giant bottles of catsup, and experience historical wonders such as the Cahokia Mounds, the largest prehistoric site north of Mexico where Mississippi natives were living 1,000 years ago. To satisfy your hunger, you'll need to drive for about 40 minutes to reach Cliff Droppers, a popular family-run burger restaurant in the area. This incredible route is the iconic American road trip. Shenandoah National Park Skyline Drive. The road has its northern source near Galena before tracking the Mississippi River all the way to Cairo, at the far south end of the state. And the long lines of barges being carefully shepherded up and downstream by powerful tugs are a fascinating sight to see. How dependent are we on Illinois' sin taxes? As you explore the trail, you'll come across several highlights. Saults Drug Store Inc, 505 Court St, Fulton, MO 65251, USA. Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National ForestCave in Rock State ParkSuperman Statue in Metropolis, Old Chain of Rocks BridgeOriginal Brick RoadHenry's Rabbit Ranch, 3. It really helps take your mind off all the stressors in life. There are festivals and celebrations happening every month of the year along the Great River Route. Northwest Illinois Loop scenic drive Visit state parks and recreation areas near Galena on our scenic loop drive. Read our full coverage on the Ohio River Scenic Byway to learn more. Day spas in Illinois that are worh visiting. You pass by famous landmarks such as Navy Pier, Soldier Field, Lincoln Park Zoo and Calumet Park. 59 helpful votes. Slow down, she says. We always enjoy visiting Galena Cellars, but the Stagecoach Trail also gives access to Apple River Canyon State Park, a wonderland of canyons and rugged rock formations great for hiking. Learn more about the Long Hollow Scenic Overlook on the webpage. Head west and drive the Great River Road along the Mississippi, with its bluff-top views, river sights, charming B&Bs and sprawling vineyards. Thank you! Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity. Spoon River Valley is one of the most beautiful scenic drives in Illinois. Love Illinois? Our supportive staff and leadership are committed to an autonomous practice . Youll find the little town of Elizabeth along US Highway 20, where this road branches north and connects about 12 miles away with Stagecoach Trail. Where can I take a scenic boat ride in Illinois? This byway was recently named one of the Seven Wonders of Illinois because of the stunning bluffs, mighty rivers, abundance of historical sites, and quaint villages. 11: Northern California Scenic Drives: Lake Tahoe Loop (US 50, NV 28 and US 89) Distance: 72 miles. You may even find a new greasy spoon with all the comfort foods you could imagine. Whether you are looking for a day trip, weekend getaway or planning a road trip, our guides provide you with the perfect scenic drive. It is most popular during fall events, but you'll find lovely sights any time of year. Why you should go: The ultimate great lakes drive when you have a few days to spare. Enjoy all that Southern Illinois has to offer. We were most recently there and counted 40 bald eagles on our drive. It was the widest and longest bascule bridge in the world when it was constructed in 1937, a year after LSD was completed by architect Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. I was there in the morning and had a beautiful blue sky. You'll experience towering bluffs, rolling hills, river communities, farmlands and sweeping views. For example, there are the Fulton Dutch Days in May, the Cahokia Native American Holiday Market in Collinsville during the month of November, and the Eagle Ice Festival in Alton in January. Along the way, you'll see Ronald Reagan's childhood home, a railroad park, and other historic landmarks and attractions that only backroads can offer. You will find many small towns with food marts and fuel stations in this route. The Reagan exhibit is housed in the Cerf Bldg and takes about 30 minutes (or a little more if you read everything). These are the 14 most scenic drives in the United States, from sea to shining sea. 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