Outdoors
State Parks & Hiking
Starved Rock, Matthiessen, Garden of the Gods and 300+ natural areas.
Things to Do
Things to Do in Illinois
From canyon hikes and Route 66 nostalgia to world-class museums and easy family days out — here's how to fill your Illinois itinerary.
By interest
Pick your kind of fun
History
Abraham Lincoln Sites
Springfield's home, tomb and presidential library tell America's story.
Culture
Museums & Art
The Art Institute, Field Museum, MSI and campus galleries statewide.
Iconic Drives
Route 66
Neon, diners and quirky roadside stops along the Mother Road.
Outdoors
Get into the wild: Shawnee & the parks
Southern Illinois surprises visitors with rugged beauty. Hike to the otherworldly rock formations at Garden of the Gods, chase autumn color through the Shawnee National Forest, or explore the canyons and waterfalls of Starved Rock and Matthiessen in the north.
- 🥾Easy boardwalks to challenging bluff climbs
- 🍁Peak fall foliage late October
- 📸Sunrise/sunset overlooks worth the early start
Educational travel
Make it a learning trip
Illinois is built for curious travelers. Tour a historic campus, sit in on a public lecture or planetarium show, explore science museums, and discover the architecture that shaped a nation. Families love combining a campus visit with hands-on museums for a day that's as fun as it is enriching.
See campus visitsFamily-friendly
Great for all ages
Chicago Museum Campus
Aquarium, planetarium and natural history — all in one lakeside cluster.
Waterfall Hikes
Short, kid-friendly trails to seasonal falls at Starved Rock.
Route 66 Oddities
Giant statues, classic drive-ins and photo-ready Americana.