List of 175 Most Visited Tourist Attractions in Illinois

🏙️Wew, I never thought I was going to do something so immense, to make up a list of tourist attractions in Illinois that most people are not even aware of, but here it is.

A list of 175 tourist attractions. So you might wonder why I did this. First of all as you can see below, each item mentioned on each list is enough to make one think if there will be enough time to visit all of them. However, I have write some blogposts on some of them as you can see, there’s quite a lot to cover.

So if I have mentioned or not some attraction in Illinois, please comment and I will add it to the list.

Chicago — The Windy City

Explore the iconic heart of Chicago — where world-class art, stunning architecture, and vibrant city energy create an unforgettable experience for every visitor.

Chicago is one of America’s greatest cities — a place where world-class architecture meets deep-dish pizza, legendary blues music, and a lakefront that stretches as far as the eye can see. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning for the tenth, Chicago always has something new to discover.

Iconic Landmarks

1. Cloud Gate (The Bean) — Millennium Park

2. Navy Pier

3. Willis Tower (Skydeck Chicago)

4. John Hancock Center (360 Chicago)

5. Chicago Riverwalk

6. Buckingham Fountain — Grant Park

7. Tribune Tower

8. The Chicago Theatre

9. Wrigley Field

10. Soldier Field

11. United Center

12. Chicago Water Tower

13. The Magnificent Mile

World-Class Museums

Chicago’s museums are among the finest in the world — where families, history lovers, and curious minds discover something extraordinary around every corner.

Chicago’s museum scene is nothing short of extraordinary. From the ancient Egyptian mummies at The Field Museum to the hands-on science exhibits at the Museum of Science and Industry, the city’s cultural institutions are among the finest in the world. Art lovers, history buffs, science enthusiasts, and families will all find something that stops them in their tracks.

14. The Art Institute of Chicago

15. The Field Museum

16. Museum of Science and Industry

17. Shedd Aquarium

18. Adler Planetarium

19. Chicago History Museum

20. Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago

21. National Museum of Mexican Art

22. DuSable Black History Museum

23. Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum

24. Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art

Beyond the famous skyline, Chicago’s colourful neighbourhoods are where the city’s true soul reveals itself — one street, one café, and one story at a time.

Neighbourhoods & Districts

Beyond the famous skyline, Chicago’s true character lives in its neighbourhoods. Each district tells its own story — from the vibrant murals of Pilsen to the vintage boutiques of Wicker Park, the literary cafés of Hyde Park to the elegant brownstones of the Gold Coast. Getting lost in Chicago’s neighbourhoods is one of the great pleasures of visiting the city.

25. Wicker Park

26. Pilsen

27. Andersonville

28. Lincoln Park

29. Hyde Park

30. Bronzeville

31. Chinatown Chicago

32. Greektown Chicago

33. Little Italy Chicago

34. The Loop

35. River North

36. Gold Coast

Parks & Outdoors

Chicago’s parks and lakefront are the city’s beating heart. With 26 miles of stunning Lake Michigan shoreline, world-class green spaces, and a lakefront trail that draws millions of visitors every year, outdoor life in Chicago is as impressive as anything you’ll find indoors. Pack a picnic, rent a bike, or simply sit by the water and watch the city go by.

37. Lincoln Park

38. Grant Park

39. Jackson Park

40. Humboldt Park

41. Maggie Daley Park

42. Chicago Lakefront Trail

43. North Avenue Beach

44. Montrose Beach

Entertainment & Culture

From the vibrant street art of Pilsen to the vintage boutiques of Wicker Park and the elegant tree-lined streets of the Gold Coast, exploring Chicago’s districts is like travelling through a dozen different cities in a single day.

From the legendary comedy of Second City to the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the city’s entertainment scene is as diverse as its population. Chicago gave the world the blues, improv comedy, house music, and some of the most celebrated theatre in America. Whatever your taste, a night out in Chicago will not disappoint.

45. Second City Comedy Club

46. Chicago Symphony Orchestra

47. Lyric Opera of Chicago

48. Chicago Cultural Center

49. Steppenwolf Theatre

50. Goodman Theatre

51. Green Mill Jazz Club

52. House of Blues Chicago

53. Chicago Blues Festival

54. Lollapalooza

🛣️ Historic Route 66 — The Mother Road

A scenic stretch of Route 66 captures the freedom and adventure that made the Mother Road a symbol of the American dream and cross-country travel.

No road in America carries more mythology, more nostalgia, or more sheer adventure than Historic Route 66. Illinois claims the very beginning of this legendary highway — from the bustling streets of Chicago all the way to the Missouri border. Along the way, you’ll find vintage diners that haven’t changed since the 1950s, quirky roadside giants, neon-lit motels, and small towns that wear their Route 66 heritage with enormous pride. This is where the greatest road trip in the world begins.

55. Route 66 Start — E Adams St & S Michigan Ave, Chicago

56. Gemini Giant — Wilmington

57. Polk-a-Dot Drive In — Braidwood

58. Two Cell Jail — Dwight

59. Ambler’s Texaco Gas Station — Dwight

60. Old Log Cabin Restaurant — Pontiac

61. Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum — Pontiac

62. Pontiac Murals — Pontiac

63. Dixie Truckers Home — McLean

64. Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup — Shirley

65. Railsplitter Covered Wagon — Lincoln

66. Atlanta Public Library & Museum — Atlanta

67. Palms Grill Cafe — Atlanta

68. Cozy Dog Drive In — Springfield

69. Shea’s Gas Station Museum — Springfield

70. Route 66 Drive-In Theatre — Litchfield

71. Ariston Cafe — Litchfield

72. Henry’s Ra-Lin Motel Sign — Staunton

73. Brick Road — Auburn

74. Chain of Rocks Bridge — Madison

🏛️ Springfield — The Land of Lincoln

Springfield is where American history feels personal. As Abraham Lincoln’s home for over two decades, Illinois’ state capital preserves the legacy of the 16th President with extraordinary care and reverence. Walk the same streets

The Chicago Lakefront Trail stretches 18 miles along the shores of Lake Michigan, offering stunning views of the city skyline.

Lincoln walked, visit his home exactly as he left it, and stand quietly before his tomb — then discover a city that is far more than just a history lesson.

75. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum

76. Lincoln Home National Historic Site

77. Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site

78. Old State Capitol State Historic Site

79. Illinois State Capitol Building

80. Dana-Thomas House (Frank Lloyd Wright)

81. Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site — Petersburg

82. Illinois State Museum

83. Vachel Lindsay Home

84. Edwards Place Historic Home

85. Henson Robinson Zoo

86. Washington Park Botanical Garden

87. Lake Springfield

🌿 Southern Illinois — Nature & Adventure
Shawnee National Forest

Southern Illinois is the state’s best kept secret — a landscape of ancient sandstone cliffs, hidden waterfalls, dense hardwood forests, and winding river valleys that feels a world away from the flat prairie most people associate with Illinois. Anchored by the vast Shawnee National Forest, this region rewards hikers, nature lovers, photographers, and anyone willing to venture off the beaten path.

88. Garden of the Gods Wilderness
89. Rim Rock National Recreation Trail
90. Bell Smith Springs
91. Little Grand Canyon
92. Pounds Hollow Recreation Area
93. Cave-in-Rock State Park
94. Ferne Clyffe State Park
95. Giant City State Park
96. Burden Falls Wilderness
97. LaRue-Pine Hills Ecological Area
98. Pomona Natural Bridge
99. Heron Pond — Cache River State Natural Area

Rivers & Lakes

Southern Illinois is defined by water — the mighty Mississippi to the west, the Ohio River to the south, and a string of beautiful lakes scattered throughout the Shawnee Hills. Rend Lake, Kinkaid Lake, and the dramatically named Lake of Egypt offer world-class fishing, boating, camping, and some of the most peaceful scenery in the state.

100. Rend Lake

101. Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

102. Kinkaid Lake

103. Lake of Egypt

104. Ohio River Scenic Byway

105. Mississippi River — Southern Illinois

🏞️ Central Illinois — Prairie & History

Central Illinois is the heart of the state in every sense — geographically, historically, and culturally. This is Lincoln country, Route 66 country, and the land of the great American prairie. Anchored by the dramatic canyons of Starved Rock State Park and the ancient burial mounds of Dickson Mounds, Central Illinois rewards travellers who take the time to slow down and look closely.

106. Starved Rock State Park — Utica

107. Matthiessen State Park — Utica

108. Buffalo Rock State Park — Ottawa

109. Illinois Waterway Visitor Center — Ottawa

110. Dickson Mounds Museum — Lewistown

111. Spoon River Scenic Drive

112. Jubilee College State Historic Site — Brimfield

113. Wildlife Prairie Park — Hanna City

114. Peoria Riverfront Museum

115. Caterpillar Visitor Center — Peoria

116. Peoria Zoo

117. Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences — Peoria

🌊 Galena & Northwest Illinois

Tucked into the rolling hills of Northwest Illinois, Galena is one of the most charming and beautifully preserved historic towns in America. With its 19th-century Main Street architecture, world-class wineries, and deep connections to Ulysses S. Grant, Galena feels like stepping back in time — in the very best possible way. The surrounding region adds stunning river bluffs, state parks, and resort experiences that make Northwest Illinois a destination worth lingering in.

118. Galena Historic District

119. Ulysses S. Grant Home State Historic Site — Galena

120. Galena & Chicago Union Railroad Museum

121. Apple River Fort State Historic Site

122. Mississippi Palisades State Park — Savanna

123. Chestnut Mountain Resort — Galena

124. Eagle Ridge Resort — Galena

125. Galena Cellars Winery

126. Jo Daviess County Historical Society Museum

🏙️ Rockford & Northern Illinois

Northern Illinois offers a compelling mix of urban culture, natural beauty, and unexpected gems. Rockford — the state’s second-largest city — punches well above its weight with world-class gardens, fascinating museums, and a thriving arts scene. Beyond the city, the region’s state parks, railway museums, and quirky attractions make for a rich and rewarding road trip.

127. Anderson Japanese Gardens — Rockford

128. Burpee Museum of Natural History — Rockford

129. Rockford Art Museum

130. Discovery Center Museum — Rockford

131. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden — Rockford

132. Laurent House (Frank Lloyd Wright) — Rockford

133. Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum — Rockford

134. Illinois Railway Museum — Union

135. Volo Auto Museum — Volo

136. Raven’s Grin Inn Haunted House — Mount Carroll

137. Castle Rock State Park — Oregon

138. White Pines Forest State Park — Mount Morris

🏘️ Suburbs & Greater Chicago Area

The communities surrounding Chicago are far more than just bedroom towns — they’re destinations in their own right. From the world-famous Brookfield Zoo and the breathtaking Morton Arboretum to the architectural legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park and the Ernest Hemingway birthplace, the greater Chicago area rewards exploration at every turn. Add Six Flags Great America, stunning lakefront state parks, and the elegant Baha’i House of Worship, and you have enough to fill an entire Illinois itinerary without ever entering the city itself.

139. Brookfield Zoo — Brookfield

140. Morton Arboretum — Lisle

141. Cantigny Park & Museums — Wheaton

142. Wheaton College Billy Graham Center

143. Naper Settlement — Naperville

144. Riverwalk — Naperville

145. Six Flags Great America — Gurnee

146. Illinois Beach State Park — Zion

147. Baha’i House of Worship — Wilmette

148. Grosse Point Lighthouse — Evanston

149. Mitchell Museum of the American Indian — Evanston

150. Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio — Oak Park

151. Ernest Hemingway Birthplace — Oak Park

152. Joliet Area Historical Museum

153. Rialto Square Theatre — Joliet

154. Starved Rock Lodge — Utica

🍷 Wine, Food & Unique Experiences

Illinois surprises even seasoned travellers with its food, wine, and one-of-a-kind experiences. The Shawnee Hills Wine Trail winds through Southern Illinois’ rolling countryside, producing award-winning wines that rival anything from more famous American wine regions. Quirky roadside attractions — from the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle to the fire-breathing Kaskaskia Dragon — add a delightful layer of Americana absurdity to any Illinois road trip. And the ancient Cahokia Mounds remind visitors that Illinois’ story began long before Route 66.

155. Galena Cellars Winery — Galena

156. Alto Vineyards — Alto Pass

157. Shawnee Hills Wine Trail — Southern Illinois

158. Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup — Shirley

159. Kaskaskia Dragon — Vandalia

160. World’s Largest Catsup Bottle — Collinsville

161. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site — Collinsville

162. Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument — Alton

163. Alton Haunted History Tours

164. Pere Marquette State Park — Grafton

165. Grafton Winery & Brewhaus

🎭 Festivals & Annual Events

Illinois comes alive throughout the year with festivals and events that celebrate everything from world-class music and food to the state’s deep Route 66 heritage and natural beauty. Whether you’re dancing at Lollapalooza, sampling food at Taste of Chicago, watching the breathtaking Chicago Air & Water Show, or driving the Spoon River Scenic Drive in peak autumn colour, Illinois’ events calendar gives you a reason to visit in every single season.

166. Chicago Blues Festival

167. Chicago Jazz Festival

168. Lollapalooza — Chicago

169. Taste of Chicago

170. Chicago Air & Water Show

171. Illinois State Fair — Springfield

172. Spoon River Scenic Drive Festival

173. Galena Oktoberfest

174. Route 66 Experience — Various Locations

175. Shawnee National Forest Fall Colour Season

Author: Route 66 Finds

Route 66 Finds is your guide to the greatest road trip in America. We uncover the hidden gems, historic landmarks, natural wonders, and unforgettable experiences along the Mother Road — from Chicago to Santa Monica. Discover. Explore. Remember.