It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The days are getting shorter, the air is filled with snow and holiday cheer, and shopping takes on a whole new meaning. Of course, it’s important to take a break from the crowded stores and holiday shopping wish lists and spend a little time taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of Christmas in Illinois right outside of your back door. Well, it won’t actually be right outside your door, but it could be! Christmas road trip, anyone?

This adventure to see the best Christmas lights in Illinois will take you on quite an adventure, so load up the car, pack the hot chocolate in some travel mugs, bundle up the kiddos, stock up on Christmas cookies, and put those holiday tunes on because this Christmas road trip is exactly what you need to get in the festive spirit. Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Google Maps
This holiday road trip to see the best Christmas lights in Illinois will take just over six hours (not factoring in the time to get out and enjoy each attraction). Therefore, you may want to plan on stopping for the night or breaking the drive into different segments. Either way, enjoy all that this dazzling itinerary has to offer!
1. Lightscape at Chicago Botanic Gardens
Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe, IL 60022, USA
Chicago Botanic Garden / Facebook
Our list of the best Christmas lights in Illinois begins in Chicago. Lightscape is a highly-anticipated holiday event that is sure to dazzle all ages. Singing trees, illuminated walkways, enchanting gardens, and just a touch of magic await you at this famous Illinois landmark. The after-dark illuminated trail has to be experienced to be believed. Just be sure you bundle up!
2. ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago
Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL 60614, USA
Facebook/ Lincoln Park ZooLights
Take in the sights of the Lincoln Park Zoo as it comes alive with over two million Christmas lights. Enjoy sweet treats, visit Santa at the Helen Brach Primate House or go ice skating past adorable farm animals at Farm-in-the-Zoo. All these sites and sounds are completely free! Come see why these are among the best Christmas lights in Illinois you can ever admire.

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3. Folepi’s Winter Wonderland, East Peoria
Folepi's Winter Wonderland, BAYVIEW GARDE, 123 Par 3 Ln, East Peoria, IL 61611, USA
Facebook/ Folepi’s Winter Wonderland
Illinois at Christmas truly is a delight. Join East Peoria for its exciting annual Festival of Lights show. See what the town has been hard at work creating all year long. From a twinkling and animated train that is over 160 feet long and contains over 65,000 lights to spectacular lighted floats, this park comes alive with the holiday spirit. And don’t miss a peek at Folepi’s Enchanted Forest. Located in the Levee District, the Enchanted Forest houses a 35-foot tall tree along with more creatively decorated trees and parade floats.
4. McIntosh Christmas Road
404 S Charter St, Monticello, IL 61856, USA
Facebook/The McIntosh Christmas Lights Show
Do you want to see what happens when a little sibling rivalry mixes with a little friendly competition? Well, you get the McIntosh Christmas Lights Show, of course! What started as a fun little decoration battle has now turned into a full-on light show decked out with Light O Rama Technology and decorations that twinkle and dance in time to music. Half of this decorative duo believes that he’s used up to four miles of extension cords just to run the attraction. Move over, Clark Griswold! This might literally be the single greatest Christmas lights show in IL at someone's house.
5. Shelbyville Festival of Lights
East North 9th Street, E North 9th St, Shelbyville, IL 62565, USA
Facebook/Shelbyville Festival of Lights
Did you know you can visit Santa’s shop, a Victorian village, Bethlehem, and the North Pole right here in Illinois? Well, now you can when you head to Shelbyville. You’ll be in for a real treat when you drive through Forest Park where you’ll be blanketed in the glow of beautiful holiday light displays. New themes and lights are added each year, so this light show never gets old. If you make it on the weekend, hop out of the car and enjoy a carriage ride. This amazing Christmas village feels like something out of a movie.
6. Starved Rock Lodge, Oglesby
Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center, One Lodge Ln, Oglesby, IL 61348, USA
Flickr/Kimberly Koppen
Sometimes you need a little break from all the gift wrapping and holiday planning to sit back and get a breath of fresh air. What better way to do that than by riding a heated Christmas trolley ride while taking in the illuminated displays of LaSalle, Oglesby, and Utica? Bring the kids, in-laws, and the whole family to what could end up being a time-honored tradition. Bring an extra blanket, cozy up, and leave the driving to someone else while you sing carols and enjoy the joyous decorations.

We believe the more Christmas lights in Illinois the better when it comes to celebrating the holidays. If you think so too, be sure to check out other magical Christmas towns in Illinois to feed your passion for the holidays. What did you think of this holiday lights road trip? Did any of your favorite seasonal attractions miss the list? If so, be sure to tell us all about them – we’d love to hear from you! You can also fill out a nomination form to share your favorite places around Illinois with us. Who knows: you may even see them featured in upcoming stories!

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Christmas lights in Illinois

Beth C. | November 01, 2021

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Illinois experiences frigid temperatures and a healthy dose of snow each winter, which sets the stage perfectly for embracing all that the cold season has to offer. And while you may be tempted to bundle up and hibernate all winter long, there are plenty of winter-friendly attractions throughout the state that you'll want to visit. One of our favorite outdoor winter attractions in Illinois is White Pines Ranch. It's here that you can enjoy one of the most scenic guided horseback tours of your life. After making your way through the snowy Illinois landscape, you'll return to the lodge for warm drinks. Doesn't that sound positively magical? Some other incredible outdoor winter attractions in Illinois include Depot Pond, Snowstar Winter Park, Starved Rock State Park, Maggie Daley Park, Goodenow Grove Natural Preserve, and any number of winter hikes.

What are the best winter hiking trails in Illinois?

Hiking in Illinois in the winter is a true adventure. If you bundle up and prepare ahead of time, your experience will be a magical one. Some of our favorite winter hiking trails in Illinois include Sag Valley Forest Preserve, Starved Rock State Park, the Morton Arboretum, and Buffalo Rock State Park. Buffalo Rock State Park is an especially lovely wintertime attraction. Located just across the Illinois River from Starved Rock State Park, this relatively underrated destination features nearly 300 acres and promises plenty of peace and solitude. Learn more about some of the best winter hikes in Illinois.

What should I put on my Illinois winter bucket list?

As mentioned before, spending winter in Illinois is not for the faint of heart. The state experiences extremely cold temperatures and plenty of snow; however, one could argue that this only adds to the allure of the season. In fact, we've compiled a list of bucket-list-worthy adventures so that you can make the most of the snowy season in Illinois. Some of the activities include hopping on a snow tube at Snowstar Winter Park, doing the Polar Plunge in Chicago, looking for bald eagles at Starved Rock State Park, snowboarding at Raging Buffalo Snowboard & Ski Park, ice skating at Maggie Daley Skating Ribbon in Chicago, cross-country skiing at Arrowhead Golf Course in Wheaton, visiting the Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition in Rockford, curling at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, snowshoeing at Morton Arboretum in Lisle, and finally, sipping on some of the world's best hot chocolate at Mindy's Hot Chocolate in Chicago. Learn more about our favorite wintertime activities in Illinois.

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