The Scenic Road Trip That Will Make You Fall In Love With The Beauty of Illinois All Over Again
When is the last time you took a good look at some of the beauty around the Prairie State? We tend to get used to places where we live and can forget how truly magnificent they are. So, let’s rediscover some of the most beautiful places on a scenic road trip through Illinois. It may make you fall in love with the state’s beauty all over again.
Ready to hit the road? Remember to pack some road trip snacks and gas up the car. Clocking in at just under eight hours and 376 miles, you may want to spend the night somewhere along the way. To visit these places, we created a handy interactive Google map for you to use. Feel free to add and delete stops to make it your own. Ready to go?
Our first stop on this scenic road trip through Illinois is the stunning Morton Arboretum. Known for its large collection of trees from around the world as well as gardens and the occasional large-scale sculpture installation, you'll be marveling at the beauty here at every turn.
The second Bahi'a temple ever to be created, and the oldest one that is still standing, is right here in Illinois. And it is quite a sight to behold! Found just outside of Chicago, this is one of eight of its kind in North America.
Unlike the east and west coasts, Illinois is not really a place you would think of having lighthouses, but it does. And there's quite a lovely one with a long history in Evanston. Construction on this lighthouse was completed in 1873 and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places over 100 years later.
Not only will you find peace and quiet at this beachside park along Lake Michigan but resplendent beauty as well. Take a hike, lay on the beach, go for a swim....the world is your oyster at this state park.
This 12-acre botanical garden in Rockford is a slice of heaven. You'll find serene gardens with waterfalls, streams, and koi ponds that you can walk through on winding pathways. It's absolutely breathtaking!
There's perhaps no other town in the state of Illinois as picture-perfect as Galena. Not only that, but it offers shops, restaurants, attractions, nature and so much more!
Read our previous coverage to learn more about Galena, Illinois.
7. Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby
Starved Rock State Park, 2678 E 875th Rd, Oglesby, IL 61348, USA
The last spot on our scenic places road trip through Illinois is a park that's considered the best in the state. Starved Rock State Park is home to several canyons with waterfalls, caves, bluffs, and more scenery than you can imagine.
She's an east coast girl living in a west coast world. Melissa has worked in the entertainment industry for much of her adult life and loves photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. and to far-flung locations around the world.
