If you’re anything like us, we’re already filling up a bucket list of places to go and things to do in the months ahead (New Year’s Eve or not). Below are our faves so you, too, can plan your year with monthly day trips in Illinois that will make it easier to complete your bucket list. We’ve come up with 12 ideas to get you started, so pull out the planner and get’s go! Which locations are your favorites? Tell us in the comments!
- January
Facebook/Forest Preserve District of DuPage County While we’re getting snow during the first month of the year, it might not be a bad idea to check out Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve. Through February, there are inner tube rentals that make this hill incredibly fun to enjoy. Blackwell Forest Preserve, Butterfield Rd, Warrenville, IL 60555, USA
- February
Facebook/Great Wolf Lodge Since temperatures are certain to still be freezing during this month, take one of these monthly day trips to an indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge where guests can even stay the night. Dump buckets, water slides, wave pools, and much more abound at this unique park. 1700 Nations Dr, Gurnee, IL 60031, USA
- March
Facebook/Super Museum Illinoisans know that Superman makes his home in the southern portions of our state right along the Ohio River in the town of Metropolis. There is a museum there that locals love and tourists adore even more, and it’s filled with items from the movies and TV series. Seriously, if you’ve never been to the Super Museum in Illinois, you haven’t lived. 517 Market St, Metropolis, IL 62960, USA
- April
Facebook/Aikman Wildlife Adventure Aikman Wildlife Adventure is a small-town attraction that is worth a visit anytime of year, but spring is an especially lovely time to visit. You’ll find more than 150 exotic and farm animals waiting to meet you as you drive through this unique safari. Aikman Wildlife Adventure, 125 N Co Rd 425E, Arcola, IL 61910, USA
- May
Facebook/I&M Canal Boat Unique attractions abound in the Land of Lincoln and continue with this 70-passenger, mule-pulled canal boat in central Illinois. Guests can enjoy the I&M Canal Boat most months of the year but the best views are available in the spring and summer. A Street & Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, A St & Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, La Salle, IL 61301, USA
- June
Flickr/Curtis Abert With its historic monuments and other attractions, this river city of Alton, Illinois is a fun place to explore when the weather is nice. It is also fun to drive around and take in the views of the Mississippi River before hitting up one of the popular local restaurants! Alton, IL, USA
- July
Facebook/Raging Waves Waterpark July is the perfect time of year to go to a waterpark like Raging Waves in northern Illinois. You’ll find every sort of water slide, pool, and other aquatic attraction at this park. 4000 N Bridge St, Yorkville, IL 60560, USA
- August
Facebook/Illinois Department of Natural Resources For a fabulous road trip that only lasts a day, check out this waterfalls and wineries road trip in Illinois that takes you to five fun locations. You’ll get to go hiking and sip on some delicious vino.
- September
Facebook/Historic Nauvoo Wineries, gorgeous architecture, tours, and other charming attractions are all found in Nauvoo. This beautiful little small town makes for an incredible day trip you will never forget. Nauvoo, IL, USA
- October
Facebook/Blue Sky Vineyard Visit one of Illinois’ best vineyards this fall for foliage views and wine sipping. Guests love strolling the grounds of this 13-acre vineyard and tasting multiple varieties of white and red wines. Head out to Blue Sky Wines in Makanda and see what living in Illinois is really about! 3150 S Rocky Comfort Rd, Makanda, IL 62958, USA
- November
Flickr/The Kombrink Lobrillo Team While it is a lovely place to visit any time of year, visiting Batavia during autumn is guaranteed to be a good time. There are many gorgeous places to walk around and enjoy views of the Fox River as well as beautiful architecture and gazebos. Batavia, IL, USA
- December
Facebook/VisitGalena.org Galena is always a lovely place to vacation, if you live close enough for a day trip, it is definitely recommended to do so in December when the town is decorated for the holidays. Get your Christmas shopping done while enjoying the most charming town in the state. Galena, IL 61036, USA
For more like this, check out these year-round day trips in Illinois!
Facebook/Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
While we’re getting snow during the first month of the year, it might not be a bad idea to check out Mount Hoy at Blackwell Forest Preserve. Through February, there are inner tube rentals that make this hill incredibly fun to enjoy.
Blackwell Forest Preserve, Butterfield Rd, Warrenville, IL 60555, USA
Facebook/Great Wolf Lodge
Since temperatures are certain to still be freezing during this month, take one of these monthly day trips to an indoor water park at Great Wolf Lodge where guests can even stay the night. Dump buckets, water slides, wave pools, and much more abound at this unique park.
1700 Nations Dr, Gurnee, IL 60031, USA
Facebook/Super Museum
Illinoisans know that Superman makes his home in the southern portions of our state right along the Ohio River in the town of Metropolis. There is a museum there that locals love and tourists adore even more, and it’s filled with items from the movies and TV series. Seriously, if you’ve never been to the Super Museum in Illinois, you haven’t lived.
517 Market St, Metropolis, IL 62960, USA
Facebook/Aikman Wildlife Adventure
Aikman Wildlife Adventure is a small-town attraction that is worth a visit anytime of year, but spring is an especially lovely time to visit. You’ll find more than 150 exotic and farm animals waiting to meet you as you drive through this unique safari.
Aikman Wildlife Adventure, 125 N Co Rd 425E, Arcola, IL 61910, USA
Facebook/I&M Canal Boat
Unique attractions abound in the Land of Lincoln and continue with this 70-passenger, mule-pulled canal boat in central Illinois. Guests can enjoy the I&M Canal Boat most months of the year but the best views are available in the spring and summer.
A Street & Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, A St & Illinois and Michigan Canal Trail, La Salle, IL 61301, USA
Flickr/Curtis Abert
With its historic monuments and other attractions, this river city of Alton, Illinois is a fun place to explore when the weather is nice. It is also fun to drive around and take in the views of the Mississippi River before hitting up one of the popular local restaurants!
Alton, IL, USA
Facebook/Raging Waves Waterpark
July is the perfect time of year to go to a waterpark like Raging Waves in northern Illinois. You’ll find every sort of water slide, pool, and other aquatic attraction at this park.
4000 N Bridge St, Yorkville, IL 60560, USA
Facebook/Illinois Department of Natural Resources
For a fabulous road trip that only lasts a day, check out this waterfalls and wineries road trip in Illinois that takes you to five fun locations. You’ll get to go hiking and sip on some delicious vino.
Facebook/Historic Nauvoo
Wineries, gorgeous architecture, tours, and other charming attractions are all found in Nauvoo. This beautiful little small town makes for an incredible day trip you will never forget.
Nauvoo, IL, USA
Facebook/Blue Sky Vineyard
Visit one of Illinois’ best vineyards this fall for foliage views and wine sipping. Guests love strolling the grounds of this 13-acre vineyard and tasting multiple varieties of white and red wines. Head out to Blue Sky Wines in Makanda and see what living in Illinois is really about!
3150 S Rocky Comfort Rd, Makanda, IL 62958, USA
Flickr/The Kombrink Lobrillo Team
While it is a lovely place to visit any time of year, visiting Batavia during autumn is guaranteed to be a good time. There are many gorgeous places to walk around and enjoy views of the Fox River as well as beautiful architecture and gazebos.
Batavia, IL, USA
Facebook/VisitGalena.org
Galena is always a lovely place to vacation, if you live close enough for a day trip, it is definitely recommended to do so in December when the town is decorated for the holidays. Get your Christmas shopping done while enjoying the most charming town in the state.
Galena, IL 61036, USA
What other monthly day trips do you want to take this year? Share your ideas with us in the comments – we love hearing from you!
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Day Trips in Illinois July 09, 2022 Tori Jane What are some fun, unique things to do around Illinois? Illinois is a delightful place to live and visit, with plenty of awesome stuff to do no matter whether you’re a city-slicker or a fan of the boonies. You’re sure to find unique things to do around Illinois to fit any interest of yours; for example, enjoy some of the best small towns in Illinois with a trip to somewhere like Galena, an adorable small town in the northwestern part of the state. With under 4,000 people who call it home and one of the cutest main streets in Illinois, it’s a can’t-miss. Another attraction that’s uniquely our own is the gorgeous Anderson Japanese Gardens, in Rockford. It’s an incredibly pristine, elegant Japanese garden with lots of cultural lessons along the way, and it’s picture-perfect! Finally, head to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in Springfield, for your daily dose of legendary local history! What are some awesome day trips near me I can take? There are plentiful options in terms of awesome day trips in Illinois, no matter which part of the state you’re from. How about day-tripping it through one of our 309 (yes, you read that right and it’s not a typo) state parks and recreational sites? For example, in northern Illinois, you’ll find Moraine Hills State Park, which is 2,200 acres of awe-inspiring geological history and some of the Midwest’s most beautiful scenery. In central Illinois, check out Wolf Creek State Park, which is enormous (25,300 acres) and worthy of maybe more than just one day. In southern Illinois, be sure to visit Fort Massac State Park for some interesting history lessons and more! What are all the best getaway spots near me? Much like with day trips, you really can’t go wrong in terms of getaway spots in Illinois no matter which part of the state you’re in. Our state parks do make wonderful getaways, but there are more than just those, too – in the northern part of the state, there’s the Matthiesen Lake Waterfall (which can be found near Oglesby). It’s stunningly beautiful and perfect for a first (or 50th) date or simply for getting away from life for a while. We also love Homan Falls, in western Illinois, and Jackson Falls in the southern part of the state is worth a drive if it’s not near you. Never underestimate Illinois – it’s a true hidden gem!
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Day Trips in Illinois
July 09, 2022
Tori Jane
What are some fun, unique things to do around Illinois? Illinois is a delightful place to live and visit, with plenty of awesome stuff to do no matter whether you’re a city-slicker or a fan of the boonies. You’re sure to find unique things to do around Illinois to fit any interest of yours; for example, enjoy some of the best small towns in Illinois with a trip to somewhere like Galena, an adorable small town in the northwestern part of the state. With under 4,000 people who call it home and one of the cutest main streets in Illinois, it’s a can’t-miss. Another attraction that’s uniquely our own is the gorgeous Anderson Japanese Gardens, in Rockford. It’s an incredibly pristine, elegant Japanese garden with lots of cultural lessons along the way, and it’s picture-perfect! Finally, head to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in Springfield, for your daily dose of legendary local history! What are some awesome day trips near me I can take? There are plentiful options in terms of awesome day trips in Illinois, no matter which part of the state you’re from. How about day-tripping it through one of our 309 (yes, you read that right and it’s not a typo) state parks and recreational sites? For example, in northern Illinois, you’ll find Moraine Hills State Park, which is 2,200 acres of awe-inspiring geological history and some of the Midwest’s most beautiful scenery. In central Illinois, check out Wolf Creek State Park, which is enormous (25,300 acres) and worthy of maybe more than just one day. In southern Illinois, be sure to visit Fort Massac State Park for some interesting history lessons and more! What are all the best getaway spots near me? Much like with day trips, you really can’t go wrong in terms of getaway spots in Illinois no matter which part of the state you’re in. Our state parks do make wonderful getaways, but there are more than just those, too – in the northern part of the state, there’s the Matthiesen Lake Waterfall (which can be found near Oglesby). It’s stunningly beautiful and perfect for a first (or 50th) date or simply for getting away from life for a while. We also love Homan Falls, in western Illinois, and Jackson Falls in the southern part of the state is worth a drive if it’s not near you. Never underestimate Illinois – it’s a true hidden gem!
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Illinois is a delightful place to live and visit, with plenty of awesome stuff to do no matter whether you’re a city-slicker or a fan of the boonies. You’re sure to find unique things to do around Illinois to fit any interest of yours; for example, enjoy some of the best small towns in Illinois with a trip to somewhere like Galena, an adorable small town in the northwestern part of the state. With under 4,000 people who call it home and one of the cutest main streets in Illinois, it’s a can’t-miss. Another attraction that’s uniquely our own is the gorgeous Anderson Japanese Gardens, in Rockford. It’s an incredibly pristine, elegant Japanese garden with lots of cultural lessons along the way, and it’s picture-perfect! Finally, head to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in Springfield, for your daily dose of legendary local history!
What are some awesome day trips near me I can take?
There are plentiful options in terms of awesome day trips in Illinois, no matter which part of the state you’re from. How about day-tripping it through one of our 309 (yes, you read that right and it’s not a typo) state parks and recreational sites? For example, in northern Illinois, you’ll find Moraine Hills State Park, which is 2,200 acres of awe-inspiring geological history and some of the Midwest’s most beautiful scenery. In central Illinois, check out Wolf Creek State Park, which is enormous (25,300 acres) and worthy of maybe more than just one day. In southern Illinois, be sure to visit Fort Massac State Park for some interesting history lessons and more!
What are all the best getaway spots near me?
Much like with day trips, you really can’t go wrong in terms of getaway spots in Illinois no matter which part of the state you’re in. Our state parks do make wonderful getaways, but there are more than just those, too – in the northern part of the state, there’s the Matthiesen Lake Waterfall (which can be found near Oglesby). It’s stunningly beautiful and perfect for a first (or 50th) date or simply for getting away from life for a while. We also love Homan Falls, in western Illinois, and Jackson Falls in the southern part of the state is worth a drive if it’s not near you. Never underestimate Illinois – it’s a true hidden gem!
