Welcome to Illinois
Illinois is where the great American road trip begins. Route 66 — the Mother Road — starts in downtown Chicago and runs about 300 miles across the state to the Mississippi River, lined with neon signs, giant roadside statues, vintage gas stations, and old-school diners. Beyond the Mother Road, Illinois is full of surprises: the tallest man who ever lived, Robert Wadlow, has a statue in Alton, there is a water tower built to look like a giant ketchup bottle, and near St. Louis sits Cahokia, an ancient city that was once bigger than London. Add Chicago with its deep-dish pizza and the shiny Bean, and you have a state made for a road trip. Below you will find every Illinois map, trip, guide, and hidden gem we have.
- Nickname: The Prairie State
- State slogan: Land of Lincoln
- State bird: Northern cardinal
- State flower: Violet
- State tree: White oak
- State snack: Popcorn
Towns You Will Likely Visit
Chicago area: Chicago, Evanston, Oak Park.
Route 66 corridor: Joliet, Pontiac, Springfield, Litchfield.
South & west: Alton, Collinsville, Galena, Peoria.
