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Illinois (IL)

  • Great River Road

    All-American Road, National Scenic Byway • Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin
    Throughout history, the Mississippi River influenced many lives: the Dakota, Chippewa, and Hopewell cultures; early French voyagers; African-Americans seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad; and many more. Through its charming river towns and metropolitan cities, historic sites and cultural artifacts, today s Great River Road still links resources, people, and history.

  • Historic National Road

    All-American Road • Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
    The Historic National Road was the nation's first federally funded interstate highway. It opened the nation to the west and became a corridor for the movement of goods and people. Today, visitors experience a physical timeline, including classic inns, tollhouses, diners, and motels that trace 200 years of American history.

  • Historic Route 66

    All-American Road, National Scenic Byway • Arizona, Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, California, Missouri
    The charm, the history, and the atmosphere that make up The Mother Road bring travelers from all over the world to experience America the way it should be experienced - down a stretch of highway where anything goes is literal.

  • Illinois River Road

    National Scenic Byway • Illinois
    The Illinois River Valley imparts feelings of awe at the power of the river winding its way through a land form carved by glacial melt water. Experience the seasonal colors and rhythms of the forests, wetlands, bluffs, and prairies on your own or follow one of seven different nature activity guides.

  • Lincoln Highway

    National Scenic Byway • Illinois
    Journey on the Illinois Lincoln Highway, rich with history, heritage, and culture!

  • Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route

    National Scenic Byway • Illinois
    Here, the Missouri, Mississippi and Illinois Rivers meet to form a 35,000-acre floodplain. The Mississippi, a working river, is also an environmental treasure. Historic 18th Century river towns, islands, bars, points and bends create beautiful scenery beneath limestone bluffs that are covered by forests extending over nearly 20,000 acres.

  • Ohio River Scenic Byway

    National Scenic Byway • Illinois, Indiana, Ohio
    This history-rich byway meanders along the banks of the Ohio River, hugging its shoreline and offering almost continuous views of the river. The history of the Ohio is found both in rural landscapes and quaint river communities, covering periods from Native American habitation through western settlement, affecting transportation patterns and industrialization.

  • Local Information

    Illinois

    Visit Illinois
    This is the official website for Illinois travel.

    Illinois Scenic Byways Program
    Page on Illinois Department of Tourism that features Illinois byways

    Illinois Byways
    Learn more information about each of the National Scenic Byways in Illinois by following this link.