Enjoy Illinois: Illinois Bureau of Tourism Official Website

CRUISE THE SCENIC BYWAYS AND ROUTE 66

When it comes to road trips, getting there is definitely half the fun! Along with the famed Route 66, Illinois has five National Scenic Byways that not only put you on the path to fun, but also offer plenty of natural beauty, fascinating history, incredible things to do, plus cozy restaurants and hotels. When you're planning your road trip, don't miss out on these outstanding Illinois highways and byways.

Illinois River Road

The Illinois River valley winds its way through seasonal colors, forests, wetlands, bluffs and prairies. It parallels the Illinois River Country Nature Trail, a chain of over one hundred linked nature sites including wildlife areas and state parks. Hike or bike the canal's towpath, part of a National Heritage Corridor, and experience several historic sites. Explore 18 canyons as they slice dramatically through tree-covered, sandstone bluffs for four miles at Starved Rock State Park. Experience the Peoria Riverfront, one of Illinois' oldest and most exciting regions, alive with adventure and fun for all. The same route taken as the early French explorers, The Illinois River Road Scenic Byway preserves the heritage of early settler life along the riverbanks.

For more information, contact the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau 309-676-0303, or visit http://www.illinoisriverroad.org.

Great River Road in Illinois

Starting in East Dubuque and winding along the banks of the Mississippi River, the Great River Road in Illinois takes you through 550 miles of woodlands, farmland and river towns through to its end at the southern tip of Cairo, Illinois. View soaring eagles and thousands of migrating geese. Visit sacred Native American sites, camp along the riverbank in Oquawka's Big River State Forest or take one of Galena's romantic river cruises. The Great River Road National Scenic Byway in Illinois gives you a new perspective on the nation's mightiest waterway.

For more information, contact the Western Illinois Tourism Development Office at 877-477-7007 or 309-837-7460, or visit www.greatriverroad-illinois.org.

Ohio River Scenic Route

Running parallel to the Ohio River, this byway rolls effortlessly through the scenic Ohio River Valley. The route offers numerous historic sites along the way, including Fort Massac, boasting a military history that stretches as far back as 1540, when explorer DeSoto is said to have defended himself against attacks. Nature's architecture in limestone can be seen at Cave-In-Rock State Park, where river pirates once roosted; as well as the Garden of the Gods, featuring monolithic rocks that seem to soar toward the heavens. With the many 19th-century buildings constructed along its path, the Ohio River Scenic Route paints an intimate portrait of early Southern Illinois life.

For more information, contact the Southernmost Illinois Tourism Bureau at 618-833-9928 or 800-248-4373, or visit www.southernmostillinois.com.

Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway

Heralded as "the most beautiful stretch of the entire Mississippi River," this byway is the junction of three of America's great rivers: the Mississippi, the Illinois and the Missouri. Located only 30 miles north of St. Louis, Missouri, this byway features stunning beauty, natural wonders, river recreation, archaeology, amazing history and classic culture. Attractions along the way include Pere Marquette State Park, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Civil War prison ruins, lovely Victorian-era homes and hundreds of miles of nature trails.

For more information, contact the Alton Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-258-6645, or visit www.visitalton.com.

The National Road

This scenic byway was the first of its kind, crossing the State of Illinois from near the Wabash River to the Mississippi. From the National Road, visitors can cruise through the rolling countryside and prairie fields where grazing cattle and weathered barns dot the landscape. Road trippers can stop in small towns along the way to visit county fairs, Main Street stores, antique shops and soda fountain parlors. History buffs can visit the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, Collinsville Historical Museum and much more.

For more information, contact the National Road Assn. of Illinois, 800 E. Industrial Dr., Toledo, IL 62468, or call 888-268-0042.

Lincoln Highway

Crossing the width of Northern Illinois, this historic byway parallels the original alignment of the nation's first paved trans-continental highway and the forefather of the modern interstate system. The Lincoln Highway features many historical sites, including Chicago Heights' Arche Fountain (erected in 1916), Aurora's Paramount Arts Centre and Dixon's Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. The Lincoln Highway stretches from New York's Times Square to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, crossing through 12 states. The Illinois portion is the only state to have attained designation as a National Scenic Byway. In Illinois, the Lincoln Highway enters at the small community of Lynwood, traveling 179 miles to the Mississippi River at Fulton.

For more information, contact the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition at 866-455-4249.

Route 66

The subject of countless legends and lore, Route 66 in Illinois is a 20th-century heritage trail that takes the traveler through the heart of the cities and towns that define the "real America." Road trippers can create their own experiences along what was once America's main thoroughfare, meeting people and visiting unique places along the way. Where else but in Illinois can you meet the Gemini Giant, stop at Bill Shea's gas station or cross the Mighty Mississippi on foot? Today's Route 66 is living history in its truest sense.

For more information, write CITDO, 700 E. Adams St., Springfield, IL 62701; call 217-525-7980 or 866-378-7866; or visit www.illinoisroute66.org.