Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 14 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play & Stay This Summer

      14 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play & Stay This Summer

      Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. Read More
    • Out Now: Best of the Midwest 2022

      Out Now: Best of the Midwest 2022

      Find your summer adventure with our new bookazine, available now in the magazine store! Read More
    • This Family's Garden Farm is a Nature-Filled Paradise

      This Family's Garden Farm is a Nature-Filled Paradise

      On land passed down through generations, a Wisconsin family experiences—and shares—the glory of gardening. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Urban-Pop Art, a New Boutique Hotel and More—Here's What to See and Do in Fort Wayne Right Now

    Urban-Pop Art, a New Boutique Hotel and More—Here's What to See and Do in Fort Wayne Right Now

    On a trip to Fort Wayne, Indiana, catch a colorful wave of fresh development, plus a new hotel from the cofounder of Vera Bradley.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Mango Toast with Prosciutto

    Mango Toast with Prosciutto

    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    5 Clever Tips for Repurposing a Potting Bench as a Bar Cart 

    5 Clever Tips for Repurposing a Potting Bench as a Bar Cart 

    With smart accessorizing, a potting bench becomes a celebration station for summer soirees.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    Expert Tips for Growing a Window Box Garden

    Expert Tips for Growing a Window Box Garden

    Casey Lawrence’s lush window boxes were a revelation to her online followers. Use her tips to grow your own.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Festive 4th of July Dessert Recipes

    Festive 4th of July Dessert Recipes

    Get out your red, white and blue for these patriotic dessert recipes.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing

    These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing

    Don't toss those orange peels! Instead, use them as vessels for our super-simple and fragrant candles.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2022

    Midwest Living's Best of the Midwest Winners 2022

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Travel
  3. Illinois
  4. Fall Color Along the Illinois River Road

Fall Color Along the Illinois River Road

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com Updated August 11, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Starved Rock State Park
Credit: Ginger Crichton

A fall drive on the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway reveals the sort of views Illinois rarely gets credit for, along with art, history, memorable meals and even local wines.

Start Slideshow

1 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Down by the river

Starved Rock State Park
Credit: Ginger Crichton

Within easy drives of Chicago and St. Louis, the Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway threads through natural areas and past spectacular water views, bluffs and brilliant fall foliage. When travelers start craving the comforts of civilization, the road meanders to places with just the right amount—welcoming hearths, inspiring art and history, and locally produced wines.

Click ahead for a peek at some of the places you can see along your journey, including Starved Rock State Park (pictured).

1 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Our route

Our route

The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway follows both sides of the river, creating a 291-mile loop. Our one-way route hits our favorite spots. From Havana, head north to Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge, then backtrack to the river's west side; go north through Peoria and Chillicothe; at Sparland, cross to Lacon, then drive north and east to Starved Rock and on to Ottawa.

2 of 11

3 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge

Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge

The largest and most visitor-friendly of three national preserves along the Illinois River, Chautauqua spreads across more than 4,000 acres of woods and wetlands. The refuge can harbor more than 250,000 waterfowl and shore birds, including bald eagles. An easy trail leads to observation platforms along Lake Chautauqua. 

3 of 11

Advertisement

4 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Peoria

Peoria

The largest metro area along the Illinois River has transformed its riverfront, with restaurants and a handful of galleries and shops flourishing beside pretty parks and trails. The area teems with farm stands and crafters' booths during the Riverfront Market on Saturday mornings, spring through fall. The Spirit of Peoria, an authentic turn-of-the-20th-century stern-wheeler, cruises from the riverfront. 

4 of 11

5 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Peoria Heights

Grand View Drive
Credit: Photo by Ginger Crichton.

On Peoria's north side, detour from the scenic byway to the legendary Grand View Drive, which Theodore Roosevelt called "the world's most beautiful drive." The route threads north through neighborhoods to a tree-lined road that climbs into an enclave of mansions along a bluff-top park with views of the river (pictured). Loop back to restaurants and shops in the Peoria Heights business district. 

5 of 11

6 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Boggio's Orchard

Boggio's Orchard

Rows of pumpkins are only part of the draw at this family-owned orchard near Granville (13 miles southwest of LaSalle). The store also features mums, freshly baked pies and doughnuts (apple cider doughnuts are the specialty; pumpkin spice are available on fall weekends). Pumpkins, with painted faces as happy and quirky as cartoon characters, line up on shelves in the front of the store.

6 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

LaSalle Canal Boat Rides

Canal Boat Rides

One-hour rides on a replica canal boat give glimpses of travel in the era when the Illinois & Michigan Canal connected the Illinois River to Lake Michigan and ultimately to the East Coast. When the canal opened in 1848, these boats, pulled by mules that plodded alongside the canal, were hailed as a fast, easy alternative to land travel. Today, costumed interpreters add to the experience with tales of the immigrants who dug the canal by hand. Purchase tickets along LaSalle's First Street at the Lock 16 Visitors Center. 

7 of 11

8 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park
Credit: Ginger Crichton

This remarkable pocket of land along the Illinois River includes 18 sandstone canyons; 14 waterfalls, including some that freeze into glittering walls in winter; abundant wildlife and birds; and guided hikes, special events and interpretive programs. The free guided hikes are a great way to see the highlights. Stay in the historic lodge or cabins; the dining room is the place to get your fall comfort food fix. 

8 of 11

9 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Matthiessen State Park

Matthiessen State Park

Next to better-known Starved Rock State Park, 5 miles of trails carve into the mile-long canyon at Matthiessen State Park. You'll find rock formations with imaginative names such as Devil's Paintbox, Wishing Well and Giant's Bathtub. Upper Dells trails—mostly boardwalk, bridges and stairs—take you through fragrant cedar groves on the ridges to beautiful, sometimes dizzying, vantage points. Rocks and waterfalls make the Lower Dells trails a rambler's dream; you're likely to get wet as you navigate over streams and pools. (Note: Closed in August 2020 due to flood damage; check the website for latest information.)

9 of 11

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

August Hill Winery

August Hill Winery

Sip local vintages in a sophisticated setting in Utica. In addition to award-winning wines, August Hill Winery offers artisan cheese and chocolates. Saturday nights tend to be particularly lively, with patrons who come to socialize as much as taste wines. Art on display in the tasting room changes regularly and features everything from blown glass and jewelry to pottery, sculpture and photography. 

10 of 11

11 of 11

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Ottawa

Ottawa

At the confluence of the Illinois and Fox rivers, Ottawa marks the northeast gateway to the Illinois River Road. A spectacular train trestle bridge crosses the Illinois River near Allen Park and the Old Town business district. Downtown, eight building exteriors have been painted with large murals depicting local history. In Washington Square Park (pictured), a pretty oasis of towering old trees, statues of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas commemorate the first Lincoln-Douglas debate in 1858. 

11 of 11

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 11 Down by the river
    2 of 11 Our route
    3 of 11 Chautauqua National Wildlife Refuge
    4 of 11 Peoria
    5 of 11 Peoria Heights
    6 of 11 Boggio's Orchard
    7 of 11 LaSalle Canal Boat Rides
    8 of 11 Starved Rock State Park
    9 of 11 Matthiessen State Park
    10 of 11 August Hill Winery
    11 of 11 Ottawa

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    Fall Color Along the Illinois River Road
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.