Trace the ancient waterway that French explorers paddled centuries ago along this 291-mile National Scenic Byway stretching from Havana to the historic Reddick Mansion in Ottawa. The Illinois River Road follows one of America’s most storied rivers, revealing landscapes that have drawn travelers for thousands of years.

Wind through the Illinois River Valley where towering limestone bluffs rise dramatically above bottomland forests and tranquil backwaters. Starved Rock State Park delivers the route’s most breathtaking scenery—18 canyons carved by glacial meltwater, waterfalls cascading over moss-covered walls, and panoramic overlooks above the river. Nearby Matthiessen State Park offers equally stunning rock formations with fewer crowds.

History enthusiasts will discover the legacy of French voyageurs at heritage sites, while Dickson Mounds Museum illuminates 12,000 years of Native American habitation. Charming river towns like Peoria, Peru, and Ottawa invite exploration with Victorian architecture, local eateries, and riverside parks.

Spring brings rushing waterfalls and migrating birds; fall paints the bluffs in spectacular color. Allow two to three days to fully appreciate this route—longer if you plan to hike Starved Rock’s trails or explore the region’s wineries and historic sites. The Illinois River Road rewards those who take their time.

Explore Nearby

• Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature Preserve — State Park in Illinois
• Anderson Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area — State Park in Illinois
• Wolf Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Illinois
• Sugar Creek Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in Illinois
• Gillespie Lake — Public Land in Alaska