12 Close-Knit Towns to Visit in Illinois

Long ago, a tribe of superior men known as the Algonquin lived in the land that shared their name—Illinois. But years later, when immigrants from Europe pioneered new developments in Illinois, the state has since grown into a territory replete with close-knit towns and communities worth visiting in 2024. Between bigger cities like Chicago and Springfield, you will be astounded by close-knit towns such as Nauvoo, Alton, Fulton, and more that are all coincidentally bound by the Mississippi River. Immerse yourself in the histories of old American wars and the development of industry and community in the most close-knit small towns to visit in Illinois.

Galena

Travelers will undoubtedly be glad when visiting the lovely small town of Galena. Dozens of historic structures line the Mississippi River, and among these antebellum structures is the Dowling House and the Ulysses S. Grant Home, the latter being a donation to Ulysses S. Grant from the people of Galena when he won the American Civil War. Because Galena is close to the state borders of Wisconsin and Iowa, you can get a good view of both states from atop Horseshoe Mound and other ceremonial mounds at Casper Bluff. The Great Galena Balloon Race in summer is also another great way to get a vantage over the whole landscape surrounding Galena. For the most part, Saint Patrick’s Day is popularly celebrated in town alongside the Galena General’s Parade. So if you are excited to gaze at Galena’s attractions, then you should first book a room at grand hostels like the Hotel Galena, Aspen House, or A Great Escape.

Woodstock

Have a nice getaway from Chicago by traveling around 50 miles from the big city and into the cyclical small town of Woodstock. Renowned for its filmic setting of the classic movie Groundhog Day, Woodstock will have you reliving the same beautiful moments as if you just encountered them for the first time. Whether you are watching other kinds of movies in the Gothic-themed Opera House or celebrating the Groundhog Day festival every February 2—a celebration not for the film Groundhog Day but rather for the groundhog animals whose appearance means that spring is arriving—you will also be thankful for Thanksgiving when Woodstock’s Lighting of the Square transpires. No need to feel unwanted and unassuaged in Woodstock, especially when places like the Cherry Tree Inn B&B will attend to all your daily and nightly needs in this time-looping town.

Nauvoo

Move to Nauvoo to get rid of the gloom of your vacation in Illinois. There, you can tour several notable landmarks along the Mississippi River and on former Sauk and Fox lands that Mormon and Icarian immigrants from Germany built on. The Joseph Smith Historic Site and the Reinberger House Museum, for example, contain artifacts and exhibits about the Latter-Day Saint movement that occurred in Nauvoo in the early 1840s, while Fort Madison bears the remnants of an old army barracks long ago. Meanwhile, Jonathan Browning’s workshop shows the blueprints and replicas of the first Browning guns that revolutionized modern warfare. There are also other interesting gadgets and gizmos in a replica smithy called the Webb Blacksmith Shop. Should you wish for accommodations in Nauvoo, you can always look to either the Hotel Nauvoo, the Inn at Old Nauvoo, or Nauvoo Vacation Villas for your desiderata.

Fulton

Want to immerse yourself in one of Europe’s most well-developed nations in the middle of America? Then get a taste for the Netherlands in the beautiful small town of Fulton. Only 50 miles from Galena on the Mississippi River, one can obviously tell Fulton is a Dutch-themed town because of De Immigrant Windmill towering over all the other buildings in Fulton. There is also the Dutch Days celebration on the first weekend of May which you can participate in. Of course, you can go beyond Fulton’s Dutch heritages and instead admire Heritage Canyon’s limestone mines that have been in operation since the 1800s. Or you can always tour the Andresen Nature Center to learn all about the wildlife living around Fulton. So savor all you can of the Netherlands in Fulton, and consider booking a room in welcoming abodes like the AmericInn Hotel & Suites or the Wild Rose Casino & Resort.

Princeton

Princeton, located an hour away from the city of Peoria, welcomes travelers near and far—even those living in the faraway cities of Quincy, Burlington, and Chicago as the town’s Amtrak Train Station allows tourists to go to and from these destinations with ease. Upon arriving in Princeton, one will be taken away by the sublime landscapes of the Hornbaker Gardens and the Barn Quilts of Bureau County, as well as the four Flags of Freedom flying in honor of America’s veterans of war. In tourist spots like the Lovejoy Homestead, one can see how the Americana lifestyle has changed over the decades and centuries. Meanwhile, Princeton entertains newcomers with a series of Shakespeare-inspired plays and Broadway performances known as Festival 56, which are all conducted by the Princeton Theatre Group. For those of you wanting to experience Princeton for yourselves, you can stay a little bit longer in town in humble establishments like the Knox Hotel.

Arcola

People might be confused when they learn that the town of Arcola, located on the Okaw River and about an hour and a half away from Springfield, was once called as Bagdad in the mid-1800s. Of course, the origin of the name remains uncertain but it is quite certain that Bagdad has no relations to the city of Baghdad in Iraq. Even so, the small town now known as Arcola is a rather bizarre place with a bazaar-like atmosphere with its 15 Walldog murals each showcasing a different episode in Arcola’s past. As a major producer of broomcorn, one can participate in the much-beloved Broomcorn Festival every year in September. Most importantly, one can learn all about Johnny Gruelle, the man who created the Raggedy Ann Doll that influenced the horror-doll icon of Annabelle. More mysteries and enigmas await in Arcola, so do book a room in either the Arcola Inn or Quality Inn for a longer vacation in town.

Ottawa

Sandwiched by the Fox River and Illinois River, the small town of Ottawa is a vibrant destination for those wanting to travel 80 miles away from Chicago. Travelers can take to the skies by skydiving and parachuting from the Skydive Chicago program. If you are a more down-to-earth person, you can always go exploring through Dayton Bluffs Preserve, the Buffalo Rock State Park, and the Starved Rock State Park. Bikers might also be invigorated when speeding through the Fox Valley Off Road, or perhaps those with more antiquated appetites can tour the Reddick Mansion, home of William Reddick who was previously an Illinois State Senator. And if you are ever in need of lodgings in Ottawa, look no further than to the Heritage Harbor and other accommodating locations.

Geneva

Approximately 52 miles from Ottawa, Geneva sits comfortably beside the Fox River and, similar to Fulton, advertises its Dutch windmill at the Fabyan Forest Preserve for all to admire. At the Island Park and City Hall Prairie Garden, one can go exploring through some of Geneva’s most bucolic and arboreal landscapes, while the Geneva History Museum and Fabyan Villa Museum & Japanese Garden thrusts you into the past and into a grand appreciation of Asia’s horticultural arts. You might be invested in attending one of many of Geneva’s celebrated festivals such as the 1893 World's Fair Viking Ship, the annual Swedish Days Festival from June 19 - 23, the Classic Car Shows from July to August, and the Geneva Arts Fair on July 27 - 28. More wonders are in store in Geneva, so you ought to look for a nice place to stay the night such as Herrington Inn & Spa and more.

Alton

Before the American Civil War started, Abraham Lincoln and his candidate rival, Stephen Douglas, debated several times on the issues of slavery extension in the year 1858. One of the locations that accommodated the Lincoln-Douglas Debate was the small town of Alton, about 18 miles north of Saint Louis in Missouri. Besides sheltering Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas, Alton was also the former home of Miles Davis, a renowned jazz musician, as well as the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow. There are also a number of remarkable galleries and exhibits as seen in the Alton Little Theater, the Alton Museum of History and Art, the Jacoby Arts Center, and the Elijah P. Lovejoy Monument. Furthermore, there are a wide range of haunted houses in Alton as best seen in the McPike Mansion, Mineral Springs Hotel, The First Unitarian Church, and Milton School.

Sycamore

Sycamores are one of the biggest trees in the world, and one can find some of them in the small town of Sycamore only 60 miles away from Chicago. Every October 10, the townsfolk celebrate the Witches Night Out before Halloween comes to town. Travelers can settle down and have a nice picnic in either the Sycamore Park District or the Sycamore Lake Rotary Park. Most importantly, the DeKalb County History Center and the Blue Moon Bikes Vintage Sting Ray Museum entertains newcomers with all sorts of knowledge and insights into Sycamore’s beginnings and development. This small town may be rather quotidian for a few people, but Sycamore has many other appeals and charms in spite of its simplicity, even in simple lodgings like the Edgebrook.

Makanda

Named after a Native American chieftain who was either called Markanda, Markands, or Markauda, the small town of Makanda has remained one of the most isolated small towns deep in Illinoi’s forests. As a small pocket of civilization in the Shawnee National Forest, Makanda entreats travelers to warm and comfortable establishments like the Makanda Inn before they head off on new adventures surrounding Makanda. Among these scenic destinations are Giant City State Park, the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail, the Stonefort Nature Trail, and the River to River Trail. Additionally, the townsfolk celebrate the yearly VultureFest when flocks of vultures appear on October 19 to 20 to mark the arrival of autumn. If you are ever in need of refreshments and a refreshing place to lounge about, you can always sip some wine at the Blue Sky Vineyard and settle about in Cedar Lake.

Lebanon

The small town of Lebanon in Illinois should not to be mistaken with the country of Lebanon in the Middle East. As home to the oldest college in Illinois, the McKendree University, Lebanon entreats newcomers to a plethora of simplistic delights only 26 miles away from Saint Louis. Between the historic shopping district at St. Louis Street—also referred to as “The Brick Street”—and recreational expenditures through wooded areas like Horner Park, you can enjoy a diversity of amenities all within walking distance from a list of Lebanon’s lodgings like The Mermaid House Inn. Be sure to watch some local performances—conducted, perhaps, by the esteemed college students of the McKendree University—at either The Russel E. and Fern M. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts or the Looking Glass Playhouse.

Did you know that popcorn is the state snack of Illinois? True fact. And one can certainly enjoy eating popcorn when visiting a few film-notable destinations like Woodstock where Groundhog Day was set. Most of all, you might get hungry from all the traveling throughout some of the most close-knit towns to visit in Illinois. From atmospherically lovely vacation retreats such as Galena and Fulton to the beating hearts of a simple rural lifestyle such as Lebanon and Makanda, travelers will be enamored by all the superior attractions that Illinois has to offer. So open your calendar for a lengthy and luxurious trip through the close-knit towns worth visiting in Illinois.