12 Offbeat Illinois Towns To Visit In 2025
All too often, when travelers think of Illinois, they think of Chicago, and they might wonder what’s happening in the rest of the state. In reality, the Land of Lincoln has plenty going on throughout the state. Illinois may have a small yet scenic slice of Lake Michigan shoreline, but it also has the recognized hometown of Superman, the one-time homebase of one of the United States’ largest homegrown churches, and a number of naturally beautiful riverfront villages. Whether you’re looking for interesting history, exhilarating outdoor adventures, or quirky local culture, Illinois has it all and so much more. For some great ideas for your next Land of Lincoln road trip, here are 12 offbeat Illinois towns to visit in 2025.
Petersburg
We can’t discuss Illinois towns to visit without mentioning one of Abraham Lincoln’s hometowns. Just to the south of the present-day town of Petersburg (and about 20 miles northwest of Springfield), you will find Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, a lovingly detailed re-creation of the 1830s pioneer village where a young Abraham Lincoln settled long before he was elected as the United States’ 16th President.
A very short drive from New Salem sits the trailhead for the Damselfly Haven Trail, a lovely walking path offering scenic views of the Sangamon River. Heading over to Lake Petersburg, Shambolee Golf Course has a wonderful stretch of greens perfect for an easygoing tee time. And for a nice place to stay, it’s hard to beat the historic charm and pretty setting of Three Pines in the heart of town.
Zion
With a name like Zion, this has to be a special town. Indeed, this town along the shores of Lake Michigan (about 48 miles north of Chicago) provides a new perspective on lakefront living. At Illinois Beach State Park, experience over six miles of shoreline with sand dunes, oak forests, marshes and wet prairies, and ample opportunities for swimming, boating, hiking, and fishing.
For more exciting adventures outside, head to Beulah Park Nature Area for a network of hiking and biking trails along a creek in the woods. If you prefer a more laid-back excursion, book a tee time at the 18-hole ThunderHawk Golf Club that the Audubon Society has honored as a Signature Sanctuary Course. Once you feel like kicking back after a long day, enjoy the comfy and cozy vibes at the Inn on Sheridan, an independent boutique hotel that places you close to the beaches and golf courses.
Metropolis
Metropolis may be a small town, but it’s a small town with a super reputation. Near the southern tip of Illinois, about 14 miles northwest of Paducah (Kentucky), Metropolis is best known as Superman’s hometown, and the Super Museum is the place to go for the world’s largest collection of Superman memorabilia. For some real-life inspiration, make your way to Dorothy Miller Park to find a 30-foot-tall lighthouse that’s the world’s only lighthouse dedicated to the fight against cancer.
There’s even more to explore at Fort Massac State Park, a beautiful expanse of protected land along the Ohio River that’s open for hiking, camping, fishing, boating, and seasonal hunting. Meanwhile, back in town, Harrah’s Metropolis has the region’s largest casino with Las Vegas-style slots and table games alongside a modern hotel and the Bridges Dining Company restaurant.
Galena
About 85 miles east of Cedar Rapids (Iowa), you can discover an incredible array of American history and unique scenery in Galena. Come for the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum, an institution dedicated to the Civil War-era general, 18th U.S. President, and famed Galena resident Ulysses S. Grant, though this museum also shares many more stories from the area’s past. Stay to discover special treasures like the 200-acre Horseshoe Mound Preserve with views spanning across three states, and Galena Cellars for a family-run winery that’s been crafting award-winning Illinois wines for over 30 years.
To make your Galena getaway extra special, book a stay at Chestnut Mountain Resort, a year-round destination that offers skiing during the winter season, activities like mountain biking and zip-lining during the summer season, and great on-site lodging and dining options no matter when you’re visiting.
Woodstock
While Woodstock was the town where the classic 1993 movie "Groundhog Day" was filmed, this Chicago exurb is not the kind of place where every day feels exactly the same. Yes, you can do a walking tour to spot some of the landmarks featured in the movie. But for something (even) more offbeat, catch some live music and original art at Woodstock Opera House, and discover a vast collection of toys, books, novelty gifts, and more at the homegrown Revelry Toys store. For an artfully beautiful blend of Woodstock’s past and present, check into the Cherry Tree Inn B&B and stay in a classic Victorian era manor that’s been lovingly restored and renovated into one of the area’s finest lodging options.
Nauvoo
For years, the Sauk and Meskwaki indigenous people found refuge on this stretch of the Mississippi River and called their settlement Quashquame. But by the 1830s, white colonists had begun to move in, and the fate of this town would forever change when the Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith led his faithful devotees here to escape conflict with the state government of Missouri. Though the early Mormon pioneers would continue their exodus through the American Midwest until the permanent establishment of the LDS Church in Utah, sites like the Nauvoo Temple and the (Joseph & Emma Smith) Mansion House remain open to visitors, and they stand as testaments to Nauvoo’s special place in Mormon history.
If you want to experience more of Nauvoo beyond its religious history, head out to Nauvoo State Park and explore some 148 acres of wide-open spaces by the Mississippi River that provide prime examples of what life was like during pre-colonial times, and they're a present-day haven for hiking, camping, boating, and fishing. For a totally different facet of Illinois history, go to Baxter’s Vineyards to tour the state’s oldest winery that’s continued the family winemaking tradition for five generations. Once you feel like winding down, settle down for the night at the Hotel Nauvoo that occupies a historic house that’s stood in town since 1841.
Galesburg
Founded in 1837 by anti-slavery activists who would go on to establish Knox College here, Galesburg is a town where plenty of history has been made. At the Old Main at Knox College, you can visit a National Historic Landmark where (then U.S. Senate candidate) Abraham Lincoln did one of his famous debates against Senator Stephen Douglas in 1858. For more moving aspects of history, head to the Galesburg Railroad Museum that shares the stories of the town’s evolution with the arrival of locomotive trains.
Galesburg has also made its mark in the realm of art and literature, and you can visit the home of the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and author Carl Sandburg at Carl Sandburg State Historic Site. To make your time in Galesburg even more historic, book a stay at The Great House of Galesburg and experience a 19th century manor that might have been part of the Underground Railroad and was once owned by the man (Silas Willard) who would later bring the locomotive railroad to town.
Mount Carroll
Located in the Driftless Area of Northwestern Illinois, Mount Carroll looks and feels more like the kind of place that drifts you into a special environment overflowing in natural beauty. A short drive west of town, Mississippi Palisades State Park is a vast wonderland full of unique bluffs, rock formations, and Mississippi River shoreline that make for great rock climbing, hiking, geocaching, fishing, and (wintertime) cross-country skiing. A little ways south of the park, the Ingersoll Wetlands Learning Center is part of the larger Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, and it’s a great place to learn more about the curious local ecosystem where birds like sandhill cranes and bald eagles find refuge in the prairie where prickly pear cacti grow.
For a closer oasis, try Point Rock Park for a 25-acre expanse in town for a beautiful and family-family space along the banks of the Waukarusha River. And for the ultimate camping excursion, book a cabin at the Timber Lake Resort for a year-round retreat space by the lake and a convenient location near the Timber Lake Playhouse and its lineup of Broadway-style plays and original shows.
Shelbyville
How about an exotic aquatic escape ... in rural Illinois? Yes, really, you can enjoy the refreshing waters of Shelbyville, about 155 miles west of Indianapolis (Indiana). At town, you can reach Lake Shelbyville from Dam West Beach and take advantage of the golden sand beach and calm water for swimming. For a more natural side of the lake, Wolf Creek State Park and the neighboring Eagle Creek State Recreation Area offer some 250 miles of shoreline and great expanses of indigenous woodlands where you can go camping, horseback riding, windsurfing, wildlife watching, and even golfing (on the Eagle Creek side). To complete your Lake Shelbyville getaway, book a cabin at Wolf Creek Lodge for a classic camping experience enhanced with creature comforts like central air, patio areas, and grilling spaces.
Princeton
Princeton may only be about 56 miles north of Peoria, yet this Illinois town looks and feels like a New England village. That’s likely because the white farmers who settled here moved from New England. You can still spot some of this New England heritage at the Captain Swift Covered Bridge and the stately arboretum and botanic gardens at Hornbaker Gardens. And for a deeper dive into the region’s rich history, visit the Owen Lovejoy Homestead and tour the home of the Maine-born Congregational minister who became such a dedicated abolitionist that he made his home an Underground Railroad station and safe haven for Black Americans escaping slavery. If you fancy a longer stay in Princeton, book a room at the Historic Knox Hotel for classic 1850s Victorian style paired with up-to-date amenities like Wi-Fi, internet, and large smart TVs.
Bartlett
Bartlett may only be about 37 miles west of Chicago, but this lovely town feels a world away with its combination of bucolic beauty and international influences. The town’s most elaborate crown jewel is BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, a Hindu temple built in 2004 in traditional Indian styles with Italian marble and Turkish limestone, and this temple is open to visitors. In addition, Bartlett has Villa Olivia, a year-round recreational haven that provides Chicagoland’s most convenient option for skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing during winter, as well as 18 holes of challenging golf during the warmer months.
For a quieter side of local life in Bartlett, go to one of the town’s great parks, such as the 3,433-acre Pratt’s Wayne Woods that’s home to over 1,000 native plant and animal species, and it’s a great place to enjoy an easy-going day hiking, fishing, and flying drones (in designated areas). To make your great escape to Bartlett a little extra special, book a stay at the nearby Herrington Inn for cozy Euro-style luxury with special perks like homemade cookies at turndown and in-room fireplaces and whirlpool tubs.
Lebanon
Just 24 miles east of St. Louis (Missouri), Lebanon may just be Illinois’ most playful college town. Home to the state’s oldest college, McKendree University, Lebanon has arts and cultural treasures like Russel E. and Fern M. Hettenhausen Center for the Arts which hosts a wide variety of great performances. Just beyond campus, catch more interesting acts at Looking Glass Playhouse on Lebanon’s happening main street, and discover a natural gem at the 58-acre Horner Park with its own fishing lake, tennis courts, baseball diamonds, and walking path amidst old-growth trees.
Though you will find many more lodging options across the river in St. Louis, if you prefer something close to Lebanon, you can stay at the Best Western Plus MidAmerica Hotel with their good selection of clean and up-to-date rooms and suites.
These Offbeat Illinois Towns Deserve a Place on Your Itinerary
Illinois might not always be seen as a state full of vacation destinations, yet these 12 offbeat Illinois towns to visit in 2025 prove that the Land of Lincoln has plenty to offer visitors. At Petersburg and Galena, dive into U.S. history and discover an esteemed presidential pedigree. At Bartlett, travel the world and find everything from an Alpine-style ski lodge to an Indian-style Hindu temple in a supposedly “sleepy” Chicago suburb. And at Mount Carroll, wander into some wonderful wilderness along the Mississippi River. However you aim to veer off the typically beaten path, it’s possible to chart your own unique path in these Illinois towns.
