Illinois

Exploring Illinois

We haven’t logged a full Team USA trip built specifically around Illinois yet, but we wanted this page live with genuinely useful information while our destination guides are still in progress. Illinois is anchored by Chicago, one of the great American cities, but the state itself stretches from Great Lakes shoreline down to farmland and small river towns along the Mississippi. Most visits center on Chicago, with day trips or longer stops in the rest of the state depending on your interests. Whether you’re in town for a weekend or planning a longer road trip, there’s more to the state than the skyline alone.

Illinois uses the US dollar, and cards are accepted virtually everywhere, including public transit. Chicago’s public transportation system, the CTA, makes it easy to get around downtown and many neighborhoods without a car, though a car is helpful if you plan to explore the rest of the state. Sales tax in Chicago is among the highest in the country, so keep that in mind when budgeting for shopping and dining. Tipping follows standard US norms — around 18-20% at sit-down restaurants. Ride-share apps work well throughout the Chicago area and can be more convenient than driving and parking downtown.

Chicago’s lakefront, architecture boat tours, and food scene (deep-dish pizza, Italian beef, and a serious hot dog culture) are the main draws for most visitors. Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Navy Pier are the classic stops, but neighborhoods like Wicker Park, Pilsen, and Hyde Park reward travelers who venture beyond downtown. Outside the city, towns like Galena in the northwest offer a slower, historic pace, while Springfield, the state capital, is home to several Abraham Lincoln historic sites.

Starved Rock State Park, about two hours southwest of Chicago, is a popular day trip for hiking among sandstone canyons and waterfalls, especially in spring when water levels are highest. Along the Mississippi River, towns like Nauvoo and Quincy offer a quieter, more historic side of the state that most visitors never see. If you have a full week, pairing a few days in Chicago with a road trip through central and southern Illinois gives a much fuller picture of the state than the city alone.

Weather in Illinois swings widely by season — summers are warm and humid, and winters can be genuinely cold with lake-effect snow near Chicago, so pack accordingly no matter when you visit. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports are both major hubs, making the state an easy add-on if you’re already connecting through Chicago on a longer domestic trip. Tap water is safe to drink throughout the state. Spring and fall tend to offer the most comfortable temperatures for walking around the city or exploring state parks downstate.

If you’re combining Illinois with other Midwest stops, Chicago is a natural hub, with train and bus connections reaching many nearby states. For any current safety or travel advisories, the Illinois state tourism site and local visitor bureaus are good starting points for up-to-date information.

Have you traveled to Illinois, or are you planning a trip soon? We’d love to hear your recommendations and questions in the comments below — this page will keep growing as our own Illinois stories come in.

Local Guides

Guides & Stories

Everything we’ve published about this destination, updated as new stories go live.

More to Explore

More Travel Inspiration

Fresh from the blog — recent stories and guides from around the world.