The 15 Best Illinois Roadside Attractions

Are you ready to take an Illinois road trip and find the best Illinois roadside attractions along the way? Whether you’re taking a car trip with kids or a weekend getaway with friends these 15 places to go in Illinois make fun pit stops on the road and great additions to your travel itinerary.

I grew up in Illinois and have lived in the state all of my life. Currently, I live in Chicago, but I grew up in the suburbs and spent four years in school downstate. Within those thirty-something years I’ve driven all over the state, from top to bottom and have taken many road trips through Illinois. So, when I say I know the best roadside attractions in Illinois, I’m not lying. I’ve even seen a grand majority of them in person. (There are still a few that, sadly, I haven’t made my way to yet. But they are definitely on my travel bucket list!)

Below are the 15 best roadside attractions in Illinois: from a giant bottle of my favorite condiment to a life-sized superhero to an entire town devoted to world’s largest things. Ready to hit the road? Let’s go!

The 15 Best Illinois Roadside Attractions (in no particular order):

1. The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle

305 Railroad Ave, Collinsville, IL

While you won’t find any actual ketchup in this giant condiment container, it’s one of the biggest, best, and most recognizable roadside attractions in Illinois. At 170-feet tall, the world’s largest catsup bottle has stood high above Collinsville, Illinois, since 1949, serving as a water tower for the town that once was home to the company who bottled Brooks catsup.

2. The Gemini Giant

810 E Baltimore St, Wilmington, IL

The Gemini Giant is a 28-foot tall muffler man who stands on Route 66 outside the Launching Pad restaurant in Wilmington, Illinois. He weighs in at a whopping 438 pounds: not counting his base of the giant 80-foot rocket he holds in his hands! When looking for Route 66 Illinois attractions, this is a must-see!

3. Two-Story Outhouse

1022 S Pine St, Gays, IL

While the two-story outhouse in Gays, Illinois is no longer open for the public to use, this bi-level “skyscrapper” should be on any list of things to see in Illinois. Dating back to 1872, the double-decker outhouse originally stoof at the back of a general store to give residents of an upstairs apartment access to a private bathroom. Today, it’s a fun stop on a road trip through Illinois (just maybe find a gas station if you actually need to use a toilet).

4. Leaning Tower of Niles

6300 W Touhy Ave, Niles, IL

Are we talking about Italy here or the American midwest? The Leaning Tower of Niles is about a half-size replica of the iconic tourist attraction it was meant to mimic: the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Pisa, Italy. This road trip stop weaves historic Europe into the giant midwestern Illinois attractions we all love.

5. One and Only Hippie Memorial

N Oak St, Arcola, IL

The World’s One and Only Hippie Memorial in spans 62 feet across alongside the railroad tracks in Arcola. It was built in 1992 by local Bob Moomaw who a rendered of his life in “junk.” Each of the 62 feet of the artwork represents one part of Moomaw’s life: from the The Great Depression, World War II and 1950s hypocrisy on one end, rising in the middle to a colorful expression of the years when Kennedy and the hippies rose to the declining scrap of the Reagan years.

6. Kaskaskia Dragon

2401-2599 Progress W Dr, Vandalia, IL

The Kaskaskia Dragon is a little bit of medieval myth wrapped into an Illinois tourist attraction. When you find this Illinois roadside attraction you might think you’ve stumbled into an episode of Game of Thrones, but really you’re just in central Illinois. You can insert a token into this giant dragon to see it breathe propane-fueled fire while his eyes glow a bright red.

7. Statue of the World’s Tallest Man, Robert Wadlow

2810 College Ave, Alton, IL

Robert Pershing Wadlow was the world’s tallest man. At his greatest height, he was a staggering 8 feet 11.1 inches tall. In his hometown of Alton you’ll find a life-size bronze state of the man who towered above his peers.

8. Statue of Popeye (and friends)

Hwy 51, Chester, IL

Cartoonist E.C. Segar, creator of Popeye the Sailor Man, was born in Chester in 1894 and today, the entire town is devoted to his legacy. The “Home of Popeye” proudly displays this six-foot, 900 lb. bronze Popeye statue in Segar Memorial Park, overlooking the Mississippi River. But that’s not all. Chester proves to be one of the most fun places to visit in Illinois with its “Popeye Trail” of 14 monuments (and counting) that have been erected throughout the town.

9. Gold Pyramid House

37921 N Dilleys Rd, Wadsworth, IL

The six-story, 55-foot tall, 17,000-square-foot Gold Pyramid House in Wadsworth stands out among its suburban neighbors by being, well, a giant pyramid-shaped house! Unfortunately, a devastating fire on July 17, 2018 caused major damage to the structure and the ancient artifacts that were housed inside. The family hopes to repair the pyramid to its former state, but no longer plans to use it as a home.

10. Superman Statue

Superman Square, Metropolis, IL

Known as the “Home of Superman,” Metropolis, Illinois is located on the Ohio River, just ten miles from neighboring Kentucky and devotes itself to the superhero with a Super Museum and a giant Superman statue in Superman Square. The town is a staple of Illinois tourism and even holds an annual Metropolis Superman Celebration where fans gather from around the world each year to celebrate the Man of Steel.

11. Cross at the Crossroads: America’s Largest Cross

2603 S Raney St, Effingham, IL

This huge cross is made of over 180 tons of steel and stands tall at at 198 feet high and 113 feet wide. It can be found at he intersection of Interstates 57 & 70 in Effingham, Illinois. It truly is “the cross at the crossroads.” Built at this major road it’s estimated that 50,000 travelers see the landmark in Effingham each and every day.

12. World’s Largest Wagon And Big Abraham Lincoln

1750 5th St, Lincoln, IL

On this roadside attraction, a 350-pound, 12-foot tall statue of Abraham Lincoln reads a law book while sitting upon a large-covered wagon in the only town in the United States named for and by Abraham Lincoln before he became president: Lincoln, Illinois. The Railsplitter Covered Wagon that he sits on is the The World’s Largest Covered Wagon. The 40-foot long, 12-foot wide, 24-foot tall wagon weighs five tons, the wagon is officially recognized as being the world’s largest covered wagon by the Guinness Book of World Records, making this stop among the top must-see places to see in Illinois.

13. De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton, Illinois

111 10th Avenue, Fulton, IL

Located on the Great River Road, the De Immigrant Windmill in Fulton is an authentic Dutch Windmill that was manufactured and prefabricated in the Netherlands before being shipped and assembled in the American midwest. It is said to be one of only two Dutch windmills in the United States.

14. Henry’s Rabbit Ranch

1107 Historic Old Rte 66, Staunton, IL

Henry’s Rabbit Ranch features rabbits of all kind: from the fuzzy little creatures to the classic Volkswagens. With a gift shop, rabbit farm, replica of a vintage filling station, climbable larger than life jackrabbit, and graveyard of VWs, it’s a Route 66 Illinois institution and a fun vacation spot for kids and adults.

15. Big Things in a Small Town: Casey, Illinois

Casey, IL

Casey, Illinois is the definition of “go big or go home.” Known for their “big things in a small town,” Casey features many Guinness World Record certified world’s largest things. It’s the home to the giant and world’s largest rocking chair, wind chime, knitting needles, pitchfork, golf tee, yardstick, Dutch wooden shoes, mailbox, pencil, birdcage, key, teeter-totter, gavel, golf club, swizzle spoon, barber’s pole, and more. It’s impossible to pick just one roadside attraction to make the list of best Illinois roadside attractions, so the entire town makes the list! If you’re going to visit Illinois, this is a point of interest you can’t miss.

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