Planning an Illinois road trip and looking for all the best things to do and things to see in the state? Browse below to find a selection of the best Illinois roadside attractions for sightseeing, famous tourist sites, tasty roadside restaurants, Route 66 road trip stops, top attractions, destinations, and other must-see Illinois tourist attractions at Silly America. Plan your next vacation or road trip driving through Illinois and find all the most iconic, weird, cool, and silliest sites along the way!
You knew Abraham Lincoln was tall, but did you know he was this tall? Welcome to the world’s largest covered wagon driven by one giant Lincoln. In this Illinois roadside attraction, a 350-pound, 12-foot tall statue of Abraham Lincoln reads a law book while sitting upon the world’s largest covered wagon in the only town …
A juicy hot dog skewered on a stick, coated in a thick corn laden batter, and deep fried to a crunchy golden brown. Get a taste of history at this Route 66 institution: Cozy Dog Drive In in Springfield, Illinois. Just don’t call it a corn dog. Cozy Dog doesn’t sell corn dogs, they sell …
This muffler man is a head above the rest. Or, at least, is a head. Find this gas station muffler man head in Atlanta, Illinois on Route 66. Atlanta, Illinois has always been a popular stop for roadside attraction lovers traveling Route 66. With popular stops like the Paul Bunyon muffler man holding a hot …
It’s a zoo at this Illinois Route 66 roadside attraction! Literally…at least kind of… Visit the Braidwood Zoo in Braidwood, Illinois to find this menagerie of strange animal art. You won’t find any lions, tigers, or bears roaming about at this roadside zoo. The Braidwood Zoo is actually a small art display consisting a wire-fenced …
Traveling Route 66 or taking an Illinois road trip? You’ll want to go the way of the dinosaur and visit this fun stop: the Rooftop Sinclair Dinosaur in Wilmington, Illinois. In 1963 a Sinclair service station opened on Route 66 in Wilmington, Illinois. The business of course had one of the company’s signature mascots: a …
Pontiac, Illinois is a quintessential stop on Route 66. It is home to the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum, many historical places, and one of the most photographed murals on Route 66. But there are more than 20 other works of public art painted across the historic downtown that give …
Route 66 is dotted with plenty of photo ops and classic diners. And you can find both of those in one in Braidwood, Illinois at the Polk-a-Dot Drive In. The Polk-a-Dot Drive In has been feeding hungry travelers since 1956. With a full menu of hamburgers, chicken, hot dogs, ice cream, milkshakes, and their famous …
This Route 66 attraction was once an essential part of the cross-country journey, taking travelers from Illinois, across the Mississippi river, and into Missouri (or vice versa). While you can no longer drive the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, it’s still worth a trip to walk (or bike) across and admire. The Old Chain of …
You know you can get your kicks on Route 66 but how about getting your pancakes? Or your omelettes? Or your Milk Duds? In downtown Chicago you’ll find a restaurant synonymous with the start of the Mother Road: Lou Mitchell’s restaurant in Chicago, Illinois. Lou Mitchell’s opened in 1923 and several factors contributed to its …
Ready to get your kicks on Route 66? Every great road trip along the Mother Road starts here: the Historic Route 66 Begin Sign in Chicago, Illinois. Route 66 was established in 1926, and, for many years, served as the premiere drive for anyone taking a western bound migration. Running from Chicago to Los Angeles …
Enjoy fun games and challenges to pass the time on your next road trip and have a keepsake to look back on for years to come with this entertaining must-have for your next vacation.
The road trip you’ve been dreaming of starts here! Journal about your stops and get to know your fellow passengers with activities and exercises designed to pass the time and bring you closer together. Instead of “Are we there yet?” you’ll find yourself asking, “We’re there already?”. Complete with prompts you can turn to while driving between locations, this journal will one day be a memento of your life-changing trip.
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Silly America is a roadside attractions blog designed to help travelers find unique stops for their next road trip. The website is a tribute to the great American road trip, devoted to all that is odd in America: roadside attractions, tourist traps, peculiar destinations, bizarre events, road food, fun festivals, and more! It’s a travel website and trip planner for those seeking an offbeat road trip.
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