//
U.S. state
Photo: hakkun, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Illinois is a state in the Midwest of the United States of America. Home to the large city of Chicago, the terrain of this state ranges from rolling farmland in the south to the mud flats upon which Chicago was built.
Home of the capital city, Springfield, and Champaign-Urbana, the site of the University of Illinois, one of the nation's most prestigious public universities. Also home to the state's Amish community, mostly centered around the village of Arthur.
The main entry point to this vast state. The state's most populous city and the country's third largest city, Chicago, is situated here. Chicagoland is brimming with cultural and educational opportunities, good food, and dazzling tourist atrractions.
Northern Illinois is a region of Illinois generally located immediately along and north of I-80 and outside of Chicagoland. While largely rural, it does include Rockford, the third largest city in Illinois, as well as DeKalb, home of Northern Illinois University.
St. Louis Metro East is a region of southwestern Illinois that includes the Illinois part of the St.
Southern Illinois is a region in the American state of Illinois. It is primarily agricultural, like most of Illinois outside Chicagoland, but includes some attractive, rolling scenery that contrasts with the flatness of Central Illinois to its north.
Western Illinois is a region of Illinois generally bounded by the Mississippi River to the west, I-80 to the north and I-39/I-55 to the east. It has two major anchors: Peoria and the Illinois side of the Quad Cities.
By train
Amtrak serves many different areas of Illinois. Chicago is the main hub of Amtrak's long-distance routes, and a coast-to-coast rail trip will usually require you to change trains in Chicago.
By plane
Chicago has two major airports, O'Hare and Midway. O'Hare is one of the main international gateways to the United States, while Midway is smaller and closer to the downtown.
By foot
By bus
Greyhound buses, Megabus discount buses and its sister bus company, Coach USA, serve many Illinois locales.
By train
Train travel is another way to get around Illinois. Metra train lines serves Chicago and the surrounding suburbs and Amtrak serves significant portions of the rest of the state.
By plane
There are flights from Chicago to regional centers in the state such as Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Peoria and Bloomington-Normal, usually on United Airlines or American Airlines.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Decatur · Regional · DEC
Loading places around the airport…
the capital and administrative center of the state. Abraham Lincoln resided here for many years, and many buildings in the city are dedicated to him.
home of Illinois State University, Illinois Weslyan University and the grave site of Adlai Stevenson
home of Southern Illinois University
Champaign-Urbana is a metropolitan area in central Illinois, composed of the towns of Champaign, Urbana, and Savoy. The community is the site of the main campus of the University of Illinois, one of the great public universities of the United States.
the largest city in the Midwest and third-largest in the U.S., a center for theatre, jazz, and railroads, with a complex history and staggering skyscrapers.
charming historical town along the Mississippi River
with casinos, a speedway and the state's most infamous prison
a classic Midwestern "Everytown"
home to the beautifully-landscaped Anderson Japanese Garden.
is a surprising find in Illinois - the center of a prehistoric Native American city and one of only 20 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the U.S.
Between May 1804 and September 1806, 32 men, one woman, and a baby traveled from the plains of the Midwest to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. They called themselves the Corps of Discovery.
Shawnee National Forest is a big section of national forest in Southern Illinois near Carbondale.
Articles and travel topics about Illinois and United States.
Nature & adventureHow to use the America the Beautiful pass, navigate timed-entry reservations and win hiking permits across America's top national parks.
7 min read
Travel tipsHow to master the NYC subway with OMNY contactless pay, dodge airport transfer traps and explore iconic Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods.
7 min read
ItinerariesHow to plan the classic California Highway 1 road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles, navigating Big Sur closures, coastal stops and vehicle tips.
6 min read
Travel tipsSplitting a city stay between two hotels can cut costs, save hours of travel and buy you a night of luxury. Here is how to do it well.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.