//
Census region of the United States
Photo: Doug Kerr, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Midwest is known as "America's Heartland": the massive Great Lakes, the vast northwoods, wide-open plains full of corn (maize), wheat, and soybeans, a patchwork of industrial cities and small towns, and one of America's greatest cities, Chicago.
By car
The Midwest is served by several interstate highways. Most of the states in the Midwest can be accessed by the major east-west corridors of:
By train
Amtrak also operates several routes through the Midwest, including several that primarily connect Chicago directly to other major Midwest cities.
By bus
By boat
By car
In addition to the major interstates listed above, many Midwest cities have secondary interstate service such as outerbelt and by-pass systems.
By train
Most of the Midwest lacks regional passenger rail service, but segments of Amtrak routes may suffice.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Chicago · International · MDW
Loading places around the airport…
Chicago is the home of the blues and the truth of jazz, the heart of comedy and the idea of the skyscraper. Here, the age of railroads found its center, and airplanes followed suit.
Cincinnati is Ohio's third largest city and the largest metro region, and lies on the north bank of the Ohio River in Southwest Ohio in the United States of America. Cincinnati is distinct amongst Midwestern cities.
Cleveland is a culturally diverse city on the shores of Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, USA. Recreational, cultural and educational opportunities are abundant throughout Northeast Ohio. You'll find world-class museums, cultural events, professional sports, and amusement parks.
Detroit is a major metropolis in the US state of Michigan that has had a profound impact on the world. From the advent of the automotive assembly line to the Motown sound, modern techno and rock music, Detroit continues to shape both American and global culture.
Indianapolis is the capital of Indiana and also the state’s largest city. Efforts to beautify and modernize the city have brought Indianapolis into the 21st century as a world-class destination for everything from business meetings and trade conventions to backpackers making their way across the States.
Kansas City is a major Midwestern metropolitan area that spreads across the border of Missouri and Kansas. It is a city that tends to hide itself from tourists.
Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city celebrates its heritage as a major center for beer-brewing, and of it German and Polish communities.
The Gateway City of St. Louis is the epitome of the modern Midwestern metropolis.
The Twin Cities of Minnesota constitute the political, cultural, and economic capital of the Upper Midwest, and along with the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Detroit metropolitan areas, the core of the North Coast region of the United States. The name "Twin Cities" comes from the region's two core cities, Minneapolis and Saint Paul, which border each other, share many of the same political, educational, and cultural institutions - and are thus considered to be "twins".
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is a vast wilderness area in Northeastern Minnesota, adjoining with Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park, famous for its array of over a thousand small-to-medium-sized lakes, and the wildlife they provide a home for. It is a well-known camping and canoeing destination.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a national park in Cuyahoga County and Summit County, Northeast Ohio.
The Driftless Area (also called the Driftless Zone) is a multistate region in the United States Midwest centered along the Mississippi River and containing portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois. The area is known for its deeply carved river valleys and rolling hills, making the area a hunting and camping destination and one of the few skiing areas in the Midwest.
The Great Lakes are an important water system of North America for transportation, commerce, and recreation; they lie mostly on the border between the United States and Canada. The size is difficult to appreciate until you see them: at 94,250 square miles (244,100 km2) combined, the lakes are nearly as large as the United Kingdom, and there are places where a plane flying over one will not see land.
Indiana Dunes National Park, in the northwestern part of the state, is the only national park in Indiana. It's popular for its big sand dunes and plentiful beaches on Lake Michigan, and for its easily accessible location near Chicago.
Isle Royale National Park is a national park comprising Isle Royale and the surrounding waters and small islands, a wilderness preserve in northwest Lake Superior. It's easily identified on maps of the Great Lakes: Lake Superior resembles the profile of a snarling wolf; Isle Royale is the eye.
The Ozarks is in the USA and includes areas in southern Missouri, northern Arkansas, southeast Kansas, and eastern Oklahoma.
Sleeping Bear Dunes is a United States National Lakeshore on Lake Michigan near Traverse City in Northern Michigan. It consists of miles of sand dunes on the Lake Michigan shoreline and the islands of North Manitou and South Manitou.
Articles and travel topics about Midwest and United States.
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the best time to visit Hawaii in 2026. Compare whale seasons, big-wave surf, dry shoulder months, hotel rates, and island microclimates.
8 min read
InspirationDiscover the best places to visit in April. Compare Dutch tulip fields, Thailand's Songkran water festival, Roman spring gardens, and cherry blossoms.
6 min read
Travel tipsA practical guide to travelling with medication and refrigerated drugs like insulin and GLP-1s. Learn airline rules, customs papers, and cooling tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.