Trip.ovh US Road Trip Planner

Scenic Drives in Illinois

Routes

60

Avg Distance

220 mi

Avg Drive

4h 19m

Destinations

42

These 57 scenic drives in Illinois earned a drive score of 7+ out of 10. The average route covers 198 miles through the state's most varied and visually interesting terrain.

Planning Tips

Scenic routes often have fewer gas stations and services. Top off your tank before heading into mountainous or rural stretches.
Budget extra time for scenic drives — pulling over for views, photos, and short hikes is half the point.
Check weather conditions for mountain passes and high-elevation stretches, especially in shoulder seasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

We rate routes on a 1-10 drive score based on elevation changes, road variety, and terrain diversity. The 57 routes listed here all score 7 or higher.

Drive times and distances come from actual road network data via OSRM. Fuel costs use current state-level gas prices. Drive scores factor in elevation profile, road variety, and terrain. All data is recalculated regularly.

Yes. Click any route to see its full trip page with turn-by-turn directions, fuel cost estimates, elevation profile, stop suggestions, weather conditions, and more.

Top Scenic Routes

Rosiclare, IL → Rockford, IL

387 mi 7h 52m Score: 9/10

Metropolis, IL → Elk Grove, IL

377 mi 7h 7m Score: 8/10

Naperville, IL → Metropolis, IL

376.8 mi 6h 58m Score: 8/10

Mount Pleasant, IL → Aurora, IL

345.1 mi 6h 43m Score: 8/10

Royalton, IL → Rockford, IL

342.1 mi 6h 44m Score: 9/10

Chicago, IL → Sparta, IL

337.1 mi 6h 23m Score: 8/10

Naperville, IL → Du Quoin, IL

329 mi 6h 12m Score: 8/10

Joliet, IL → Eagle, IL

321.7 mi 6h 45m Score: 8/10

Springfield, IL → Louisville, KY

321.6 mi 5h 55m Score: 8/10

Campton, IL → Bolingbrook, IL

315.2 mi 6h 5m Score: 8/10

Crainville, IL → Joliet, IL

301.3 mi 5h 43m Score: 8/10

Trenton, IL → Evanston, IL

301.2 mi 5h 51m Score: 8/10

Joliet, IL → Crainville, IL

300.6 mi 5h 41m Score: 8/10

Naperville, IL → Waterloo, IL

293.1 mi 5h 34m Score: 8/10

Waterloo, IL → Naperville, IL

292.8 mi 5h 33m Score: 8/10

City of Greenville, IL → Elgin, IL

288.1 mi 5h 32m Score: 8/10

Albion, IL → Des Plaines, IL

285.8 mi 5h 52m Score: 10/10

Elgin, IL → City of Greenville, IL

285.4 mi 5h 29m Score: 8/10

McHenry, IL → York, IL

281 mi 6h 7m Score: 9/10

Barry, IL → Elgin, IL

275.7 mi 5h 25m Score: 8/10

Berwyn, IL → Jerseyville, IL

274.2 mi 5h 9m Score: 8/10

Albion, IL → Aurora, IL

270 mi 5h 51m Score: 9/10

Fairfield, IL → Chicago, IL

268.7 mi 5h 23m Score: 8/10

Berwyn, IL → City of Greenville, IL

258.3 mi 4h 54m Score: 8/10

Guilford, IL → Champaign, IL

255.7 mi 5h 1m Score: 10/10

Joliet, IL → Alton, IL

248.7 mi 4h 42m Score: 8/10

Pana, IL → Waukegan, IL

248.6 mi 5h 1m Score: 9/10

Joliet, IL → Central City, IL

244.8 mi 4h 41m Score: 8/10

Metropolis, IL → Champaign, IL

231.8 mi 4h 20m Score: 8/10

Naperville, IL → Carlinville, IL

223.3 mi 4h 23m Score: 8/10

Edinburg, IL → Des Plaines, IL

216.5 mi 4h 10m Score: 8/10

Evanston, IL → Clear Lake, IL

210.9 mi 4h 9m Score: 8/10

Markham, IL → Ashland, IL

201.6 mi 3h 55m Score: 8/10

Elmhurst, IL → Clear Lake, IL

192.1 mi 3h 39m Score: 8/10

Berwyn, IL → Clear Lake, IL

191.5 mi 3h 39m Score: 8/10

Decatur, IL → Des Plaines, IL

186.3 mi 3h 43m Score: 10/10

Bloomington, IL → Albion, IL

184.3 mi 3h 56m Score: 9/10

Belleville, IL → Peoria, IL

165.8 mi 3h 8m Score: 8/10

Peoria, IL → River Grove, IL

164.9 mi 3h 13m Score: 9/10

River Grove, IL → Peoria, IL

164.7 mi 3h 10m Score: 8/10

Naperville, IL → Decatur, IL

160.8 mi 3h 14m Score: 10/10

Burbank, IL → North Peoria, IL

158.8 mi 3h 3m Score: 8/10

Bremen, IL → Blue Mound, IL

154.6 mi 3h 26m Score: 9/10

Willow Springs, IL → North Peoria, IL

154.3 mi 2h 57m Score: 8/10

Elgin, IL → Thomasboro, IL

151.1 mi 3h 6m Score: 9/10

Springfield, IL → Ottawa, IL

143 mi 2h 40m Score: 8/10

Ottawa, IL → Springfield, IL

140.1 mi 2h 40m Score: 8/10

Stockton, IL → Chicago, IL

138.6 mi 2h 52m Score: 8/10

City of Greenville, IL → Bloomington, IL

130.1 mi 2h 46m Score: 9/10

Toluca, IL → Des Plaines, IL

126 mi 2h 32m Score: 9/10

Bloomington, IL → Brookfield, IL

122.2 mi 2h 29m Score: 8/10

Chatsworth, IL → Springfield, IL

115.8 mi 2h 20m Score: 9/10

Lena, IL → Aurora, IL

112.1 mi 2h 12m Score: 9/10

Springfield, IL → La Harpe, IL

106.1 mi 2h 35m Score: 8/10

Waukegan, IL → Otto, IL

104.4 mi 2h 11m Score: 8/10

Reading, IL → Chicago, IL

99.5 mi 2h 10m Score: 8/10

Champaign, IL → Altamont, IL

92 mi 1h 45m Score: 7/10

Momence, IL → Des Plaines, IL

76.6 mi 1h 46m Score: 7/10

North Peoria, IL → Clear Lake, IL

73.1 mi 1h 25m Score: 7/10

Rockford, IL → Niles, IL

72.9 mi 1h 32m Score: 7/10

Explore More

Illinois Trips Scenic drives in Illinois