Summer has arrived (unofficially) and it’s time for some summer fun! But, what if your time and money doesn’t scream week long vacation? Have no worries.
I have you covered with 3 Midwest Weekend Road Trips to Take This Summer covering some of Route 66, Illinois and Indiana.
Route 66
For starters, if you want to just do some cruising and sightseeing, hands down, I am recommending Route 66.
U.S. Route 66, also known as the Will Rogers Highway, the Main Street of America or the Mother Road actually begins in Chicago and goes clear across the United States to California.
Have peek into our time on Route 66 in Needles, California.
But, if you are looking to stay close, but epic, why not spend your weekend exploring iconic Route 66 stops in Illinois including but not limited to Joliet, Odell, Bloomington, Lincoln, Springfield, Edwardsville and St. Louis.
A few of our favorite Midwest Route 66 stops include the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac, Illinois, camping at the Historic Route 66 KOA in Eureka, Missouri, and America’s Incredible Pizza in St. Louis Missouri. Each of these stops are suitable for the entire family and are actually a load of fun!
Illinois
Often times, when people think of Illinois, they tend to think of the city of Chicago. But, there is so much more to Illinois that just Chicago or the beginning of Route 66.
Take for example, Springfield, the capital of Illinois.
Did you know Springfield has their own cool family trail with a prize at the end? That’s right! It’s called Abes Hat Hunt. Illinois isn’t called the Land of Lincoln for nothing!
Abes Hat Hunt is a scavenger hunt in downtown Springfield to find President Lincoln’s hidden hats. Simply, grab your Abe’s Hat Hunt booklet containing a map, clues and stickers and then start your detective work by visiting at least five of the 10 sticker stops.
Once you’ve successfully filled your booklet, you can head to a redemption center to collect your “Abe-mazing” prize.
Psst…
Did you know they even featured us in their June Visit Springfield newsletter?
Once you have completed the Abes Hat Hunt continue your road trip with a tour into the past where you will find the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, his tomb, his home, as well as various war memorials, just to name a few.
If that’s not enough for one weekend, extend your Illinois road trip with 5 Reasons to Visit Illinois or check out my guest post on the Voyageer for 3 Touristy Things to Do in Danville, Illinois.
And, if you don’t want to do the driving yourself, you could also find a quick and easy way to organize transportation using https://www.limofind.com/ca/bakersfield-party-bus-rental/.
Indiana
Indiana has become one of my favorite states to explore. If you want a city vibe, you can head to Indianapolis where there is so much to do and definitely something for the entire family.
From climbing the Indiana State Soldiers and Sailors Monument and biking the Cultural Trail all the way to game playing in the largest arcade in Indianapolis, the possibilities seem endless.
But, if the city isn’t your thing, have no fear. There are many smaller towns in Indiana offering very interesting things to do that you can certainly make a family road trip out of.
For example, in late summer and early fall there is an array of sunflower patches and pumpkin patches laid out throughout the state. So, why not farm hop for the weekend and check out the farms that are open to the public?
Want to know where to start? Why not start at the Priebe Pumpkin Patch off of I-74 in Crawfordsville and make your way towards Cornucopia Farm in Scottsburg, Indiana off of I-65S. There are 130 miles between the farms offering you a chance to see these two plus plenty of others in between.
Lodging with Thousand Trails
But, don’t forget about sleeping arrangements. Yes, you could grab a hotel off the the interstate, but why not make your road trip even more epic by camping?
How about following some of Indiana’s Historic Pathways and stop in between the two farms above at Indian Lakes RV Campground?
Indian Lakes RV Campground is a Thousand Trails campground located in Batesville, Indiana that offers vacation cottages and RV camping and fun for the entire family.
But, Indiana isn’t the only state with a Thousand Trails campground. The Encore RV resorts and Thousand Trails network of campgrounds feature more than 180 locations across North America including the states mentioned in this post.
To get started with your planning visit the Thousand Trails website for a free online camping directory.
Final Thoughts
Weekend road trips make some of the most amazing memories. So, if you’re running short on cash and days off at the j-o-b, you can still create some of the most epic family memories with these three road trips this summer in the Midwest.
Check out 2 More Roadtrips to Take This Summer as well as my Guide for Road Tripping Off the Beaten Path.
This post originally appeared 5/31/2019.
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