Travel Website Names The 7 Most Scenic Drives In Illinois

Okay, so maybe late February isn't really prime road-trip weather, but it won't always be February. The weather will get nicer at some point, and a lot more of us will get out and about in Illinois.

Illinois has several road-trip worthy scenic drives that are more than worth taking the time for when you just want to get out and look at some great scenery.

Gas prices have eased, and the weather will be doing the same thing very shortly, so let's take a look at the seven scenic drives a respected travel website has named as our most scenic.

Illinois Has It All: Castles, Architecture, and 7 Truly Scenic Drives Every Traveler Should Experience

When most people think of Illinois, images of Chicago's skyscrapers, Route 66 nostalgia, and mile after mile of Midwestern farmlands pop to mind.

But our state has so much more, like riverside bluffs and rolling forested hills to beautiful shorelines and historic backroads. According to the WorldAtlas.com list of scenic drives, these are seven beautiful drives that belong on every Illinois bucket list (full credit to World Atlas for the inspiration).

In no particular order (we can't play favorites with asphalt):

North Shore along Sheridan Road

Stretching roughly 36-41 miles along Lake Michigan from Chicago’s Rogers Park up through the North Shore to Waukegan, Sheridan Road feels like a lakefront dream. Mature trees form shady tunnels, historic homes peek from behind stone walls, and intermittent views of Lake Michigan make this one of the most elegant scenic routes in the state.

Route 31: Aurora to West Dundee

Hop on Illinois Route 31 for a leisurely 20-mile cruise along the west bank of the Fox River. North of Batavia, the road narrows to two lanes, winding through Geneva and St. Charles with riverside parks, gentle curves, and limestone bluffs in view. This route pairs charming small-town charm with scenic river vistas.

Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway

For a longer adventure (about 55-65 miles), follow IL-29 from near Starved Rock State Park down toward Peoria. This stretch stays close to the Illinois River, offering open vantage points, wetlands, and backwater views. Near Peoria, Grandview Drive, famously dubbed “the world’s most beautiful drive” by none other than President Theodore Roosevelt, delivers some stunning river panoramas.

But Wait, There's More...

If you just try to hit two of these per month, you've got your summer travel already planned out.

Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route

This 33-mile segment along the Mississippi River between Hartford and Pere Marquette State Park showcases beautiful limestone bluffs and sweeping river curves. With river traffic, wooded slopes, and autumn foliage along the way, it’s a picture-perfect example of the beauty that Illinois has to offer.

Galena to Savanna

Part of the famed Great River Road, this winding route follows Illinois Route 84 south from historic Galena through Hanover and down toward Savanna. You'll get plenty of twists, turns, and big views of the Mississippi Palisades.

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

In southern Illinois, the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail blends rolling farmland, woodland ridges, and gorgeous landscapes along roughly 40 miles of two-lane road. You can and should stop at local wineries, enjoy some really cool elevation changes, and enjoy a quieter, more scenic part of the state.

Lake Shore Drive

No Illinois list is complete without this classic Chicago route. Running roughly 13-15 miles along Lake Michigan’s edge, Lake Shore Drive (LSD) combines water views with a Chicago city skyline backdrop from Grant Park and Oak Street Beach up past Lincoln Park.