7 fun destinations within a one-day drive from Chicago

Shannan Younger — Thu, 19 May 2016 19:34:33 +0000

If you’re thinking of hitting the highway this summer for a good, old fashioned family road trip, these fun destinations are within a one-day drive from Chicago and that a little off the beaten summer trip path. No one wants to wait in crazy long lines at the airport, and it turns out that you don’t have to spend a ton of time in the car to get somewhere completely new and different.

We’ve traveled to each of these road trip destinations near Chicago to be family friendly and perfect for long weekend adventures.

St. Louis, Mo.
Approximate distance from Chicago: 262 miles

The gateway to the west is about five hours from Chicagoland, and there’s a lot of family fun to be had there. Most people think of the Gateway Arch when they think of St. Louis. It’s certainly worth a visit, and advance tickets are recommended because it can sell out. They’ve restored the Mississippi Riverfront just beneath the Arch and it reopens in June of 2016.

Families consistently rave about the City Museum, which boggles the mind and thrills kids with features like a 10-story slide. Located in the 600,000 square-foot former International Shoe Company building, the museum describes itself as “an eclectic mixture of children’s playground, funhouse, surrealistic pavilion, and architectural marvel made out of unique, found objects.” It’s hard to describe but easy to appreciate once you’re there. Chances are your kids won’t want to leave, and my kid is still asking when we are going back.

Grant’s Farm is the 281-acre ancestral home of the Busch family, named for Ulysses S. Grant who once lived on the land. Grant’s Farm offers a wide variety of activities. You can do everything from visiting a log cabin originally built by Grant in 1855 to watching bison and zebra roam free at the Deer Park to riding a carousel.

Speaking of the Busch family, the Anheuser-Busch Brewery tour is surprisingly family friendly and includes a chance to see the world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales in historic stables on site.

Madison, Wis.
Approximate distance from Chicago: 125 miles

Who doesn’t want say they went to an isthmus this summer? Between the beautiful lakes, the Madison Children’s Museum, the University of Wisconsin, the arboretum and the State Capitol, it’s easy for families to stay busy in Madison, which is less than three hours from Chicago.

If you have a dinosaur lover, don’t miss the Geology Museum on the campus. The Capitol is impressive, and close to campus.

It seems a crime to not have ice cream when visiting “America’s Dairyland,” in the summer. Check out Ella’s Deli and Ice Cream Parlor, a Madison institution that features a carousel.

Madison is also a great stopping point if you want to break up the trip to the Twin Cities.

Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.
Approximate distance from Chicago: 400 miles

For families who don’t mind a full day in the car (around seven hours or so, depending where in Chicago you are), the Twin Cities offer lots of family fun.

The iconic Spoonbridge and Cherry (the sculpture of a spoon with a giant cherry on the tip) is the gem of the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, which sometimes offer family programs for free. While you’re in the neighborhood, get out your green thumb and check out the Cowles Conservatory and the Alene Grossman Memorial Arbor and Flower Garden.

Nature lovers will appreciate Minnehaha Park, home to the famous Hiawatha Falls. The falls were immortalized in the epic poem The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1855. You can do one better than Longfellow, however, when you see the falls in person, which Longfellow never did. They’re breathtaking, and easily accessible for little naturalists.

The Mall of America is a good place to get a jump on back to school shopping, as Minnesota does not have tax on clothing. My friend Cortney offers tips for tackling the Mall of America with kids here.

Galena, Ill.
Approximate distance from Chicago: 150 miles

At just three hours from Chicago, Galena makes for a nice “starter road trip” destination for families with little ones, those who just don’t want to spend a ton of time in the car, or those without a lot of vacation time. Strolling along Main Street makes you feel like you’ve traveled back in time. You can do everything from visiting the many historical sites, including another home of Ulysses S. Grant, to horseback riding.

If you are up for crossing state lines, the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, is nearby. Go have a catch with your favorite ball player where the movie was filmed. You really can walk into and out of the corn, and sometimes in the summer you can watch the Ghost Players emerge from that corn field.

Cleveland, Ohio
Distance from Chicago: 300 miles

Cleveland rocks! Okay, chances are your kids have no idea about the Drew Carey Show or that part of the theme song, but we found it to be true when we headed there last summer. We caught an Indians game at Progressive Field and spent at day at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

My daughter’s favorite part was visiting Colossal Cupcakes, which was just an adorable shop. It was a good reminder to leave enough time in the schedule to discover and enjoy local gems like this.

Cincinnati, Ohio
Approximate distance from Chicago: 250 miles

If you have kids who are all about visiting different states, walking across the bridge over the Ohio River from Cincinnati to Kentucky can be pretty exciting, as is the range of activities in the Queen City. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center located in downtown Cincinnati aims to “reveal stories of freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to contemporary times, challenging and inspiring everyone to take courageous steps of freedom today.”

The Cincinnati Art Museum encourages kids to be hands on with art in its interactive Rosenthal Education Center.

Kids and kids at heart love Kings Island, the largest amusement and water park in the Midwest where you can visit with Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the gang, ride some roller coasters or take in the views of the area from the observation tower near the top of the one-third scale replica of the Eiffel Tower.

Niagara Falls, NY
Approximate distance from Chicago: 550 miles

At eight and a half hours, this is definitely a full day in the car, but if you have a family of road warriors, it’s possible, and it’s worth the trek. I admit to being skeptical before we went but hearing my kiddo yell, “This is AWESOME!” above the roar of the falls while we were on Maid of the Mist is a memory I will always treasure.

What would you add to this list of destinations within a one-day drive from Chicago?

Hope that you have a summer of fantastic adventures, wherever they may be!

Prior Post: 6 pieces of Imagineering wisdom and advice from Marty Sklar and friends

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