3 Amazing Winter Road Trip Destinations in Illinois

Dec 18, 2024

Just because the winter weather is here doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the great outdoors. Hang up those hiking boots and swap them out for some snowshoes and skis! On less than a tank of gas you’ll be on your way to winter wonderland bliss. Feeling the crunch of the fresh snow under your feet, enjoying the brisk fresh air and that “it’s going to snow any moment now” scent on the breeze. There’s nothing else quite like it! Let’s check out these three amazing winter road trip destinations in Illinois.

Explore The Quad Cities Area in Winter.
(Rock Island, Moline/East Moline in IL and Davenport, Bettendorf in IA)

If you’re a big fan of freshly fallen snow with that crisp, crunchy feeling, you’ll love spending time in QC! There’s plenty of outdoor activities to be found here; you can enjoy snowshoeing at places like Black HAwk State Historic Site, Sunderbruch Park, West Lake Park, Scott County Park, Loud Thunder Forest Preserve, and Credit Island Park; get your adrenaline pumping with some challenging Fat Tire Biking along 10 different mountain biking trails; winter hiking at places like Crow Creek Park, Hennepin Canal Parkway, Illiniwek Forest Preserve, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Black Hawk State Historic Site; Cross Country Skiing at places like Duck Creek Golf Course, Emeis Golf Course, Saukie Golf Course, Crow Creek Park, and Palmer Hills Golf Course; sledding for kids and the kid-at-heart at places like Camden Park, Duck Creek Park, Lincoln Park, Scott County Park, Middle Park and more.

If you’re looking for more organized winter sports, you can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, and tubing at Snowstar Extreme Sports with top of the line snowmaking capabilities, or ice skating at Frozen Landing Family Ice Rink.

Now through December 31st, the Quad City Botanical Garden is also featuring their 250,000+ glowing lights displays for their Winter Lights seasonal event. From January 17th through the 19th, you simply must head down to Davenport for Icestravaganza hosted at the Freight House – more than 36,000 pounds of ice are transformed into hand-carved sculptures with colorful LED lights adorning the boardwalk, but if that’s not enough there will also be a drive through display on Beiderbecke Drive in LeClaire Park right nearby.

There’s also plenty to see and do for entertainment indoors such as The Adler Theater in Davenport, the Musical Guild in Moline, and Circa 21 in Rock Island. Or sample some of the fine spirits and cocktails at places like Cru, Devon’s Complaint Dept, Mississippi River Distilling Company and Lounge, Revivalist Brew Lab, Tycoga Winery and The J Bar.

Visit Historic Nauvoo in Wintertime.
(Nauvoo, IL)

With more than 40 different shops and retailers to peruse while you’re in town, you’ll find no shortage of perfect holiday gifts and unique souvenirs. But that’s not all this charming historic town has to offer! There are also more than 40 historic homes and buildings to explore, including guided tours of places like The Pioneer Life exhibit at Cultural Hall, demonstrations of special trades at Main Street Trades, the historic Red Brick Store, and more. Even if you don’t ascribe to the same religion, we do still recommend checking out a tour or two of the historic downtown church and learning about the area’s rich history.

There’s no shortage of fun and entertainment in this cozy historic town. Your family and friends will also enjoy seasonal carriage and sleigh rides through the snow with plenty of local lore and storytelling along the way! Kids will love stopping by the Family Living Center for a Pioneer Crafts Demonstration or visiting the Pastimes Pavillion for pretend playtimes. Adults will love sampling the wines and crafted drinks at the oldest winery in Illinois, Baxter’s Vineyards. If you’re looking for a bite to eat, you can check out the Fireside BBQ, The Groovy Grandma, and the Hotel Nauvo Historic Inn and Restaurant. Plus, there are seasonal pageants and events that rotate throughout the year.

Get back to nature at Starved Rock State Park.

(LaSalle County, IL)

This dog friendly stop on our list features 13 miles of trails and pristine wilderness nestled amidst glacial formed sandstone canyons. There are more than 12 different magically captivating frozen waterfalls as well, some of which you can climb if the conditions permit (check guidelines at the park for ice climbing parameters and restrictions.) You’ll also spot some unique migratory birds such as the majestic Bald Eagle, who prefer to stop here during mid to late winter season – catch the Eagle Watch Weekend event where they’re at their highest population, from January 25th through 26th. Every Saturday and Sunday this winter you can also take a special guided hike and explore the stunning canyons, frozen waterfalls, and do some bird watching together. Book a Winter Wildlife Trolley Tour on Saturdays and Sundays and learn about park history as well as what wildlife to be on the lookout for.

The Starved Rock Lodge also has multiple events as well as several delicious places to eat and enjoy fine entertainment; you can borrow a DVD from the Front Desk for a movie night in, explore the hiking trails from sunrise to sunset, enjoy the heated indoor pool and 2 saunas. Or you can opt to book one of the cozy cabins on site for a more cozy, intimate experience, and add some of the package deals to your stay to make it an event to remember.

Venture out into the nearby towns and explore places like the August Hill Winery or Tangled Roots Brewery. Step into the past as you explore and tour the Hegeler Carus Mansion, Reddick Mansion, LaSalle County Historical Museum, and Weber House & Garden. Stop by the Cedar Creek Ranch for some horseback riding and goat yoga, too!