This Incredible Flower Road Trip Through Illinois Is The Ultimate Spring Adventure
By Will Suphan|Published April 17, 2024
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Will Suphan
Author
Will has been living in Arizona off and on for 30+ years in the Phoenix Metro and Tucson areas. He has traveled all over the state as well as having lived all over the Southwest. He's been writing for OnlyInYourState for one year and has previously written for Digital Journal. Will has a passion for travel and writing and combining the two is what he loves most. He loves solo international travel and has been to Thailand, France, Japan, and Cambodia.
Springtime in Illinois is such a wonderful sight. Our hiking trails, fields, and meadows burst forth with vivid colors and gardens come alive with beautiful blooms. If you’re looking for places to see flowers in Illinois this spring, take this road trip to six of the best places to experience them. The road trip runs for 10 hours and 27 minutes of driving time, so you’ll want to make a whole weekend of it.
Starting off in Harrisburg, Peony Hill Farm is the first destination, and all through April and May you’ll be able to see a swath of these gorgeous flowers. See them before they’re sent to flower shops all over the Midwest.
Next, we head to the Makanda area and hike the Rocky Bluff Trail which has wildflowers blooming all over the place and in so many varieties. This short and easy trail will show you trilliums, bloodroot, poppies, lilies, and many more. It’s a wonderful springtime trail.
This beautiful botanical garden in Springfield is a must-visit whether you’re on this road trip or just visiting the city. Wherever you wander in the Washington Park Botanical Garden you’ll see flowers lovingly arranged in garden beds, along walls, under trees, and pretty much everywhere you look. It’s a lovely spring stroll that shouldn’t be missed.
On the western outskirts of Springfield is the beautiful Lewis Memorial Acres Outer Loop Trail. Springfield locals love this trail, especially in the spring when the wildflowers open up and display their natural grandeur. This easy trail is less than two miles long and is great for bringing the kids along.
If you like Virginia bluebells, then this short hike is just for you. During the spring, Hidden Acres Park becomes a sea of bluebells. It’s a lush carpet from which the verdant trees grow creating a soothing landscape of purple and green. Either of the two trails on this 28-acre preserve will be a stunning sight.
The final stop on our flower road trip is at one of the best flower fields in Illinois. The Casper Bluff Land and Water Reserve has fields upon fields of them. The hiking trails here will show you every color of wildflower as well as ancient Native American mounds. This place is simply mesmerizing.
Have you been to any of these places to see flowers in Illinois? Do you have any other favorite places during springtime in Illinois? Let us know in the comments. If you’re looking for more natural beauty in Illinois, head back out on the road and check out these lovely places:
