This Scenic 179-Mile Drive Just May Be The Most Underrated Adventure In Illinois
By Linze Rice|Published June 19, 2023
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Linze Rice
Author
Ope! From the rural cornfields of DeKalb County, Linze is an Illinois native and true Midwestern gal who can make a mean bonfire and whip up a perfect marshmallow salad. Since 2014, her bylines and photography have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times, and Block Club Chicago/DNAinfo Chicago, Only in Your State, and more. She has interviewed Dolly Parton, written about beloved diners along historic Route 66, visited the last Rainforest Cafe in the Illinois, and reviewed luxurious English manor-inspired hotels. Whether it's writing about a local gem or world-renowned establishment, Linze brings a heartwarming and historical perspective to each story, using facts, wit, and personal experience to impress upon readers the importance of culture, food, travel, and all things local. Her favorite destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood, the charming small town of Sycamore, and historic Rosehill Cemetery. When she's not writing or photographing, Linze enjoys gardening, spending time with her husband and pets, cooking, baking, and grilling, and relaxing with trashy TV.
I love a good road trip. It’s really more about the journey than the destination, so if I can find a route that offers plenty of stops and sights, then I’m ready to hit the road. Growing up in DeKalb County, the Lincoln Highway passed through town, but it wasn’t until I was an adult did I realize its significance in Illinois and American history — and all of the other cool stops along the way outside DeKalb. Today, I easily consider it the best scenic route in Northern Illinois.
The Lincoln Highway is a National Scenic Byway that clocks in at about 179 miles, spanning Northern Illinois from Lynwood to Fulton with incredible must-see stops. At its western terminus in Fulton, the journey begins near an authentic 100-foot-tall Dutch windmill that contains a Lincoln Highway information center inside.
Fulton Windmill Welcome Center, 111 10th Ave, Fulton, IL 61252, USA
The highway was dedicated in 1913 and served as the first transcontinental road for autos in the United States. It spans over 3,000 miles across the U.S. from New York City to San Francisco.
The route continues on toward the historic small town of Dixon, where you'll find a Lincoln Highway Exhibit and mural, as well as Ronald Reagan's Boyhood Home and Visitors Center.
You'll also pass by the Lincoln Highway Association's official headquarters in Franklin Grove. In between towns, there are miles of rolling hills, sprawling farmland, and mom-and-pop businesses you'll drive by — giving a great snapshot of the state.
Lincoln Highway Association, 136 N Elm St, Franklin Grove, IL 61031, USA
One of the most famous stops is the breathtaking "Eternal Indian" Black Hawk statue in Lowden State Park. The 48-ft sculpture was dedicated in 1911 and sits on a towering bluff that overlooks the Rock River and city below.
Black Hawk Statue, 1411 N River Rd, Oregon, IL 61061, USA
Once you reach Rochelle, you'll be near the beloved Rochelle Railroad Park, which sees tons of trains pass through each day, in addition to a gift shop and picnic spots.
Rochelle Railroad Park, 124 N 9th St, Rochelle, IL 61068, USA
Peep the Lincoln Highway placard in the background on the gazebo!
In DeKalb, the Lincoln Highway cuts through the heart of the adorable downtown area, which highlights the roadway in the town's history with another mural.
A great place to get out and stretch your legs is at the Fabyan Japanese Garden in Geneva. The oasis exudes peace and tranquility, dating back to 1910 when its original owners were inspired by a Japanese Pavilion at the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Fabyan Villa Museum & Japanese Garden, 1925 S Batavia Ave, Geneva, IL 60134, USA
At the eastern end is the route before heading into Indiana is the Arche Foundation Lincoln Memorial Fountain, located at the corner of Lincoln Highway and the Dixie Highway in Chicago Heights.
Lincoln Highway, Lincoln Hwy, Chicago Heights, IL, USA
Do you think the Lincoln Highway is the best scenic route in Northern Illinois? What’s your favorite place along the route? Have another scenic route in Illinois you recommend? Tell us in the comments! Start planning your trip now by checking out the Illinois Department of Transportation website and the Lincoln Highway Association website. And if you get hungry along the way, stop by Pizza Villa in DeKalb for their famed “beer nuggets”!
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