See The Very Best Of The Ohio River Scenic Byway In Illinois In One Day On This Epic Road Trip
By Elizabeth Crozier|Published April 07, 2020
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Elizabeth Crozier
Author
An Illinois transplant who grew up and went to school in Indiana for 22 years, Elizabeth holds a BFA in creative writing and has enjoyed traveling across the country and parts of Europe. She has visited half of the states, as well as parts of Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and regularly travels home to the Hoosier State to see friends and family. With more than five years of writing experience, Elizabeth’s articles have been featured on several websites, and her poetry and short stories have been published in multiple literary journals.
Take a drive down the Ohio River Scenic Byway in Illinois for a trip that is full of excellent views. Experience the river, state parks, and more all at once. Scroll on for more details.
The Ohio River National Scenic Byway follows one of the United States' most magnificent and well-known rivers and passes by quite a few extraordinary sights along the way.
In Illinois, the road begins in Cairo and passes through the Shawnee National Forest, taking drivers past many well-known state parks and recreational areas.
In total, the Ohio River is 981 miles long and empties into the Mississippi River in Illinois. It passes through six states and provides drinking water to three million people.
There are more than 160 species of fish found in this river and even more animals found on land in the forests around it. Trails abound in the parks and preserves.
You can make this road trip as long or short as you like. Go somewhere specific or just drive for the views when you follow the signs or map for the Ohio River Scenic Byway.
If you’ve ever taken a road trip down the Ohio River Scenic Byway, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us and our readers below in the comments.