The 5 Most Terrifying Drives You Can Possibly Take In Illinois
By Linze Rice|Published June 15, 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.
With most of Illinois being rural farmland, learning how to safely drive at night is a rite of passage for many Midwesterners. On the opposite spectrum are the state’s highways, which can be a lesson in survival, themselves. Either way, the wide open roads make for plenty of great driving trips in Illinois. Yet, not every roadway is created equal. In fact, the most terrifying roads in Illinois may scare you for reasons all over the map — physically or psychologically.
1. We'll start with one of the state's most legendary "haunted" roads, with an ominous name to match: Bloods Point Road in Boone County. Growing up, this was always a thrill-seeker's destination, with rumors of mysterious lights, phantom cars, possessed dogs, and vanishing barns.
Located along approximately 5 miles of rural highway, the creepy name (which is abbreviated to Bl. Point Rd because it's so scary) actually dates back to the Blood family. The backroad is also home to Bloods Point Cemetery, where local lore says a witch is buried. One of the most infamous stories of the road goes that after a Halloween party in the 1950s or 60s, a bus full of children crashed and everyone, including the clown-costumed driver, perished. Now, he's among the ghostly characters supposedly seen at the site.
2. The Acid Bridge along Lebanon Road in Collinsville is another thoroughfare with a disturbing reputation.
(Check out the YouTube video at the end of this article for more information about this bridge.)
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3. Along U.S. Highway 45 in Illinois you'll see plenty of scenic landscapes and interesting small towns, like that of Metropolis, aka the state's Superman capital.
The 428-mile stretch runs from approximately Antioch to Brookport and sees about 11 fatalities each year. It has been named several times by highway studies as the deadliest highway in the Land of Lincoln.
4. You'll find more tragic accident history at the former Dead Man's Curve on the former Route 66 in Towanda, Illinois. The unexpected 90-degree turn between Jackson and Quincy streets caught many drivers off-guard and resulted in many accidents, earning it its unflattering nickname.
Over the years, much of the original Route 66 was decommissioned and Dead Man's Curve is no longer the threat it once was. It's now a lightly-used backroad without the high stakes. Today, most of Route 66 has been replaced with Interstate 55.
Just looking at this aerial photo of I-55 at the I-355 exchange is giving me anxiety.
Known as the Stevenson Expressway in and around Chicago where I-55 starts, this roadway has seen it all: toxic spills, violent shootouts, NASCAR-wannabe drivers, tons of deadly accidents, and so much more.
Even though it was meant to replace old "Bloody 66," I-55 continues on the reputation and often devastating legacy as its predecessor. And if the safety conditions don't get you, the mind-numbing traffic and never-ending construction likely will.
Have you ever driven any of the most terrifying roads in Illinois? What’s your scariest experience? Is there a road that we missed? Tell us in the comments! And if you’re looking for Illinois road trip ideas, check out these 10 best trips everyone should take at least once!
