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Trips You Can Take on a Tank of Gas in Illinois

Trips You Can Take on a Tank of Gas in Illinois

Trips You Can Take on a Tank of Gas in Illinois

  • Illinois
  • "Save Money"
  • Vacation
  • Travel

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Need to get out of the house and take a day trip? You have more places you can get to on a tank of gas than you think. And they are all here in Illinois! Pile your family or friends into the car and take off. In just a few hours — and for not a lot of money — you can travel far enough away from home to experience a real holiday. From the great outdoors to an ancient Native American city and cute, small town getaways, there's plenty to see and do.

Amish Country
Want to take a trip back in time to the horse-and-buggy days? You're in luck. Amish Country is just a few hours away from cities such as Chicago, Peoria, and Springfield. The town of Arthur, Illinois, is considered to be the heart of Amish Country. Try tasty homemade Amish food, including pies, bread, smoked ham, and fried chicken. Then check out the markets and shops for colorful Amish quilts and other handmade items.

Cahokia Mounds
If you're into Native American history, head for the Cahokia Mounds, which feature the remnants of a large, thriving Native American city that existed close to a thousand years ago. You'll see the enormous mounds of earth (70 in total) the ancient people created, shaped, and used for different important purposes, as well as artifacts such as arrowheads, pottery, jewelry, and figurines. Cahokia is in Collinsville, Illinois, and makes for a quick day trip if you live in the central-western part of the state.

Starved Rock State Park
If you're in the Chicago area and want to escape the big-city bustle, you have loads of choices only a quick drive away. Starved Rock State Park is one of the most popular getaways, and for good reason. Located about a two-hour drive from Chicago, the park has 13 miles of trails, wildlife, hundreds of different types of wildflowers, cool sandstone canyons, the Illinois River, and gorgeous waterfalls. Whether you want to do some heavy-duty hiking or just enjoy the scenery, you have plenty of choices.

Abraham Lincoln Sites
If you're a big fan of Abraham Lincoln, make Springfield, Illinois, your next destination. The city has more historic Lincoln sites than anywhere else in the country, including the famed president's former home and law offices. Don't miss the 200,000-square-foot Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where you can see some of the massive Lincoln Collection's 47,000 artifacts, including originals of the Gettysburg Address and Emancipation Proclamation.

Be sure to check out the hearty, down-home comfort food served at places such as Charlie Parker's Diner and Lulu's Diner while you're in the Springfield area, where your meals will be delicious and won't break your budget. Springfield is an easy drive from such Illinois cities as Peoria, Champaign, and Chicago.

If you want to take a trip a little farther from where you are located, you can always turn to CreditBox for a quick and easy loan online! Extend your day trip into a weekend trip with a personal loan from Credit Box up to $4,000!
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