31+ Unique Summer Day Trips from Champaign-Urbana

Hit the road with your kids this summer for more than 31 unique day trip ideas that are a short drive from Champaign-Urbana

We can’t wait to see where our adventures take our families this summer! Load the kids up for a day trip and make some fun memories as a family (no overnight stay required).

If you’re thinking your family needs a change of scenery, perhaps a day trip — without the hassle or expense of finding a place to stay — is a good place to start. We’ve made a list of our favorite low-commitment day trips that are also fairly easy on your budget. All suggestions are less than two hours away.

Chambanamoms thanks Children’s Discovery Museum for presenting this list.

The Children’s Discovery Museum exists to inspire the love of learning through the power of play! Located in the heart of Uptown Normal, Illinois, the CDM features three floors of award-winning, hands-on exhibits that stimulate imagination, curiosity, and wonder. Splash around the Water Works table, build with gigantic blue blocks, create a masterpiece on our signature Paint Wall, and so much more! Admission provides in-and-out access all day, and the neighborhood offers a variety of dining options. The attached Museum Store is a great resource for STEAM-inspired toys and gifts. Museum memberships are a great value — including reciprocal access to hundreds of children’s museums and science centers across the country! Learn more and plan your next visit at ChildrensDiscoveryMuseum.net.

Something you’ll notice about this list: We’re not sending you to big cities like Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis, although you can certainly day trip to those. We have TONS of ideas for those three cities on our website. (For reference, a few of our favorites are the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis; the St. Louis Gateway Arch experience; and free museums in Chicago.)

Plan ahead. Usually day trips are a pretty low-commitment endeavor. But especially if museums or zoos are involved, you are going to want to at minimum visit the website ahead of time to see if you need reservations to enter.

While this list is focused on summer day trips from Champaign-Urbana, many of these attractions are open year-round, perhaps with different hours and a different type of experience.

Allerton with redbuds — Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello.

Nature is calling

Allerton Park, Monticello

There’s plenty to do to fill a whole day (or half a day) at Allerton Park in Monticello. Its gardens transport you to a place where your imagination can run wild with your kids and feel like you’re living in a storybook. Our kids’ favorite spot at Allerton is the Triangle Parterre Garden, where it feels like a scene straight out of the book, “The Secret Garden.”

Clinton Lake

Fish, boat, hike and more out at Clinton Lake. There’s a beach, too! You can choose if you make a trip to Clinton a short day trip, a full day or a complete experience. We break down the different things you can do at Clinton Lake so you can make the best plan for your family.

Moraine View State Park

This is a popular spot to canoe and kayak, and renting such gear is easy at Moraine View. The first thing we think stands out about Moraine View State Park is the prevalence of more casual, small watercraft, such as kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and paddle boards.

Lake Shelbyville

Believe it or not, there’s another lake with a beach in Central Illinois. And on Lake Shelbyville, boat rentals are super popular and doable; our story has lots of tips on how to rent a boat. A hidden gem of Lake Shelbyville: You can take a tour of the dam on summer weekends.

Kickapoo State Park, near Danville

At roughly 40 minutes from Champaign-Urbana, it’s close enough to cut the trip short if gets too hot or rains, and not feel all that bad. Anything you want to do outdoors — in a day or a weekend — can be achieved within the park. This is a popular spot to go tubing.

Tubing with Kickapoo Adventures at Kickapoo State Park — Tubing at Kickapoo State Park.

Middle Fork River Forest Preserve

Gaze at the stars and marvel. While this article highlights “day trips,” there’s no reason why some of them can’t be in the evening. In 2019 Middle Fork River Forest Preserve was recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, the first such designation in the state of Illinois. (Of course, there’s also hiking, boating and other fun to be had.)

Other nearby places to get your nature on: Starved Rock State Park — where winter fun includes bald eagle watching along the river, and a meal at the Root Beer Stand in Oglesby is required year-round — or neighboring Matthiessen State Park, and Turkey Run State Park in Indiana.

South of Champaign-Urbana

Casey Big Things

The world’s largest crochet hook and knitting needles; the world’s largest mailbox; and the world’s largest wooden shoes … this place is truly unique. Best part? It’s easy on the wallet once you get there. Big things are open year round, although most are outside.

Sunflower Maze, near Paris

Although only open a few weeks a year, the Sunflower Maze is a must-do with the family. There are other fun things to do in Paris to round out the trip, including an accessible playground.

Amish Country

There’s so much to love about Amish Country. See horses and buggies, go shopping, and eat some great food. If you plan ahead, you can also arrange a formal tour or eat dinner in an Amish home. Drive through and see the animals at Aikman Wildlife Adventure.

Effingham

There’s no predominant reason to go to Effingham, but there are a surprising number of things to do (car museum? a mill? and more). And great places to eat, too. Firefly Grill is our fave, especially if you’re looking for something nice.

Lincoln Log Cabin, Charleston

If you don’t get enough Lincoln in Springfield, or would rather skip the Springfield crowds, a lesser known — but no lesser — experience is to take the family to the Lincoln Log Cabin. Visit in the summer to get the full effect of interpreters.

Bloomington-Normal area

Children’s Discovery Museum, Normal

When you are looking for high-quality indoor fun, regardless of the time of year, the Children’s Discovery Museum in Bloomington-Normal is a popular day trip destination for Champaign-Urbana families — and while it’s great for the littles, even the big kids will have a good time here.

Miller Park Zoo, Bloomington

Whether you want to walk among the wallabies or hear a tiger roar up close and personal, you can surprise the kids with a day at the zoo. A great option for younger kids; don’t miss the otter feeding!

Imagination Grove at Sugar Grove Nature Center

Near Bloomington-Normal, this is a creek stomping, mud-pie-making paradise for kids. Enjoy this nature playscape, complete with ladders to climb trees and treehouses and see what critters you can find in the creek. Lots of wildflowers and nice trails to hike.

Climbing Trees at Imagination Grove — Climb trees at Imagination Grove.

Decatur area

Scovill Zoo

This zoo has a train and is located next to the museum listed below. Looking for a budget-friendly outing? Visit Scovill Zoo on Thursdays all summer, when admission is free.

Children’s Museum of Illinois

Toddlers, in particular, will love this place. There are so many different exhibits on the different floors of this museum. Don’t miss the plane upstairs!

Peoria area

Wildlife Prairie Park, near Peoria

You’ll see things here that you’ll likely not see anywhere else in central Illinois. While not a zoo, there’s a lot of wildlife here. Get info on its site.

Peoria Zoo

A medium-size zoo, there are several highlights and reasons to make a stop here; but we’ll just pick out one highlight — the giraffes.

Peoria Playhouse Children’s Museum

This shares a parking lot with the zoo in Glen Oak Park, also near the (free) Luthy Botanical Garden. The sand play area is a favorite.

Peoria Riverfront Museum

It has a five-story screen theater that plays a variety of 2D, 3D and educational movies. Yeah, we thought that might get your attention.

Springfield area

Various Lincoln sites

We’ve curated a list of Springfield sites to see, which are mostly better for school-age kids.

Illinois State Fair

Our fair expert gives you the low-down on the Illinois State Fair, which happens annually in early-to-mid August. Families love to make a day trip but prepared to bring the cash and meet the crowds head-on.

state fair butter cow — Butter cow, found at the Illinois State Fair.

Knights Action Park

Where else can you find go-karts, batting cages, a wave pool, lazy river, several large water play areas for the smaller set, miniature golf and a driving range, a Ferris wheel and some very serious waterslides? And where else can you find this all close enough that you can drive there, spend the day AND drive back all in one day? (Note: Only the driving range is open all winter. Availability of other features varies in spring and fall.)

Scheels

This “store” is up the street from Knights Action Park. Just trust us. There’s more than enough to do here.

Illinois State Museum

Admission for children, seniors, veterans, and members is always free. The Illinois State Museum includes a children’s Play Museum as well as natural history and cultural history exhibits, both permanent and rotating.

Kidzeum of Health and Science

Another museum and it is another favorite of ours.

Western Indiana

Terre Haute Children’s Museum

This manageably-sized museum has a focus on science and technology, with an entertaining Pollination Station. Be sure to buy some Square Donuts (yes really! “where it all began”) for the drive home.

Turkey Run State Park

You might hear a lot of Champaign-Urbana families buzzing about a day trip to Turkey Run. This outdoor escape isn’t all that far away and if you’re going to make one nature getaway this year, Turkey Run might be the leading contender.

If you love sports

Danville Dans baseball

Real college baseball players competing in the Prospect League, with wooden bats in a classic baseball environment that’s easy on the budget. Just 30 minutes away. Games from late May to early August.