Best Midwest Summer Road Trips for Champaign-Urbana Families

Road Trip! We love Champaign-Urbana but there’s a great big world out there to explore with your family

Summer is a fun time to hit the road, so we offer some new ideas on where to go this year

Having fun in Champaign-Urbana in the summer isn’t hard to do. But summer is an ideal time to travel — aside from dodging orange construction barrels — and road trips that won’t break the piggy bank are highly valued. So we’re offering our list of ideas for summer road trips from Champaign-Urbana.

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Road trips within two hours of Champaign-Urbana

We often refer to these as “day trips,” for which we have an entire (LONG) list of ideas near Champaign-Urbana. Check out that list here.

Decatur (45 minutes)

A trip to Decatur might offer more for you to do than you expect. One of our favorites is the Scovill Zoo, which is free on Thursdays all summer and has the best goat petting zoo you will ever find. After visiting, cool off at the Children’s Museum of Illinois, which is located close to the zoo. We hear that the Ropes Course at Overlook Adventure Park is worth a visit but we’ve yet to try it.

Scovill Zoo Train — The zoo train at Scovill Zoo in Decatur.

Overlook Adventure Park Decatur — Overlook Adventure Park, Decatur

Bloomington-Normal (one hour)

This easy drive on I-74 can brings a day of fun including the Children’s Discovery Museum, Miller Park Zoo, an awesome splash pad at Miller Park, Sugar Grove Nature Center/Imagination Grove (just outside of Bloomington-Normal) and Iron Coyote Challenge Park/Ninja Gym. There are plenty of great dining options in the Bloomington-Normal area; Ancho and Agave wins as far as adults are concerned, and kids can always find something there, too. If you miss now-closed Destihl in downtown Champaign, you’ll be happy to hear there is still one in Bloomington-Normal. We also love Pizza Payaa in Normal.

Peoria (one hour, 15 minutes)

You may not realize just how much Peoria has to offer a family for a quick road trip. If Touch-A-Truck day is your child’s favorite day ever, plan to visit the Caterpillar Visitors Center. Moreover, the Peoria Zoo is in the parking lot adjacent to the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum, which ends up being a whole lot of excitement, especially for younger children. Free entertainment includes a visit to the East Peoria Bass Pro Shop and our favorite places to eat are Blue Duck BBQ and One World Cafe.

Caterpillar Visitors Center — Caterpillar Visitor’s Center, Peoria

Elvis Waffle, One World Cafe, Peoria — One World Cafe, Peoria

Effingham (one hour, 15 minutes)

We’re not sure there’s a ton in the “things to do” category in Effingham for a family road trip, but there’s some incredible food at Firefly Grill — one of our destination restaurants — and a couple lovely wineries. It might make a good road trip for a date weekend or girls’ outing.

Springfield (one hour, 30 minutes)

There’s so much for a family to do in Springfield, we have a whole post to plan a trip. Of course you will get your fill of all things Abraham Lincoln, but there’s more to the area than that. Springfield is also the home of the Illinois State Fair each August.

Get your picture taken with President Lincoln and his family. Photo by Sid Webb on flickr

Indianapolis (two hours)

Coming in just under two hours, Indianapolis is the closest “big city” to C-U. The “big ticket” attractions are The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Zoo. Think *all day* for a trip to either of these places. Indy is the perfect destination for a short overnight road trip that will provide countless opportunities for things to do and eat.

Older kids will love Top Golf. And of course, there are a zillion places to eat while there, the most famous of which might be the Cake Bake Shop. Make reservations weeks in advance if you can plan ahead.

Road trips further from Champaign-Urbana

Chicago (two hours, 30 minutes)

The variety of things to do in Chicago is truly endless. Walk around Navy Pier, play at Maggie Daley Park, stroll the free Lincoln Park Zoo, the Shedd Aquarium and so much more. The dining options are endless! Or venture out to the suburbs and just spend a day shopping and eating. Check out what we think are the best things to do in Chicago by clicking here.

Downtown Chicago — The skyline of Chicago.

St. Louis (two hours, 45 minutes)

St. Louis is just the best when it comes to big city free activities. It’s hard to believe but the St. Louis Zoo is a free zoo, and as long as you’re willing to walk a short distance, you can park for free in the beautiful Forest Park area. Be prepared to spend an entire day at this large zoo. Another free family favorite is the St. Louis Science Center, which is must-see for dinosaur fans. The museum at the Gateway Arch is free. Tickets are required to take the tram ride to the top of the arch and can be purchased online. And while not free, the City Museum is another popular choice. But be prepared — you may lose your children in its sea of climbing structures and slides. Read all about planning a family visit to St Louis.

Saint Louis Zoo zebras — Saint Louis Zoo

Rockford (two hours, 45 minutes)

Rockford offers some of the big city perks without actually having to navigate a big city. Visit the Discovery Center Museum for some indoor fun, or head out to the largest outdoor waterpark in Illinois, Hurricane Harbor Rockford (previously Magic Waters). With plenty of lodging options, this makes a great stop along the way up to Wisconsin Dells or other road trip destinations in Wisconsin, Iowa or Minnesota.

Gurnee (three hours)

With Great Wolf Lodge in proximity to Six Flags Great America and nearby Gurnee Mills Shopping Center, it’s easy to fill several days in Gurnee. We hear it’s worth it to buy a season pass to Six Flags Great America if you’re going to go even two days, so while it’s not an inexpensive trip, you certainly can pack in a lot depending on how many days you have.

Shawnee National Forest and Southern Illinois state parks (three hours)

Southern Illinois is full of gorgeous hiking, camping and outdoor adventure destinations. We love Ferne Clyffe State Park in that area, also known for the famous Garden of the Gods at Shawnee.

Madison, Wis. (three hours, 30 minutes)

The standout here is the free Henry Vilas Zoo, but there are more family friendly activities along the lakes in this part of Wisconsin. Another great stop on the way to Wisconsin Dells, Madison is a fun place for an ultimate destination or a stop along the way.

Louisville, Ky. (three hours, 30 minutes)

Louisville is a great place to visit for some Southern vibes (and beyond delicious food). It also has the great Kentucky Science Center, the Louisville Slugger Museum if baseball is your thing and the beautiful Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum. It is also a great launching point for exploring more of Kentucky, such as the Bourbon Trail (it is very possible to do a family-friendly version of this adventure).

Holland, Mich. (three hours, 45 minutes)

Michigan beaches, a quaint downtown area to stroll, gorgeous hikes and more await in Holland, known for its Big Red Lighthouse, windmills and tulip festival.

Cincinnati, Ohio (three hours, 45 minutes)

Did you know Cincinnati is less than four hours from Champaign-Urbana? The Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens impresses with all of its up-close animal encounters. The city itself is nestled along the Ohio River, so stroll the riverfront to find places to eat and play. Nearby Kings Island in Mason, Ohio, is one of the nation’s great amusement parks. (The Brady Bunch even shot an episode there!) And don’t forget there’s another Great Wolf Lodge located in the area.

Downtown-Cincinnati — Exploring the banks of the Ohio River, from the Kentucky side, in the Cincinnati area.

Santa Claus, Ind. (three hours, 45 minutes)

Santa Claus — yes, that’s the name of the town — offers Holiday World, a huge outdoor waterpark and thrill rides in one theme park. Camping is a popular option for families but nearby lodging is also available.

Wisconsin Dells, Wis. (four hours, 30 minutes)

Without a doubt, you’ve heard us talk about Wisconsin Dells before. The Dells are the top family friendly Midwest road trip destination. Stay on site at a waterpark resort or venture out to choose from any of the hundreds (literally) of activities in the area. Kids will beg to return to the Dells every year.

Mt. Olympus Wisconsin Dells — Mt. Olympus outdoor waterpark at the Wisconsin Dells.

Traverse City, Mich. (seven hours)

Driving a bit farther into Michigan allows a peek into the best of Michigan. The Traverse City area is loaded with outdoor recreation opportunities, most notably the Sleeping Bear Dunes a short drive from Traverse City. There are great hikes, water sports aplenty and beautiful scenery all throughout the area. This is also Michigan’s wine country with tons of great food.

If that’s too far to drive, might we suggest Muskegon (four hours, 30 minutes) which also offers great views of the water. South Haven and Holland are great stops, too, either as a final destination or on the way to another spot in Michigan.

Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan — The Sleeping Bear Dunes near Traverse City, Mich.

Gatlinburg, Tenn. (eight hours)

Gatlinburg is nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains. Think Dells-type activities plus ample hiking, rafting and outdoor opportunities with the mountains as the setting for the whole trip.