Last reviewed: Β· Prices in US Dollars ($ USD) are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview of Illinois (Illinois (IL))
Illinois (Illinois (IL)) features major hubs at Chicago & Springfield. Key sights, National & State Parks, and travel highlights across the state include Chicago Architecture River Cruise, Millennium Park & Cloud Gate, Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field, Route 66 & Abraham Lincoln sites in Springfield.
How to get to Illinois
O'Hare (ORD) & Midway (MDW) with direct CTA L train to the Loop; Chicago Union Station is the main national hub for Amtrak long-distance trains. Use our Amtrak & USA Rail Pass Calculator ($) and $80 National Parks Pass Calculator to plan your route.
Signature local food in Illinois
When visiting cities and towns across Illinois, look out for these regional American specialties at classic diners, smokehouses, seafood shacks, and farmers markets:
- Chicago deep-dish & tavern-style thin-crust pizza
- Italian beef sandwich dipped with giardiniera
- Chicago-style all-beef hot dog on poppy-seed bun
- Garrett-style cheese & caramel popcorn mix
- Midwest craft stouts & Lake Michigan ciders
Best time to visit Illinois
Best time to visit Illinois: MayβOct.
Featured cities & towns in Illinois (38 featured Β· 476 total)
Click any city below for its individual travel guide, county & elevation facts, nearest airport/Amtrak station, regional food specialties, and neighboring towns:
| City / Town | County & Type | Population | Elevation | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Chicago, IL | US City | 2,664,452 | 179 m (587 ft) | City guide β Β· Flagship guide |
| Aurora Aurora, IL | US City | 200,661 | 207 m (679 ft) | City guide β |
| Rockford Rockford, IL | US City | 148,278 | 218 m (715 ft) | City guide β |
| Joliet Joliet, IL | US City | 147,861 | 165 m (541 ft) | City guide β |
| Naperville Naperville, IL | US City | 147,100 | 216 m (709 ft) | City guide β |
| Peoria Peoria, IL | US City | 115,070 | 153 m (502 ft) | City guide β |
| Springfield Springfield, IL | US City | 114,394 | 182 m (597 ft) | City guide β |
| North Peoria North Peoria, IL | US City | 113,004 | 193 m (633 ft) | City guide β |
| Elgin Elgin, IL | US City | 112,111 | 227 m (745 ft) | City guide β |
| Waukegan Waukegan, IL | US City | 88,475 | 199 m (653 ft) | City guide β |
| Champaign Champaign, IL | US City | 86,096 | 225 m (738 ft) | City guide β |
| Cicero Cicero, IL | US City | 83,886 | 184 m (604 ft) | City guide β |
| Bloomington Bloomington, IL | US City | 78,292 | 243 m (797 ft) | City guide β |
| Arlington Heights Arlington Heights, IL | US City | 75,926 | 214 m (702 ft) | City guide β |
| Evanston Evanston, IL | US City | 75,527 | 187 m (614 ft) | City guide β |
| Schaumburg Schaumburg, IL | US City | 74,693 | 242 m (794 ft) | City guide β |
| Bolingbrook Bolingbrook, IL | US City | 74,306 | 214 m (702 ft) | City guide β |
| Decatur Decatur, IL | US City | 73,254 | 205 m (673 ft) | City guide β |
| Palatine Palatine, IL | US City | 69,308 | 226 m (741 ft) | City guide β |
| Skokie Skokie, IL | US City | 64,821 | 185 m (607 ft) | City guide β |
| Des Plaines Des Plaines, IL | US City | 58,677 | 193 m (633 ft) | City guide β |
| Orland Park Orland Park, IL | US City | 58,619 | 215 m (705 ft) | City guide β |
| Tinley Park Tinley Park, IL | US City | 57,143 | 213 m (699 ft) | City guide β |
| Oak Lawn Oak Lawn, IL | US City | 56,781 | 182 m (597 ft) | City guide β |
| Berwyn Berwyn, IL | US City | 56,368 | 188 m (617 ft) | City guide β |
| Mount Prospect Mount Prospect, IL | US City | 54,747 | 204 m (669 ft) | City guide β |
| Normal Normal, IL | US City | 54,373 | 244 m (801 ft) | City guide β |
| Woodstock Woodstock, IL | US City | 25,189 | 288 m (945 ft) | City guide β |
| Homer Homer, IL | US City | 1,198 | 206 m (676 ft) | City guide β |
| Medora Medora, IL | US City | 405 | 186 m (610 ft) | City guide β |
| Camden Camden, IL | US City | 81 | 183 m (600 ft) | City guide β |
| Breckenridge Breckenridge, IL | US City | 0 | 179 m (587 ft) | City guide β |
| Cody Cody, IL | US City | 0 | 186 m (610 ft) | City guide β |
| Cooperstown Cooperstown, IL | US City | 0 | 193 m (633 ft) | City guide β |
| Jackson Jackson, IL | US City | 0 | 144 m (472 ft) | City guide β |
| Bryce Bryce, IL | US City | 0 | 207 m (679 ft) | City guide β |
| Monterey Monterey, IL | US City | 0 | 183 m (600 ft) | City guide β |
| Seward Seward, IL | US City | 0 | 272 m (892 ft) | City guide β |