110 Day Trip Ideas From Peoria

Itching to get out of Peoria for the day? There's a ton to do right here at home in Peoria, of course, but sometimes a road trip is the best kind of family fun! 

To make planning easier for you, we've compiled a list of 110 places to explore within a 3-ish drive of Peoria. All of the listed locations are outside of Peoria.

Is there a spot your family loves within driving distance of Peoria that isn't listed here? Tell us about it by dropping me a line at juliabriggs@macaronikid.com.

Please note: While we've done our best to keep information current and up to date, please check with attractions before heading out!

Check out this map to help you plan your trip! 

Northern Illinois 

1. Alder Planetarium 
2. American Girl Place
3. Anderson Japanese Garden
4. Apple River Canyon State Park
5. Art Institute of Chicago
6. Bison's Bluff
7. Blackberry Farm
8. Brookfield Zoo
9. Buffalo Rock State Park
10. Castle Rock State Park
11. Chestnut Mountain's Alpine Slide
12. Cosley Zoo
13. Chicago Children's Museum
14. Chicago Union Station
15. Cubs Game at Wrigley Field
16. Field Museum
17. Funway
18. Great Wolf Lodge Gurnee
19. Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall
20. Hurricane Harbor Rockford
21. Illini State Park
22. I & M Canal
23. Kankakee River State Park
24. LEGOLAND Discovery Center
25. Lincoln Park Zoo
26. Maggie Daley Park
27. Matthiessen State Park
28. Medieval Times
29. Millennium Park
30. Museum of Science and Industry
31. Navy Pier
32. Odyssey Fun World
33. Phillips Park Zoo
34. Sloomoo Institute
35. Niabi Zoo
36. Par-King-Golf
37. Pirates Cove
38. Raging Waves Waterpark
39. Safari Land
40. Santa's Village
41. Sea Lion Aquatic Park
42. Shedd Aquarium
43. Six Flags Great America
44. Starved Rock State Park
45. The Morton Arboretum 
46. Wildlife Discovery Center

Central Illinois

1. Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

2. Aikman Wildlife

3. Children's Discovery Museum
4. Children's Museum of Illinois
5. Dickson Mounds
6. Discovery Depot
7. Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge
8. Ergadoozy Indoor Playplace
9. Grady's Family Fun Park
10. Henson Robinson Zoo
11. Iron Coyote Challenge Park
12. Jubilee College State Park
13. Kidzeum of Health Science
14. Knights Action Park
15. Lincoln Home National Historic Site
16. Linocln's New Salem
17. Miller Park Zoo
18. Old State Capital Building
19. Route 66 Museum
20. Scovill Zoo
21. Wildlife Prairie Park

Southern Illinois

1. Aries Resort Alpine Coaster

2. Cahokia Mounds

3. Edwardsville Children's Museum

4. Fox Ridge State Park

5. Grafton Sky Tour
6. Grafton Zipline Adventures
7. Pere Marquette State Park
8. Raging Rivers
9. Lake Shelbyville
10. Lewis and Clark Tower

Other States

1. City Museum - MO

2. Gateway Arch- MO

3. Grant's Farm- MO

4. Magic House- MO
5. Saint Louis Aquarium-MO
6. Saint Louis Cardinals Game- MO
7. Saint Louis Zoo- MO
8. Fair Oaks Farm- IN
9. Indiana Beach- IN
10. Indianapolis Children's Museum- IN
11. Indiana Dunes National Park- IN
12. Indianapolis Zoo- IN
13. Little Amerrika- WI
14. Turkey Run State Park - IN
15. Washington Park Zoo- IN
16. Wolf Park- IN

Fun Cities to Visit

1. Arcola, IL
2. Casey, IL
3. Chicago, IL
4. Gurnee, IL
5. Lake Geneva, WI
6. Nauvoo il
7. Quad Cities 
8. Rockford, IL
9. St. Louis, MO

Scenic Drives

1. Historic National Road
2. Historic Route 20
3. Illinois Lincoln Highway
4. Illinois River Road
5. Meeting of the Great Rivers (Map)
6. Ohio Scenic Byway
7. Route 66
8. Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive