Visas & entry
Illinois follows United States entry rules. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program countries generally need an approved ESTA for short tourism visits; many other nationalities need a B-2 visitor visa. Passport, ESTA and visa rules can change, so verify with U.S. Customs and Border Protection or the U.S. State Department before booking.
Getting in
- Chicago O'Hare International Airport: The main international and long-haul gateway, with the best rental-car supply and direct CTA rail access into Chicago. Use it for nearly any Illinois itinerary beginning in Chicago.
- Chicago Midway International Airport: Useful for domestic arrivals, especially Southwest routes, and often easier than O'Hare for a Chicago-only trip. CTA rail connects it to the city; collect a car only when leaving Chicago.
- St. Louis Lambert International Airport: A practical gateway for Metro East, Cahokia Mounds, Springfield-bound road trips and southern Illinois, though it is across the river in Missouri. It can save a punishing final drive from Chicago on a north-to-south itinerary.
- Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield: A small regional option for travelers whose trip centers on Lincoln sites, Route 66 and central Illinois. Flights are limited, so it works best when schedules align rather than as a default entry point.
- Quad Cities International Airport, Moline: Useful for northwest Illinois, the Mississippi river corridor and Galena-area road trips. It is a regional airport, so compare fares and connections against Chicago before committing.
Getting around
Chicago is easy without a car using the CTA, Metra, walking and rideshare; driving and parking downtown are usually a bad trade. Amtrak is useful on the Chicago–Springfield–Carbondale, Chicago–Quincy and Chicago–St. Louis corridors, but it does not solve last-mile access to parks, wineries, Galena or most Route 66 stops. Rent a car for any itinerary beyond Chicago and Oak Park, and expect traffic around Chicago, summer construction and winter weather to stretch drive times.
Money
The currency is the U.S. dollar. Cards and contactless payment work almost everywhere, but carry a small amount of cash for tips, rural businesses and incidental purchases. Tipping is expected: roughly 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, plus customary tips for taxis/rideshares, hotel staff and guides.
Book before you land
Chicago Architecture Center river cruise during the operating season, especially summer and fall weekends · Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio tours in Oak Park · Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House tours in Hyde Park · Major Chicago sports games, concerts and summer-festival tickets · Top Chicago tasting-menu and destination restaurant reservations
- Base in Chicago without a car; parking fees, congestion and garage logistics are rarely worth it until you leave the metro area.
- Pick up a rental car after Chicago, not on arrival, then use it for Starved Rock, Galena, Springfield, Route 66 or southern Illinois.
- Check park conditions immediately before heading to Starved Rock, Matthiessen or Shawnee: floods, drought, trail work, hunting closures and winter ice can change access.
- Do not rely on public transport for Galena, wineries, most Route 66 sights, or Shawnee National Forest; these are genuinely car-dependent areas.
- Book fall weekends in Galena and Shawnee, and Chicago summer weekends, before locking in the rest of the itinerary.
- Southern Illinois has scattered services and patchy cell coverage; download maps, carry water and fuel up before heading into Shawnee back roads.
Entry rules change — verify visa requirements for your passport before booking this region.