Illinois’s small towns rarely make anyone’s travel bucket list, but scattered across the state are pockets of genuine charm, quirky history, and small-town hospitality that reward travelers willing to get off the interstate.
Nauvoo: A City Built and Rebuilt
Nauvoo, on the banks of the Mississippi River in west-central Illinois, has one of the more unusual histories of any American town. Founded by Mormon settlers in the 1830s, it briefly grew to rival Chicago in population before its residents were violently driven out in 1846 following the murder of founder Joseph Smith, after which they undertook the famous westward migration to Utah. Today, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has restored much of the historic town, including a rebuilt Nauvoo Temple, and costumed interpreters lead visitors through blacksmith shops, print shops, and homes recreating 1840s daily life. The town is also known, somewhat incongruously, for its blue cheese production and an annual grape festival tied to its later history as a French Icarian settlement.
Metropolis: Home of Superman
Metropolis, in far southern Illinois, shares its name with Superman’s fictional home city — a coincidence the town has fully embraced, officially designating itself the “Hometown of Superman” in 1972. A 15-foot bronze Superman statue stands in the town square, and the small Super Museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of Superman memorabilia, spanning comics, film props, and merchandise from across the character’s history. Whether or not you’re a comics fan, the town’s earnest, small-town commitment to the bit makes for an entertaining and unexpectedly fun stop.
Elizabethtown: The Ohio River’s Best-Kept Secret
Elizabethtown, a tiny river town in the state’s southeastern corner, offers little in the way of formal attractions but makes up for it with genuine riverside charm — a historic rose-covered inn overlooking the Ohio River, quiet streets, and some of the best sunset views over the water anywhere in the state. It’s the kind of place best visited without an agenda, ideal for a night’s stopover en route to or from Shawnee National Forest.
Arthur and Arcola: Illinois’s Amish Country
In east-central Illinois, the towns of Arthur and Arcola sit at the heart of the state’s Amish community, one of the largest west of Pennsylvania. Buggies share the roads with cars, and the area’s farm stands, furniture shops, and bakeries offer a genuine (not staged-for-tourists) look at Amish agricultural life. The Illinois Amish Interpretive Center in Arcola provides useful context on the community’s history and beliefs for visitors unfamiliar with Amish culture, and several local farms offer buggy rides and farm tours by appointment.
Practical Notes
These towns are spread across the state and are best visited as stops along a broader road trip rather than standalone destinations — Nauvoo and Elizabethtown, for instance, sit roughly 300 miles apart. Combine Metropolis and Elizabethtown with a Shawnee National Forest visit, or pair Arthur/Arcola with a Route 66 drive through central Illinois, for the most efficient itinerary. Most of these towns have limited lodging options, so booking ahead is wise, particularly around local festival dates.
