10 days in Illinois Itinerary

A huge and vibrant city, Chicago is home to top-notch theaters, shops, museums, galleries, and restaurants.

Chicago is known for museums, historic sites, nightlife, zoos & aquariums, and childrens museums. Your plan includes some of its best attractions: explore the world behind art at The Art Institute of Chicago, stroll through Lincoln Park Zoo, don't miss a visit to The Magnificent Mile, and get in on the family fun at Navy Pier.

To see photos, maps, where to stay, and tourist information, read Chicago attractions planning app .

Ely to Chicago is an approximately 15-hour flight. You can also drive. You'll lose 2 hours traveling from Ely to Chicago due to the time zone difference. Traveling from Ely in June, Chicago is a bit warmer at night with lows of 63°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 3rd (Tue) early enough to travel to Springfield.

Springfield is the capital of Illinois, but its real significance is as the hometown of Abraham Lincoln.

Step out of Springfield to go to Petersburg and see Lincolns New Salem State Park, which is approximately 32 minutes away. And it doesn't end there: take an in-depth tour of Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, steep yourself in history at Dana-Thomas House, take in nature's colorful creations at Lincoln Memorial Garden, and ponder the world of politics at Old State Capitol.

To see where to stay, reviews, maps, and more tourist information, refer to the Springfield trip planner .

Traveling by combination of subway and flight from Chicago to Springfield takes 3 hours. Alternatively, you can drive; or do a combination of train and bus. In July, plan for daily highs up to 86°F, and evening lows to 66°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 6th (Fri) to allow time to travel back home.