Ohio River Scenic Byway - Illinois

Department of Transportation.

The natural features of the Ohio Valley in Illinois represent some of the most dramatic along the entire river. View unique limestone features such as Cave-in-Rock State Park and Garden of the Gods. Visit numerous historic places and structures. Plan to attend the many festivals and events that occur year-round.

Directions

Getting to the Byway:

###From Champaign, IL### * Take I-57 south. * Continue onto I-64 east, just south of Mt. Vernon, IL. * Take exit 110 for US-45 and head south. * Turn east off US-45 onto IL-141. * Follow IL-141 east to New Haven to enter the byway. ###From St. Louis, MO###

• Take I-64 east to Exit 110, Route 45.
• Travel south on Route 45 to Route 141.
• Follow Route 141 east to enter the byway.

###From Memphis, TN###

• Take I-55 north to Sikeston, MO.
• Merge north onto I-57, cross over the Mississippi River into Illinois, and take Exit 1.
• Take IL-3 east to US-51 where you enter the byway.

###From Nashville, TN###

• Take I-24 northwest to Paducah, KY.
• Get on US-60 and go west to Cairo, IL.
• Travel northwest on US-51 where the byway begins.

Navigating the Byway:
The Illinois portion of the Ohio River Scenic Byway generally follows the Ohio River from Missouri/Kentucky to Indiana across the southern part of Illinois. * The byway starts at the conjunction of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers near Fort Defiance State Park. Drive IL-37 north through Cairo, Mounds, and Olmsted, IL. * At Grand Chain leave IL-37 and turn east. * Travel through Joppa, Metropolis, Brookport and Unionville. * At New Liberty turn north and drive through Bay City to Golconda and IL-146. * Continue on IL-146, following the Ohio River north and east through Pope and Hardin counties. * Near Cave-in Rock State Park in Hardin County, turn north on IL-1. * Turn east at the junction with IL-13. * At Shawneetown go north to New Haven. * Take IL-141 east to the Illinois-Indiana border where the route number changes to IN-62 and the Indiana portion of the Ohio River Scenic Byway begins.

Additional Information

• Ohio River Scenic Byway - Illinois Map