A drive along US Route 6 from western Illinois into northern Indiana offers a great combination of Mississippi River scenery, agricultural history, small towns, museums, parks, and transportation heritage.
Rather than treating US Route 6 as simply a way to cross the two states, this four-day itinerary gives travelers time to explore communities and attractions along or near the historic highway.
Day 1: Moline to the Illinois Countryside
Starting point: Moline, Illinois
Begin near the Mississippi River in the Quad Cities. The region makes a natural western gateway for exploring US Route 6 across Illinois.
Morning: Moline
Start at the John Deere Pavilion at 1400 River Drive.
The Pavilion provides an excellent introduction to the agricultural heritage that travelers will see throughout much of their US Route 6 journey. Visitors can get close to large agricultural equipment while learning about John Deere history, engineering, and modern agricultural technology. The attraction is currently listed as free to visit.
The Quad Cities also offer riverfront activities, museums, gardens and other attractions if you want to spend an additional day before beginning the drive east.
Afternoon: Follow US Route 6 East
Leave the Quad Cities and follow US Route 6 east across Illinois.
This is where the character of the trip changes. Urban riverfront scenery gradually gives way to the agricultural landscapes and smaller communities of northern Illinois.
Allow yourself time to stop rather than simply following the GPS to the next destination. US Route 6 works especially well as a discovery road where historic buildings, local restaurants, parks and community landmarks become part of the experience.
Suggested overnight: Princeton or Ottawa area.
Day 2: Illinois Communities to Joliet
Continue east on US Route 6 toward Joliet.
This portion of the trip offers a good opportunity to appreciate the highway itself. You will encounter farmland, established communities and reminders of the transportation corridors that helped northern Illinois develop.
Afternoon: Joliet
Joliet deserves several hours or an overnight stop.
Visit the Joliet Area Historical Museum for an introduction to the city’s industrial, transportation and community history.
Another fascinating stop is Old Joliet Prison. The massive limestone prison operated from 1858 until 2002 and is now preserved as a historic attraction.
Joliet’s tourism resources also highlight its downtown architecture, museums and transportation history.
Suggested overnight: Joliet.
Day 3: Joliet to Northwest Indiana
After breakfast, return to US Route 6 and continue east.
The highway gradually approaches the heavily traveled communities south of Chicago before crossing the Illinois-Indiana state line.
Welcome to Indiana
Crossing into Indiana begins a very different section of the trip.
US Route 6 continues through northern Indiana, connecting industrial communities, farmland, lakes, historic towns and recreational areas.
Stop: Hobart
Consider a side trip to Deep River County Park.
The park combines outdoor recreation with local history. Its historic buildings and wooded setting provide a pleasant break after driving through the more developed portions of Northwest Indiana.
Travelers interested in nature can also consider extending their trip north toward Indiana Dunes National Park. Indiana tourism specifically highlights the Dunes among northern Indiana’s natural-wonder road-trip destinations.
Continue toward La Porte
Follow US Route 6 east toward the La Porte area.
Suggested overnight: La Porte.
Day 4: La Porte to Kendallville and Northeast Indiana
Morning: La Porte
Spend the morning at the La Porte County Historical Society.
This is an especially worthwhile stop for travelers interested in local and automotive history. Its collections cover generations of La Porte County history and include historic automobiles.
If your trip falls on an operating weekend, another interesting regional option is the Hesston Steam Museum, where historic steam machinery and railroading come to life.
Afternoon: Continue East on US Route 6
Return to US Route 6 and continue through northern Indiana.
This part of the journey again becomes distinctly rural. Farms, small communities and open countryside make the drive itself part of the attraction.
Kendallville
Make your next major stop the Mid-America Windmill Museum.
The museum preserves the history of wind power and the American water-pumping windmill. Its collection of windmills makes it an especially appropriate stop on a road trip through America’s agricultural heartland.
Finish: Waterloo and Northeast Indiana
Continue east on US Route 6 toward Waterloo.
Travelers with additional time can use nearby Auburn as a base for exploring northeast Indiana’s remarkable transportation history. The DeKalb County Visitors Bureau highlights the area’s concentration of automotive, railroad and transportation museums.
From here, you can continue following US Route 6 east toward Ohio or turn the Illinois-Indiana portion into a round-trip adventure.
Suggested 4-Day Route
Day 1: Moline → Quad Cities → US Route 6 → Princeton/Ottawa
Day 2: Princeton/Ottawa → Joliet
Day 3: Joliet → Illinois-Indiana state line → Hobart → La Porte
Day 4: La Porte → Kendallville → Waterloo
For travelers who enjoy museums and historic communities, I would allow four days rather than trying to cross both states in two. The slower pace leaves room for unexpected discoveries, which is one of the best reasons to travel US Route 6.
Before leaving, check individual attractions for current hours. Several museums along this itinerary have seasonal schedules or limited operating days.
Visit the US Route 6 Tourist Association
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