Illinois Byways and Scenic Routes (Chicago, Freeport: drive, near, rural)

[linicx]

It is still a great picture, Glad you posted it. .

[studedude]

Along the Mississippi Palisades north of Savanna.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by studedude

Along the Mississippi Palisades north of Savanna.

Where is Savanna located? What Illinois byways lead to the area?

[SJaye]

Originally Posted by Drover

The summary version is this: the very northwest corner of Illinois was not glaciated in the last ice age, so as you move west from Freeport toward Galena, flat terrain gradually gives way to rolling hills, which gradually give way to something that looks like the outer edges of the Appalachian Foothills:

They are going to be constructing a 4 lane highway to bypass this soon.

Illinois Department of Transportation

Will it bypass these scenic areas?

[Drover]

Originally Posted by SJaye

They are going to be constructing a 4 lane highway to bypass this soon.

Illinois Department of Transportation

Will it bypass these scenic areas?

By the looks of it, it's only going to skirt around Galena, so the answer is no. In fact it may provide new opportunities to check out the area scenery from a different perspective/angle. Plus, you can still take the "old" route if you want. U.S. 20 is still going to go through downtown Galena; you will have the option to use the new bypass or stay on the old route. If you're familiar, it's similar to how U.S. 20 has a "bypass" around Belvidere and Rockford, but if you want you can still take the old U.S. 20 through their respective downtowns, which I personally prefer to do in the case of Belvidere.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by linicx

Where is Savanna located? What Illinois byways lead to the area?

cubssox wrote:Then if you head home, stop by Mississippi Palisades State PArk for an enjoyable hike and view of the river bluffs. Its located on IL 84.

It's on IL 84 between Dubuque, IA and Clinton, IA. I used IA towns as references since they are larger, easier to spot. This would be part of "The Great River Road".

[linicx]

I think you can drive on either side of the Great River from the Quad Cities to near St. Louis. Some of the route is spectacular, some is not.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by linicx

I think you can drive on either side of the Great River from the Quad Cities to near St. Louis. Some of the route is spectacular, some is not.

Most definitely. Usually when my Rand McNally has the dotted green lines indicating a stretch of highway is scenic-it turns out to be accurate. Roads on BOTH sides have the dotted green lines.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by cubssoxfan

Most definitely. Usually when my Rand McNally has the dotted green lines indicating a stretch of highway is scenic-it turns out to be accurate. Roads on BOTH sides have the dotted green lines.

I'm going to deviate for a minute. I've not driving the IL side of the Great River. I've driven more than a few times between 1-70E and Louisiana, MO and a couple times up to Hannibal and Quincy when I wanted to try a new route in to Peoria. It wasn't any quicker, but it was a beautiful and peaceful drive during the day.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

Route 20 from Freeport to Galena.

Absolutely. I prefer Rt. 20 from Elizabeth to Galena though.