What is there to do between….

[Kiwi cop]

Louisville and Chicago?

The suitcases are out and the packing has begun. It is just over two weeks before we travel back to the US., and I have just discovered a gap in our itinerary.

We are scheduled to drive from Louisville to Chicago, roughly a 6 hour drive. With the change of time zone we will arrive in Chicago early afternoon, too early to check into our hotel.

What attractions are there on the route that a couple of Kiwi’s can spend an hour or so exploring?

We could spend the first few hours after we arrive on a couple of Monday’s attractions, but we would prefer to find something along the way.

 

[MRB1]

Lock and load, don't stop.

 

[DWalt]

St. Louis is sort of between, but it would definitely not be a place I would recommend visiting unless I had some business there. They do have the Budweiser Brewery, the Gateway Arch, and some riverboat casinos. But do not go out at night in St. Louis.

 

[Eric300]

Don't pass Go. Don't collect $200.00. Just drive right on through.

 

[45Smashemflat]

Gateway Arch is very neat, the museum under it is worth a couple of hours. I second the comment about arrive in the daylight and depart before dark.

 

[ameridaddy]

Louisville Kentucky? Or St Louis Missouri?
If you have time from Louisville KY, head east about 1.5 hours to Lexington, then NE to the area around Paris KY, maybe Iron Works Rd IIRC, and see some of the world's most beautiful horse farms all over the area. Pastures that resemble Augusta National fairways, miles and miles and miles of field stone walls around them, stable buildings that resemble golden age mansions, all in gently rolling hills. In two weeks, the weather and flowering trees should be in their prime. You'll see paved roads on the horse farms that look like asphalt, but a closer look reveals they are made of rubber paving blocks, so that multimillion dollar horses don't bruise their little footsies. If the stables are mansions, you can imagine the houses. There is also the Lexington Horse Park, where you can see and watch demonstrated the major breeds of horses in the USA.

If you can't spare the time to go that far east, go North through Indianapolis and have a look at the track and museum there. For me, it was impressive to stand in turn 1 and realize just how big that track really is.
Safe travels!

 

[robvious]

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is closed for renovations until
April 2025... sorry if that was on the list of things to do.. it is, or was pretty interesting.

 

[326MOD10]

Not sure what route you are taking but if you go near Metropolis, IL, there is a cool Superman statue and store/museum there.

Tame, but you said you only had about an hour.

You can grab a bite to eat there as well. I stopped there on a whim and enjoyed the brief stopover.

 

[charlie sherrill]

When I get around Louisville I like visiting some of the distilleries. Jack Daniels in Lynchville,Tenn. and Jim Beam just south of Louisville are two of my favorites. There is also a cavern or cave or two along I 65.

 

[Rudi]

Caution! The major cities in the US are now quite dangerous. Criminals get a free ride. It breaks my heart to see the condition of my beloved Republic. Keep your head on a swivel Mr. KIWI.

 

[rwsmith]

Mammoth....

Mammoth cave? Nope, it's out of your way.

Oh, some of the original Route 66 is there. Bloomington has a Route 66 museum.

You can visit Olney, IL, home of albino squirrels.

You can go to Casey, IL that is the home of 'The World's Largest Lots of Stuff'.

If interested, you can see Abe Lincoln's house.

I think that's about all there is to do between St. Louis and Chicago.

Surely more people in the know than I am could 'steer you right'.

 

[CH4]

Enjoy the corn fields.

 

[Rustyt1953]

Beware of the children that live in the corn fields.

 

[UncleEd]

Pretty clear a few folks here
suck at U.S. geography not
to mention a concept of time.

Best advice is from those who
suggested a straight drive to
Chicago. I'll add, stop for an
hour lunch and a privy visit.

Kiwi, where's your Chicago
hotel? That will affect just
what travel time will be.
Factor in what might be peak
rush hour times in Chicago
metro area.

 

[UncleEd]

Caution! The major cities in the US are now quite dangerous..

You are sounding like a quaint
old country boy. Just when in
the last 200 years have major U.S.
cities not posed some danger?

 

[dockmurgw]

I suspect you will not be going out of your way to travel into the seedy problem prone neighborhoods, so ignore the doom and gloom and have a great trip!

 

[Bald1]

Pretty clear a few folks here
suck at U.S. geography not
to mention a concept of time.

Best advice is from those who
suggested a straight drive to
Chicago. I'll add, stop for an
hour lunch and a privy visit.

Kiwi, where's your Chicago
hotel? That will affect just
what travel time will be.
Factor in what might be peak
rush hour times in Chicago
metro area.

^^^^^ more than a few. And the rest are nervous Nellys. It’s mid America not Somalia.

 

[H Richard]

The Lincoln Museum in Springfield IL. One of our greatest presidents. Don't worry about transporting any firearms in IL. Just put them in a case and put in the back of the car. I would recommend you do not visit Chicago. It ain't safe there.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Do you like pig farms?

 

[DWalt]

Not sure what route you are taking but if you go near Metropolis, IL, there is a cool Superman statue and store/museum there.

Tame, but you said you only had about an hour.

You can grab a bite to eat there as well. I stopped there on a whim and enjoyed the brief stopover.

Metropolis is across the river from Paducah KY which is an interesting smaller town with lots of antique shops, etc. But no major tourist attractions, except the National Quilt Museum is there if your wife is a quilter. It is very well done for anyone interested in quilts. There is also a good Casino in Metropolis. That is Superman's home town.