Road Tripping from Chicago to Marco Island: Top Museums, Parks, and Landmarks to Visit
If you’re planning to road trip from Chicago, Illinois to Marco Island, Florida, you’re in for an exciting journey to explore some of the best museums, parks, and landmarks in the United States. This trip is an excellent opportunity to take in the scenic beauty of the country while soaking in the rich culture and history of the landmarks you’ll get to see.
An exciting thing about the trip is that it takes you down passing through the heart of America on I-65 and I-75 southbound lanes. This journey spans over 1200 miles and approximately 19 hours of drive time, depending on route directions and traffic flow. Midway through the trip, you’ll get to Marietta, GA, a historic city known for its rich Civil War history.
The trip from Chicago to Marco Island is a blend of both nature, history, and modernism, and there's so much to explore at each stop. Below are the top five places to visit on the trip, filled with exciting museums, parks, and landmarks worth seeing.
- Indiana Sand Dunes National Park
Starting as our first stop, the Indiana Sand Dunes National Park is located in Porter, Indiana, along the southern shore of Lake Michigan. This park is known for its incredible sand beaches situated along its shoreline with high dunes and a variety of wildlife. Nature lovers will enjoy the park's breathtaking landscape, which makes it an excellent spot for hiking, fishing, and bird-watching within the park.
Point of Interest Recommendation: Make sure you take time out to see the iconic view of Lake Michigan from the top of the sand dunes.
- Mammoth Cave National Park
Located in Kentucky, Mammoth Cave National Park is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the United States. The park is best known for its impressive system of underground caves, the Mammoth Cave, which stretches for over four hundred miles, making it the world's largest cave system. The Mammoth Cave tour offers visitors the chance to walk deep into the caves or take a guided boat ride to explore this underground world.
Point of Interest Recommendation: Take an hour-long historical tour to learn about the geology and human history of the caves.
- The Carter Presidential Center
Located in Atlanta, Georgia, the Carter Presidential Center is a combination of a Presidential Library, Museum, and Library that preserve and promote to the public the legacy of the President and his time in office. The center has numerous exhibits, displays, and memorabilia from President Carter’s time, including his Nobel Peace Prize.
Point of Interest Recommendation: Take a tour of the center's state-of-the-art Museum and learn about the 1970s through the diaries and journals of President Carter and his wife, Rosalynn.
- St. Augustine Light House Maritime Museum
Located in St. Augustine, Florida, the St. Augustine Lighthouse Maritime Museum is a great destination for maritime history enthusiasts. The museum provides visitors with a rich history of the area, including the importance of navigational technology and sea life. Visitors can tour the Lighthouse Tower or take a self-guided walk, explore the museum exhibits, or book tickets for one of their many special events.
Point of Interest Recommendation: Take a climb to the top of the lighthouse for beautiful views of the area, including the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding beaches.
- Edison and Ford Winter Estates
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates are located on the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida. These estates were the winter homes of two of the world’s most famous inventors, Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. The estates feature well-preserved buildings, gardens, and a museum displaying numerous inventions and artifacts of the two great inventors.
Point of Interest Recommendation: Step back through history and take a stroll through the Botanic Research Laboratory, which contains plants collected from all around the world.
After nearly 20 hours on the road, it will feel good hitting Marco Island, where you can stretch your legs after a long ride. This trip is the perfect mix of historic American landmarks, breathtaking landscapes, and modern amenities. So, get ready for the journey and, most importantly, have fun exploring!