Famous for its industrial and agricultural past and present, the Midwest is crammed with stunning roadside vistas as you pass through these great states. Despite being home to some of America’s greatest cities, we’re going to stop at some alternative Midwest destinations as we drive from the state of Iowa to the Canadian border in Michigan.
This year make sure you buckle up and wave goodbye to those crowded beaches and airport queues as we explore America’s great Midwest states.
We start our amazing backroad road trip from the very spot Lewis and Clark did over 200 years ago, above Council Bluffs, Iowa. However, unlike Lewis and Clark, we’re heading east from the monument dedicated to their expedition of the land bought in the Louisiana Purchase.
Continuing with the pioneering theme, we recommend you take a trip to the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs. Find out how the Pacific Railway Act came about and why Lincoln signed it to ensure the country became better connected. With 150 years of American railroad history, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum is top of our list of things to do in Council Bluffs.
Before we leave Council Bluffs and head east to Illinois, you must also see the unique and incredibly quirky Squirrel Cage Jail in the heart of town. Take the family-friendly tour, which showcases this bizarre three-story prison and its fascinating revolving circular cage with individual cells sectioned off inside.
Book your stay at Best Western Crossroads of the Bluffs.
Taking the backroads for a more scenic drive, we next cross the almighty Mississippi River and head northeast to Bloomington, Illinois. Once home to Supreme Court Justice and US Senator David Davis, we recommend you visit his former home in the Midwest, Clover Lawn. This 36-room Victorian masterpiece was converted into a museum in 1960 and transports visitors back to the 1800s with its Victorian architecture and authentic furnishings.
While you’re in town, if you’re looking for some adventure, we suggest you head over to Mille Park Zoo next. Here you can meet some of its exotic residents, including the Sumatran tigers, flamingos, and red pandas (fortunately, not all in the same enclosure!).
For any aviation enthusiast, Bloomington also has the Prairie Aviation Museum with its impressive array of piston and jet-engine aircraft and even a few helicopters situated within its airpark. You can also get up close and personal with the only static F-14 Tomcat on display in Illinois.
Book your stay at Parke Regency Hotel & Conf Ctr., BW Signature Collection.
Only a short drive west from Bloomington and just outside Indianapolis is our next backroads destination, this time in Indiana. Our first pitstop to help stretch the legs is in the Morgan-Monroe State Forest, located just south of Martinsville. Open year-round, Morgan-Monroe State Forest is an excellent location for both hiking and picnics. However, for those treasure seekers among you, you can apply for a license and spend the day gold panning the forest’s creeks too.
To help boost your energy levels after panning for gold, follow us over to one of the best honey farms in the Midwest. Hunters Honey Farm is a working honey farm that also produces honey snacks, beeswax candles, and skincare products for you to take home. Feel free to stick around the farm, as Hunter’s also provides interactive honey-making tours and regularly hosts music concerts on-site.
Book your stay at Best Western Martinsville Inn.
Our next Midwest stop sees us crossing the state border and heading to Ohio’s state capital, Columbus. This super green city is a fantastic location to unwind from your backroad travels as you stroll around the Scioto Mile, a string of connection parks flanking both sides of the Scioto River.
Columbus is also home to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Situated inside the 88-acre Franklin Park, the conservatory and botanical gardens feature a number of exotic plant exhibitions, stunning outdoor gardens, seasonal fairs, and a farmers’ market.
Before you leave Columbus, be sure to visit the COSI Science Center, too. Located in the heart of downtown Columbus, the COSI Science Center provides visitors with interactive displays, hands-on exhibits, and a superb dinosaur gallery that will keep the whole family entertained.
Book your stay at Best Western Hilliard Inn & Suites.
Heading north from Columbus towards our final backroad Midwest destination, we head to Port Huron, Michigan, and the Canadian international border. This remarkable city shares an international connecting road link known as the Blue Water Bridge. This impressive bowstring arch bridge stretches across the St. Clair River, linking Port Huron with Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
Port Huron is also a magnet for nautical enthusiasts and calls the oldest lighthouse in Michigan its own. Built in 1814, the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse provides guided tours, where guests can climb the 94 winding iron staircase to the top of the tower, which overlooks Huron Lake and the St. Clair River.
So treacherous was the fog over the waters of Lake Huron that in 1920, the HURON Lightship was launched to help protect sailors from succumbing to a watery grave. Nowadays, the HURON Lightship has become a working museum, a National Historical Landmark, and a fantastic final stop on our lower Midwest backroad road trip.
Book your stay at Best Western Port Huron Blue Water Bridge.