Midwest Travel Guide: Where to Go and What to Do

I grew up in St. Louis and have always loved finding ways to travel, even when I’m not hopping on a plane. Over the years, I’ve taken countless short trips around Missouri and the surrounding states, and I’ve gotten to know the spots that are easy to reach from St. Louis and other Midwest cities.

Living in the Midwest and being centrally located within the continental United States provides so many travel opportunities, regardless of your budget or time constraints.

If you only have a few vacation days or you’d like to take several shorter trips throughout the year, staying closer to home makes that possible. This guide pulls together some of the best places to go and things to do across the Midwest, along with ideas for weekend getaways, road trips, family vacations, and more.

Top Places to Travel in the Midwest

The Midwest boasts more popular destinations than many people realize. Being based in St. Louis, I’ve been able to easily explore many well-known Midwest vacation spots, as well as lesser-known and underrated places that don’t get as much attention.

This isn’t a comprehensive list (and there are plenty more recommendations later in this post that are worth checking out), but it’s a good starting point for planning your next Midwest road trip or weekend getaway.

Here are some of the best places to travel in the Midwest:

Top well-known Midwest destinations

• Chicago, Illinois
• Kansas City, Missouri
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Branson, Missouri
• Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
• Door County, Wisconsin
• Mackinac Island, Michigan
• Hot Springs, Arkansas

Best lesser-known Midwest destinations

• Hermann, Missouri
• Bentonville, Arkansas
• South Bend, Indiana
• Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
• Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
• Shawnee National Forest, Illinois
• Decorah, Iowa
• Paducah, Kentucky

Family Travel: Midwest Edition

When planning a family trip in the Midwest, I recommend choosing destinations that have plenty to keep everyone busy, from younger kids to older teens. Below are some of the most popular family-friendly destinations in the region, each filled with activities that make them worth planning a weekend getaway or even a full vacation around.

• St. Louis, Missouri: St. Louis Zoo, City Museum, Grant’s Farm, and the Gateway Arch
• Branson, Missouri: Silver Dollar City, Table Rock Lake, and family-friendly shows on the Strip
• Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin: Water parks, boat tours, and family resorts along the Wisconsin River
• Chicago, Illinois: Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Navy Pier, and Millennium Park
• Indianapolis, Indiana: Indianapolis Children’s Museum, White River State Park, and the zoo
• Sandusky, Ohio: Cedar Point amusement park and nearby Kalahari Resort
• Santa Claus, Indiana: Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari theme park
• Gatlinburg, Tennessee: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Ripley’s Aquarium, and family hiking trails

Top Things to Do in the Midwest (by State)

If you are exploring how to travel more while staying in the Midwest and you don’t know where to start, take a look at the list below of top attractions, organized by state. This list is not meant to be all-inclusive, but to serve as a starting point with attractions that may be worth planning a trip around! If you already have a state in mind and are looking for the top things to do during your trip, click here to view my travel guides by state.

Explore Midwest Travel Destinations by State

Missouri

Illinois

Michigan

Kansas

Tennessee

Indiana

Kentucky

Iowa

Arkansas

Wisconsin

My Personal Favorite Midwest Travel Destinations

Living in St. Louis, many of my favorite Midwest destinations are just a short drive away and easy to visit for a weekend or long weekend.

For quick city trips, I love Nashville and Chicago. Both offer plenty to do and I have visited each multiple times.

When I want to stay closer to home, Hermann, Missouri is my go-to for romantic getaways and weekend girls trips. It’s a small, charming town known for its wineries and boutique hotels (check out my guide on all the best hotels in Hermann). Branson is another favorite for Silver Dollar City and Table Rock Lake. I especially recommend visiting Silver Dollar City in the fall or at Christmas when the park is decorated for the season.

For slightly longer weekends, Hot Springs, Arkansas, South Bend, Indiana, and Door County, Wisconsin are all worth the drive. And of course, a classic lake weekend at Lake of the Ozarks never disappoints. Missouri also has many other lakes that are lesser known and definitely worth a trip – see the full list of top Missouri lakes here.

Budget-Friendly Midwest Vacation Spots

If I want a quick getaway in the Midwest and don’t want to break the bank, camping or booking a simple cabin is my favorite way to plan a budget-friendly trip. Depending on the time of year, you can get excellent deals on cabin getaways or boutique hotels in small towns.

Start your search for a cheap Midwest vacation destination:

• Shawnee National Forest, Illinois
• Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio
• Door County, Wisconsin
• Ozark National Scenic Riverways or Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
• Itasca State Park, Minnesota
• Buffalo National River, Arkansas
• Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana
• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Michigan
• Custer State Park, South Dakota
• Lake of the Woods, Minnesota
• Devils Lake State Park, Wisconsin

Featured Midwest Travel Guides