Moline IL to Chicago road trip: Distance, driving time & best stops
The best road trip stops on the Moline IL to Chicago drive are Dixon IL, DeKalb IL and Naperville IL. The distance by car from Moline IL to Chicago is 165 miles, with a 2h47m driving time.
Planning a Moline IL to Chicago road trip itinerary
A Moline IL to Chicago road trip takes you from the Iowa/ Illinois border on the Mississippi River to the birthplace of the skyscraper.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Moline IL to Chicago distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Moline IL to Chicago is 165 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and 47 minutes. The quickest route is generally along the I-80 then the I-88.
The best stops to add to a Moline IL to Chicago road trip itinerary are Dixon, DeKalb and Naperville.
Moline IL to Chicago drive: Dixon, Illinois
Two famous American names got started around Dixon, Illinois. One is former president Ronald Reagan, who was born in Illinois. Between 1920 and 1924, he lived at what is now the Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home. It’s a simple family house that is now on the National Register of Historic Places and open to visitors.
The other is John Deere, who was a handyman and toolmaker in the village of Grand Detour, just to the north of Chicago. His workshop would eventually morph into a tractor and agricultural machinery empire.
At the John Deere Historic Site, you can now watch blacksmithery demonstrations at a replica of Deere’s workshop and tour the original family home.
Moline IL to Chicago road trip attractions: DeKalb IL
There are a couple of historic attractions in DeKalb IL. First up is Ellwood House, built in 1879 for a barbed wire entrepreneur. It’s now open as a museum amid 10 acres of gardens and parklands. If it’s barbed wire that takes your interest, its inventor’s home is also open to visitors. The Glidden Homestead is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Best attractions between Moline IL and Chicago: Naperville, Illinois
Naperville has long since been subsumed into Chicago’s sprawling suburbia, but it has a few things going for it. The Riverwalk Park on the DuPage River is lovely for a waterside walk, but it also includes a playground, fishing pier, amphitheater, labyrinth and beach.
The Naper Settlement, meanwhile, is an information-packed outdoor history museum. You can also try your hand at indoor skydiving.
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