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Midwest Loop
A 7-day driving-only loop through classic American Midwest cities, lakefronts, dunes, river towns, and one very big arch.
7days
27stops
Day 1: Chicago lakefront warm-up
4 stops
Depart
09:00
Millennium Park
10:00
Navy Pier
13:30
Lincoln Park Conservatory
16:30
Day 2: Dunes to Detroit
4 stops
Depart
08:30
Indiana Dunes National Park
10:15
The Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation
14:00
Detroit Riverfront
17:30
Day 3: Motor City to Cuyahoga
4 stops
Depart
09:00
Detroit Institute of Arts
10:00
West Side Market
13:30
Cuyahoga Valley National Park
16:00
Day 4: Ohio hills to Indy
4 stops
Depart
08:00
Hocking Hills
10:45
German Village
14:30
Indianapolis Canal Walk
17:30
Day 5: Indy to the Arch
4 stops
Depart
09:00
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
09:30
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
13:30
Gateway Arch National Park
16:30
Day 6: River towns to Madison
4 stops
Depart
08:00
St. Louis Cathedral Basilica
09:00
Galena Historic District
13:30
Wisconsin State Capitol
17:30
Day 7: Madison back to Chicago
3 stops
Olbrich Botanical Gardens
09:15
Milwaukee Lakefront
12:30
Chicago Riverwalk
16:30
Heads Up
- 1. National park entry or passes can help if you’re adding extra federal sites
- 2. check market/museum opening days before locking meals around them
- 3. keep toll money or an electronic toll option ready around Chicago and northern Indiana
- 4. Day 4: 5.5h driving — plan rest stops
- 5. Day 6: 6h driving — plan rest stops
- 6. Day 4: 6h 42m driving — plan rest stops
- 7. Day 6: 7h 18m driving — plan rest stops