Ah, the family road trip! A glorious American tradition involving questionable amounts of luggage, approximately 47 snacks per child, one person who insists they definitely knows a shortcut, and the inevitable question approximately twelve minutes after departure: “Are we there yet?”
If you're setting off from Joliet, Illinois, you're actually in a rather enviable position. With major interstates practically on your doorstep, you can point the car in several directions and be somewhere completely different before the children have finished arguing over who gets the window seat.
From sandy beaches and spectacular parks to water parks, big-city adventures and good old-fashioned roadside Americana, there's a family road trip here for every mood. So buckle up - we're hitting the interstate!
Joliet might not be the first place that springs to mind when you hear “epic road trip”, but that's precisely why it's such a handy launchpad.
Interstate 80 cuts across the area, while I-55 provides an easy route towards Chicago and south through Illinois. From there, the wider interstate network opens up a whole menu of Midwest adventures. And by “menu”, I mean everything from nature escapes to waterparks to cities where the children can spend an alarming amount of money in the gift shop.
The other big advantage? You don't have to drive for eight hours before the fun begins. Some of the best family adventures from Joliet are surprisingly close.
Let's begin with an easy win: Starved Rock State Park is close enough to Joliet for a manageable family outing, but once you're among its sandstone canyons, waterfalls, woodland and Illinois River views, it feels worlds away from motorway traffic.
It's an especially good option when the children have reached that magical stage of the journey where they are simultaneously bored, hungry and somehow incapable of sitting still.
You can take them hiking: the park offers numerous trails and scenic spots, giving everyone a chance to stretch their legs and burn off some of that road-trip energy.
Travel blogger tip: Don't attempt to conquer the entire park in one heroic afternoon. Choose a few sights, take plenty of water and let the children actually enjoy being outside. You're making memories, not competing in the Family Olympics.
Fancy a beach holiday without actually travelling to the sea? Hello, Lake Michigan.
Indiana Dunes National Park combines sandy beaches, enormous dunes, hiking trails and big lake views, making it an excellent choice when your family needs a change of scenery - preferably one that doesn't involve another indoor attraction with a suspiciously expensive gift shop.
From sandy beaches and spectacular parks to water parks, big-city adventures and good old-fashioned roadside Americana, there's a family road trip here for every mood. So buckle up - we're hitting the interstate!
First things first: Joliet is a cracking place to start
Joliet might not be the first place that springs to mind when you hear “epic road trip”, but that's precisely why it's such a handy launchpad.
Interstate 80 cuts across the area, while I-55 provides an easy route towards Chicago and south through Illinois. From there, the wider interstate network opens up a whole menu of Midwest adventures. And by “menu”, I mean everything from nature escapes to waterparks to cities where the children can spend an alarming amount of money in the gift shop.
The other big advantage? You don't have to drive for eight hours before the fun begins. Some of the best family adventures from Joliet are surprisingly close.
Starved Rock: because everyone needs to get out of the car
Let's begin with an easy win: Starved Rock State Park is close enough to Joliet for a manageable family outing, but once you're among its sandstone canyons, waterfalls, woodland and Illinois River views, it feels worlds away from motorway traffic.
It's an especially good option when the children have reached that magical stage of the journey where they are simultaneously bored, hungry and somehow incapable of sitting still.
You can take them hiking: the park offers numerous trails and scenic spots, giving everyone a chance to stretch their legs and burn off some of that road-trip energy.
Travel blogger tip: Don't attempt to conquer the entire park in one heroic afternoon. Choose a few sights, take plenty of water and let the children actually enjoy being outside. You're making memories, not competing in the Family Olympics.
Indiana Dunes: yes, you can have a beach day
Fancy a beach holiday without actually travelling to the sea? Hello, Lake Michigan.
Indiana Dunes National Park combines sandy beaches, enormous dunes, hiking trails and big lake views, making it an excellent choice when your family needs a change of scenery - preferably one that doesn't involve another indoor attraction with a suspiciously expensive gift shop.
It's also proof that a road trip doesn't need to involve crossing half the country! You'll probably want to pack swimming gear, towels, water and sensible footwear. Keep an eye on the weather too, because Lake Michigan has moods. And sometimes those moods are windy.
If your children hear the words “road trip” and immediately look horrified, try saying “waterpark” instead. Wisconsin Dells is one of the Midwest's classic family getaways, with waterparks and attractions aplenty. It's far enough from Joliet to feel like a proper escape but still within realistic road-trip territory for a family weekend.
The trick is not to make the drive itself an endurance test!
Plan a couple of stops: let everyone stretch their legs, find somewhere interesting for lunch. And accept that the journey may take longer than the sat-nav optimistically predicts. Because nothing says relaxing family holiday quite like a back-seat meltdown caused by an unnecessarily ambitious arrival time.
Who says you need to cross a state line to have an adventure? Chicago is close enough to Joliet for an easy day trip or weekend break, and there is enough to keep pretty much every member of the family entertained.
Museums? Tick. Parks? Tick. Architecture? Absolutely. Food? You know it!
The secret is resisting the urge to schedule approximately seventeen activities between breakfast and bedtime. Pick a couple of must-dos and leave room for wandering. The best family memories often happen when you're not frantically checking the itinerary.
Fancy a slightly longer adventure? Point the car towards Madison, Wisconsin.
You get a change of scenery, a lively city atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to combine urban exploring with outdoor activities. And if everyone is still smiling when you arrive, congratulations: you've unlocked the next level!
You can extend the adventure towards Wisconsin Dells, Lake Geneva or Milwaukee, depending on how ambitious your family is feeling.
Just remember: there is a difference between “Let's make the most of the weekend” and “Let's see 11 attractions in 48 hours because I made a spreadsheet.” Choose wisely.
For a proper slice of American road-trip nostalgia, explore the historic Route 66 connection around Joliet.
Wisconsin Dells: deploy the waterpark
If your children hear the words “road trip” and immediately look horrified, try saying “waterpark” instead. Wisconsin Dells is one of the Midwest's classic family getaways, with waterparks and attractions aplenty. It's far enough from Joliet to feel like a proper escape but still within realistic road-trip territory for a family weekend.
The trick is not to make the drive itself an endurance test!
Plan a couple of stops: let everyone stretch their legs, find somewhere interesting for lunch. And accept that the journey may take longer than the sat-nav optimistically predicts. Because nothing says relaxing family holiday quite like a back-seat meltdown caused by an unnecessarily ambitious arrival time.
Chicago: the road trip that barely requires a road trip
Who says you need to cross a state line to have an adventure? Chicago is close enough to Joliet for an easy day trip or weekend break, and there is enough to keep pretty much every member of the family entertained.
Museums? Tick. Parks? Tick. Architecture? Absolutely. Food? You know it!
The secret is resisting the urge to schedule approximately seventeen activities between breakfast and bedtime. Pick a couple of must-dos and leave room for wandering. The best family memories often happen when you're not frantically checking the itinerary.
Head north for Madison
Fancy a slightly longer adventure? Point the car towards Madison, Wisconsin.
You get a change of scenery, a lively city atmosphere and plenty of opportunities to combine urban exploring with outdoor activities. And if everyone is still smiling when you arrive, congratulations: you've unlocked the next level!
You can extend the adventure towards Wisconsin Dells, Lake Geneva or Milwaukee, depending on how ambitious your family is feeling.
Just remember: there is a difference between “Let's make the most of the weekend” and “Let's see 11 attractions in 48 hours because I made a spreadsheet.” Choose wisely.
Get your kicks on Route 66
For a proper slice of American road-trip nostalgia, explore the historic Route 66 connection around Joliet.
This is where you can embrace the classic road-trip aesthetic: quirky roadside stops, vintage Americana, historic towns, diners and plenty of opportunities for photographs that make your family look much more effortlessly adventurous than you actually felt when you took them.
Turn the journey into a game for the children. Who spots the strangest sign? Who finds the best diner? Who can photograph the most interesting roadside attraction? Suddenly, you're not “driving for another hour”. You're on a mission. Clever, isn't it?
Let's be honest: family road trips can be wonderful. They can also test the very limits of your patience. A little preparation goes a long way.
Do not underestimate snacks. Pack more than you think you'll need and keep them somewhere the children can reach without requiring a full luggage-room excavation. Water bottles are equally essential!
You don't get extra parenting points for driving another 40 miles because “we're making good time”. Take regular breaks. Let everyone walk around, use the toilet and reset their brains. You'll thank yourself later.
Mobile reception isn't guaranteed everywhere, and neither is your child's willingness to stare peacefully out of the window while contemplating the scenery. Download films, music, podcasts and games before setting off. Emergency entertainment is not failure. It's strategy.
Traffic happens, roadworks happen. Someone will need the toilet approximately four minutes after you stopped for the toilet.
Turn the journey into a game for the children. Who spots the strangest sign? Who finds the best diner? Who can photograph the most interesting roadside attraction? Suddenly, you're not “driving for another hour”. You're on a mission. Clever, isn't it?
How to survive an interstate road trip with children
Let's be honest: family road trips can be wonderful. They can also test the very limits of your patience. A little preparation goes a long way.
Pack the snack arsenal
Do not underestimate snacks. Pack more than you think you'll need and keep them somewhere the children can reach without requiring a full luggage-room excavation. Water bottles are equally essential!
Stop before everyone needs to stop
You don't get extra parenting points for driving another 40 miles because “we're making good time”. Take regular breaks. Let everyone walk around, use the toilet and reset their brains. You'll thank yourself later.
Download entertainment before you leave
Mobile reception isn't guaranteed everywhere, and neither is your child's willingness to stare peacefully out of the window while contemplating the scenery. Download films, music, podcasts and games before setting off. Emergency entertainment is not failure. It's strategy.
Don't obsess over the ETA
Traffic happens, roadworks happen. Someone will need the toilet approximately four minutes after you stopped for the toilet.
Build some breathing room into your schedule and accept that arriving slightly later is infinitely better than turning the car into a mobile pressure cooker.
The driver deserves snacks too! More importantly, they deserve proper breaks. Swap drivers where possible, stop when you're tired and don't try to power through because your sat-nav says you're “only 35 minutes away”. Thirty-five minutes can become a very long time when you're exhausted.
If you're towing a trailer, driving a larger vehicle or travelling alongside heavy motorway traffic, give yourself plenty of space and time. Commercial trucks are considerably larger and heavier than passenger cars, so sensible following distances and attentive driving matter.
Hopefully your family road trip involves nothing more dramatic than a missed motorway exit and a child declaring that they're “literally starving” despite eating 14 minutes ago. But accidents do happen, and collisions involving large commercial trucks can be particularly serious.
If you're involved in a truck collision, having the contact details of a Joliet truck accident lawyer can be useful when you're trying to understand what happens next. Truck crashes can involve multiple parties, insurers and complicated questions about responsibility, so speaking with a qualified legal professional may help you understand your options. After any serious collision, prioritise immediate safety, contact emergency services where appropriate, seek medical attention and document the incident safely if you can. Legal advice should be tailored to the circumstances of the individual accident.
Here's the thing about road trips: the destination isn't always the best bit. Sometimes it's the ridiculous roadside attraction you never planned to visit. Sometimes it's finding an unexpectedly brilliant diner. Sometimes it's the playlist everyone sings terribly to. And sometimes it's simply the moment when everyone gets out of the car after three hours and collectively remembers that legs are, in fact, useful.
Starting from Joliet gives you plenty of options! Head towards Starved Rock for nature. Drive east for Indiana Dunes. Go north for Wisconsin. Venture into Chicago. Follow the nostalgia of Route 66. Or pick a completely different direction and see what happens.
Just pack snacks. Lots of snacks. Because eventually, someone will ask “are we there yet?” And honestly? Who cares.
And please, don't forget the driver
The driver deserves snacks too! More importantly, they deserve proper breaks. Swap drivers where possible, stop when you're tired and don't try to power through because your sat-nav says you're “only 35 minutes away”. Thirty-five minutes can become a very long time when you're exhausted.
If you're towing a trailer, driving a larger vehicle or travelling alongside heavy motorway traffic, give yourself plenty of space and time. Commercial trucks are considerably larger and heavier than passenger cars, so sensible following distances and attentive driving matter.
One thing nobody wants to think about: accidents
Hopefully your family road trip involves nothing more dramatic than a missed motorway exit and a child declaring that they're “literally starving” despite eating 14 minutes ago. But accidents do happen, and collisions involving large commercial trucks can be particularly serious.
If you're involved in a truck collision, having the contact details of a Joliet truck accident lawyer can be useful when you're trying to understand what happens next. Truck crashes can involve multiple parties, insurers and complicated questions about responsibility, so speaking with a qualified legal professional may help you understand your options. After any serious collision, prioritise immediate safety, contact emergency services where appropriate, seek medical attention and document the incident safely if you can. Legal advice should be tailored to the circumstances of the individual accident.
The real secret to a brilliant family road trip
Here's the thing about road trips: the destination isn't always the best bit. Sometimes it's the ridiculous roadside attraction you never planned to visit. Sometimes it's finding an unexpectedly brilliant diner. Sometimes it's the playlist everyone sings terribly to. And sometimes it's simply the moment when everyone gets out of the car after three hours and collectively remembers that legs are, in fact, useful.
Starting from Joliet gives you plenty of options! Head towards Starved Rock for nature. Drive east for Indiana Dunes. Go north for Wisconsin. Venture into Chicago. Follow the nostalgia of Route 66. Or pick a completely different direction and see what happens.
Just pack snacks. Lots of snacks. Because eventually, someone will ask “are we there yet?” And honestly? Who cares.
The best adventures are usually the ones where you haven't quite arrived yet! (Photo credit: Ryan Heuer, Adam Bouse, Morten Andreassen and DepositPhotos)
