Now that the weather is warmer, you and your kids may be jonesing for some windows-down, get-out-of-town, road trip-vibes adventures. Springfield offers tons of stay-at-home options, but if you are wanting to leave town and stretch out a little bit, check out the following excursions. Each day trip listed below is close enough that you can get there, have fun and head right back home, eliminating the need for pricey overnight lodging if you’d prefer your own bed.
Decatur (43 minutes from Springfield)
Decatur is the closest destination in this day trip roundup, so if you are just warming up to the idea of longish car rides, this might be the one for you. Once you arrive in Decatur, take your pick between the Scovill Zoo (which reopens for the season on April 5), The Children’s Museum of Illinois and the Rock Springs Conservation Area & Nature Center. The museum has a number of hands-on exhibits, plus a giant climbing area and water table. At Rock Springs, you can check out animals and exhibits in the nature center, enjoy the Window on Wildlife that overlooks the bird feeding area and even borrow fishing equipment, nature guides, binoculars and more to use during your visit. There are a variety of hiking trails for all ranges of abilities.
Peoria (1 hour and 11 minutes from Springfield)
The Peoria Riverfront Museum has a lot to see. The museum manages a permanent collection of 15,000 objects and organizes more than 20 self-curated and visiting exhibitions annually in five major galleries and 25 total display spaces, so there is something for everyone in your group. The museum also manages a Planetarium that has three to five daily star and planetary-themed showtimes (check online for more info). If outside is more your vibe, The Wildlife Prairie Park, just west of Peoria, is a 1,800-acre zoological park that is home to more than 150 local animals, including bison, black bears, cougars, elk and wolves. Visitors can hike, bike, kayak, fish and more at the Prairie Park. You can even pre-arrange animal encounters if your family has a favorite animal that you’d like to learn more about.
Bloomington-Normal (1 hour and 16 minutes from Springfield)
The Children’s Discovery Museum in Normal is all about learning through play. All of the play-based exhibits are hands-on, and the museum hosts various educational programs throughout the year. It reminds me of our very own Kidzeum, although it’s much larger. Eleven minutes away, you’ll find the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington. The Miller Park Zoo is already fully open, as opposed to other zoos waiting for warmer weather (Henson Robinson Zoo in Springfield opens for the season on April 5). Our favorite enclosure was the Wallaby Walkabout, where you can get pretty close to some active and fun wallabies. There is a huge playground that has a splash pad in the summer right outside the front gates of the zoo, so plan to spend some time here before you set off for home.
Hannibal, Missouri (1 hour and 39 minutes from Springfield)
Whether or not your kids are familiar with the story of Tom Sawyer, they can probably get behind some cave exploration. When you visit the Mark Twain Cave Complex, you’ll be given a tour time for an easy, hour-long, guided tour through the cave system that inspired The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. There is also an advanced, longer cave tour through Cameron Cave that lasts 90 minutes if you’ve got older kids up for the challenge. Before or after the tour, be sure to check out Downtown Hannibal’s assortment of antique and collector shops (we found an old coin shop that my collector kid loved), as well as the Mark Twain Dinette for burgers and milkshakes.
Galesburg (1 hour and 52 minutes from Springfield)
If you’ve got a train lover in your crew, look no further than the Galesburg Railroad Museum, where visitors can tour a real steam locomotive. Once you’ve seen the museum, check out Seminary Street in Downtown Galesburg for shopping or dining (PSA: there’s a caramel popcorn store) and The Discovery Depot Children’s Museum.
No matter what you choose, there are many ways to enjoy making family memories right here in the Midwest.
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer living in Springfield. She’s got her sights set on a day trip to Peoria over spring break.
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This article appears in Spring Guide 2025.
