Quill Ink

TRIP #1:

A Weekend Castle Road Trip Through Northern Illinois

Want to turn castle hunting into a weekend? Northern Illinois offers one of the easiest routes. The following route we have curated for you works because each stop offers a different kind of fortress: one woven into a city neighborhood, one built from sheer personal obsession, and one rising dramatically above the river bluffs. It is manageable, scenic, and just strange enough to feel like the perfect Illinois road trip.

*One practical note: check access before going.

Day 1: Chicago to Fox River Grove
Start in Chicago with a stop at Givins Castle in Beverly, the city’s only true castle, then head northwest to Bettendorf Castle in Fox River Grove. That gives readers one urban castle and one deeply eccentric, handmade fortress in the same day, creating a fun contrast. Givins works well as a quick first stop, while Bettendorf feels more like the kind of place you build the afternoon around.

Overnight idea: stay in the Rock River area, such as Oregon or nearby Dixon, so the second day feels less rushed. Stronghold Castle sits just north of Oregon, which makes that town a practical base.

Day 2: Oregon and the Rock River bluffs
Spend the second day at Stronghold Castle, perched above the Rock River. It is the most scenic finish to the trip because the castle-and-bluff setting already feels like a destination. This is the stop that gives the weekend its full storybook payoff.

**Northern Illinois oddities**
The northern route comes with a few fun detours for those who like a little roadside weirdness with their architecture. Near the Chicago end, the Leaning Tower of Niles adds a quirky replica stop, while the Oregon area offers the towering Black Hawk statue overlooking the Rock River Valley. For something a little more offbeat and pop-culture friendly, the Volo Museum also fits nicely into the broader northern drive.

TRIP #2:

A Weekend Castle Road Trip Along the Mississippi and the Bluffs

Looking for a more scenic option? Head west for a Mississippi-and-bluffs castle weekend. This western trail is a longer route than the northern Illinois version, but that is part of the appeal. This trip trades efficiency for atmosphere, following the river through bluff country and river towns where dramatic architecture feels right at home.

*A couple of practical notes to include: this route is better for those who want the drive itself to be part of the experience. Unlike the tighter northern trip, this one asks for more windshield time. Still, it earns that extra scenery with distance.

And always check access before going.

Day 1: Quincy to Savanna
Start in Quincy at Villa Kathrine, where visitors can tour the building during business hours; the site also serves as Quincy’s tourist information center and a Great River Road interpretive center. From there, head north toward Savanna for Havencrest Castle. That stretch between Quincy and Savanna is roughly 205 miles, so this version works best for readers who do not mind a longer scenic drive on day one. Havencrest recommends advance ticket purchases for tours.  

** As of publishing this article on 22 April, Havencrest has announced the opening of ticket sales for May. The next opportunity to tour the castle will be in October. Follow the link for more details.

Overnight idea: stay in Savanna or Galena. Savanna is close enough to Galena to make the second day easy, and local tourism sources say it is about 30 miles from Galena.

Day 2: Savanna to Galena
Use day two for the bluff-country finish: head north to Goldmoor near Galena, where the river views become part of the experience. Goldmoor sits on a bluff above the Mississippi and is now an inn, making it a natural final stop for readers who want the route to end in the most romantic setting. Galena also gives the trip a ready-made weekend destination feel.

** Western Illinois oddities**
The western route leans more scenic and eccentric than kitschy, which suits the bluff country setting. Villa Kathrine already feels like a built-in oddity, perched above the Mississippi in Quincy with its unexpected Moorish flair, and readers heading toward Galena can add the Dickeyville Grotto just across the Wisconsin line for a truly unusual stop filled with shrines, stonework, shells, and found-object folk art.