A Midwest road trip with kids

There’s something about the words ‘road trip’ which immediately tempts me to head out on an adventure – and while there’s plenty of choice of famous routes, it’s equally tempting to take the road slightly less travelled with plenty of excitement in these ideas for a Midwest road trip with kids.

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As well as the flexibility of being able to plot your own route, it’s easy to find plenty of options which are free (or budget-friendly) as well as being family-friendly, whether you’re trying a road trip with a toddler or preschooler or looking for ideas to entertain teens or tweens.

With so many places to visit across the Midwest, this certainly isn’t a complete list of all the options you could try on a road trip – that needs a whole guide book – but hopefully there’s plenty to inspire you to get behind the wheel and head out on the open road.

For more Midwest road trip inspiration, check out my itinerary for a 7-day Lake Michigan road trip with kids

Midwest road trip tips

However much you break up your driving, don’t forget to pack something to entertain kids along the way – audio books are always great, or if you’re creating a road trip playlist, make sure it’s got something for everyone in the car (and is long enough that you’re not playing it on loop before the first stretch is up!)

Road trip games, activities and I Spy books are another good option for younger kids when scenery alone isn’t enough!

For 55 great ideas for road trip activities for kids, check out my top picks, as well as more tips on packing for a road trip with kids, planning a road trip with kids and the essential road trip snacks for kids

Illinois – Chicago to Springfield: Start Route 66

There’s no road trip quite like Route 66 – although you don’t have to drive the full length of the iconic highway from Chicago to Los Angeles to get a taste of it.

There’s so much to do with kids in Chicago that you shouldn’t miss a few days exploring – and trying some deep dish pizza – before you set off.

From the Field Museum of Natural History to Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium, you could easily fill a day (or more) around the Museum Campus area. Save time for a trip on the river to check out some of the skyscrapers, or try an architecture tour with older kids, before enjoying the views from one of the tallest towers and the Centennial Wheel on Navy Pier.

But that’s only the beginning, with a string of museums (including the Ice Cream Museum), Legoland, Lincoln Park Zoo, Millennium Park and more.

For more ideas of things to do in Chicago with kids, check out my pick of the best

When your time in the Windy City is up, stop by Michigan Ave, where you’ll find a sign saying ‘Begin Route 66’, then after the obligatory photo opp, start your drive by heading to Springfield, around three hours away.

Springfield, Illinois

This stop is perfect if you’re travelling with kids who love history or have been studying Abraham Lincoln, who lived here for years.

During your stop, you could visit the Lincoln Home, as well as the Lincoln Tomb historic site, along with the Presidential Library and Museum here.

From Springfield, you can then take a short detour south to St Louis or Kansas City, or skip the next steps and head north-west…

If you have longer to explore the Midwest, check out my itinerary for a road trip around Lake Michigan, venturing from Chicago into Wisconsin and up to pretty Door County, or heading in the opposite direction into Michigan to see Grand Rapids and nearby Muskegon state park, the cherry orchards of Traverse City and traffic-free Mackinac Island

St Louis, Missouri: family adventure on a budget

Carry on along Route 66 to St Louis, Missouri, home to the Gateway Arch in the Gateway Arch National Park, and a city where you can find a string of family-friendly attractions that are perfect for a budget trip.

One of the best free attractions in the area is the Saint Louis Zoo, also one of the top-rated zoos in the entire nation – don’t miss the fantastic penguin exhibit.

It’s worth saving a bit of your budget for the train ride around the zoo, definitely worth the purchase (or if St Louis is somewhere you travel to regularly, consider membership which includes the train tickets as well as some other bonuses).

The zoo is set in Forest Park, and it’s easy to while away the rest of the day there – rollerblading, boating, or people watching over a picnic.

Not far away, you’ll also find the St Louis Science Center, another fantastic free attraction. From Egyptian mummies to a Mission to Mars (or the technology that got there), plus exhibits on ecology and ones designed to spark curiosity, it’s ideal for a day out with kids.

There’s more chance to kids to learn through play at The Magic House, with a focus on creativity, curiosity and collaboration. Think a three-storey slide, playing with water, train sets, art and temporary exhibitions like Sandcastle beach. Or head outdoors to the lovely Missouri Botanical Garden, home to a 14-acre Japanese garden.

If you’re continuing along Route 66 with kids, check out some of my top picks of where else to stop

Where to eat in St Louis with kids?

Don’t miss Blueberry Hill: this classic American restaurant and music club is a landmark, plus it’s kid-friendly during the day, with pop culture memorabilia to keep you entertained.

For ideas of the best road trip snacks for kids, check out my top tips

Kansas City, Missouri

Another great option for a detour, Kansas City is around five hours from Springfield or four hours from St Louis, so it’s easy to stop off on the way to Iowa and the next destination of Clear Lake.

There’s plenty to tempt you to swing by on your Midwest road trip too, from the jazz scene if you’re visiting with teens, to the city’s famous BBQ, a fantastic art scene, great museums and a side helping of Midwestern charm – and if you’re determined to add another state to your list, it’s an easy drive across the border into Kansas too, on the other side of the Missouri River.

Ride the free KC Streetcar to get your bearings – the City Market in the River Market area is one of the oldest farmers markets in the whole Midwest.

Or check out a museum. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art has plenty to get everyone talking, including its giant shuttlecocks installation outside, while the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures has toys dating back to 1690, and hands-on fun plus the planetarium at Science City at Union Station. For kids who love history, the National World War 1 Museum and Memorial focuses on the Great War and its impact.

Don’t fancy a museum? There are some great attractions if you love animals, including the Sea Life aquarium and Kansas City zoo, along with Legoland Discovery Center and Worlds of Fun amusement park

The best food in Kansas City with kids

You can’t come to Kansas City and not get barbecue – well you could, but you shouldn’t! Picking the best barbecue in Kansas City is guaranteed to get everyone arguing, but you’ll be spoiled for choice if you want great food. Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, Q39, Arthur Bryant’s, Jack Stack Barbecue, Slaps BBQ, LC’s Bar-B-Q and Scott’s Kitchen are just a few of the best to try for yourself.

Clear Lake, Iowa: The Day the Music Died

Time to introduce your kids to an unforgettable time in the early days of rock’n’roll – chances are they already know Don McLean’s song American Pie, including its lyric “the day the music died”.

That was the day in 1959 that the world lost three music icons at once: Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and “The Big Bopper” J P Richardson, who were killed in an airplane crash.

The crash site itself is in Clear Lake, 115 miles north of Des Moines, where you can add your tribute to the singers.

Set just off 315^th St, look out for the huge pair of Buddy Holly’s glasses at the entrance, before heading into the field itself (if you’re on the road trip with younger kids, it’s worth knowing it’s only reachable on foot), with items and flowers left in tribute.

Just down the road, Surf Ballroom is the last location the trio performed before the crash. It was brought back to its original state back in 1994 and has countless pictures and exhibits of each of the performers too. 

Want a music theme for your Midwest road trip with kids? Add in another stop in Cleveland, Ohio for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – it’s over five hours east of Chicago, so best to start your trip here if you want to squeeze it in, to avoid too many detours.

Minnesota: Visit the twin cities

Carry on north to Minneapolis-St Paul, around two hours from Clear Lake – my daughter’s first trip here came when she was just nine months old but it’s a great place to visit with kids of any age.

For starters, there are famously 10,000 lakes (according to the licence plates, but probably more), great and small, plus the Mississippi, so you won’t be short of waterfront walks and watersports to try in summer.

The city has some great family-friendly museums too, including the Minnesota Children’s Museum and Science Museum of Minnesota, along with a great zoo, and the Mall of America.

Even if your kids would rather do anything than shop, the Mall of America is also home to Sea Life Aquarium and Nickelodeon Universe too.

For more ideas of things to do in Minneapolis with kids, check out this post

North & South Dakota: presidents vs the centre of America

From Minneapolis, the big question is… north or south? North Dakota or South Dakota, that is, as you choose which state to head to next (both, obviously if you have time).

North Dakota

Heading north? I’ve got another question for you. Where is the geographic centre of North America? In one camp, you’ve got Rugby, North Dakota, around 150 miles from Bismarck, for another educational day trip along your route.

The other claimant is the well-named Center, North Dakota, around 45 miles northwest of Bismarck. The obvious solution? Check them both out: you could even squeeze them into one day.

South Dakota

Heading south? For a unique attraction that’s rather better known, Mount Rushmore is an easy day trip from Rapid City, South Dakota if you want to swing by and see the huge faces of the Founding Fathers on the rock face. The Crazy Horse memorial is only a short drive away, so it’s easy to combine both.

Then Deadwood is another historic gem that’s unmissable for wannabe cowboys. Around 45 miles from Rapid City, the town has events throughout the year, including Wild Bill days.

A celebration of the life and times of Wild Bill Hickock, the most notorious gunslinger in the area, there’s usually live music as well as food, so no cattle rustling needed.

While you’re in the area, Custer State Park in the southern Black Hills of South Dakota are fantastic if you’re looking to get outdoors between long stretches of driving, as well as being home to a large, free-roaming bison herd.

For more road trip itinerary ideas, check out my itinerary for the Pacific Coast Highway with kids

PIN FOR LATER: MIDWEST ROAD TRIP WITH KIDS

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