Travel Destinations Illinois What to See Along I-70 from Vandalia to Marshall, Illinois As it cuts through the southern part of Central Illinois, I-70 parallels the Historic National Road (now US-40) that opened the state to settlement in the 1800s. Get a taste of history, theater and outdoor rec as you travel through this area. By Gary Thompson Gary Thompson Gary Thompson is senior staff writer at Midwest Living and Dotdash Meredith Travel, where he gets paid to play with words while writing about all sorts of interesting people, places and things in the Midwest and beyond. Not bad for a shy kid who was born in Kansas and grew up in Davenport, Iowa, reading his Dad's newspapers and his Mom's "women's" magazines. He holds a B.A. and M.A. in journalism from Drake University and been writing professionally for more than 30 years. When he's not wordsmithing, he's running or walking, watching sports or Jeopardy, and doing the New York Times crossword puzzle (or Spelling Bee). Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 5, 2022 What to Do The I-70 corridor in central Illinois includes Marshall. Just south of Marshall, Lincoln Trail State Park offers boating, camping, fishing and hiking on 1,023 acres. The area is named after the trail Abraham Lincoln's family followed from Indiana to Illinois in 1831. In Greenup, the Jackson Truss Covered Bridge (a vintage-look replica) spans the Embarras River. Other area attractions include Cameo Vineyards and Greenup Depot. My Garage Museum. Ed Baumgarten Effingham, near the junction of I-70 and I-57, straddled two major rail lines for decades. Today, the historic passenger line City of New Orleans still passes through town daily. Peek at a 1963 Chevy Corvette Z06 and other rare cars at My Garage Museum, and snap a photo in front of a 1910 gas station that was restored on-site. The Little Theatre on the Square. Courtesy of The Little Theatre on the Square The Little Theatre On The Square in Sullivan has been bringing Broadway to Central Illinois for more than 60 years. Vandalia State House. Paul Nordmann Vandalia, on the Kaskaskia River, served as capital of Illinois from 1820 to 1839. Lincoln began his political career at the Vandalia State House, the oldest Illinois capitol building still standing (There have been six.) Guided or self-guided tours are available. Kaskasia Dragon. Paul Nordmann Watch flames shoot out from the giant Kaskaskia Dragon. Just insert a token (sold at local businesses) to watch the metal monster unleash its fury. Moonshine Store. Jason Lindsey Where to Eat Even with GPS, it's hard to find the Moonshine Store near Martinsville, but a Moonburger is worth the effort. The grill closes at 12:30 p.m. sharp. Fill up on craft beer and a Flaming Goat Burger, Drunkin Pig sandwich or Effin' Tasty Steak Bites at Gabby Goat American Pub and Grill in Effingham. Sample Embarras Blush (named for the nearby river) or National Road Red at Cameo Vineyards in Greenup. They crush 35 tons of Illinois grapes yearly. Where to Stay For an outdoor-oriented stay, rent a close-to-water cabin at Anthony Acres Resort in Effingham, where the focus is on relaxation on Lake Sara. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit