October 14, 2022 update
Every one of the Midwestern states has well-known and hidden attractions that are fascinating to seek out and experience, whether you are simply traveling through or intend to remain for a while. Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Kansas are among the Midwestern states.
While some of the most popular tourist places, such as Mount Rushmore, are situated in particular locations, you can enjoy other activities, such as a river paddleboat sightseeing cruise, throughout a number of Midwestern states.
Check out our selection of some of the top things to do in the Midwest, which includes attractions like the renowned Willis Tower Skydeck in Chicago and picturesque drives to view the vibrant fall foliage.
1. Be in awe of Mount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is one of the most popular tourist destinations nationwide, not just in the Midwest. It is an incredible sight to see the cut mountaintop, which is a classic American experience and a symbol of the freedom and democracy that the nation stands for.
The four American presidents' faces are carved 60 feet high into the rock as part of the Mount Rushmore National Memorial. A ranger-led tour of the park is one of the best ways to see the sight and learn more about South Dakota's Black Hills and the background of Mount Rushmore's carving.
While there, you can also take a tour of the Sculptor's Studio to learn more about the artist who sculpted the piece and stroll along the Presidential Trail to the Grand View Terrace for some of the park's most impressive vistas.
2. Beautiful Drives through Fall Colors
The Midwestern states are blessed with four distinctive seasons, and the fall, when the leaves change color, is one of the best times to visit. There are a few great places that you simply must visit for scenic drives and fall foliage tours.
Hundreds of miles of roads wind through forests near Marquette, Michigan, which in the fall are ablaze with hues of red, orange, purple, and brown. When set against Lake Superior's backdrop, the fall colors are exceptionally stunning.
One of the best spots to go for fall foliage is the Hocking Hills area in southern Ohio. In the fall, you may get a cottage and go on treks or even zip through the treetops to take in the breathtaking landscape.
Another picturesque location for fall foliage among the forests that border the bluffs around Lake Superior is North Shore, Minnesota, which is close to Duluth.
Another beautiful route for seeing fall foliage is at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where you can stroll along a 21-mile path surrounded by colorful trees or take a boat cruise to enjoy the scenery from the water. Weekend getaways are a terrific option thanks to the resorts in Lake Geneva.
3. Take a trip to the Willis Tower Skydeck's New Heights
The top of Chicago's Willis Tower offers some of the Midwest's most thrilling and enjoyable activities. The Skydeck offers the greatest view of the city and is the highest point in Chicago. Most guests ascend the tower's 103 storeys in order to experience The Ledge.
The Ledge extends 4.3 feet from the Skydeck landing and is enclosed in glass boxes. You are therefore dangling 1,353 feet in the air, with nothing but glass under your feet. Even while the experience can actually lift you to new heights, if fears start to get the better of you, all you have to do is gaze out the windows.
4. Unwind on a Calm Paddleboat Ride
Paddleboat excursions along rivers that once played a significant role in the distribution of products are among the top attractions in a few Midwestern states. Several states that border significant rivers offer vintage paddleboat trips that are well worth making the effort to experience.
Paddleboats can be found on the Ohio River in the cities of Cincinnati and Marietta, as well as on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie in Cleveland. You may watch sternwheelers from all over the country congregate on the Ohio River if you attend the Ohio Sternwheel Festival, which is held in Marietta every year the weekend following Labor Day. The Mississippi River-bound Pearl of the Lake riverboats from Lake City, Minnesota, should also be taken into account.
5. Join the Crowd at the Indianapolis 500
Every Memorial Day weekend, the Indianapolis 500 takes place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and for most people who get the chance to go, it is a must-do experience. Even if you are unable to attend the race itself, the speedway is one of the top Midwest tourist destinations all year round. There are pre-races and events in the days preceding the big event.
Open all year long, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is a delightful destination for fans of auto racing. It is situated inside the racetrack and offers exhibits and details on the Indy 500 and the history of racing.
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To experience what it's like to operate a real NTT IndyCar Series race vehicle and navigate the renowned track, you may also reserve an Indy Racing Experience. You may either learn how to drive the 2-seater car on your own during this fan experience or you can ride along with an Indy Racing League driver. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway's actual racetrack is visited after the safety briefing and background information on these powerful vehicles.
6. Witness the aurora borealis
There are various breathtaking locations in the Midwest where you can see the northern lights, so you don't need to go to Iceland or Norway to satisfy that experience.
On the shores of Lake Superior, Cook County, Minnesota, is one of the spots to watch the aurora borealis. On Oberg Mountain in the Superior National Forest, one of the greatest places to watch them is.
Another location in the Midwest where you can see the northern lights is the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. To see the spectacular performance from the Keweenaw Peninsula, you can either stay in Marquette or arrange a camping excursion.
Another location to view the northern lights in Wisconsin's Door County is Newport State Park, which has been designated a Dark Sky Park.
7. Purchase items at the historical National Road yard sale
If you have a few more days following Memorial Day, you could take advantage of one of the Midwest's most thrilling events, the Historic National Road Yard Sale. It consists of several days where localities, people, businesses, places of worship, and haphazard roadside merchants sell their wares along the 800 miles of Historic Route 40 that pass across the Midwest.
People look for yard sale gems through hundreds of tiny communities along the route of the actual sale, which runs from Baltimore, Maryland, to St. Louis, Missouri.
Route 40 is the place to go if you're looking for small antique shops, even if you don't make it to the yearly National Road Yard Sale. One of the finest places to find antique dealers is along Route 40 in Richmond, which is home to Antique Alley.
8.Work on a cattle drive.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a cowboy, you can participate in an actual cattle drive in Kansas and find out for yourself. The Kansas Flint Hills and other places have a number of functioning ranches where you can try your hand at horseback riding and leading a cattle drive through a tallgrass prairie.
Consider a variety of occupations associated to a cattle drive by participating in events at the Moore Ranch close to Dodge City and the Lazy T Ranch close to Manhattan. You join the working group and experience all aspects of ranch life, from herding and roping to lounging around the campfire and reading cowboy poetry.
9. Take it Slow in Amish Country
The Midwest's Amish Country in Ohio and Indiana is a must-visit destination. To discover the peaceful rural roads and straightforward way of life, there is no set plan. The northeastern counties of Adams, Geauga, Holmes, Hardin, Wayne, and Tuscarawas are home to Ohio's Amish settlements.
The ideal experience may be had by staying at a bed & breakfast, where you can start your day with freshly prepared dishes created with ingredients that are found locally, such eggs and veggies. Horses and buggies will be on the road with you, and you'll witness Amish people working in the fields. Fall is a particularly lovely and attractive season to travel.
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The Heritage Trail scenic loop, which travels through Elkhart, Middlebury, Goshen, Bristol, Shipshewana, Nappanee, and Wakarusa, connects the Indiana Amish settlements. You'll see a lot of little Amish-owned businesses with clothes hanging on lines.
10. Ascend a Sand Dune
You must visit Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan, which is close to Traverse City, to take in one of the best natural wonders in the Midwest. Kids can climb the rocky sand dunes that rise 450 feet above Lake Michigan here, as can adults who want to relive their childhood.
It will take three to four hours to fully enjoy the sand dunes as you go 3.5 miles up and down the dunes on a path to Lake Michigan. The 35 miles of shoreline provide a place to unwind after conquering the dunes and take in the lake breeze.
11.Shopping at Mall of America
People must see the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, to believe it, making it one of the most popular tourist sites in the country. With over 520 businesses, an aquarium, and a seven-acre amusement park all under one roof, it is a sizable retail and entertainment complex.
Additionally, there are more than 60 restaurants, giving you lots of options for eating as you progress through the various stages. The interior attractions at the Mall of America are just as important as the stores.
There are numerous family-friendly activities, like the LEGO store and the Crayola Experience, which allows kids to create their own customized crayon. There are 27 indoor rides and attractions in the Nickelodeon Universe amusement park.
12. Witness the migration of the Sandhill Cranes
One of the Midwest's must-see locations during the annual spring migration of Sandhill cranes is the Platte River in central Nebraska. During this time, 500,000 cranes rest near the Platte River while migrating. Since the cranes have been arriving in the area for years, the vast migration flocks have gained popularity as a tourist destination.
It is necessary to get up early in order to travel to the ideal viewing locations on the river as the cranes emerge. Numerous tours and guides in the area can ensure that you arrive at the appropriate location and time for this once-in-a-lifetime encounter.
13. Check out a state fair
The Midwest state fair experience is unmatched by any other event. There are cattle events and contests for other kinds of products since these wholesome fairs are significant to the states' agricultural heritage. These state fairs offer everything from viewing concerts to learning how to milk a cow.
Each state's fair is distinctive for a different reason. Every year, Ohioans look forward to seeing how the iconic butter cow sculpture will look. The exquisite gardens at the Minnesota State Fair are legendary. One of the oldest state fairs in the nation, the Indiana State Fair emphasizes agriculture and oddball displays like the biggest popcorn ball in the world.
14. Visit St. Louis' Gateway Arch
The St. Louis landmark, the Gateway Arch, is not only breathtaking to view from the ground, but also inside.
You may ride a tram all the way to the top of this monument, which is the tallest in the United States. When you look out over the city from 630 feet in the air, you'll gain a fresh perspective on one of the nation's most recognizable emblems.
In addition to climbing the Gateway Arch, there is an excellent museum with displays of American colonization. You may learn more about how the arch was made and the resources needed to make it.
15. Participate in Outdoor Activities in Lake of the Ozarks
aerial view of Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks
While the popular television series "Ozark" attracted a lot of attention to the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri, it already attracted a lot of people who appreciate outdoor activities. The Lake of the Ozarks boasts more than 1,000 miles of shoreline and offers a variety of locations for beach lounging, swimming, fishing, and boating.
Outdoor activities on land include biking, backpacking, horseback riding, and hiking. Despite being a well-liked recreation area in the Midwest, the expansive environment makes it simple to locate tranquility in the outdoors.
Learn about the many different flora and animals that inhabit this area by strolling the paths in the Lake of the Ozarks State Park or by enrolling in a tranquil naturalist tour led by lantern light. All seasons allow for overnight camping, or you can prolong your stay by renting a cottage or yurt.
16. Admire the works of art along the Enchanted Highway
Along an area of Interstate 94 in North Dakota, commonly referred to as the Enchanted Highway, you may find some of the most thrilling vacation destinations in the Midwest.
From Gladstone to Regent, a 32-mile section of highway is decorated with extraordinarily enormous metal sculptures that show everything from birds and grasshoppers to fish and a stagecoach.
These enormous artworks merit admiration and photography. You may plan a leisurely journey to see all of the creations because the most of them have pull-offs and parking areas close by. Gary Greff, an artist, created these metal works of art to encourage visitors to pass through Regent, where he lives. It succeeded.
It is worthwhile to schedule a detour along the Enchanted Highway even if you are only passing through North Dakota. Start your journey at Geese in Flight, the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world, and end it with a picnic close to the enormous Tin Family masterpiece.