I have wanted to go to the gun auction at Rock Island for years. After this Covid stuff, I have decided now is as good of time as ever. Whenever I take a road trip, I ask for advice on Sig Forum. I have found some things I never would have found without asking. So I am leaving my home in Northern Virginia and driving to Perrysburg, Oh. Spending the night and driving to Rock Island the next day. I could do it all in one day, but I am not in a hurry. Does anyone have any thoughts on things worth stopping for or restaurants to check out? Thanks for any advice.

Sadly, the Rock Island Arsenal Museum remains closed:

https://arsenalhistoricalsociety.org/visit.php

There's a John Deere Museum in downtown Moline:

https://www.deere.com/en/conne...john-deere/pavilion/

I noticed you're taking I-90 up north. Did you consider taking I-70 west to Indianapolis and then I-74 up to Rock Island? I took 90 to upstate NY a few months ago, IIRC the EZ-Pass reader system in some states was REAL s l o w, one car at a time with the barrier rising and lowering each time. IIRC, the IL tollway system lets you speed thru without even slowing down. Warning: You may find construction everywhere.

Is Perrysburg a destination or just a convenient overnight stop? MS Streets & Trips does recommend taking I-70 and I-76 to I-80 and across, and that route does include Perrysburg. Using I-70 to Indianapolis does not go there. You say you're not in a hurry, so are you committed to using the Interstates? (They would be the fastest routes.) There are other highways that could be viable alternates: US-30 is one--it branches off US-22 west of Pittsburgh, reachable via I-376 going west. US-30 takes you through Fort Wayne, Indiana and eventually joins I-80 near Joliet, Illinois. Another posibility is US-24, which could be accessed out of Fort Wayne (instead of continuing on US-30). It would take you to Peoria, Illinois, where you'd pick up I-74 up to I-80.

I like to use the Interstates if I'm in a hurry, but prefer lesser roads if I'm interested in scenery or adventures. I have not investigated what there is to see along either of those routes, but I'd be very surprised if the scenery were not better than what would be seen on the Interstats.

flashguy

You are going to see corn as far as the eye can see. Travel through Iowa, they’ve got Oceans of it! God Blessed America!

Benchmark restaurant in Perrysburg. Great food but pricey. Wagyu beef.

Get an IPASS for tollways in Illinois. It’s twice as much without it.

Village Idiot for a craft beer and pizza (or other bar food) just across the river in Maumee. Usually a solo artist or duet in there most evenings.

quote:

Originally posted by Beanhead:
Get an IPASS for tollways in Illinois. It’s twice as much without it.

And much quicker.

I would take 90 across to 80. There will be a lot of traffic in the Chicago area, but it is probably the quickest way.

RIA is not that far from Galesburg, IL if you wanted to stop at Simpson Ltd and look at their stock.

Jim's Ribs in Rock Island or Harris Pizza, both sides of the River. Whitey's Ice Cream is a DO NOT MISS.

Arsenal Lock & Dam 15, Arsenal Island.

Lock & Dam 15

If you are set on coming across on the turnpike, I might suggest stopping about 20 miles before the Perrysburg exit at the Fremont/Rt53 north exit, you could run north on 53 about 10 miles and spend the afternoon driving out around Marblehead and Catawba, shore of Lake Erie. Few decent restaurants in the area from Expensive to moderate. I have lived in the area my whole life. Perrysburg exit has a Bass Pro and a Casino within driving distance.

The Cord/ Dusenberg museum in Auburn IN. There is another car museum in the factory building behind it.

quote:

Originally posted by nukeandpave:
The Cord/ Dusenberg museum in Auburn IN. There is another car museum in the factory building behind it.

Yes! I visited both in 2005:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157631847525117/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157631847812271/

The National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio is also worth a visit. https://www.flickr.com/photos/...s/72157631851150584/

flashguy

I am about an hour southeast of Perrysburg, and my job over the past 18 years has me driving to Chicago and points west and north from there. The I-Pass is more convenient, and Ohio and Indiana honor it on their toll roads. Depending on level of traffic it does save some time. IIRC, if you use the I-80/I-90 route thru Ohio and Indiana, you would exit the IN toll road on the west side of the state and I-90 heads towards the Skyway into Chicago, while I-80 and I-94 run together south of Gary and into IL. Just past the huge stone quarry I-80 drops off and heads west toward Joliet and on to the Quad City area. The last I knew the only toll in IL is where I-80 exits just before the highway heads north as I-294 (Tri-state Toll road).

I didn't see the date for your trip, but if you are traveling in the next few weeks, this northern route passes within about 20 mins of Camp Perry. The Nationals have just started, I believe, and Vendors Row is definitely worth a stop, if you have interest in seeing that. Just a suggestion, I will probably head there myself in the next week or so. You can get more info on this on their website.

Travel safe.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions. I have heard about Simpson's but did not realize it was so close. I will check it out. I will definitely try Whitey's Ice Cream. Benchmark in Perrysburg sounds good. I picked Perrysburg because it looked like a good halfway point. I doubt if I will get any toll passes for a one time trip. Thanks again.

quote:

I doubt if I will get any toll passes for a one time trip. Thanks again.

A few tolls into the trip and you'll be wishing you had. Check into the toll systems, see what they use, EZ Pass, Sun Pass (FL) etc and ask if you can buy a pre-paid card, that way you can use the express lanes.

It's worth every single penny to avoid the cash lines.

In IL you can sign up for pay by plate, you don't get the 50% discount on tolls but you can use the express lanes.

https://www.illinoistollway.com/paybyplate

quote:

Originally posted by Ironworker:
...I doubt if I will get any toll passes for a one time trip...

I doubt there are any toll takers left on I-90. I drove 80/90 and then 90 from IA to NY a few months ago, I think it's all automated. IL is very fast, but the state borders are very congested, even with IPass it was raise the barrier one car at a time.

Do you really want to go that far north and then deal with tolls and Chicago area traffic??

Make sure Simpsons is open. They are closed some days I believe.

I don't think there is any drawback to having an EZPass. Use it when you need it, otherwise it just sits there.