Tourism

From big cities and state parks to rich history and culture, Illinois truly has something for everyone. In 2025, Illinois drew a record-breaking 115 million domestic and international visitors to the state – an increase from 2024.

According to data provided by Tourism Economics, visitor spending grew 3.5% to $50.2 billion, surpassing the $50 billion mark for the first time in Illinois history. As a result of tourist spending and visits in 2025, the total economic impact amounted to $88 billion and produced $4.9 billion in direct state and local tax revenue, reinforcing tourism’s role as a key driver of economic growth in communities across Illinois.

Illinois is known for its accolades and for holding many titles. Thanks to a new WalletHub analysis, Illinois can now boast that it is the third most fun state in the country. Only trailing behind California and Florida, Illinois ranks number three in the “Entertainment and Recreation” category and number two in the “Nightlife”’ category.

In order to determine the most fun states in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states across two key categories, “Entertainment & Recreation” and “Nightlife.” With fun and affordability in mind, WalletHub compared 26 key indicators of enjoyable experiences that won’t break the bank. These range from movie costs to accessibility of national parks to nightlife options per capita.

One weekend in August, the Chicago lakefront hosts the largest and oldest free-admission air and water exhibition in the United States. This past weekend (Aug. 15 – Aug. 16), Chicago’s lakefront saw over one million visitors for the annual showcase and bone-rattling displays.

Although this display is best seen on Chicago’s lakefront, you can see and hear the display from around the city which makes this a one-of-a-kind display. Whether you are at show-center at North Avenue Beach, in the Loop, at Wrigley Field, on a boat in Lake Michigan, or on one of the countless rooftops across the city, you can see and hear the displays from all across the city.

After years of anticipation, and a momentous grand opening ceremony, the Obama Presidential Center officially opened its doors on Chicago’s South Side on June 19. This is the second presidential museum in Illinois, the first being the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield.

Want your life journey to be preserved for future generations? As part of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence’s signing, people across Illinois are invited to participate in Illinois Voices 250, a statewide initiative to tell the stories of the people who live there.

Illinois Voices 250 is offered by the Illinois America 250 Commission, Illinois Humanities and StoryCorps Studios. The program will keep its recorded conversations with residents in the U.S. Library of Congress, where they will be preserved for future generations. The conversations discuss what democracy, belonging and civic participation mean in today’s world, and how residents’ experiences have shaped those thoughts.

Illinois residents can attend public community recording events or record their conversations on their own. Either way, there is no fee to participate.

The Illinois America 250 Commission was established by state law to showcase how Illinois represents the Declaration of Independence’s values, and it is assisted by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The state is also celebrating 250 years since the signing of the Declaration of Independence in other ways, including a keepsake tourism passport, public art grants and Illinois United in Service.

To find out more about the Illinois Voices 250 program, visit https://www.il250.org/il-voices.