Learn about Al Capone, limestone quarries, John Mellencamp’s birthplace, a large underground river, Revolutionary War history, and enjoy fun-to-drive S-curves in a forest.
U.S. 50, in America, is known to “road warriors” as “the loneliest road”. This 3,200-mile ribbon of 2-lane blacktop connects both coasts, passing through a dozen states and four state capitals, traversing nearly a straight line from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco. Southern Indiana hosts 170 miles of U.S. 50 connecting the Wabash and Ohio Rivers, two natural features that form Indiana’s southern border. The hamlet of Vincennes begins the journey as you say goodbye to the Wabash and head east on your Southern Indiana journey.
Vincennes is abundant in Revolutionary War history with historical markers placed throughout the city. Between Bedford and Vincennes, U.S. 50 winds its way through the hilly glens of the Hoosier National Forest. S-curves Read more . . .
A century past, the Midwest United States brought Americans from a period of horse and buggy to the modern age of the automobile. Like its northern neighbor, Michigan, the state of Indiana spawned the growth of several hundred automobile nameplates during those early years. Many evolved along a corridor that linked South Bend to Auburn, Indiana. Serving as the drive train between the two cities is U.S. 20, a 62-mile stretch of weathered and cracked 2-lane referred to by Hoosiers as the “Avenue of the Classics.”
If you live in the Chicagoland area, a famous day trip is to Illinois’ second largest city, Rockford. But if you want some truly picturesque roads and a unique and quaint destination town, head west from Rockford to Galena, near the Mississippi River. Take U.S. 20 west from Rockford through Freeport, where you can see the area of the popular second Lincoln-Douglas debate at Taylor Park. Proceed west on U.S. 20 to Rte. 73. Take Rte. 73 north 1 mile into the town of Lena, where you must rest at Lena’s Drive-In and enjoy the best soft-serve ice cream you’ve ever eaten. 
Kick off this portion of the Great River Road (GRR) drive in the lovely town of Savanna, Illinois, on the Mississippi across from Iowa. Savanna offers much for the antique-hunter. There are also pretty Victorian mansions sitting on top of the bluffs. A must see is Mississippi Palisades State Park, accessed by driving north from Savanna on Route 84. A drive through this park offers wonderful eroded bluffs and beautiful river views. Cross the river from Savanna to Iowa and head south on U.S. 67 for the Quad Cities (Davenport, Rock Island, Moline, and Bettendorf) from Savanna where the terrain becomes flatter than might be expected for about 50 miles. 
Most people think of the Grand Canyon when whitewater rafting is talked about, but perhaps the most exciting rafting is in southern West Virginia. You might also realize that driving there could be pleasurable, too. We start at the New River Gorge Bridge, famous for parachuting and bungee jumping. About thirty miles southeast of Charleston, close to Fayetteville, drive north on U.S. 19 for 4 miles to U.S. 60 (The Midland Trail), south 10 miles to Route 44, south 29 more miles to Route 61 (Piney View), then south 5 miles to Beckley. From that location, take I-64 east 16 miles to Route 20 (Sandstone), south 31 miles to Princeton, then U.S. 19, 35 miles north back to Beckley.