Just 15 miles (24 km) from St. Louis, Alton, Illinois is a nature lover’s haven. Lying where the three great rivers meet (Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois) Alton gives its visitors a great sense of adventure along with the convenience of crossing a magnificent bridge to enjoy St. Louis. For antiques enthusiasts, you could spend the entire day in Alton’s Antiques District. Alton also has an art scene where you can go to an exhibit at the local arts center or watch master pottery makers create beautiful pieces. There are multiple ways to enjoy the great rivers whether you want to take a river cruise or go to the museums to discover the history and significance of this region. Cross the amazing Clark Bridge over to Missouri and you can spend the day in St. Louis doing activities like a food tour, hot air balloon rides or zip lining. Don’t forget to visit the Gateway Arch while you’re there and witness the world’s largest arch and take a ride up to the observation deck. It will give you a view and is an experience you won’t forget! Alton, IL will astonish you with its geographic beauty and entertain you with its close proximity to everything St. Louis has to offer. For an adventure and culture-filled getaway, come check out the best things to do in Alton, Illinois.
1. Get shivers down your spine at McPike Mansion
Ask any local in Alton about a historic house in the area and McPike Mansion is the common response. It is a house built in 1811 atop Mount Lookout Park but has not been occupied since the 1950s. Once a stellar establishment in town, the three-story building has allegedly become a haunted house with a history of paranormal occurrences. Several ghost stories cloud McPike Mansion claiming that spirits roam the property. With its recent reputation, the house has been shown at various TV shows that feature paranormal and scary places, and it is frequently a part of Alton’s haunted tours.
The current owners of the property have opened the place for tours and continue with the restoration efforts. Various events are held in the mansion to extend donation drives towards these efforts.
McPike Mansion
Address: 2018 Alby Street, Alton, Illinois
Website: McPike Mansion
Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 8pm (closed on Sun)
Price: 5-20 USD
2. Scout the great span of Gordon F. Moore Community Park
This park is a 285-hectare (704-acre) span of recreation and sports venue in Alton. It boasts a wide array of amenities and attractions like tennis courts, a golf course, picnic and play areas, a fishing lake, soccer/football fields, nature trails, and an interactive fountain. Gordon F. Moore Community Park has a rose garden and gazebo as center points for social occasions such as weddings and concerts. Its nature trail is adjacent to a garden and features approximately 50 different trees and shrubs. Sports fans gather here for intense football matches and epic golf tournaments. Its golf course is known as one of the prime public golf facilities in the Midwest.
This Alton, Illinois, attraction is admission free and welcomes groups of friends and families from daylight to dusk.
Gordon F. Moore Community Park
Address: 4550 College Ave, Alton, IL 62002
Website: Gordon F. Moore Community Park
Opening hours: 7am - 8:45pm (daily)
3. Explore the National Great Rivers Museum
You can tour the museum, take a ride on the river or learn about the engineering behind dams here at the National Great Rivers Museum. This museum has a variety of outdoor and indoor activities you can choose from to make the most of your experience.
National Great Rivers Museum
Address: 2 Lock and Dam Way Alton IL 62002
Website: National Great Rivers Museum
4. Smell the roses at the Nan Elliot Memorial Rose Garden
The Nan Elliot Memorial Rose Garden has over 150 varieties of roses that you can enjoy while also catching a concert on Sunday evenings. This garden has been a featured attraction of the Alton community for generations.
Nan Elliot Memorial Rose Garden
Address: Route 140 Alton, IL 62002
Website: Nan Elliot Memorial Rose Garden
5. Stroll through the Oriental Garden
Walk around this 13 acre (5 hectares) lake while crossing on a bridge that overlooks the playing koi fish. There is also a pagoda to rest in while you take in the peaceful sights around you.
Oriental Garden
Address: 4550 College Ave. Alton IL 62002
Website: Oriental Garden
6. Travel to the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Travel the historic Lewis and Clark Blvd for about twenty minutes south and you’ll come to the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area—one of the places in Alton for exciting outdoor activities. This is where the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers meet and this area has several hiking and biking trails to explore the natural surroundings.
Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
Address: 801 Strodtman Rd, St. Louis, MO 63138
Website: Columbia Bottom Conservation Area
7. Leave your worries on a Hakuna Matata River Cruise
From nearby Grafton, Illinois you can hop onto a Hakuna Matata River Cruise that will take you down the Illinois and Mississippi rivers in style. You can choose to have some light refreshments on the main level while taking in the river basin around you or go up to the viewing deck to take in the fresh river air. Exploring the town from the waters should definitely be one of your Alton, Illinois, activities.
Hakuna Matata River Cruise
Address: 215 West Water Street Grafton, Illinois 62037
Website: Hakuna Matata River Cruise
8. Witness an arts revival in Alton at the Jacoby Arts Center
Located within a historic building, come watch a show or walk through inspiring exhibits at the Jacoby Arts Center. This venue also hosts several classes that you could sign up for or simply come to support and enjoy the region’s art.
Jacoby Arts Center
Address: 627 E. Broadway, Alton, IL 62002
Website: Jacoby Arts Center
9. Watch artists at work at the Mississippi Mud Pottery
This wonderful pottery gallery invites visitors to come to witness the artistic process of their work. They not only create stoneware for everyday use but also catch fish in the local rivers, create moulds from them and then recreate ceramic fish. This art gallery is definitely not one to miss!
Mississippi Mud Pottery
Address: 310 E Broadway Alton, IL 62002
Website: Mississippi Mud Pottery
10. Sample all kinds of offerings on a food tour through the Delmar Loop (from USD 59.0)
Spend a few hours on a guided food tour through St Louis to taste some of the finest Midwestern cuisines. This tour takes you through one of St Louis’ hottest neighbourhoods to try local and international cuisine at its best. You’ll leave with a happy belly and a big smile.
St Louis Delmar Loop 3-Hour Small-Group Food Tour with Guide
Duration 3 hours
11. Visit the Gateway Arch
This amazing architectural feat is within a short drive from Alton, Illinois and can easily be a day-long visit. Travel up the arch in a ride like no other in the world or walk around the museum to understand it’s significance and history. This is a must see on your visit!
Gateway Arch
Address: 11 North 4th Street St. Louis, MO 63102
Website: Gateway Arch
12. Zip line through the lush forests of the Midwest (from USD 76.0)
Take a zip line tour that will show you some of the natural beauty surrounding the St Louis region. This tour will take you on a course of ten zip lines that will cover forests around the St Louis area. This is one adventure you won’t regret.
Zip Line Canopy Tour in St Louis
Duration 1 hour 30 minutes
13. Ride a hot air balloon with a St Louis Scenic Balloon Ride (from USD 209.0)
Half an hour from Alton, Illinois will land you in the big city of St Louis. Here you can board a hot air balloon to take a tour of not only the city but the breathtaking natural landscape that surrounds it while sipping on a glass of champagne.
St Louis Scenic Balloon Ride
Adventure and culture await in Alton, IL
Visiting Alton, Illinois means taking in the local river culture but also understanding the development that created the cities out west such as St Louis. With so many historical avenues to explore and such great opportunities for adventure, this is one trip you won’t want to miss. Whether it’s the food scene you want to explore or the outdoors, Alton has tourist attractions that fit any interest.
Plan your trip today and make sure you check out these best things to do in Alton, Illinois to make every moment spent there worthwhile!