*Anchor Bar and Grill, Superior, Wisc. (Ate a great cheeseburger there in April 2020)*

Cody’s Road Trips is my personal website devoted to the many regional road trips that I like to take away from my hometown of Sterling, Illinois. I like sharing my journeys with you. Perhaps there is something that you haven’t heard of that becomes of interest with you, or someone you know. At this time, my typical travel area is about 3-5 hours from Sterling, which includes most of Illinois, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin and a little of northwest Indiana.

New content will be posted on an intermittent basis, as time allows due to my primary work schedule as a journalist for Shaw Media. The best way to get new updates is by subscribing – there should be a button on the bottom right corner of your screen that reads “Subscribe.”

Learn more about this website by clicking HERE. Thank you for visiting!

Trips taken by date ––– Trips taken by location ––– Trips by topic
**Recent road trip features are further down this page**

“Road Trip Random” Photo Album

These are odds and ends from various road trips I’ve taken… they don’t quite make it into special features, but they are cool and interesting nonetheless!
Updated 2/23/2026

← Go backward — Go forward →

View my newest road trips!
I use the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to post live updates on my most recent trips – and then I write about them for features on this website later. X users can go to #CodysRoadTrips to check it all out!

↓ RECENT ROAD TRIPS ↓

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Argyle’s abundant agriculture: The Paulsen Agricultural Museum of Argyle in Boone County, Illinois is the latest installment of Cody’s Road Trips’ Magazine Article series. Check out large collections of machines, tools, tractor seats, farm toys, and many other pieces of general local history.
Trip taken on Oct. 10, 2023

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Roamin’ Eastern Iowa – a general photo album: Spent a couple of Friday afternoons roaming around parts of Jackson and Dubuque counties in eastern Iowa. Starting a general photo album for all things in that area.
Trips taken on Jan. 16 and 30, 2026.

The Indian Head Trail: a 3-part series on an old motor trail
Before numbered state and federal highways came into existence in the mid-1920s, getting from town to town involved a drive, buggy ride or horse ride on dirt or gravel roads. During the World War I era, roads were improved and named to help motorists get their way around Illinois. The Indian Head Trail connected Galena and Peoria.

Introduction

Part I: Peoria to Princeton

Part II: Princeton to Rock Falls

Part III: Sterling to Galena

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Mattoon’s Burger King unlike the others: Mattoon, IL has a Burger King. Okay. But it’s not the Burger King most people are familiar with. This one has an interesting naming rights story, and you can learn about it while eating a Hooter. Trip taken on Oct. 22, 2025.

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Tribute to Ernie Pyle – War correspondent: Dana, IN has a museum dedicated to native Ernie Pyle and his WWII reporting. Pyle was killed during the Battle of Okinawa. His human interest pieces were unique in the world of journalism at the time. Trip taken on Oct. 19, 2025.

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Shawneetown – New and Old: Shawneetown, IL has lots of old history to it. So does the new town. Old Shawneetown provides a time capsule of sorts to what buildings looked like before 1937. The new one has a modern “subdivision” feel to it. Trip taken on Oct. 21, 2025.

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Illinois’ Fluorite County: Nearly 75% of the nation’s fluorite was mined in southern Illinois at one time. This road trips takes you to towns such as Golconda, Rosiclare, Elizabethtown and Cave-in-Rock – all along the Ohio River. Trip taken on Oct. 21, 2025.

Illinois Route 1 road trip
Route 1 largely follows a historic trail in eastern Illinois. At 323 miles, Route 1 is the largest ORIGINAL state highway.
The trip took place in late October. Trip logs were completed in January 2026.
Click here for a preview
Part 1: Log – Album
Part 2: Log– Album
Part 3: Log– Album