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. My typical travel area is 3-5 hours from home, which includes most of Illinois, eastern Iowa, southern Wisconsin and a little of northwest Indiana. Scroll further down for my most recent trips and trip commentaries.
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! Learn more about this website by clicking HERE. Thank you for visiting!
Website announcements: August 2026 Current traveling status: Actively traveling — Occasionally traveling — Currently not traveling 9/2026: Holding off on active travel until health permits. Hope to be back soon! – Cody
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
Sizzlin’ on an Iowa Fryin’ Pan: The road trip phenomena behind “largest things” is either a “you love it” or a “you find it weird” kind of thing. I like them. I visited Iowa’s Largest Fryin’ Pan in a small town between Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. Trip taken on July 15, 2026 _
Wrestling legends bring about lasting memories – There are two types of wrestling – the one where people are always touching each other, and the other that’s “sports entertainment.” Both have a place at Waterloo’s National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. Trip taken on July 15, 2026 _
Green Machines, Unexpected Connections – A visit to the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, offered an opportunity to get better acquainted with agricultural machines. Even if something like this wasn’t my primary interest, you find that walking around any museum can result in unique discoveries along the way that connect to more familiar things. Trip taken on July 15, 2026 _
Sterling 63, Galesburg 56 – a writer’s thoughts – This game meant a lot to me, personally and professionally. It also came on the heels of a postponed road trip. I usually don’t post about traveling to a single sports game, but there was much on my mind before, during and after covering this exciting high school football game. Trip taken on Sept. 18, 2026. _
Road Trip Random: August 2026 – I often have a collection of things I take note of during my road trips, or when putting content on this website, that don’t often make it to a collection, or the final edit of a post. Eventually this “drawer” gets too full. I am writing posts like these to empty it out. _
A stop in Quasqueton – Quasqueton is a small town in Iowa that was first brought to my attention upon learning that legendary Chicago radio personality Larry Lujack was born there. I first visited in 2021 and went back five years later to its river rapids and bar. Trip taken on July 15, 2026. _
Pizza Huts like I remember: It happens all of the time: We remember back to places that were our favorite haunts when we were young, and fun places where memories were made, being told to a new generation of people. For those who liked pizza, chances are that the local Pizza Hut may have been that place. I found a couple of “classics” during recent trips to Geneseo, Ill. and DeWitt, Iowa. Trips taken on July 25, 2025 & July 15, 2026 _
Pontiac: a Route 66 tourist town several times over: As U.S. Route 66 celebrates it 100th anniversary in 2026 (along with several other numbered U.S. routes in the nation), it gives tourists who haven’t had the chance to experience the old-time Chicago-to-Los Angeles connection a reason to. Pontiac is one of the Illinois stops, and stop one will. Trips taken on Feb. 26-27 & July 14, 2026 _
Dwight’s car museum is an 80s time warp: There’s nothing “crazy” about putting a Subaru Brat, Plymouth Horizon, or a Nissan Pulsar on display like museums would for Mustangs, Bel-Airs or GTOs. They’re from the “Crazy 80s,” and they trigger memories all over the decade. Trip taken on July 14, 2026 _
In a sunset mood – East Moline’s River Room: Do you like to watch a nice sunset over dinner and dessert? On the 9th floor of an East Moline hotel, a unique view of the Mississippi River is the feature item on the menu. It made me think of similar places, too. Trip taken on June 18, 2026. _
Remembering old grain elevators still standing after all these ears: Before modern grain terminals dominated the countryside, nearly every farming community revolved around a wooden grain elevator standing beside the railroad tracks. Elevators from more than 100 years ago can still be seen in the agricultural landscape – and I showcase a few in northern Illinois. This is the latest installment of Cody’s Road Trips’ Magazine Article series. Trip taken in October 2023 _
Illinois’ role in the American Revolution: As the United States of America observes its 250th anniversary in 2026, a couple of Revolutionary War sites in Illinois are visitable, and share the story about how Illinois played a role in eventual Manifest Destiny. We look at Kaskaskia and Rock Island (Saukenauk). Trips taken in June 2018 and June 2025. –
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