The Illinois Driftless Area is a region in Northern Illinois containing the sole portions of the Driftless Zone in Illinois. Like other portions of the Driftless Zone, the Illinois Driftless Area is noted for its high hills, deep river valleys and general scenic beauty. Like many other regions in the area, its borders are somewhat fluid but generally contain all of Jo Daviees and Stephenson Counties as well as the western portions of Carroll County near the Mississippi River.
The Illinois Driftless area is locally renowned for its scenic beauty (especially in Chicagoland), and this helped boost its tourist industry. As more and more people visited and vacationed there, the area grew to meet the demand. Galena is particularly tourist-driven, but even Stockton and Mount Carroll have some tourist elements.
It is called the Illinois Driftless Area because it is part of the driftless zone. "Driftless" refers to the geological history of the area: its ground hasn't been eroded by glaciers during Ice Ages, nor does it have rocks or other sediments transported there by moving glaciers.
The region is most accessible from the following route:
In Illinois, US 20 is designated the General Ulysses S. Grant Highway (often abbreviated the U.S. Grant Memorial Highway) and is the longest route in the United States.<ref>Ask the Rambler: What Is The Longest Road in the United States? Source published: 27-Jun-2017; accessed: 20-Jul-2022.</ref> In eastern Jo Daviess County, US 20 is one of the few areas that remain two-lane across the entire stretch of US 20. The road between Dubuque and Stockton was once known as the most dangerous stretch of all of Highway 20 because of the hills and curves flanked by cliffs and valleys. Travelers were greeted with signs reminding them to drive carefully as they entered this stretch of road.
US 20: In eastern Jo Daviess County, US 20 is one of the few areas that remain two-lane across the entire stretch of US 20. The road between Dubuque and Stockton was once known as the most dangerous stretch of all of Highway 20 because of the hills and curves flanked by cliffs and valleys. Travelers were greeted with signs reminding them to drive carefully as they entered this stretch of road. Passing lanes have made the route safer, but still has the many curves and valleys.
Within Illinois:
North into Southwest Wisconsin, for Baraboo and the Wisconsin Dells.
West across the Upper Mississippi River and into Eastern Iowa, for Clinton and Dubuque.