| Visit Chokia Mounds
FROM ST. LOUIS CITY AND WEST COUNTY
Take I-55/70, 64 or Highway 40 & 44 across the Poplar St. Bridge into Illinois. Follow I-55/70, not 64, to Exit 6 (Highway 111). Exit and turn right onto Highway 111 South. At stoplight make a left onto Collinsville Road. The Interpretive Center is about 1.5 miles on the right.
FROM NORTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY AND ST. CHARLES
Take I-270 East into Illinois to I-255. Take I-255 South (Memphis) to exit 24, Collinsville Road. Exit and turn left onto Collinsville Road at the stoplight at the end of the off-ramp. The Interpretive Center is about 1.5 miles on the left.
FROM NORTHERN AND EASTERN ILLINOIS VIA I-55/70
Take I-55 South or I-70 West to the I-255 exit 10, just past Collinsville. Take I-255 South (Memphis) to the next exit24 at Collinsville Road. Exit and turn left onto Collinsville Road at the stoplight at the end of the off-ramp. The Interpretive Center is about 1.5 miles on the left.
FROM I-64
Take I-64 East or West to I-255 North. Take I-255 North to Exit 24, Collinsville Road. Exit and turn left onto Collinsville Road at the stoplight at the end of the off-ramp. The Interpretive Center is about 1.5 miles on the left.
FROM SOUTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY
Take I-255 across the Jefferson Barracks Bridge into Illinois. Continue on I-255 until Exit 24, Collinsville Road. Exit and turn left onto Collinsville Road at the stoplight at the end of the off-ramp. The Interpretive Center is about 1.5 miles on the left.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Unfortunately, the MetroLink Bus no longer runs to Cahokia Mounds. However, there are still some public transportation options available to visitors. The Madison County Transit Bus #18 travels between downtown Collinsville and various locations in downtown St. Louis. The bus stops at the 5th and Missouri Metrolink train station in East St. Louis. The bus also stops at the intersection of Black Lane/Fairmont Ave. and Collinsville Road, a relatively short distance from the Interpretive Center. Adventurous visitors may get off the bus at Black Lane/Fairmont Ave. and walk approximately .76 miles West on Collinsville Road to the site. Please note it is a soft-shoulder street. See Walking Directions Here.
Riverbend Transportation in Collinsville, IL will also pick up visitors from the Black Lane bus stop and bring them to the site. Please note that they have a $5 minimum on taxi service.
Another option is to take the MCT Bus #18 to the Collinsville Station (located in downtown Collinsville) and take a taxi from there.
Riverbend Transportation
2105 Vandalia Ste. 11
Collinsville, IL 62234
(618) 346-1568
The Interpretive Center is open Wednesday through Sunday
Hours: Interpretive Center, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m .
Grounds: 8 a.m. to dusk.
Holidays Closed : New Year's Day, M.L. King's Birthday, Lincoln 's Birthday, President's Day, Columbus Day, General Election Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
Holidays Open: Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis near Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55-70 and 255, and Illinois 111, on Collinsville road. Entrance is free of charge, although a donation of $2 for adults and $1 for children is suggested.
Tours of Cahokia
Public Tours
During June, July, and August public tours are conducted Wednesday through Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and Sunday at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
The early tour visits the Stockade reconstruction and goes up Monks Mound. The later tour goes through the Grand Plaza to Twin Mounds and Mound 72.
The tours last approximately one hour.
During April, May, September, and October public tours are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. No reservations are needed.
Self-Guiding Tours
Tape tours
A tape tour is available from the Information Desk; it includes three hiking trails, through the Plaza, up Monks Mound, and around Woodhenge. The trails take 30 - 45 minutes to walk. To check out a tape tour, a drivers' license is required for identification. (Also available in French, German, Japanese and Spanish.)
Tour Guide Book
A tour guidebook is available for purchased in the Museum Shop for a nominal fee. It includes three hiking trails, through the Plaza, up Monks Mound, and around Woodhenge. The trails are 30 - 45 minutes to walk. (Available in 13 foreign languages and Braille.)
A 17 minute video tour of Cahokia Mounds is available for disabled visitors and may be viewed upon request.
Nature/Culture Hike
A 6.2 mile Nature/Culture hike booklet is available for sale in the Museum Shop. The hike goes through more remote areas of the site explaining the possible culture of the Mound builders, archaeology, and environment.
website: http://www.cahokiamounds.com/ |
