Gpaw47 Loc: Denver, Colorado

I am going to visit family in Illinois, Pontiac area, next month. I live in Denver and am planning on driving out through Kansas on I70. Does anyone have any suggestions on places to do some landscape or wildlife photography?
I’m also going up 55 in Illinois. Would welcome suggestions for that drive also.
Thanks for any suggestions you might have.
Have a great day!

catskinner Loc: Middle Kansas

Out in Western KS. is Castle Rock, Wilson lake area is pretty and on East is the Flint Hills. You are also along side the KP RR much of the way if you like RR's. I do. catskinner

usnret Loc: Woodhull Il

I grew up on a farm just a few miles north of Pontiac. Hate to say it, but road kill is about the only critters you'll see near there. (be on the look-out for deer crossing the roads at night). Old US route 66 used to pass through there and that's about it's only note worthy claim to fame.

Steve DeMott Loc: St. Louis, Missouri (Oakville area)

In McBaine, MO is the largest burr Oak tree in the U.S. It's about a 30 minute drive south of I-70.
https://www.nps.gov/articles/mcbaine-burr-oak-lewis-and-clark-national-historic-trail.htm

Another website with sites along I-70
https://missourilife.com/i-70-travel-guide/

Springfield, IL. Home of the original hotdog on a stick.
https://www.cozydogdrivein.com/

Abe Lincoln Museum also in Springfield
https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/

Here's a couple of website with rules for wildlife & landscape photography in MO.
https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/photography
https://mdc.mo.gov/magazines/missouri-conservationist/2023-07/watchable-wildlife-waters-edge

Hope this helps. Have a fun and save trip

ajbrenn Loc: Goshen, IN

The Cathedral of the Plains in Victoria, Kansas, is well worth a stop. It is a very impressive structure, 220 feet high.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

tripadvisor.com

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

I-70 is not the most scenic of Kansas roads, at least the western end, if you get off on either side of it is where the beauty of the prairie really shines.
South of Oakley you will find the Castle Rock formations, north of Wilson is the Saline Valley and the lake.
Post rock country around Russell you will find the fence posts and old farmsteads made of limestone, some these old structures are really fascinating, and make for interesting landscape photos.
The I-70 route east of Salina is where the scenery begins to change with trees on the creek bottoms and becomes hilly. The Flint Hills are really pretty, but I'm a little biased being raised in western Kansas.

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

The Missouri runs into the Mississippi just north of 270 at St. Louis. (You'll want to take 270 and even 370 to avoid traffic). There's a park on the Illinois side with views of the river. It's closed on Mondays. I hiked into the confluence on the Missouri side. Pretty cool. There are also some places west of there where you can get right down to the Missouri. Other than that, 70 is pretty boring. However, if you drop south and drive some two-lane roads, it can get beautiful, and you'll find Daniel Boone's Missouri home.

MrPhotog

On your return, try I-80. Or on your way out.

I think the I-80 route is more scenic. It parallels the Platte river and runs by more parks and historic sites.

Google maps says it is cheaper (no tolls) and 43 minutes faster than I-70.

If I’m on I-80, I always try to plan my trips so I get to Walcott Iowa for fuel and a meal at the worlds largest truck stop, immediately north of the Walcott exit.

A few hours east of there, in Illinois, it takes you to Starved Rock State Park, which has very approachable rock features, and lots of great landscape opportunities. Level hiking trails. An hour later you are in Pontiac.

I-70 is flat, boring, and I think it was planned that way. It roughly parallels US40, called The National Road, the second transcontinental highway, which goes through the middle of lots of interesting small towns. Get off I-70 and explore by US40 if you can. IMO I-70 was built at a time when people wanted a high-speed bypass to avoid towns.

I-55 between St.Louis and Pontiac parallels the original Rt 66. There have been a lot of travel books written about Rt 66, finding detailed info on that stretch should be easy.

St. Louis is an old town with historic areas. If you like shooting in graveyards, they have some very old, and interesting ones.

Enjoy your trip. Be careful of traffic, and your speed, around St. Louis. There are a few areas with confusing signage. It is easy to miss your exit to I-55.

dougbev3 Loc: Pueblo, Colorado

Monument Rocks - western Kansas down dirt roads but worth the trip.

Heaththiel Loc: Wisconsin

Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park in Kansas. Very cool.

JimGray Loc: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Monument Rock and Castle Rock are similar but different photogenic geological structures in western Kansas worth a stop.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

At Topeka, I70 turns into a toll road but it also runs past Lawrence where KU is. Manhattan is just east of Salina and is where K-State is. Both schools have interesting architecture. Haskell indian institute is near Lawrence. That is were Jim Thorpe went to school. Excelsior Springs in St. Joseph Mo. has the excelsior hotel which is beautiful and has various mineral waters.

The Flint Hills are well south of I70 and are located on the Kansas Turnpike. Kansas City has some great BBQ joints. The most famous is probably Aurther Bryant's which has several locations.

W9OD Loc: Wisconsin

Leavenworth, KS has a great prison to view! Also, Amelia Earhart’s home is in Atchison, KS near there. Looking at the prison makes you want to behave.

M1911 Loc: DFW Metromess

Fort Leavenworth has a great museum too.