Illinois Tourism Statistics

Published Sep 9, 2026

Illinois has become a tourism powerhouse in recent years, showing strong recovery and growth in the post-pandemic period. Major attractions include the iconic Route 66, the city of Chicago, and varied landscapes.

How many people visit Illinois each year?

Illinois consistently draws more than 100 million visitors annually, acting as a key gateway to the American Midwest.

The state saw a post-pandemic high in 2024 with 112.9 million total visitors, reflecting steady growth from the previous year and continuing the recovery for Illinois tourism.
Before the pandemic, Illinois welcomed 122.8 million visitors in 2019, establishing a baseline with $45.5 billion in direct spending.
Visitor numbers dropped sharply to 67.4 million in 2020, a 45% decrease from 2019 due to global travel restrictions and statewide lockdowns.
Tourism began to rebound in 2021 with 97.1 million visitors, followed by 111.3 million in 2022, showing a strong recovery path.
In 2023, Illinois recorded 112.4 million visitors, continuing the upward trend.

Vertical bar chart of total annual visitors to Illinois in millions, by year from 2017 to 2024; visitors peak at 122.8 million in 2019, drop to 67.4 million in 2020, then recover to about 112.9 million by 2024. — Annual visitors to Illinois, 2017–2024.

How many people visited Illinois in 2024?

Illinois reached a post-pandemic peak with 112.9 million visitors in 2024, marking strong momentum in the state's tourism recovery.
This figure was a slight increase over 2023 but still 8% below 2019’s pre-pandemic level of 122.8 million visitors.

How many people visited Illinois in 2023?

Illinois saw 112.4 million visitors in 2023, continuing its recovery from pandemic lows.
Of those, 110.2 million were domestic travelers and 2.2 million were international visitors.
The total marked a 1% increase from 2022, but it remained 8.4% below 2019 levels.

How many people visit Illinois each day?

Illinois welcomed an average of about 309,000 daily visitors in 2024, reflecting its appeal as a year-round destination with strong regional interest.
In 2023, the daily average was around 308,000 visitors, showing stable tourism flow.
Peak summer months like July and August regularly see over 350,000 daily visitors, driven by festivals and family travel.
Even during the winter (December through March), Illinois typically sees more than 250,000 daily visitors, supported by indoor attractions and cultural events.
In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, daily averages dropped to approximately 185,000.

How much do visitors spend each year?

Tourism is a key part of the Illinois economy, generating over $48 billion in 2024 and providing notable tax benefits for residents.

Visitor spending hit an all-time high of $48.5 billion in 2024, showing continued gains in visitor spending.
In 2023, spending was $47.2 billion, the first year to surpass pre-pandemic spending and a major milestone in recovery.
Pre-pandemic, visitor spending totaled $45.5 billion in 2019.
That figure dropped to $23.3 billion in 2020 due to the pandemic, then rebounded with $32.2 billion in 2021 and $44.3 billion in 2022, underscoring the strength of the state's tourism recovery.

Vertical bar chart of total annual visitor spending in Illinois in billions of dollars, by year from 2017 to 2024; spending bottoms at $23.3 billion in 2020 and rises to a record $48.5 billion in 2024. — Annual visitor spending in Illinois, 2017–2024.

How much did visitors spend in 2024?

Visitors spent a record $48.5 billion in 2024, with spending spread across multiple sectors statewide.
This represented a 2.8% increase from 2023 and a 6.6% increase over 2019.

How much did visitors spend in 2023?

Tourists spent $47.2 billion in 2023, marking a full recovery of tourism spending compared to pre-pandemic levels.
This figure was a 6.6% increase from 2022 and roughly 3.7% higher than 2019.

Visitor Spending Breakdown

Illinois visitors spent $20.7 billion on Transportation in 2024, accounting for 42.7% of total spending.
Food and Beverage followed with $10.2 billion, representing 21%.
Lodging totaled $9.6 billion, or 19.8% of the spending.
Recreation and Retail accounted for $4.4 billion (9.1%) and $3.6 billion (7.4%), respectively.

Pie chart of 2024 Illinois visitor spending by category: Transportation 42.7%, Food & Beverage 21%, Lodging 19.8%, Recreation 9.1%, and Retail 7.4%. — 2024 Illinois visitor spending breakdown by category.

How much does it cost to visit Illinois?

Costs vary by travel style and region, with Chicago typically being the most expensive destination in the state.

Budget travelers: Daily costs range from $75–125, covering hostels or budget hotels ($40–70/night), casual dining or fast food ($25–40/day) and public transit or walking ($5–15/day).
Mid-range travelers: Expect to spend $150–250 daily, including standard hotels ($90–180/night), meals at casual restaurants ($50–75/day) and rental cars or taxis ($30–50/day).
Luxury travelers: Costs often exceed $300–500/day, with high-end hotel stays ($200–400+/night), fine dining ($100–150+/day) and premium transportation ($50–100+/day).

Which countries visit Illinois the most?

Illinois mainly draws international visitors from North America and Europe, with notable post-pandemic growth from key markets.

Canada was the top source market in 2023 with 627,000 visitors, a 48% increase from 2022.
Mexico ranked second with 183,000 visitors, up 12% year over year.
India saw 55% growth from 2019 to 2023, reflecting gains in long-haul travel.
The United Kingdom and Germany completed the top five international markets, both showing strong recovery from pandemic lows.
Overseas visitors (excluding Canada and Mexico) increased by 40% between 2022 and 2023, growing from 963,000 to 1.35 million.

Related Travel Statistics

When is the best time to visit Illinois?

Illinois offers year-round appeal, though visitor trends show clear seasonal patterns:

Spring (March–May): Moderate crowds, 20–30% lower hotel rates, blooming gardens and value pricing.
Summer (June–August): Peak travel season with larger crowds and higher rates, driven by festivals, outdoor events and family vacations.
Fall (September–October): Moderate crowds and pricing, known for fall foliage, harvest festivals and pleasant weather.
Winter (November–February): Lowest visitation and best-value pricing, ideal for holiday events, museums and indoor activities.

What are the main attractions in Illinois?Millennium Park: Chicago’s top public space, with an estimated 20 million annual visitors.
Chicago Riverwalk: A downtown favorite drawing about 10 million visitors each year.
Navy Pier: According to its 2024 report, Navy Pier saw 8.5 million guests and is often called the most visited destination in the Midwest.
Lincoln Park Zoo: One of the country’s oldest zoos, with around 3.6 million annual visitors.
Art Institute of Chicago: Receives over 1.5 million visitors annually. In 2023, the count was 1.32 million.

References

Illinois Tourism Data · enjoyillinois.com
Best Time to Visit Illinois · yodl.travel
Illinois’ Major Attractions · axios.com