For anyone who’s planning a vacation to Illinois, it’s important to know when the worst time of year is for visiting this beautiful state.
From humid summers and heavy storms in springtime to freezing winters and unpredictable weather, there are some times that you may want to avoid if you want your perfect getaway.
In this article, we will break down all the potential dangers of traveling during each season so that you can make an informed decision on when the best or worst time is for your own personal trip.
With helpful advice from locals as well as exploring various climates prepared by local meteorologists – you have access to information necessary for not only comfortable but also safe travel in Illinois.
Read on and find out more about what could await your arrival if the timing isn’t everything.
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The worst time to visit Illinois:
Visiting Illinois is a delight any time of the year, but if you’d like to get the most out of your visit, it’s best to avoid the winter months of mid-November through mid-March.
The frigid temperatures, unrelenting winds and frequent lake effect snow make the Midwest a particularly unpleasant place during those months.
Furthermore, Illinois typically turns into a frozen tundra after January 1st with roads that can be covered in ice and slush for days on end – making travel difficult at best.
What are some of the hazards of visiting Illinois during the winter?
Trust us, you’re better off staying home during the winter months and avoiding Illinois altogether. Here’s why:
The weather is terrible:
There’s no sugarcoating it—the weather in Illinois during the winter is just awful.
Temperatures regularly dip below freezing, and if you’re unlucky enough to be there when a snowstorm hits, you could be stuck indoors for days on end.
Not to mention, the wind chill factor makes it feel even colder than it actually is.
In short, there’s just no reason to subject yourself to that kind of torture unless you absolutely have to.
The roads are icy and dangerous:
Another hazard of visiting Illinois in the winter is the danger posed by the state’s roads.
Once the temperatures start to drop, the roads start to ice over, making them extremely treacherous to drive on—even for experienced drivers.
And if you do happen to get into an accident, good luck getting any help from the police or tow trucks—they’re usually pretty backed up this time of year.
So unless you’re prepared to deal with some serious road conditions, we recommend avoiding Illinois altogether during the winter months.
You can’t go anywhere without bundling up:
If you do decide to visit Illinois during the winter, be prepared to bundle up—and we mean really bundle up! We’re talking hats, scarves, coats, gloves, boots…the works.
Even if you’re just going from your car to your hotel room, you’ll need to be fully decked out in cold-weather gear just to survive the journey outdoors.
And forget about trying to do any sightseeing—unless you want frostbite, that is!
There’s a good chance you’ll get sick:
Another downside of visiting Illinois in the winter is that there’s a good chance you’ll end up getting sick while you’re there.
Whether it’s from being cooped up indoors all day or from exposure to the cold weather outside, your chances of coming down with a cold or flu are pretty high this time of year.
So unless you’re willing to risk getting sick, we suggest avoiding Illinois altogether during the winter months.
It’s just not worth it:
Lastly, we believe that visiting Illinois during the winter simply isn’t worth all the hassle and stress.
Between the terrible weather, dangerous roads, and the high likelihood of getting sick, there’s just no reason to put yourself through all that misery when you could be spending your time somewhere else.
So unless you have a very good reason for being in Illinois during the winter, we suggest avoiding it altogether. Trust us, you won’t regret it.
