Welcome to

Monticello

A guide for guests
The Gathering Place · Elegant events by the water

You’ve come a long way for someone you love, and we want the rest of your weekend to feel worth the drive.

Monticello is a town of about 5,000 people with a courthouse square, a river running through it, and more good coffee per capita than it has any right to. Here’s everything you need.

One

Getting here

Monticello sits just off I-72 between Champaign and Decatur. Whatever direction you come from, the last stretch is farm fields, and then a courthouse.

Flying in

Willard Airport, Savoy CMIabout 30 min
Central Illinois Regional, Bloomington BMIabout 50 min
Indianapolis INDabout 2 hr 15
St. Louis STLabout 2 hr 30
Chicago Midway MDWabout 2 hr 45
Chicago O’Hare ORDabout 3 hr

Rent a car

Rideshare is limited out here. Willard is by far the easiest airport, two gates and you’re on the road in ten minutes, but flights are fewer and often pricier, so many guests fly into Chicago or Indianapolis and drive. Either way, you’ll want your own car. Things are close together, but they aren’t all walkable.

Two

Where to stay

Lodging in town is limited, so book early. Check with the couple about whether they’ve set up a hotel block.

Local rentals in Monticello and nearby

The closest places to the venue, and the easiest option if you’re traveling with family. Tap any name to see photos, availability, and details.

Stay in Champaign, about 25 to 30 minutes

I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center1900 S 1st StThe most upscale option in the area, on the University of Illinois campus.
Drury Inn & Suites905 Anthony DrReliable, roomy suites, hot breakfast and an evening happy hour included.
Country Inn & Suites602 W Marketview DrStraightforward and close to shopping and restaurants.
Champaign Garden Inn411 W Hill StA restored Victorian bed and breakfast, walkable to downtown Champaign.
Three

Coffee

Start here. All five are worth your time, which is a strange thing to be able to say about a town this size.

Evlo Coffee Company505 W Bridge StHas a drive-thru. Opens at 7. The reason half the town makes it to work on time.
3R² Coffee & Events106 S Charter StOpens at 6:30, right on the square, with a full case of baked goods.
KayBee Community Cafe102 E Lafayette StSet inside an old church, stained glass windows and all.
Blend and Brew309 N Market StOpens at 6. Coffee, donuts, and a bottle shop under one roof.
Pies by Inge212 S Independence StNot a coffee shop, but be there before noon. Pies, cinnamon rolls, and cookies, and yes, they sell out.
Four

Where to eat

Hours shift in a small town, and several places close Sunday or Monday. Call ahead if you’re building a plan around it.

Lunch on the square

The Brown Bag Deli212 W Washington StSandwiches made to order and a genuinely serious pie case.
Just BEE Açaí204 W Washington StFresh bowls built to order. Take yours across to the courthouse lawn.
Legends Corner219 W Washington StPatio seating and weekend breakfast.

Dinner

3Ravens Food & Spirits108 S Charter StPub food and a good draft list. Open seven days, which counts for a lot here.
Filippo’s Pizza & Italian Food200 S Market StLocal institution. Generous portions and a salad bar inside.
Las Maria’s Mexican Restaurant112 S Charter StOn the square, family-run, big portions.
Casa Real Mexican Restaurant1204 Bear LnJust off the highway. Easy parking, good margaritas.
The Main Street Pub113 W Main StBurgers and casual bar food.
Golden Kitchen402 W Center StFamily-run Chinese, dine in or take out.

A drink after

The Green Door315 W Washington StA real cocktail bar tucked into a small-town square. Worth going out of your way for. No kitchen, but they’re happy for you to bring food in.
East End Tavern116 E Washington StShuffleboard, cheap drinks, open late.

Dessert

The Main Scoop315 W Main StIce cream, craft sodas in glass bottles, and a shelf of board games.
Five

Things to do

If you have an afternoon free, spend it at Allerton. That’s the whole recommendation.

Allerton Park & Retreat Center515 Old Timber RdThe main event. Formal gardens, woodland trails, sculpture, and a historic mansion about fifteen minutes from the square. The Sunken Garden and the Fu Dog Garden are the ones people photograph. There’s a café and a gift shop. Easily two or three hours.
Monticello Railway Museum992 Iron Horse PlRestored trains you can ride and walk through, run entirely by volunteers who clearly love it. Open weekends, roughly 10:30 to 3:30. Excellent with kids.
Lodge ParkNorth of townTrails along the Sangamon River, fishing, picnic tables, and a playground. Open 6am to 8pm. Good for a morning walk or burning off restless kids.
The courthouse squareDowntown MonticelloWorth an hour on foot. Independent shops, coffee, and a bookstore all within a few blocks.
Bush Wood Miniature Golf450 W Main StNine holes, mostly honor system, next door to ice cream. Charming in a way that’s hard to explain until you’re standing in it.
Six

Shopping on the square

Good for gifts, welcome bags, or something you forgot to pack.

Hartfield Book Company110 W Washington StIndependent bookstore with a reading room in the back.
Monticello Mercantile116 E Main StGifts at every price point.
There’s No Place Like Home114 W Washington StAntiques and local artisans across 3,500 square feet of browsing.
Out of the Blue Polish Pottery & Gifts223 E Livingston StHand-painted pottery, and more of it than you’d expect.
Mary, Maude & Me300 S Charter StJewelry and small home goods.
Simply JJ200 W Washington StClothing and accessories.
Dragonfly Treasures and More104 S Charter StSecondhand finds and oddities, well priced.
Stewart Family Hardware215 S Charter StOpen seven days. Where to go for phone chargers, umbrellas, safety pins, and everything else you didn’t pack.
Seven

Good to know

If it rains

  • Allerton’s mansion and gift shop stay open
  • The Railway Museum is mostly indoors
  • There’s No Place Like Home is 3,500 square feet of browsing
  • Hartfield Book Company has a reading room with actual chairs
  • The Green Door, and no further plan required

Before you come

  • Bring cash. A few spots, the mini golf especially, run on cash or the honor system.
  • Sunday and Monday are quiet. Several shops and restaurants close one or both days.
  • Cell service is solid in town, spottier out toward Allerton and the river.
  • Pack a layer and shoes you can walk grass in. Central Illinois weather does what it wants.
  • Pharmacies are in town; the nearest full-service hospitals are in Monticello and Champaign.
The
Gathering Place

Monticello, Illinois  ·  thegatheringplaceil.com

We’re glad you’re here. If you need anything at all this weekend, just ask. That’s what small towns are for.

The
Gathering Place

Monticello, Illinois  ·  thegatheringplaceil.com

We’re glad you’re here. If you need anything at all this weekend, just ask. That’s what small towns are for.

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