Plan Your Visit
Plan Your Visit
***THINGS TO KNOW DURING CLOSURE***
- Grounds & trails remain open to Public daily from dawn until dusk.
- Water fountains are located in the Monks Mound Parking Lot and inside the Interpretive Center Lobby.
- MAPS AND BROCHURES can be found in a box at Monks Mound parking-lot & in front of the Interpretive Center.
- DOGS must remain on a leash at all times.
- Restrooms are located in the Monks Mound Parking Lot and inside the Interpretive Center Lobby.
- Gift Shop items can be purchased Wednesday – Sunday from 9am – 3pm inside the Interpretive Center, or online at the “SHOP” tab.
Make the most of your visit to Cahokia Mounds. This section provides useful information to assist you in planning before your arrival. Our volunteers will also be able to help you at the Information Desk located just inside the Main Entrance of the Interpretive Center. Stop there to get maps, ask questions or check out an audio tour. Museum admission is free, but donations are accepted and appreciated.
What to Wear: Cahokia Mounds offers a World-Class Interpretive Center with museum exhibit galleries, an orientation show theater, a public programming auditorium, museum shop, a snack-food service, public restrooms, staff offices, and a courtyard for educational programs. Outdoors you’ll find self-guided tours, guided tours, trails and the 100 ft high Monks Mound, the largest earthwork in North America. There’s so much to see and do, you’ll want to stay all day! Therefore, please dress accordingly. Comfortable clothing and shoes are recommended as well as hats, sunscreen, bottled water and insect repellent.
What to Bring: Visitors are welcome to bring hand-held cameras to take pictures of exhibits and site features for personal use provided that the flash is turned off while indoors. The Interpretive Center offers vending machines with snacks and cold drinks. Lunches may be brought only to the picnic grounds (located 1/2 mile West of the Interpretive Center) where picnic tables are available on a first come first serve basis. Please do not bring pets, weapons, food, beverages, gum or writing utensils inside the Interpretive Center.
How to Get Here: Cahokia Mounds is accessible via numerous major routes and has a limited number of public transportation options available. Please visit the Directions and Map to your left for details.
Pets: Pets are allowed on the grounds as long as they are leashed, the only pets allowed inside the building are service dogs.
Site Brochure: Click to Download
Hours & Admission
Hours & Admission
Admission
There is NO admission or parking fee for our Site.
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Historic Sites Division, is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis near Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55-70 and 255, and Illinois 111, on Collinsville road.
Hours and Admissions
Interpretive Center: The Interpretive Center Lobby (restrooms, gift shop, site model, Canoe exhibit and a new temporary exhibit) will be permanently open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm, while we work on exhibits.
Gift Shop: Open Wednesday through Sunday 9am to 3pm.
You are also welcome to shop at our webstore www.cahokiamounds.org/shop
Gift Shop
Cahokia Gift Shop
The Gift Shop is open Wednesday through Sunday 9am -3 pm. You are also welcome to shop our webstore www.cahokiamounds.org/shop
PHONE: 618-344-9221
EMAIL: giftshop@cahokiamounds.org
Get Directions
Get Directions
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 Exit (24) 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 Emerson Park 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.
Schedule Group
Schedule Group
Orientation Theater and Exhibit Gallery
Normally, the orientation show City of the Sun (The theatre is temporarily closed. You may watch the show by clicking on this link.) is shown each hour and on the half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There is no admission fee, but a suggested donation is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, $2.00 for students, and $15.00 for families. However, the gallery and theater are closed for renovations
Please Note: Groups which are not scheduled in advance will have to wait until there is an opening to accommodate them in the Theater and Exhibit Gallery.
Field Trips and Group Visits
To schedule a group visit or field trip, please call 618-346-5168 to book.
Interpretive Center
Interpretive Center
*****The Interpretive Center Lobby (restrooms, gift shop, site model, Canoe exhibit and a new temporary exhibit) will be permanently open Wednesday through Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm, while we work on exhibits.*****
Our Interpretation of the Cahokia site focuses on its uniqueness as an urban center, or a city. It is the largest prehistoric Indian city north of Mexico and was a religious, political, economic and cultural center.
To achieve an understanding of this site we do the following:
- Examine the factors which qualify Cahokia as a city or urban center.
- Discuss the tradition known as Mississippian, of which Cahokia was a part.
- Explain the archaeological and anthropological research, analyses, and processes that reveal this information to us.
- Disseminate this information to the general public to educate and inform through our Interpretive Center exhibits, educational programs, special events, educational literature and other interpretive activities.
Interpretive Center Information
The Interpretive Center Gallery is self-guided. Volunteers are available to answer visitor questions.
Admission
There is no admission fee, but the suggested donation is $7.00 for adults, $5.00 for seniors, $2.00 for students, and $15.00 for families.
How to schedule a group visit or field trip
Please call 618-346-5168 to book.
Trail Map
Trail Map
Accommodations, Dining, Camping
Accommodations, Dining, Camping
Activity Permit Application
Activity Permit Application
All activities taking place at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site requires an Activity Permit approved by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Any Individuals, groups, or organizations requesting permission to hold events at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site must complete an Activity Permit Application.
To obtain an Activity Permit Application, please contact Site Superintendent Lori Belknap at 618-346-5160.
Cahokia AR Tour
Cahokia AR Tour
Cahokia Mounds’ New Augmented Reality Project
Cahokia Mounds Museum Society (CMMS), the support group of the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, is a recipient of a $250,000 Digital Projects for the public grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities (NEH). The grant will be used to develop an Augmented Reality application tour that can be viewed on smart phones and tablets from the top of the 10-story Monks Mound and at various waypoints along trails that wind through the 2,200-acre site.
