Hours & Admission

Admission

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is just eight miles from downtown St. Louis near Collinsville, Illinois, off Interstates 55-70 and 255, and Illinois 111, on Collinsville road. Entrance is free of charge, although a donation of $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for children, and $15 for families is suggested.

Hours

Interpretive Center: Thursday – Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Grounds: Open daily from dawn until dusk

Cahokia Gift Shop

The Museum Gift Shop carries a wonderful assortment of Cahokia Mounds Souvenir items and handcrafted Native American-made items.  We carry art and craft items from many of the Native American artists that participate in our Art Markets, which include pottery, jewelry, and wall hangings.  There is a wide range of items varying from the Kid’s Corner to hand-made walrus-ivory sculpture from Alaskan native people.  Our extensive selection of Native American jewelry is hand-picked by store manager, Linda Krieg, and represents the fine work of various Native American tribes.  Whether you are shopping for a site souvenir, or the finest of intricate pieces of hand-crafted jewelry, there is something for everyone at the Museum Gift Shop.

HOURS: 9:00 am till 4:45 pm.
PHONE: 618-344-9221
EMAIL: giftshop@cahokiamounds.org

Get Directions

EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY – NOVEMBER 2020: Due to I-255 closures, please follow current directions from the Illinois Department of Transportation HERE to get to Cahokia Mounds.

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

Orientation Theater and Exhibit Gallery
The orientation show City of the Sun 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.

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 contact the Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau.

Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau
200 Piasa Street, Alton, IL 62002
Phone:  618-465-6676
Toll Free: 1-800-258-6645

Guided Tours

In addition to a World-Class Interpretive Center, Cahokia Mounds offers 2,200 acres of the original site, 800 of which are accessible to the public. No trip is complete without exploring the site, climbing the 100 ft. Monks Mound and experiencing the reconstructed ancient sun calendar, Woodhenge.

Public Tours

During June, July, and August, public tours are conducted Wednesday through Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The tours visit either Monks Mound or the Grand Plaza-Twin Mounds-Mound 72. The tours last approximately one hour. During April, May, September, and October public tours are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. For reservations please call 618-346-5161.

Self-Guiding Tours and Other Resources

iPod Tours
Using the iPod Touch and featuring four tours: one of the Interpretive Center exhibit gallery and three of the grounds… all available in English, German and Spanish. The tours have both audio commentaries and visual components including photos, artwork, maps, and video. The outdoor tours lead the user on three different journeys through ancient history – focusing on the Grand Plaza, Monks Mound and the ancient sun calendar, Woodhenge. Tours are $3 for adults and children (pay in Gift Shop).

Nature/Culture Hike
A 5.4 mile Nature/Culture Hike booklet is available for sale in the Museum Shop. The hike goes through more remote areas of the site explaining the culture of the Mississippians, discussing where archaeology has taken place, and the use of various plants for food, medicine, dyes and fibers.

Tape Tours
A tape cassette tour is available for free from the Information Desk; it includes three hiking trails, through the Plaza, up Monks Mound, and around Woodhenge. The trails take 30 – 45 minutes to walk. To check out a tape tour, a driver’s license is required for identification. Tape tours are also available in French, German, Japanese and Spanish.

Tour Guidebook
A tour guidebook is available for purchase in the Museum Shop for $1. It includes three hiking trails: through the Plaza, up Monks Mound, and around Woodhenge. The trails are 30 – 45 minutes to walk. (Available in 11 languages)

Disabled Visitor Opportunities
A 17-minute video tour of Cahokia Mounds is available for disabled visitors and may be viewed upon request. A wheelchair is also available for use in the Interpretive Center and on the Plaza tour trail, which is paved and level. For those with visual disabilities, there is a Braille guide to Monks Mound and other site features, and an Artifact Apron that can be worn through the exhibits with replica artifacts in the pockets and an accompanying tape cassette.

Other Resources Available
We also have a “Museum Mural Walk” guidebook; a “Prairie Hike” guide; and Identification pamphlets for Trees, Birds, and Prairie Plants.

Interpretive Center

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.

Trail Map

Accommodations, Dining, Camping

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.