Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Collinsville, IL

Located in the Metro-East region, approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Collinsville is situated on the bluffs overlooking the American Bottom, which is the floodplain of the Mississippi River.

The historical heart of the city can be found in Uptown along Main Street, characterized by a diverse array of architectural styles, historical residences, longstanding traditions, and numerous local businesses with deep community connections.

This vibrant setting serves as the backdrop for Collinsville’s annual events, including a festival celebrating the city’s rich Italian heritage and another honoring the extensive production of horseradish in the area.

There is a wealth of engaging activities available within the city and its surroundings, whether you are discovering the remnants of a historic civilization, enjoying top-tier motorsports, or bicycling along the comprehensive Madison County Transit Trails.

1. Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site

A hidden city residing on the outskirts of Collinsville has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At its zenith during the 11th and 12th centuries CE, Cahokia may have surpassed London in size.

The archaeological remnants, spanning 2,200 acres, form the largest pre-Columbian settlement in North America, north of Mexico.

The most significant feature is Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthwork mound in the Americas, which rises 100 feet high and measures 955 feet wide and 775 feet long.

For an enriching experience, guided public tours are available Thursday through Sunday.

The interpretive center provides insightful commentary on the Mississippian culture and the discoveries made through archaeological research at Cahokia.

2. Willoughby Heritage Farm

Adjacent to uptown Collinsville, visitors can explore a glimpse of local agricultural life from the 1950s.

Willoughby Heritage Farm is free to visit and boasts a stunning location perched on the bluff overlooking the Mississippi floodplain.

Managed by the Collinsville parks and recreation department, the farm features preserved barns, a 1930s-style Craftsman farmhouse, and a variety of domesticated animals such as chickens, pigs, and goats.

The farm is open daily and offers a range of recreational programs and seasonal educational initiatives across 40 acres, with hiking trails that meander through prairie and woodland areas.

3. World’s Largest Catsup Bottle

For decades, the G.S. Suppiger catsup bottling plant, known for packaging Brooks old original rich & tangy catsup, served as a significant employer in Collinsville.

In 1949, the W.E. Caldwell Company, which continues to operate today, built a water tower for the plant, located a short distance south of Uptown Collinsville.

Suggesting that the reservoir be shaped like a Brooks catsup bottle, the plant’s owner contributed to the creation of this charming mid-century relic.

The World’s Largest Catsup Bottle underwent renovations in the mid-1990s and earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

4. Uptown Collinsville

Uptown Collinsville features architecture spanning from the city’s incorporation in 1872 through the 20th century, making it worthy of an hour or two of exploration.

Main Street, the thoroughfare stretching southwest to northeast for several blocks, is home to numerous shops, services, bars, and restaurants.

The eastern end has an assortment of cuisines, including Tex-Mex, Southern classics, pub fare, and sandwiches.

You will discover a few Italian establishments here, and Uptown hosts the two-day Italian Fest, a celebration of food and culture occurring on the third weekend of September.

Just a few blocks south of Main Street lies the historic Glenwood Cemetery, established in 1822, which serves as the final resting place for the city’s earliest residents and veterans from every U.S. war.

5. Kruta Bakery

This family-owned bakery has a remarkable history dating back to 1919, when it was established in East St. Louis by Frank Kruta Sr., a Russian immigrant who trained as a baker in Germany.

In 1974, the bakery relocated to Collinsville and has remained in its current location at 300 St. Louis Rd., continuing to welcome customers with warmth and hospitality after more than a century.

The bakery offers an extensive selection of fresh breads, donuts, pastries, danishes, cakes, cupcakes, pies, cookies, and stollen, with recipes passed down through generations.

Specialties that will entice your taste buds include delectable cream horns, gooey butter cake, and strudel.

6. Collinsville Historical Museum

The Collinsville Historical Society operates this museum located at 406 Main Street, showcasing over 250 years of local history.

The museum houses a rich collection of artifacts unique to Collinsville, including antique cowbells produced by the Blum Bell Manufacturing Company and tools from the city’s once-thriving coal mining industry.

Visitors can learn the fascinating history behind the World’s Largest Catsup Bottle and discover details about the three historic factories that contributed to the city’s clothing manufacturing prominence.

Collinsville has produced numerous professional sports stars and Olympians, with information available in the dedicated sports exhibit.

7. D.D. Collins House

Situated at the western edge of uptown Collinsville is an exquisite post-and-beam Greek Revival residence, constructed in 1845.

The D.D. Collins House was built by Daniel Dove Collins, who served as the first president of the Collinsville Board of Trustees and was a cousin of the village’s founders.

The house originally stood several blocks away at Main and Center but was relocated to its current site in the 1890s.

Open for tours on Saturdays, the house has been beautifully restored following an 18-year renovation completed in 2016.

8. Collinsville Aqua Park

The leading water park in the Metro-East area is managed by the local parks and recreation department, offering extensive amenities.

The leisure pool features dual slides, one open and one enclosed, cascading into the deep end from a height of three stories.

Children will find plenty of attractions, such as floating lily pads and the Water Fortress play area with various jets and valves.

Additional amenities include a lazy river, Monsoon Mountain (complete with a 500-gallon tipping bucket), and a four-lane lap pool that includes a 12-foot climbing wall over the deep end.

9. Fairmount Park Racetrack

Collinsville is home to the only horse racing venue in Illinois outside of the Chicago area. Since 1925, Fairmount Park has hosted thoroughbred racing on a one-mile dirt oval.

The live racing season runs from April to October, featuring approximately 90 races each year on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

The Fanduel Sportsbook at the track operates year-round, seven days a week, providing opportunities for wagering on major sports events as well as simulcast horse races.

Throughout the racing season, there are three dining options available at the track, and packages can be arranged at the Black Stallion and Top of the Turf dining rooms.

10. World Wide Technology Raceway (Gateway Motorsports Park)

Another notable sports venue in the region is this racetrack complex, which comprises four facilities on a single site. The main track features a 1.25-mile oval, serving as a venue for both the IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

Within this venue exists a road course utilized by various national car clubs, while the quarter-mile drag strip hosts NHRA Camping World Drag Racing Series events.

Even when other racing activities are taking place, the Gateway Kartplex, inaugurated in 2013, is available for group events, competitive racing, and arrive-and-drive experiences.

World Wide Technology Raceway is one of several locations across the nation that offers ride-alongs and racing experiences through the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience.

11. Relleke Pumpkin Patch

During the autumn season, this farm located near Horseshoe Lake welcomes the public for a variety of family-friendly activities.

On weekends, from late September through late October, visitors can enjoy pumpkin painting, hayrides, pony rides, sand art, inflatable games, a corn maze, barrel train rides, and a haunted maze among other attractions.

Children will enjoy interacting with the farm animals, which include ducks, turkeys, chickens, donkeys, geese, pigs, and a llama, as well as the opportunity to meet and feed the playful goats.

The farm also features daily sales of various pumpkins, squashes, specialty foods, and handcrafted crafts during this enchanting season.

12. MCT Schoolhouse Trail

Madison County Transit has undertaken a commendable initiative over the past 30 years by converting former rail corridors into bikeways.

MCT is the sole transit system in the United States that integrates bikeways with bus lines, boasting more than 100 miles of paths across ten distinct trails.

The MCT Schoolhouse Trail, which is the primary trail serving Collinsville, commences near the shores of Horseshoe Lake, a residual meander of the Mississippi, and extends northeast through Collinsville’s outskirts toward the village of Maryville.

This scenic trail spans over 15 miles, leading users through farmland, wooded areas, and well-kept residential neighborhoods.

13. Gateway Convention Center

Located ten minutes from uptown Collinsville, the Gateway Convention Center is a multipurpose venue that opened in the early 1990s and has been expanded three times to accommodate increasingly larger events.

Complemented by nearby restaurants and hotels, the center has spurred surrounding growth and hosts a busy calendar with events occurring most weekends.

Recently, the center hosted Dino Stroll, showcasing 75 lifelike animatronic dinosaurs. Upcoming events cover a broad range of topics, from anime and science fiction to archaeology, model railroading, and amateur radio.

14. Woodland Park

This picturesque park, conveniently located near shopping areas along Beltline Road and Route 159 in the northeastern part of the city, offers a tranquil retreat.

Woodland Park is nestled in a small valley featuring two ponds fed by a creek that flows through nearby neighborhoods.

The abundant water source attracts various ducks and geese, providing an excellent setting for fishing.

Olivers Road meanders through Woodland Park, which includes a children’s playground, picnic tables, and shelters, as well as two baseball fields and a half basketball court.

The park also features an 18-hole disc golf course.

15. International Horseradish Festival

Collinsville proudly carries the title of the “Horseradish Capital of the World,” exporting substantial quantities of this root to markets in Europe and the Far East.

The significance of horseradish to Collinsville has led to a two-day celebration dedicated to all things horseradish, held on the first weekend of June.

Centered along Main Street, the International Horseradish Festival has entered its fourth decade and draws thousands of attendees.

The event features a diverse array of foods and includes horseradish root-grinding demonstrations, a 5k run, live music, a car show, the Root Derby race, a beauty pageant, a bloody mary contest, and numerous craft vendors.