Effingham district, Illinois, United States

Places to visit near Effingham

Effingham is a town in Effingham district, Illinois, United States, home to about 12,604 people. Within 50 km by road there are 47 places to visit — 8 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 16 churches, 5 forts & heritage and 4 museums. The must-see places are The Cross at the Crossroads (3 km), Lake Kanagga (4 km) and S.S. President (8 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Effingham on the map

Effingham, Illinois
Effingham, Effingham district, Illinois, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Effingham at a glance

Location
Effingham district, Illinois, United States
Population
about 12,604
Coordinates
39.1200° N, 88.5434° W
Places within 50 km
47 (12 must-see)
Best time to visit
August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and museums

Top places to visit near Effingham

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Effingham: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Effingham

Things to see near Effingham, by type

Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Effingham

41 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Effingham. The closest is Lake Kanagga (4 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Churches near Effingham

34 churches within 100 km of Effingham. The closest is First Baptist Church (1 km); the best-known is Trinity Lutheran Church (15 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Effingham

26 forts & heritage within 100 km of Effingham. The closest is The Cross at the Crossroads (3 km). Best time: october to february.

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Museums near Effingham

22 museums within 100 km of Effingham. The closest is Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum (1 km); the best-known is MY Garage Museum & Retail Store (6 km). Best time: year-round.

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Wildlife, forests & gardens near Effingham

14 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Effingham. The closest is Bliss Park (1 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Parks near Effingham

12 parks within 100 km of Effingham. The closest is Bliss Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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A one-day trip from Effingham

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 39 km on the road.

  1. Start in Effingham
  2. 3 km The Cross at the Crossroads · heritage site, Henderson
  3. 1 km Lake Kanagga · lake, Henderson
  4. 7 km Lake Sara · lake, Henderson
  5. 13 km MY Garage Museum & Retail Store · museum, Effingham
  6. 7 km Monastery Museum · monastery, Effingham
  7. 8 km Back to Effingham

Plan a longer trip from Effingham — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Effingham

No traveller has reported from around Effingham yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Effingham

    All places near Effingham by distance

    Within 15 km of Effingham

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Effingham by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs841Lake Kanagga (4 km)
    Churches1634First Baptist Church (1 km)
    Forts & heritage526The Cross at the Crossroads (3 km)
    Museums422Effingham County Cultural Center and Museum (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens414Bliss Park (1 km)
    Parks212Bliss Park (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints38White Oak Mound (45 km)
    Beaches & coast14Lithia Springs Beach (50 km)
    Other attractions33S.S. President (8 km)
    Caves12Rock Cave Nature Preserve (28 km)

    Effingham: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Effingham?

    The Cross at the Crossroads (heritage site, about 3 km), Lake Kanagga (lake, about 4 km), S.S. President (attraction, about 8 km), Lake Sara (lake, about 10 km), MY Garage Museum & Retail Store (museum, about 6 km), Monastery Museum (monastery, about 8 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Effingham?

    47 places on Spotwander: 8 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 16 churches, 5 forts & heritage, 4 museums, 4 wildlife, forests & gardens.

    Which is the nearest lake to Effingham?

    Lake Kanagga, about 4 km by road; Lake Sara (10 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest church to Effingham?

    First Baptist Church, about 1 km by road; The Community Church (0 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest fort to Effingham?

    The Cross at the Crossroads, about 3 km by road; Dieterich Community Veterans Memorial (19 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Effingham?

    Start in Effingham, visit The Cross at the Crossroads, then Lake Kanagga, then Lake Sara, then MY Garage Museum & Retail Store, then Monastery Museum, and drive back — about 39 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Effingham?

    August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; October to February for forts & heritage; year-round for churches and museums.

    Towns near Effingham

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Effingham’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Effingham on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.