current tours
Unlike other tour companies, we work around your schedule. Our tours are available 7 days a week from 10 AM to 6 PM, allowing you to choose the time that suits you best. Rather than offering fixed tour times, we let you decide when you're ready to explore.
book with confidence- you can reschedule or cancel for a full refund until 72 hours before your tour (but, we’ve never refused a refund!)
5-star rating on tripadvisor/airbnb/google/apple/yelp & 2024 tripadvisor travelers choice award winner
For a more in-depth tour information click on associated tour image. When you are ready to book click “BOOK NOW” at the bottom of the page.
check out our road-trip tours
kids 8 & Under free with paid adult! (safari tour only)
Starved Rock Safari: Bison, Birds & Historic Waters
Discover Ottawa’s Hidden Gems on Our “Safari” Tour: Explore why Ottawa exists—born from the Illinois & Michigan Canal. See the replica canal boat “Rail Splitter”, majestic bald eagle nests along the Illinois River, and meet live bison Coco & Hope at Buffalo Rock. Family-friendly driving adventures in Lady Carbonia reveal Starved Rock Country’s best—no hiking needed!
The Radium Girls of Ottawa, Illinois
This tour immerses you in the daily lives of the young women and girls who worked at Radium Dial Corp. You'll follow their journey from enthusiastic new employees to ailing skeptics of the company's deceit, and ultimately, to courageous advocates for civil, women's, and human rights. Driving tour 90-120 min.
Legends, Landmarks & Lethal Encounters: Washington Square
Follow in Abraham Lincoln’s footsteps through Ottawa, Illinois—where he spoke, slept, and shaped history. Driving tour, some walking 90 min.
This special tour highlights Ottawa’s most important Lincoln sites, including Valley View, the historic 1842 mansion of Judge T. Lyle Dickey. Guests will see Lincoln’s bedroom, along with other remarkable places connected to Abraham Lincoln’s visits to Ottawa, from his time as a militia man at Fort Johnson to the famous Lincoln-Douglas Debate site and the former location of Mayor Glover’s home, where Lincoln stayed after the debate.
Along the way, the tour shares compelling stories about Lincoln’s local connections, including the intriguing letter from John J. Crittenden to Dickey that played a role in the political tensions of the era. While there is no documented proof that Lincoln stayed overnight at Valley View, the home remains an unforgettable stop filled with history, mystery, and local legend.
Lincoln’s Ottawa: Stories from valley view
Embark on a captivating journey through Ottawa's profound Underground Railroad history. Discover Ottawa's pivotal role in aiding potentially thousands of enslaved people in their quest for freedom in Canada, navigating a clandestine network of routes and safe havens. (Pictured is a brutally abused enslaved man known only as “Gordon”. He was not in Ottawa although this picture encapsulates the brutality that was faced by all enslaved people.) Driving tour, some easy walking, 90-120 min.
Ottawa’s Underground Railroad, uncovered
NEW TOUR
Step into the past in Washington Square and downtown Ottawa, Illinois, and explore the scandals, stories, and secrets that shaped this river town’s character. This immersive walking tour weaves together dramatic debates, stunning murals, historic architecture, and even murder into an unforgettable journey through time. Covering less than one mile on city streets, parks, and sidewalks, this experience keeps everything close, walkable, and packed with history at every turn.
graveyard stories: Heroes, hobos & Murderers, unearthed tour
Embark on a chilling expedition through the annals of history with our "Graveyard Stories: Heroes, Hobos, and Murderers, Unearthed" driving tour. Ottawa, Illinois serves as the backdrop for a journey into the dark and intriguing past of its inhabitants. Driving tour, some walking, 90-120 min.
Embark on an unforgettable journey through time with Awesome Ottawa Tours and the majestic Saint Genevieve Riverboat! Brace yourself for a riveting 2-hour adventure along the Illinois River, as you voyage from Ottawa, Illinois to the breathtaking Buffalo Rock State Park while being regaled with history, wildlife and beautiful views. View 2026 dates here!
awesome Ottawa Cruise aboard the sainte genevieve riverboat
