Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
4.5
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A sophisticated Native American society of about 20,000 people that operated via a sun calendar and disappeared by 1400.
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- Chris MPocono Mountains Region, Pennsylvania490 contributionsNeeds more context and explanationThis is a cultural and historical artifact that I wish the site had done a better job putting into context. The museum was closed when we visited and I think that really hurt our better understanding of the site, which is clearly a big deal but it was hard to discern from just the signage on the mounds alone. To visit Monks Mound across the street, I recommend driving and parking there vs trying to cross the busy street on foot. Also be prepared to climb 155 steps one way to reach the top, where there are undeniably great views to be had on a clear day. We hope to return when the museum is open to better appreciate this site.Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 20 September 2023
- D J239 contributionsI'm a little obsessed.If you're a history / archaeology buff, do not miss this. The more you learn about this site the more you're in awe of it. We signed up for a scheduled tour that begins at the visitor's center (note: GPS guided us to a parking lot as we came from St Louis - go a little further down the road and you'll see the center). Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and we did some significant walking all around the 'lower' part of the site on one side of the road. If you can't do a scheduled tour, you'll get a lot of the same information along with a virtual reality view of the grounds back at the time it was occupied by purchasing the VR app they offer (it's $5 and VERY worth it). At each site you can visually see the site brought back to life super-imposed over the existing landscape. So cool. On the other side of the road is the pyramid called Monks Mound. A sad name for such an awe-inspiring ancient pyramid. Climb the steps to the top and use the VR app again for sites all around the top, looking out over what would have been a very large settlement with satellite villages off in every direction. I cannot recommend this site enough, it is likely my favorite stop on our "visit to St Louis" beating out the Clydesdales, the Arch, and the Botanical Garden. But much of that is because this type of site is a passion for me. If it is for you as well, you have to go, you won't be disappointed!Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 8 October 2023
- KristinErinJanesville, Wisconsin13 contributionsWhat an amazing place!I wish the visitor center was open! I wanted to learn it all. Nicely kept paved sidewalks around the park. It’s a lot of walking, it’s very large. And Monk’s Mound was a climb, but totally worth it!Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 21 October 2023
- Free KarmaIllinois25 contributionsEducational. Peaceful. Trails.Educational. Trails with moderate hike up stairs of Monks Mound. Half-day+exploring site. Family-Friendly or solo-friendly. Cute gift shop inside museum with educational movie. I believe renovations are complete in 2024. During my visit in 2021, museum underwent renovations. Note: *Actual visit occurred in 2021*Visited February 2023Travelled soloWritten 17 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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vacationaholic
Central Oregon, OR445 contributions
Mar 2024 • Business
Visited this site mid-afternoon. The museum is closed (not sure why). Sketchy folks in the parking lot near the museum. Across the street is the largest mound which you can climb stairs to the top. View was ok. The app you should use to interpret the designed signs (kinda like a QR code) is not user friendly at all and I gave up on the app and just enjoyed the view and read up on stuff later. The paths by the museum were appeared OK if you're mobility challenged - but forget going up the largest mound across the street. I don't have mobility issues - just want to put that limitation out there if you have issues.
Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Free Karma
Illinois25 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
Educational. Trails with moderate hike up stairs of Monks Mound.
Half-day+exploring site. Family-Friendly or solo-friendly. Cute gift shop inside museum with educational movie. I believe renovations are complete in 2024. During my visit in 2021, museum underwent renovations.
Note: *Actual visit occurred in 2021*
Half-day+exploring site. Family-Friendly or solo-friendly. Cute gift shop inside museum with educational movie. I believe renovations are complete in 2024. During my visit in 2021, museum underwent renovations.
Note: *Actual visit occurred in 2021*
Written 17 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin B
Mount Juliet, TN2,325 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Cahokia Mounds is a site that you could easily drive by and never stop given that it's not super flashy and they're just mounds of earth. It is however a very interesting site to visit and there's a lot of history here that I hadn't known about before visiting. The site is located in the southern part of Illinois and you can actually see St. Louis from the top of the mounds, which is fun. Entrance is free and there's plenty of parking as well. You can walk along the mound system and there are stairs that you can climb to get to the top of the highest mound. It's an interesting historical site and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys history and exploring.
Written 30 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janet DP
Burlington, WI21 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Well worth the trip for history buffs. Signage on the trails was confusing as it was difficult to pinpoint their location on the printed map. Some trails marked on the map did not exist on the terrain or could not be spotted. Some of the features were unmarked and unidentified. The virtual tour does not work with all Android phones (check online before expecting to use it on-site). Staff at the museum is very kind and helpful even though that facility was closed for renovations at the time of our visit.
Written 7 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bli1220
Eustis, FL312 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The Mounds were absolutely awesome. So glad we finally pulled over on one of our Mo-Fl trips.
Would have loved to given this place a 5 star but currently the museum, gift shop and restrooms of main location were all closed. The port-a-potties across the road by Monk Mound were the worse things I have ever experienced. There were no alternative bathrooms. They were dirty, smelled bad and needed trash and hole cleaned. We have been traveling parks all across US for over 6 years and this is the worst ever!!
Will stop again when main facility is open and hopefully give higher rating.
Would have loved to given this place a 5 star but currently the museum, gift shop and restrooms of main location were all closed. The port-a-potties across the road by Monk Mound were the worse things I have ever experienced. There were no alternative bathrooms. They were dirty, smelled bad and needed trash and hole cleaned. We have been traveling parks all across US for over 6 years and this is the worst ever!!
Will stop again when main facility is open and hopefully give higher rating.
Written 26 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Raintree_Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand3,818 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
The Cahokia Mounds are a historical treasure! The area was once one of the largest settlements in the world, with populations greater than London and Paris at the time. There are some 120 mounds in the area, constructed about 800-1,000 years ago. Monk's Mound is the largest pre-Columbian earthen structure in North America north of Mexico. The large mound is 100 feet in height and covers 14 acres -- an area roughly the size of the base of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Considering that the entire mound was constructed by carrying an estimated 22 million cubic feet of soil, basket by basket, it is an amazing structure. The area has rightfully named a World Heritage Site. Visitors can climb to the top of Monk's Mound for a nice view of the area, including the skyline of St. Louis in the distance.
Written 22 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KristinErin
Janesville, WI13 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
I wish the visitor center was open! I wanted to learn it all.
Nicely kept paved sidewalks around the park.
It’s a lot of walking, it’s very large. And Monk’s Mound was a climb, but totally worth it!
Nicely kept paved sidewalks around the park.
It’s a lot of walking, it’s very large. And Monk’s Mound was a climb, but totally worth it!
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MAP12
New Orleans, LA600 contributions
Sept 2023 • Friends
I hope to be able to return once the visitor center is open - and when it's not so hot out. The site seems well maintained, but without a visitor center explaining it it's hard to comprehend what it is.
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
D J
RatherNotSay239 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
If you're a history / archaeology buff, do not miss this. The more you learn about this site the more you're in awe of it. We signed up for a scheduled tour that begins at the visitor's center (note: GPS guided us to a parking lot as we came from St Louis - go a little further down the road and you'll see the center). Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and we did some significant walking all around the 'lower' part of the site on one side of the road. If you can't do a scheduled tour, you'll get a lot of the same information along with a virtual reality view of the grounds back at the time it was occupied by purchasing the VR app they offer (it's $5 and VERY worth it). At each site you can visually see the site brought back to life super-imposed over the existing landscape. So cool. On the other side of the road is the pyramid called Monks Mound. A sad name for such an awe-inspiring ancient pyramid. Climb the steps to the top and use the VR app again for sites all around the top, looking out over what would have been a very large settlement with satellite villages off in every direction. I cannot recommend this site enough, it is likely my favorite stop on our "visit to St Louis" beating out the Clydesdales, the Arch, and the Botanical Garden. But much of that is because this type of site is a passion for me. If it is for you as well, you have to go, you won't be disappointed!
Written 8 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris M
Pocono Mountains Region, PA490 contributions
Sept 2023 • Family
This is a cultural and historical artifact that I wish the site had done a better job putting into context. The museum was closed when we visited and I think that really hurt our better understanding of the site, which is clearly a big deal but it was hard to discern from just the signage on the mounds alone. To visit Monks Mound across the street, I recommend driving and parking there vs trying to cross the busy street on foot. Also be prepared to climb 155 steps one way to reach the top, where there are undeniably great views to be had on a clear day. We hope to return when the museum is open to better appreciate this site.
Written 20 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there parking large enough for a camper
Tom G
Winona, MN1,948 contributions
Yes. There's a few small spaces close to the Visitor Center, but other larger parking areas a little further away from the V.C., near Monk's Mound, and a turn-out near Woodhenge.
Can you dig and find your own artifacts?
Cynthia P
Columbia, MO17 contributions
No, you can't look for your own artifacts. But many have been found by people who live in the area and given to archeologists.
Urai L
Bangkok, Thailand
อยากรู้ประวัติปิรามิดโบราณในเมือง Cahokia
cahokiamounds
Collinsville, IL
Sorry for the delay in answering your question but you can go to our web site for more information as well as a bibliography that lists published articles about Cahokia and the Mississippian culture. Just go to Google and look for Cahokia Mounds World Heritage Site.
AUserOp
OP25 contributions
Are there bike trails at Cahokia? If so, does anyone know about how how many miles of trails? Can you see most of Cahokia from the bike trails?
Audubon69
Clarksville, TN15 contributions
Several hiking trails but I don’t recall seeing anyone biking. However I believe St. Louis has a biking trail that goes for several miles that is near where Lewis and Clark started their voyage of discovery. Google should have it.
Jan W
Honolulu, HI
Do you have any of the original inhabitants' giant skeletons that were recovered or their copper armor etc. on display? Are they mentioned or discussed in the interpretive center?
cahokiamounds
Collinsville, IL
Just saw your question. As the other responders noted, no giant skeletons or copper armor have been found here. The tallest burial was about 6 feet, most were shorter. The only copper thus far found has been small ornaments or tools, although a copper workshop area has been identified where they were heating and hammering copper nuggets into ornaments, leaving residue in the soil, but no finished objects.
Рlease сan you tell how many steps up to the monk's mound?
cahokiamounds
Collinsville, IL
There are 156 stairs to the top of Monks Mound
JoAnn P
Shamokin, PA66 contributions
Can you drive around to see the mounds? Can you park at various spots and walk (if so about how far of a walk)?
Going in the summer and trying to plan in case it's too hot to do much walking!
cahokiamounds
Collinsville, IL
Our open-close schedule for the Interpretive Center does change periodically, depending on budget and staffing. Currently we are now open 6 days a week, closed on Mondays. For the summer months it looks like we will be open 7 days a week, including holidays Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. After labor day we may go back to the 6 day schedule.
Kelly H
Chicago, IL10 contributions
How long should one allow to tour the mounds?
Matt C
New Boston, MI134 contributions
That is a tough question to answer, but I will try. The short answer is three hours, but that is really too short. The museum alone will need most of an hour that you can break up with the video that is another half. That is close to two without walking the grounds. I can't think that once you are there you would not want to walk the grounds for less than an hour, and that would be just a survey but would be well worth doing. We were amazed.
ReneeA1973
Emporia, KS40 contributions
Are there any day tour companies that pick you up at your hotel and include Cahokia in their tour?
Painter1972
Kansas City, MO139 contributions
I wish I could answer your question, but we had driven our own vehicle and I don't remember any tour buses pulling into the parking lot the day we were there. You might call the park and ask them if they are aware of any tour buses.
Are dogs allowed?
Jenn Adele K
Stone Mountain, GA54 contributions
They are allowed outside and on-leash... Please, also plan to bring some sort of baggies to clean up after your pet. I don't think dogs are allowed inside the educational center though... you'd have to call and ask about that.
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Claim your listingCAHOKIA MOUNDS STATE HISTORIC SITE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
- Hotels near Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site:
- (5.35 km) Drury Inn St Louis Collinsville
- (11.51 km) The Pennywell St.Louis Downtown, a Hilton Hotel
- (11.63 km) Drury Plaza Hotel St. Louis at the Arch
- (15.27 km) Benton Park Inn
- (11.73 km) Magnolia Hotel St. Louis, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
- Restaurants near Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site:
- (5.43 km) Kruta Collinsville Bakery
- (14.76 km) Blues City Deli
- (11.95 km) Crown Candy Kitchen
- (14.37 km) Pappy's Smokehouse
- (13.28 km) Bogart's Smokehouse
- Attractions near Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site:
- (11.31 km) The Gateway Arch
- (11.31 km) Top Notch Axe Throwing St. Louis
- (12.12 km) See STL Tours
- (14.70 km) Budweiser Brewery Experience
- (11.35 km) Mastermind Room Escape - St. Louis