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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Alton
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Alton; one night if you want a B&B stay.
Alton, Illinois sits on the Mississippi River opposite St. Louis. Its river‑front historic sites, wineries, antique shops and a few museums fit comfortably into a single day, with optional overnight at a local B&B.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, limited tours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- USD
- Money
- Currency is the US dollar (USD, $). Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Daily spend
- Budget $50–$80 excl. bed · Mid $80–$130 excl. bed · High $130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile cover the country; prepaid SIMs at their stores and Walmart/Target (passport required), or an eSIM before you fly.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · Chargers are dual-voltage; hair dryers and straighteners from 230 V countries need a converter.
- Tipping
- Sit-down restaurant: 18–22% of the pre-tax bill.; Bar: US$1–2 per drink or 20% of the tab.; Taxi / ride-hailing: 15–20%, in the app.; Hotel housekeeping: US$3–5 a night.; Porter / valet: US$2–5 per bag or car.; Tour guide: US$10–20 per person for a day tour.; Counter service / tablet prompts: Optional; 0–15%.
- Water
- Tap water is drinkable nearly everywhere; boil or treat water from streams in parks.
- Toilets
- Free public toilets are scarce in big cities; use cafés, department stores, libraries, stations. Rest areas on highways are free.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | $2–$4 |
| Lunch (sandwich or soup) | $8–$12 |
| Beer (draft) | $4–$6 |
| Amtrak ticket (Lincoln Service, one way) | $15–$30 |
| Museum entry (National Great Rivers Museum) | Free |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- STL · Lambert St. Louis International Airport
- ≈25 min by car
Typical fares
- STL → Alton (taxi, 25 mi)
- ≈ $55–$70, traffic dependent
- Amtrak Lincoln Service Alton ↔ St. Louis
- ≈ $15–$30 one way, schedule dependent
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk the riverfront district; short drives on I‑270/I‑255. Amtrak stops at Alton Regional Multimodal Transportation Center (several trains daily).
See and do
Known for
- Riverfront historic sites
- Wineries on the Great Rivers Byway
- Antique shopping
- Robert Wadlow statue
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site | Drive north via IL‑3, about 15 min | ≈30 min round trip |
| St. Louis, MO (downtown) | Amtrak Lincoln Service, 20 min | ≈45 min total |
Sleep
- Beall Mansion B&B
- Upscale historic inn on Millionaire’s Row
- Comfort Inn
- Chain motel near downtown, free breakfast
- Super 8 Motel
- Budget option, easy highway access
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse me |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | Where is the restroom? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'hi, how are you?' — reply 'good, thanks'; avoid: Treating the question as a real health enquiry
- Restaurants: Tip 18–22% and wait for the check; avoid: Leaving without tipping
- Personal space: Keep an arm's length in queues; avoid: Standing close to strangers
- Politics and religion: Listen more than you speak; avoid: Opening with hot-button topics
- Smoking: Smoke only in marked areas; avoid: Smoking near doors or in parks where banned
Scams and watch-outs
- Last Amtrak trains leave after 10 pm; plan return earlier.
- Some tours (e.g., haunted Alton) run evenings only; book ahead.
- Winter weather can limit boat rentals.
Alton is generally safe; typical small‑town caution after dark, especially near the river at night.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Alton yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Riverfront historic sites
- Wineries on the Great Rivers Byway
- Antique shopping
- Robert Wadlow statue
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Alton Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alton,_Illinois
- Amtrak Illinois services: www.amtrak.com/routes/illinois-services-train.html
- Wikivoyage: Alton (Illinois), revision 5243960 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243960
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Alton
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
US consulate in St. Louis (address to be confirmed).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/alton-illinois). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.