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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Collinsville, Illinois
Collinsville
Spend a half‑day in Collinsville: 3 h for the Catsup Bottle Tower, Horseradish Festival (June) or Cahokia Mounds, then drive back to St. Louis.
Collinsville is a small Metro‑East town with a few quirky attractions – the world’s largest catsup bottle, horseradish festival and nearby Cahokia Mounds. All sights fit in a half‑day, so a single day (or a quick stop on a St. Louis road trip) is enough.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Collinsville
- Best months
- May–Oct (festivals, warm weather)
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold, occasional snow)
- Stay
- 0–1 (optional if you stay in St. Louis) nights
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 $30–50 excl. bed · Mid $50–80 excl. bed · High $80+ 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 | $2–3 |
| BBQ plate (Bandana's) | $8–15 |
| Fast‑food combo | $5–8 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.30–3.80 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- STL · St. Louis Lambert International Airport
- —
Typical fares
- Rental car (day)
- ≈ $55, includes basic insurance (check)
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
Car is primary mode; MCT bus runs limited routes. Parking available at major sites.
See and do
Known for
- World's Largest Catsup Bottle
- Horseradish Festival
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site | Drive south on IL‑3, about 15 min | ≈30 min total |
| World's Largest Catsup Bottle | Drive north on I‑70, exit at S Morrison Ave, 5 min | ≈10 min total |
Sleep
- DoubleTree Hotel
- Near Gateway Conference Center, convenient if you need a night before a St. Louis drive.
- Drury Inn
- Close to I‑70, basic amenities.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Excuse meExcuse me |
| Thank you | Thank youThank you |
| How much is it? | How much is it?How much is it? |
| Where is the restroom? | 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
- Most attractions are seasonal – Horseradish Festival runs early June; check dates.
- Summer can exceed 100 °F; bring water.
Collinsville is typical Midwestern small‑town America; crime rates low, but lock car doors and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Collinsville, Illinois yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 (optional if you stay in St. Louis) nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- World's Largest Catsup Bottle
- Horseradish Festival
- Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Collinsville (Illinois), revision 5318116 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5318116
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Collinsville, IllinoisCollinsville
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police/Fire/Ambulance911
US citizens need no visa; Canadian, UK, Australian travelers check entry rules (check).
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/collinsville-illinois). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.