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Voykit pocket guide · United States
Crestwood
Crestwood, Illinois
Skip unless you specifically want Hollywood Park arcade. Otherwise use as a quick stop en route to Palos Heights or Joliet; half a day is enough.
Crestwood is a small village in Chicago's South Suburbs, best known for the Hollywood Park (In the Game) arcade. It has limited tourist infrastructure beyond a shopping center and a chain hotel. Most travellers pass through on the way to larger nearby towns like Palos Heights or Joliet.
- Country
- United States
- Local name
- Crestwood, Illinois
- Best months
- May–Oct
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (cold), Dec (holiday traffic)
- Stay
- 0 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 $50–80 excl. bed · Mid $80–150 excl. bed · High $150+ 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 (diner) | $2–4 |
| Fast-food meal | $8–12 |
| Sit-down restaurant dinner | $15–25 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 (check) |
| Rideshare from Midway to Crestwood | $25–35 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- MDW · Chicago Midway International Airport
- About 15–20 min by car; no direct public transit to Crestwood.
Typical fares
- Midway → Crestwood by rideshare
- about $25–35, 15–20 min (check)
- Crestwood → Palos Heights by car
- about 10 min
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 essential. No train station; Pace bus routes serve Cicero Avenue but are infrequent. Rideshare from Midway is about US$25–35.
See and do
Known for
- Hollywood Park (In the Game) arcade
- Rivercrest Shopping Center
- Close to Midway Airport
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Palos Heights | Car via Cicero Ave and 127th St, about 10 min | About 10 min |
| Joliet | Car via I-80, about 25 min | About 30 min |
| Oak Lawn | Car via Cicero Ave, about 10 min | About 10 min |
| Tinley Park | Car via I-80, about 20 min | About 25 min |
Sleep
- Cicero Avenue corridor
- Main road with the Holiday Inn Express and a few fast-food options; car needed.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hello |
| Thank you | Thank you |
| How much? | How much? |
| Where is the arcade? | Where is the arcade? |
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
- No train station; you need a car or rideshare.
- Hollywood Park arcade hours may vary: check before visiting.
- Sidewalks are limited on main roads; walking between sights is not practical.
Crestwood is generally safe. Standard suburban precautions apply: lock your car and don't leave valuables visible.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Crestwood yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Hollywood Park (In the Game) arcade
- Rivercrest Shopping Center
- Close to Midway Airport
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: Crestwood (Illinois), revision 4704183 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4704183
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
CrestwoodCrestwood, Illinois
Take me to this address, please
Take me to this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
The nearest US embassy is in Washington, DC; consulates in Chicago. For foreign visitors, contact your own country's consulate in Chicago.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/crestwood-illinois). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.