In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · United States
Staunton
Skip unless you are driving Route 66 and want a 30-min rabbit-ranch stop. Not a base: no reason to sleep here.
Staunton is a small town on old Route 66 in Southern Illinois, best known for Henry's Rabbit Ranch — a quirky roadside attraction. There is nothing else that demands a visit. Use it as a quick photo break between St. Louis and Springfield, not a destination.
- Country
- United States
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, little to do indoors)
- 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 (gas, snacks, motel) · Mid $80–150 (motel, diner meal) · High $150+ (chain hotel, sit-down dinner) (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) | $2.50–4.00 |
| Diner breakfast | $8–15 |
| Gas (per gallon) | $3.50–4.50 |
| Super 8 motel room | $75–120 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- STL · St. Louis Lambert International
- About 50 min drive west on I-55; the nearest major airport.
- SPI · Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (Springfield)
- About 40 min north on I-55; limited flights.
Typical fares
- St. Louis (STL) → Staunton by car
- about 50 min, 70 km (43 mi)about 50 min, 43 mi (70 km)
- Springfield (SPI) → Staunton by car
- about 40 min, 55 km (34 mi)about 40 min, 34 mi (55 km)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Language, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
You need a car. The town is small and walkable, but the rabbit ranch is on the old highway, about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the interstate exit.You need a car. The town is small and walkable, but the rabbit ranch is on the old highway, about 0.6 mi (1 km) from the interstate exit.
See and do
Known for
- Henry's Rabbit Ranch
- Historic Route 66 alignment
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Springfield | I-55 north, about 40 min | 40 min |
| St. Louis | I-55 south, about 50 min | 50 min |
Sleep
- Along I-55 / Herman Rd
- The Super 8 and a few chain motels; fine for a night if you must, but better to push to Springfield or St. Louis.
Language
English everywhere, with strong regional accents; Spanish is the second language in the Southwest, Texas, Florida, California and New York. Some words differ from British English: restroom (toilet), check (bill), gas (petrol), trunk (boot), first floor (ground floor).
- Measurements are imperial: miles, Fahrenheit, gallons, pounds. 100 km ≈ 62 miles; 30 °C ≈ 86 °F.
- Small talk with strangers is normal and friendly; it is not a sales tactic.
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
- Henry's Rabbit Ranch has irregular hours: call ahead or check Facebook before driving out.
- No public transport to or within Staunton.
Very safe small town. Usual rural cautions: lock your car, watch for deer on the highway at dusk.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Staunton yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Henry's Rabbit Ranch
- Historic Route 66 alignment
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- City of Staunton official site: www.cityofstauntonil.com/history
- Wikivoyage: Staunton (Illinois), revision 4997824 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4997824
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Staunton
Take me to this address
Take me to this address
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police, fire, ambulance911
Embassies in Washington, DC; consulates in Chicago and St. Louis.
Staunton is a pass-through, not a stop.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/staunton-illinois). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.