Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site, near Collinsville, Illinois, preserves the central section of the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. There is no admission or parking fee, so you can visit the grounds and trails without buying a ticket.
- Entry: No admission fee; donations are accepted and appreciated.
- Parking: No parking fee.
- Grounds and trails: Open daily from dawn until dusk.
- Location: 30 Ramey Street, Collinsville, Illinois 62234.
How Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site tickets and admission work
Cahokia Mounds has no admission charge, and you do not need to pay for parking. The site accepts and appreciates donations; its suggested contributions for the Interpretive Center are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, $2 for students and $15 for families.
Those amounts are suggested donations, not ticket prices or required entry fees. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources gives the site address as 30 Ramey Street, Collinsville, Illinois 62234, and lists its phone number as 618-346-5160.
Where to confirm current fees and hours
The grounds and trails are open to the public daily from dawn until dusk. Visitor-center access can differ from access to the outdoor site, so check the official site before you go for current hours and entry details.
The grounds preserve a major archaeological landscape: Cahokia’s city was occupied from 700 to 1400 and reached a reported peak population of 10,000 to 20,000 around 1100. The site became a National Historic Landmark in 1965 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1982.
What can you visit outdoors?
Monks Mound, a reconstructed stockade wall and Woodhenge are among the site’s notable outdoor features. Monks Mound is approximately 100 feet tall; Woodhenge is a circle of posts used to align sunrise observations with the seasons and time of year.
Maps and brochures are available in holders near the Monks Mound parking lot and in front of the Interpretive Center. Near the parking lot, you’ll also find a water fountain and a vault toilet. Dogs must remain on a leash at all times.
The site has a wheelchair-accessible one-mile concrete trail and a one-mile crushed-limestone trail. Longer routes include a 6.2-mile Nature/Culture Trail through wetland, forest and grassland, and a one-mile Prairie State Nature Walk.
How do you get to Cahokia Mounds?
Cahokia Mounds is near Collinsville and is accessible from Interstates 55-70 and 255 and Illinois Route 111 via Collinsville Road. The site is eight miles from downtown St. Louis. From First Western Inn in Caseyville, it’s about an 8-minute drive.
Parking lots have designated accessible spaces. If you’re planning a visit around the visitor center, confirm its status before setting out; outdoor grounds access and indoor services may differ.
For more context on the site’s features and history, read this Cahokia Mounds visitor guide.
FAQs
Do you need a ticket to enter Cahokia Mounds?
No. There is no admission fee, and parking is free. Suggested donations for the Interpretive Center are optional.
When are the grounds open?
The grounds and trails are open daily from dawn until dusk. Check the official site before you go for current visitor-center hours.
Where is Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site?
It is at 30 Ramey Street, Collinsville, Illinois 62234, near Collinsville and eight miles from downtown St. Louis. The Caseyville local visitor guide covers the surrounding town.
Are there accessible trails?
Yes. The site has a wheelchair-accessible one-mile concrete trail, as well as a one-mile crushed-limestone trail.