WWingAwayWEEKENDSFly to lunchDestination guide 145
Illinois · Couples · Two nights

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

Wineries, sandstone bluffs and quiet forest in southern Illinois.

The Shawnee Hills rise out of southern Illinois with forested ridges, sandstone bluffs and a dozen wineries strung along a scenic loop. Taste at Blue Sky and StarView, hike to the rock formations at Garden of the Gods and Giant City, and stay at a historic schoolhouse inn or a lodge in the woods.

Wine trailRock formationsQuiet forest
See the weekend itineraryFlight & arrival details
Sandstone bluffs at Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest
Garden of the Gods, Shawnee National Forest
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KMWA
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~549 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~3 hr 54 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Rental car

Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.

01 / Aviation & getting around

Land at Marion.

KMWA, Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, is a towered field about 30 minutes from the wine trail and Giant City.

The FBO

Midwest Aviation

Veterans Airport of Southern Illinois, Marion, IL

618-993-2764

Confirm FBO hours, fees and ground transportation. No live fuel price is shown.

Ohio Valley weather: summer thunderstorms and haze, low ceilings and icing from late fall through winter. About 550 nm from Myrtle Beach. A long nonstop leg or a fuel stop.

02 / Where to stay

A schoolhouse inn or a lodge in the woods.

Rates and availability need travel dates. Fall weekends book early.

03 / Where to eat

Winery lunches and a lodge dinner.

Reserve weekend dinners.

04 / Things to do

Wine, bluffs and forest.

One wine day, one hiking day.

01

Shawnee Hills Wine Trail

A dozen wineries on a 40-mile loop.

Wine trail
02

Garden of the Gods

Sandstone formations and wide views in the national forest.

Forest Service
03

Giant City State Park

Sandstone “streets” and a fire tower.

Giant City
05 / What’s happening

Sometimes the season is the reason to fly.

This prototype links to the local visitor site. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.

Spring

Dogwoods and redbuds

The hills bloom in April.

Concerts, festivals & local happenings

Check the local calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.

Browse Shawnee Hills events
06 / Suggested itinerary

Friday in. Sunday home.

A sample long weekend: wine, bluffs and the woods. No bookings or availability confirmed.

DAY 1

Arrive

  1. Arrival

    Land at KMWA, subject to weather and your actual flight plan.

  2. Afternoon

    Check in and taste at Blue Sky.

  3. Evening

    Dinner at Giant City Lodge.

DAY 2

Explore

  1. Morning

    Garden of the Gods at sunrise.

  2. Afternoon

    StarView and Rustle Hill.

  3. Evening

    Dinner near the inn.

DAY 3

Morning & home

  1. Morning

    Giant City’s sandstone trails.

  2. Before leaving

    Allow time at the airport.

  3. Fly home

    Summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon; leave early.

07 / Good to know

Keep the weekend easy to change.

These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.

Book in this order

Lodging first, then a wine driver.

Wine

Plan a driver or a tour.

Distances

Garden of the Gods is about an hour east of the wine trail.

Best seasons

April to November.

Reviewed · Destination 145

Reviewed November 4, 2026.

Picks and links reviewed by WingAway Weekends. Hours, prices, menus and availability change often, so confirm directly with each place before booking.

WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.