Overview
Cairo (pronounced KAY-ro) is in Illinois on a small strip of land in between Missouri and Kentucky as well as the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, made famous in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn. It was briefly a thriving community, but descended into industrial decline and racial violence for several decades, leaving it almost entirely abandoned.
4 sights · 2 things to do · 7 places to eat · 4 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Cairo
Cairo Custom House Museum
14th and Washington Ave. An American Civil War and local history museum. M-F 10AM-noon, 1-3PM.
Fort Defiance State Park
This once neglected state park has come back into better days thanks to local efforts. It looks out over the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as the two powerful water flows attempt to combine.
Magnolia Manor
Safford Memorial Library
Home to Civil War documents, antiques, and paintings.
Levee Footrace
A 5000- and 10,000-meter run held on the Mississippi River Levee is held the second Saturday of November.
St Mary's Park
This city park once played host to Theodore Roosevelt, but now hosts the city's residents with recreation facilities.
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Summer highs reach about 89°F; winter lows dip to about 27°F. Wettest: May and Apr. (climate data from nearby Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- PAH Barkley Regional Airport, Paducah — 23 mi away. Directions
- CGI Cape Girardeau Regional Airport, Cape Girardeau — 26 mi away. Directions
- STL St. Louis Lambert International Airport, St Louis — 136 mi away (major hub). Directions
Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 2-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Cairo Custom House Museum, Safford Memorial Library
- Lunch Andy's Drive-In
- Afternoon Levee Footrace
- Dinner Cairo Truck Stop
Day 2
- Morning Fort Defiance State Park, Magnolia Manor
- Lunch Chris's Cafe
- Afternoon St Mary's Park
- Dinner Dairy Hut
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
The town was in former times a major port, but is now a semi-ghost town as a result of the decline of the river trade. During the American Civil War, it was used by U.S. Grant as a supply hub, but his military occupation of the town diverted much trade towards Chicago and Cairo could never quite get it back. Elements of the boom period still exist, with some beautiful manors from the late 19th century still standing in the residential section of town. While a small community still exists, it is mostly a site for urbex and some local history.
Get in
By car
- US 51. Head south on US Highway 51 from Interstate 57.
By plane
Go Cairo Regional Airport (CIR)
See
See Cairo Custom House Museum
14th and Washington Ave. An American Civil War and local history museum. M-F 10AM-noon, 1-3PM.
See Fort Defiance State Park
This once neglected state park has come back into better days thanks to local efforts. It looks out over the Ohio and Mississippi rivers as the two powerful water flows attempt to combine.
Do
Do Levee Footrace
A 5000- and 10,000-meter run held on the Mississippi River Levee is held the second Saturday of November.
Do St Mary's Park
This city park once played host to Theodore Roosevelt, but now hosts the city's residents with recreation facilities.
Eat
Sleep
Stay Belvedere Motel
Stay Relax Inn
Nearby
Sikeston
City / town · 2 listings · 24 mi away
Metropolis
City / town · 5 listings · 27 mi away
Cape Girardeau
City / town · 10 listings · 29 mi away
Paducah
City / town · 28 listings · 32 mi away
Cobden
City / town · 6 listings · 36 mi away
Giant City State Park
Park · 3 listings · 41 mi away
Union City
City / town · 7 listings · 41 mi away
Makanda
City / town · 42 mi away
My experience
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