Tourism statisticsState2026
Illinois Tourism Statistics: 115M Visitors in 2025
Illinois recorded 115 million visitors in 2025, the Office of Governor JB Pritzker reports. AirROI estimates 358,172 Airbnb stays in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026, with Chicago the most booked town. The busiest month was September.
Airbnb figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026. Read the method
- Estimated Airbnb nights
- 1,882,208
- Typical Airbnb stay
- 5.3 nights
- Busiest Airbnb month
- September
- From within the United States, among guests who left a review
- 91.5%
Key facts
Illinois Tourism Facts
Each sentence names its place, period and source, so it can be quoted alone.
Official
- The Office of Governor JB Pritzker puts Illinois at 115 million visitors in 2025.
Airbnb stays
- AirROI puts Airbnb stays in Illinois at 358,172 in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Illinois added up to 1,882,208 nights in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates a typical Airbnb stay in Illinois lasted 5.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 46 days ahead.
Busiest months
- AirROI ranks September the busiest Airbnb month in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026, followed by June and August, with January the quietest.
- AirROI estimates the six busiest Airbnb months in Illinois ran unbroken from May to October in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Airbnb stays in Illinois in July were booked furthest ahead, about 63 days, against 24 days for January, in the 12 months to October 2026.
Guests
- AirROI estimates 91.5% of Illinois Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within the United States, and Canada at 1.2% and Mexico at 1.2% were the top countries abroad.
By place
- AirROI ranks Illinois 23rd for Airbnb stays among the United States' 51 states in the 12 months to October 2026.
- AirROI estimates Chicago had the most Airbnb stays of the 15 towns it lists in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026, at 209,560, ahead of Guilford Township and Galena.
Official numbers
How Many Tourists Visit Illinois?
The Office of Governor JB Pritzker counted 115 million visitors in 2025.
| Figure | What it counts | Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|
| 115 millionVisitors | Domestic and international visitors to Illinois | 2025 | Office of Governor JB Pritzker / Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity |
Airbnb stays
Airbnb Stays in Illinois
Illinois had 12,281 Airbnb homes in the 12 months to October 2026. They took an estimated 358,172 stays and 1,882,208 nights. A typical stay lasted 5.3 nights and was booked about 46 days ahead. AirROI's figures cover the 92 towns it tracks in Illinois; places it does not track are not counted, so every total is a floor.
- Airbnb homes
- 12,281
- Airbnb stays, estimate
- 358,172
- Airbnb nights, estimate
- 1,882,208
- Typical stay
- 5.3 nights
- Booked ahead
- 46 days
Busiest months
When Is the Busiest Time in Illinois?
On Airbnb, September was the busiest month in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026, then June and August. January was the quietest. The six busiest months run unbroken from May to October.
September ranks first, January last
Airbnb months in calendar order, 12 months to October 2026. The number is the month's rank, and 1 is the busiest. The bar shows its part of Airbnb nights.
- Three busiest months
- Other months
From busiest to quietest: September, June, August, July, May, October, November, March, December, April, February, January.
Month by month: rank, typical stay and days booked ahead
| Month | Share of nights | Booked ahead |
|---|---|---|
| September | 10.1% | 50 days |
| June | 10.0% | 55 days |
| August | 9.9% | 54 days |
| July | 9.5% | 63 days |
| May | 9.1% | 49 days |
| October | 8.8% | 63 days |
| November | 7.8% | 43 days |
| March | 7.7% | 30 days |
| December | 7.7% | 34 days |
| April | 7.3% | 38 days |
| February | 6.1% | 25 days |
| January | 6.1% | 24 days |
Share is each month's part of the year's Airbnb nights. Typical stay and days booked ahead are AirROI estimates for stays in each month.
Where guests come from
Where Do Illinois Airbnb Guests Come From?
About nine in ten Illinois Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026 were from within the United States (91.5%), and the top countries abroad were Canada at 1.2% and Mexico at 1.2%, AirROI estimates. Among the same guests, Chicago was the top origin city at 7%, ahead of New York at 2.3%. The figures rest on 1,026,722 reviews, written over many years.
91.5% from within the United States
Among guests who left a review, as of October 2026
- From within the United States 91.5%
- From abroad 8.5%
Top countries abroad
Among guests who left a review
Top origin cities
Among guests who left a review
By town
Most Booked Towns in Illinois
Chicago, Guilford Township and Galena took 64% of Airbnb stays in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026. July is the busiest Airbnb month in 4 of the 15 towns, led by Guilford Township, and August in 4, led by Champaign. Among guests who left a review, the share from abroad across these towns runs from 1.2% in Guilford Township to 14% in Forest Park.
| Chicago | 209,560 |
| Guilford Township | 9,670 |
| Galena | 8,671 |
| Champaign | 7,062 |
| Oak Park | 6,680 |
| Evanston | 5,705 |
| Springfield | 5,139 |
| Rockford | 4,464 |
| Waukegan | 4,093 |
| Peoria | 4,065 |
| Ottawa | 3,910 |
| Bloomington | 3,322 |
| Forest Park | 3,234 |
| Urbana | 3,200 |
| Quincy | 2,359 |
* Among guests who left a review. Stays, nights and other figures are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, and cover Airbnb only. US is the top origin in every town, among guests who left a review, so this column names the top country abroad. Lists the 15 of Illinois' 92 towns with 100 or more Airbnb homes. A town with no tourism page of its own links to its Airbnb market page.
FAQ
Questions About Tourism in Illinois
How many tourists visit Illinois?
Illinois had 115 million visitors in 2025, according to the Office of Governor JB Pritzker. AirROI estimates 358,172 Airbnb stays in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026, which is a separate count of bookings.
When is high season in Illinois?
The busiest Airbnb month in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026 was September, then June and August. The six busiest months run from May to October.
What is the quietest month in Illinois?
January was the quietest Airbnb month in Illinois in the 12 months to October 2026, ranking 12th of 12, and February ranked 11th. Stays in January were booked about 24 days ahead, against 63 days for July.
How long is a typical Airbnb stay in Illinois?
A typical Airbnb stay in Illinois lasted 5.3 nights in the 12 months to October 2026, booked about 46 days ahead. By month, stays ran from 4.0 nights in September to 6.4 nights in January.
Where do Airbnb guests in Illinois come from?
Of Illinois Airbnb guests who left a review as of October 2026, 91.5% were from within the United States, AirROI estimates. The top countries abroad were Canada at 1.2% and Mexico at 1.2%. Among the same guests, the top origin city was Chicago at 7%, ahead of New York at 2.3%.
What is the most booked town in Illinois on Airbnb?
Chicago was the most booked town in Illinois on Airbnb, with an estimated 209,560 stays in the 12 months to October 2026, ahead of Guilford Township and Galena.
Are Airbnb stays the same as tourists?
No. The Office of Governor JB Pritzker counts visitors (115 million in 2025). An Airbnb stay is one booking on one platform, however many guests it holds. AirROI's 358,172 stays are estimates for the 12 months to October 2026.
Method
How These Numbers Are Made
Official figures come from their publishers, linked above, and were last checked in November 2026. Stays and nights are AirROI estimates for the 12 months to October 2026, built from Airbnb listing data, and cover Airbnb only. Nights add up each town's stays times its typical stay, across 92 towns. Month ranks compare each month's part of Airbnb nights. Origin rests on 1,026,722 reviews and describes guests who left a review, not everyone who stayed. Read the method page.