It's no secret that East St. Louis is one of the top destinations in Illinois. But you'll also find plenty of other amazing places to explore when you lock in your ride and head out on the open road. Here are some suggestions to get your road trip off to a winning start:

• You'll feel the pulse of a city bustling with life as soon as you pull into Columbia. Some 120 miles from East St. Louis, it has loads of exciting places to visit, such as University of Missouri.
• Springfield, around 85 miles away, will also show you a good time. Need some sightseeing inspiration? Illinois State Fairgrounds is one of our favourite stops.
• After all that time on the road, treat yourself to a dose of fresh air at Starved Rock State Park. It's roughly 200 miles from East St. Louis.

If you don't have a license issued in the U.S, then you may need to get an International Driving Permit (IDP) in your home country before hiring a car in the U.S. If you find that an IDP is required, note that you'll also need to show your valid driver's license and your passport or other form of ID. Lastly, the credit card used to hire the car must match the name on your driver's license and passport in order to confirm your hire. Other things you should know about hire cars in the U.S. Are:

• Age restrictions: You need to be 25 or older in many states in order to hire a car, although in some areas, 21 years and older is allowed. We recommend checking state and local regulations, as well as with the company you're hiring from before you go to understand all the terms and conditions.
• Driving limitations: Don't forget to read the fine print before you slide behind the wheel to avoid unnecessary fees. When hiring a car in the United States, you typically can't cross country borders into Canada or Mexico, drive onto ferries or go off-roading with a hired car. We recommend reading all the rules and regulations before booking!