Take Interstate 80 from the west as far as exit 239 in eastern Iowa. Follow U.S. 218/Iowa Highway 27 south to Iowa Highway 2 at Donnellson. Take Highway 2 east to the Mississippi River and reach the town of Ft. Madison. A toll bridge at the river costs $1.00; after crossing it, turn right to take Illinois 96 south. Nauvoo is nine miles out.
Drive Interstate 80 from the east and exit to Interstate 74 east just before you reach the city of Moline. Exit I-74 is at Highway 34; take 34 west to Biggsville. After passing through Biggsville, take Highway 94/116 south to Highway 96, then take 96 south into Nauvoo.
Approach Nauvoo from Interstate 70, which crosses Missouri and Illinois south of Nauvoo. When you reach exit 209 in Missouri, leave the freeway and follow U.S. 61 north to Hannibal, a town on the Mississippi. At Hannibal follow Highway 36 east across the river, then take Interstate 172 north. Pass the town of Quincy, then exit the freeway on Highway 24 west. Follow 24 to Highway 96, turn north on 96 and follow this road into Nauvoo.
Fly to Chicago's O'Hare or Midway airport and take a local commuter flight to Keokuk, Fort Madison or the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport at Burlington. All of these airports are within 20 miles of Nauvoo. Take a rental car or taxi to Nauvoo, following the highway directions above.
Take Amtrak's Southwest Chief, which runs between Chicago and Fort Madison, Iowa. Reserved coach fare is $43 one way in 2011, and the trip takes approximately three hours and 45 minutes. From Fort Madison, take a rental car or taxi to nearby Nauvoo.
