Illinois Route 17 (IL 17) is a rural, arterial east–west state highway that runs east from a former ferry crossing in New Boston along the banks of the Mississippi River[3] to State Road 2 west of Lowell, Indiana.

A ferry crossing to Iowa had been dropped in the 1950s,[2] but the terminus has not been moved east to reflect this.

In 2003, the discovery that the Mississippi River had deepened at a nearby location raised the possibility of returning ferry service to New Boston.

SBI Route 17 originally ran from Lacon to Grant Park.

The only changes to Route 17 have been extensions east and west, and a relocation to a new road south of Streator.