[1] Illinois 96 follows much of the Great River Road in Illinois north from Kampsville, where it runs west to the Mississippi River and then turns north, passing U.S. Route 54 at a rural intersection and Interstate 72 at an old terminus near Kinderhook.

SBI Route 96 originally followed the modern-day Illinois 96 from Niota south to Kinderhook.

In 1941, the state announced that IL 96 was extended north through Dallas City and Lomax to Terre Haute.

Various state route designations (IL 96A) were used for Carmen Road between Lomax and Gulfport until the 1965 Mississippi River floods.

In March 1941, IL 96 was extended south to Hamburg to a historical ferry crossing.