[1] IL 97 starts off in Springfield on East Clear Lake Avenue.

IL 97 splits off and north shortly after, entering Menard County.

The road enters Fulton County immediately after crossing a bridge concurrent with US 136 and IL 78.

It then passes both the Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge and Dickson Mounds State Memorial.

[3] IL 97 is the site of a pioneering work of highway beautification, the planting in 1934 of what was once a line of 'red haw' hawthorns and other Illinois native trees along the tourist route from west of Springfield to New Salem.