Thomson, IL

united states

Thomson is a small Mississippi River town in northwest Illinois, about 45 minutes from the Quad Cities. Highway 84 runs right through town along the river, connecting to Clinton, Iowa across the water. Most visitors arrive via I-80 west to Highway 84 north for a scenic river drive. The town sits where prairie meets river bluffs, creating diverse wildlife habitats. Thomson houses a federal maximum-security prison that opened in 2001.