Nano porous, transparent silica aerogels monoliths were prepared under ambient drying (1 atm, $270^{circ}C$) condition by the combination of sol-gel process and surface modification with subsequent heat treatment. Three kinds of solvent, n-hexane, n-heptane and xylene, were selected in the point view of low surface tension and vapor pressure in order to restrain a formation of cracks during drying. Crack-free silica aerogels with over 93 % of porosity and below $0.14g/cm^3$ of density were obtained by solvent exchange and surface modification under atmosphere condition. Optimum solvent was confirmed n-heptane among these solvents through estimation of FT-IR, TGA, BET and SEM. Modified silica aerogel exhibited a higher porosity and pore size compare to unmodified aerogels. Hydrophobicity was also controled by C-H and H-OH bonding state in the gel structure and heat treatment over $400^{circ}C$ effects to the hydrophobicity due to oxidation of C-H radicals.