9 Incredible And Best National Parks And State Parks To Visit In Illinois

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Updated April 2022

The midwest is more than prairie lands, cornfields, the city of Chicago, and Lake Michigan, and in today’s post, I’ll be sharing with you some of the best national parks and state parks to visit in Illinois.

Experiencing the midwest through its nature is one of the best ways to experience this part of the U.S. as there is an abundance of national parks and state parks to visit within Illinois, that maybe you didn’t know of before.

girl standing on a cliff looking at the lake below

Being outdoors and visiting parks has always been a go-to plan of mine in the summer, or honestly, all year round if the weather permits.

It’s being outside, in nature, smelling the dirt, listening to the sound of trees in the wind, and stumbling across little lakes – all while enjoying a packed snack.

It’s the little things, right?

In the past couple of years, I have been able to discover more of Illinois’ nature scene, vegetation, and even places that don’t look like the typical image of a midwestern state.

Whether you’re going to be visiting the Land of the Lincoln soon, or you are simply trying to find other parks and activities to explore within our state, keep reading to check out the best national parks and state parks to visit in Illinois.

9 Incredible and Best National Parks And State Parks To Visit In Illinois

What's Inside This Post:

Starved Rock

Located in Oglesby, Illinois ( about 1 hr. 40 minutes away from the city) is a beautiful park with 13 miles of trails and 18 canyons and beautiful waterfalls.

It’s truly a really nice park to go to for a picnic, hike the trails, and even camp during the camping season.

It’s definitely one of the most popular parks to visit, and for good reason.

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this IL. state parks map of Starved Rock.

Where to stay in Starved Rock

If you want to make it a long weekend trip, make sure to check out here for some really good hotel deals as well as here for some vacation rentals that can help you plan out better, compare prices, and whatever plans you have to make your trip of experiencing Starved Rock even more fun and enjoyable.

From my research, you can stay in the town where Starved Rock is located (Oglesby) and be a few miles away.

Perfect for an early morning hike without much of a big crowd!

best national parks in illinois — Photo by Liam Briese on Unsplash

Matthiessen State Park

Located just a few miles south of Starved Rock lies Matthiessen State Park, which is a beautifully stunning park with canyons, streams, prairies, forest, rock formations, and more.

The sight of a variety of vegetation and wildlife is the perfect backdrop for picnics, hiking, and an appreciation for nature.

If you visit between the months of July and August, you will be able to experience the beautiful fields of sunflowers in their splendor.

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this IL. state parks map of Matthiessen State Park.

Is Matthiessen State Park Free?

Yes! It is free entry and access to the state park, including parking.

However because it is a popular park in Illinois, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to plan to arrive earlier in order to secure a parking spot. You don’t want to drive out for a while to find out there are no parking spots left, so plan ahead!

Where to stay near Matthiessen State Park

Taking advantage of the fact that both Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Park are pretty close, the lodging options are pretty varied in comparison to other parks on the list.

There are many hotel options as well as vacation rental options that again, depending on your plans, you can select which lodging style matches that.

If you want to make it a weekend of exploring both state parks, then you definitely have some good lodging options to do just that!

Shawnee National Forest

Most famously recognized as the Garden of the Gods, this beacon for nature lovers is located in southern Illinois, just between the Mississippi River and the Ohio Rivers in Herod, IL.

Honestly, it’s so beautiful here, it should be considered one of the natural national monuments in Illinois because it is stunning!

Shawnee National Forest park offers 403 miles of hiking, rolling hills, forests, lakes, creeks, open lands, and rugged bluffs. Jackson Falls, located within Shawnee National Forest, offers sandstone cliffs and boulders for climbing, and also just to admire.

A place not talked about enough, but one worth making the trip for!

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this IL. state parks map of Shawnee National Forest.

Where to stay near Shawnee National Forest

If you’re looking to make it a weekend getaway, but don’t know what options there are, then definitely consider looking here for some amazing vacation rentals options as well as here for some hotel options!

The vacation rentals seem to be located closer to Shawnee National Forest, however, if you don’t mind staying 20-30 minutes away from the forest, you can stay at a hotel in nearby towns such as Goreville and Anna, IL.

What is the biggest national park in Illinois?

According to multiple sites, this title goes to Pere Marquette State Park located in Grafton, IL (near the Missouri/Illinois state borders).

This park is approximately 8,000 acres of midwestern natural scapes and beauty.

You can even check out losing nearby as well as restaurants within the park. It’s very visitor-friendly, so if you’re in southern Illinois, or passing by, check it out!

Burden Falls Wilderness

Located within Shawnee National Forest, Burden Falls Wilderness offers more perfect walking trails to admire nature, as well as equestrian trails. Interestingly enough, a walk through this space of greenery will also give you insight into the use of this land before it became a top hiking destination in Illinois.

Visitors share that you can catch glimpses of old roads, cemeteries, homesteads, and fruit trees.

Nature and history in plain sight, don’t miss it!

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this IL. state parks map of Shawnee National Forest.

Where to stay near Burden Falls Wilderness

Looking for a place to stay near Burden Falls Wilderness can equate to a select few places, however, I found some options that could help jump-start your search.

There are some vacation rentals available as well as hotel options, mostly outside of the town of Stonefront (where the park is located).

However, because of its proximity to Shawnee National Forest, you could also consider looking at some of those options that I mentioned earlier, here and here.

Also, if you’re feeling adventurous and the weather permits, this park offers camping sites as well as Shawnee National Forest, so if that’s more of your speed, then definitely click here for more info!

What is the most beautiful park in Illinois?

Truthfully, there isn’t a concrete answer for this, as it depends on the traveler.

If you want an exquisite view of the prairie lands that are most common in Illinois, parks such as Midewin National Tallgrass Prarie may be the best park for you, but if you want to see canyons and sandstone cliffs, you may want to visit Shawnee National Forest or Starved Rock.

Do your own research based on what kind of nature/animals you’d like to see

Giant City State Park

Offering a wide variety of natural sites from a variety of around 75 different tree varieties, flowering mints, and abundant vegetation, Giant City State Park in Makanda, IL. accommodates both campers and day visitors.

Horseback riding, hiking the scenic trails, rock climbing, and even fishing in designated areas are just a few of the activities that you can do at this park.

While you’re there, don’t forget to visit “Giant City Streets” which are huge bluffs of sandstone that formed 12,000 years ago!

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this IL. state parks map of Giant City State Park.

Where to stay near Giant City State Park

If you’re looking to make the trip out to Giant City State Park, you might want to consider staying over to take advantage of all that the park has to offer.

Near Giant City State Park you can find a couple of hotels as well as vacation rentals, that are not so far away from the park.

If you do research on your own, just look up hotels or lodging around Makanda, IL., or a few other surroundings places such as Cobden and Saratoga.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park

Quite unlike any of the parks listed, the Cahokia Mounds is an unofficial national monument in Illinois because of its interesting appearance, history, and beauty.

They are ruins left by one of the world’s greatest cities to exist in North America, which dates back as early as 700 AD! It was the home of the native tribe, referred to as the Missippians or Mound Builders, and it is said to be the most sophisticated native civilization north of Mexico.

It has even been said that Cahokia was larger than London was in AD 1250.

The area itself has been preserved, and when you visit, you can see the mounds, which are man-made structures utilized within their civilization.

This historic site is located in the southwestern point of Illinois touching Missouri (right across the Mississippi River and East St. Louis) in the town of Collinsville, Illinois.

Make it a long weekend trip, move across the Mississippi River into St. Louis for some STL-style BBQ ribs, and top it off with a visit to Ted Drew’s for ice cream. You’re welcome.

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this interactive IL. state parks map of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park.

Where to stay near Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park is definitely a bit further down from anyone traveling from northern Illinois, so if you visit this state park, you might as well make it a weekend trip.

The beauty of being so close to the border with Missouri is that you have many lodging options to choose from.

From these hotels to these vacation rentals.

Cross over to St. Louis and add more to your itinerary if you’d like, which could also be fun with these amazing activities to do while you’re there.

Fabyan Forest Preserve

A little bit closer to Chicago in Geneva IL. is a park named after George and Nell Fabyan, the owners of the riverbank estate between 1908-1939 (now a museum).

Fabyan Forests is a park today that offers a tranquil Japanese garden, a history tour of the grounds and museum, and a view of the 5 story Dutch windmill constructed in 1870.

There, you can also find what used to be an old farmhouse built in the mid-1800s, redesigned by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright, which can also be admired on your visit. A forest preserves, unlike many, history, design, and nature.

While you’re there, stay for a bit and stroll the charming downtown area, and walk along the iconic Fox River that runs through the town of Geneva, and a few other small, charming towns.

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this interactive IL. state parks map of Cahokia Mounds State Historic Park.

Where to stay near Fabyan Forest Preserve

Fabyan Forest Preserve is located in Geneva, which is a popular destination that many people like to go visit for various reasons from shopping and dining, to walking along the Fox River, and has many lodging options.

Simply taking a look at these vacation rentals (some of which are right on the water), you really have quite a few options to pick from and not only enjoy the beauty of Fabyan Forest Preserve, but also take advantage of all that Geneva has to offer.

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this interactive IL. state parks map of Fabyan Forest Preserve.

Mississippi Palisades State Park

Located in the northwest region of Illinois in a town called Savanna, IL. is a park that offers stunning views of cliffs, rivers, caves, and ravines to those who visit.

The palisades, meaning steep cliffs, are viewed from different points of the park, and beyond the cliffs, a beautiful lake.

Summer is a great time to visit, but many recommend the fall as well, as you get to really see the beauty of the red/orange-tinged leaves all around.

Due to erosion and other natural occurrences, rock formations such as Indian Head and Twin Sisters, are some of the most photographed rock formations in the park, so don’t miss them while you’re there!

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this helpful IL. state parks map of Mississippi Palisades State Park.

Where to stay near Mississippi Palisades State Park

There are quite a few options in Savanna, IL (the name of the town in which the state is located) including a few vacation rentals like these and hotel options like these.

The beauty of staying near the park is that many of the places to stay are located super close to the Mississippi River, which is quite the sight to see as you wake up in the mornings.

What is the most popular park in Illinois?

Due to popular search results on Google, the most popular state park in Illinois has been Garden of the Gods AKA Shawnee National Forest for its breathtaking sandstone cliffs, woodlands, hills, and lakes, which make this park spectacular for hiking, walking along the river and lakes, and taking in the beautiful, natural scenery in Illinois

Cache River Wetlands

Considered by many as Illinois’ “secret bayou”, Cache River Wetlands in Cypress, Illinois is a park that offers hiking trails including floating boardwalks through the wetlands, kayaking, canoeing (which they have for rent), and learning more about this park at the Cache River Wetlands center.

You can also learn about how this part of Illinois resembles Louisiana, with its natural wildlife and vegetation of the area.

Definitely, a place to check out, experience, and see what the wetlands look like, without even leaving Illinois. Make it a weekend trip, stay in the cabins not too far from the park, and enjoy food and drinks at Cache River Basin Vineyard and Winery.

Map out your trail before driving over, by clicking on this helpful IL. state parks map of Cache River Wetlands.

Where to stay near Cache River Wetlands

If you’re planning a longer stay near the Cache River Wetlands, make sure to check out these beautiful vacation rentals to plan your stay at some pretty amazing and close places near the Cache River Wetlands.

Honorable mentions – Which other state and national parks are in Illinois?

Illinois Beach State Park – Zion, IL.

Moraine Hills State Park – McHenry, IL.

Kankakee River State Park – Bourbonnais, IL.

Rock Cut State Park – Loves Park, IL.

James Pate Philip State Park – Bartlett, IL.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prarie – Wilmington, IL.

White Pines Forest State Park – Mt. Morris, IL.

Castle Rock State Park – Oregon, IL.

Dixon Springs State Park – Golconda, IL.

Pere Marquette State Park – Grafton, IL.

The Wrap Up – 9 Incredible and Best National Parks And State Parks To Visit In Illinois

So which one is the next park on your list to visit?

Was there one that surprised you, or a few that you’ve been to?

The truth is, there are so many beautiful natural sights here in Illinois – from beautiful sights and parks in Illinois to some even considered national monuments in Illinois.

Taking a weekend to go hike at one of these beautiful national parks is a great plan, especially in the summer.

This isn’t a cumulative list of all the best parks in Illinois, but it’s definitely a start for those who are wanting to see something a little different,

To more natural escapes that give us what we need, and more ✨

Illinois National and State Parks FAQ