State Parks Near Chicago

Let’s get back to the great outdoors.

State parks are all over Chicagoland, but have you taken advantage of them yet? Fresh air has long been prescribed as great for the body, but now more than ever it can do you some good! Visit one of these state parks not too far from Chicago and take a deep breath.

Image Via Facebook/IllinoisBeachStatePark

NORTH

• Des Plaines River Trail - Open sunrise to sunset
• Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve - Open 6 AM-7:30 PM
• Rock Cut State Park - Open 8 AM-5 PM
• Ryerson Conservation Area - Open 6 AM-sunset
• Illinois Beach State Park - Open 8 AM-sunset
• Potawatomi Woods - Open 6 AM-11 PM
  
• Chain o' Lakes State Park - Open 6 AM-9 PM
• Deer Grove East - Open 6:30 AM-8:30 PM
  
• Moraine Hills State Park - Open 8 AM-5 PM
• Volo Bog State Natural Area - Open 9 AM-3 PM Wednesday through Sunday
• Glacial Park - Open 9 AM-5:30 PM
• Liberty Prairie Nature Preserve - Open one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset
  
• Captain Daniel Wright Woods Forest Preserve - Open 6:30 AM-sunset
• Spring Lake Forest Preserve - Open 6:30 AM-8:30 PM
• Bong Recreation Area - Open 6 AM-11 PM

Image Via facebook/prophetstownstatepark

WEST

• Franklin Creek State Natural Area -Open 8 AM-5 PM
• Hennepin Canal State Trail -Open 24 hours
• Bemis Woods - Open sunrise to sunset
• Illini State Park - Open sunrise to sunset
• Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve - Open one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset
• Lowden State Park - Open 5 AM-10 PM
• Palos Trail System - Open sunrise to sunset
  
• Prophetstown State Park - Open 7 AM-11 PM
• Cap Sauers Holding Nature Preserve - Open sunrise to sunset
  
• Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area - Open 6 AM-10 PM
• Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area - Open 7 AM-7 PM
• Arthur L. Janura Forest Preserve - 7 AM-8 PM
• Ned Brown Forest Preserve - Open sunrise to sunset
• Peck Farm Park - Open 6 AM-10 PM
• Camp Bullfrog Lake - Open 7 AM-10 PM
• Blackwell Forest Preserve - Open one hour after sunrise to one hour after sunset

Image Via facebook/kankakeeriverstatepark

SOUTH

• Kankakee River State Park - Open 24/7
• Rubio Woods - Open 7 AM-8 PM
• Orland Grove Forest Preserve - Open sunrise to sunset
• Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area - Open 6:30 AM-sunset
• Illinois and Michigan Canal State Trail - Open sunrise to sunset
• Wampum Lake Woods - Open 7 AM-6PM
• Joliet Iron Works Historic Site - Open 8 AM-sunset
• Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie - Open 4 AM-10PM
• Indiana Dunes State Park - Open 7 AM-11 PM
• Tippecanoe River State Park - Open 7 AM-11 PM
• Goodenow Grove Nature Preserve - Trail Open 24/7
• Warren Dunes State Park - Open 8 AM-10PM

Updated August 2025

Did we miss your favorite one? Let us know!