Starved Rock State Park, Illinois

Starved Rock State Park in Illinois ranks 5th on the list of best road trips from Chicago. The historic town of Ottawa, located at the intersection of the Fox and Illinois Rivers, is best known as the entryway to Starved Rock State Park, where tall bluffs and canyon waterfalls provide one of the finest outdoor experiences near Chicago. While it is the most popular state park in Illinois, Starved Rock still manages to create one of the finest hiking and camping destinations around with 18 glacier-carved canyons and more than 13 miles of trails. Don’t miss the equally cool bluff-side expanses of nearby Matthiessen or Buffalo Rock State Park. And if you can swing a room for the night at the National Register of Historic Places-listed Starved Rock Lodge, by all means, you should. You can even hop aboard a river cruise or tread alongside an expert on a guided hike tour. Wherever you stay though, there is plenty to do in and near Ottawa.

Now that winter is waning just the teeniest, tiniest bit, let’s reminisce. This part of central Illinois is unusually beautiful during the colder months, with a bounty of trails winding through pine forests, deep canyons, frozen waterfalls, and a slew of spectacular ice formations. Together, the three parks form a trifecta of outdoor bliss, where opportunities for hiking, cross country skiing, and in some parts, even ice climbing abound. And after you’ve had your fill of the great outdoors, you’ll find antique shops, gift boutiques, restaurants, museums, immersive entertainment, and leisure activities just a stone’s throw away, alongside boozy local gems like craft breweries and wineries—nothing beats the small town hospitality and charm around here.

Miles from Chicago: 94 miles southwest

Suggested round-trip time: 2-hour drive

Location: 2678 E 875th Rd, Oglesby, Illinois 61348, United States

Tripadvisor Rating: 4.5/5