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 sunrise-sunset
- 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
- Big Foot Beach State Park - 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
- Starved Rock State Park - Open 7AM to sunset
Matthiessen State Park - Open 7AM to sunset
James Pate Phillip State Park - Open 9 AM to 5 PM
Image Via facebook/kankakeeriverstatepark
SOUTH
- Kankakee River State Park - Open 6 AM-10 PM
- Rubio Woods - Open sunrise to sunset
- 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 sunrise to sunset
- 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
- William W. Powers State Recreation Area - Open 6AM to 6PM
- Channahon State Park - Open 7:30AM - 7PM
- Brezina Woods - Open sunrise to sunset
Updated NOVEMBER 2025