Choose your Chicago day trip by what you want to do: climb Lake Michigan dunes, walk a shoreline, explore sandstone canyons, or follow a river. These five state parks offer different visits. Compare the trail options, dog restrictions and entrance costs below before choosing your destination.
Trip-planning details and the Chicago departure reference checked October 22, 2026. Our selections reflect activities, access and practical differences, rather than a numerical ranking. See our editorial review methodology.
Compare five state parks near Chicago
For a beach visit: consider Indiana Dunes or Illinois Beach. For canyon walking: compare Starved Rock with Matthiessen, checking closures first. For a river-and-woodland walk: consider Kankakee River. If you are bringing a dog, the beach restrictions may decide the trip for you.
On a narrow screen, scroll the comparison sideways. Trail distances describe the named route unless identified as a network. The separate distance column shows approximate straight-line miles from Chicago Union Station, not driving distances.
| Park | Choose it for | Trail starting point for your plan | With a dog | Entrance cost | Straight-line distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Indiana Dunes State Park Indiana | Dunes and a Lake Michigan beach | Trail 8: 1.5 miles, rated rugged by Indiana DNR | No dogs on the state park beach | $7 per Indiana-plated vehicle; $20 for out-of-state plates | 34.0 miles |
| 2. Starved Rock State Park Illinois | Sandstone canyons and overlooks | French Canyon from the visitor center; check the construction map | Leashed dogs allowed; stairs and heat need planning | Free entry; camping and lodging cost extra | 79.9 miles |
| 3. Matthiessen State Park Illinois | A Dells-area canyon walk | Choose an open route from the five-mile hiking network | Keep pets leashed; consider canyon stairs | No entrance fee; camping is a separate activity | 82.7 miles |
| 4. Illinois Beach State Park Illinois | Shoreline scenery and a separate trail outing | North Unit: Camp Logan multi-use loop, 1.8 miles | No dogs on the beach or in the nature preserve | No general park entrance fee; check beach-use charges separately | 40.4 miles |
| 5. Kankakee River State Park Illinois | River scenery and the Rock Creek route | Rock Creek: three-mile route; hiking is on the river's north side | Pets must be leashed | No entrance fee; camping and rentals cost extra | 50.1 miles |
Fee basis: the Indiana amounts apply to ordinary noncommercial vehicles and their passengers, as listed by Indiana DNR. Illinois DNR lists no general entrance fee but distinguishes beach-use charges and camping costs. Check the individual park for the activity you plan; an entry fee is not an all-inclusive trip price.
Check these closures before a canyon trip
Trail construction: Starved Rock’s October construction update lists LaSalle, Tonti, Pontiac, Basswood and Lonetree canyons, Sandstone Point, and the Parkman’s Plain/LaSalle parking lot as inaccessible. It lists access to French Canyon, Starved Rock and several other destinations from the visitor center or lodge. Use the current IDNR construction update to choose an open route.
Matthiessen’s park notice lists the Lake Falls bridge/trail as closed with a detour; the Dells restroom building is closed for repairs, with portable toilets available. IDNR also lists hunting closures affecting Matthiessen and some outlying Starved Rock areas on November 20–22 and December 3–6, 2026. The main Starved Rock hiking trails are listed as open during those hunting dates. Read the park notice for the exact areas, later dates and any changes.
Plan the drive to the right entrance
The route links below start at Chicago Union Station, giving you a consistent origin. Change it to your actual departure point. They open a route request rather than a measured driving-time promise: traffic, roadworks and the particular trailhead can change your journey. Check the destination pin against the official park map before leaving.
Map of these five parks
The map and comparison use the same five selected parks. Distances are approximate straight-line miles from Chicago Union Station to the stored park reference points, not driving distances or distances to a particular entrance. Route links below request driving directions to the named visitor areas.
Origin reference: Chicago Union Station on OpenStreetMap. See Amtrak’s station information when planning your departure.
Map numbers follow the comparison. The park links below work without loading the map.
1. Indiana Dunes State Park · 2. Starved Rock State Park · 3. Matthiessen State Park · 4. Illinois Beach State Park · 5. Kankakee River State Park
1. Indiana Dunes State Park: dunes or a beach visit
Distance from Chicago Union Station: 34.0 miles (straight-line to the park reference point).
The state park protects more than three miles of Lake Michigan beach. For a sand-dune hike, Indiana DNR rates Trail 8 as rugged, 1.5 miles. For a different outing, its Trail 2 is rated easy, three miles, through forest. Read the official trail descriptions and map when choosing.
Important distinction: Indiana Dunes State Park and Indiana Dunes National Park have separate entrance fees and passes. The national park is not free: NPS lists a $25 private-vehicle pass valid for seven days. That pass does not cover the state park. Dogs are not allowed on the state park beach, and swimming access depends on weather and staffing.
Full Indiana Dunes State Park guide · Route to the state park entrance
2. Starved Rock State Park: choose an open canyon route
Distance from Chicago Union Station: 79.9 miles (straight-line to the park reference point).
Start your route planning with the visitor center and the current construction notice. French Canyon is one option listed as accessible in the October update; a continuous walk to every canyon is not available. The park’s official Q&A booklet explains that trails have uneven surfaces and stairs. A short distance alone does not make a canyon route accessible.
Keep dogs leashed. Swimming and wading in the canyons are prohibited. Waterfalls depend on precipitation, so choose the canyon walk for its landscape rather than a guaranteed flow.
3. Matthiessen State Park: plan around the Dells detour
Distance from Chicago Union Station: 82.7 miles (straight-line to the park reference point).
Matthiessen has five miles of hiking trails in total, rather than a single five-mile canyon loop. IDNR describes upper and bluff-top paths as easier, with more difficult walking inside the Dells. Use the trail information alongside the current closure notice to select your walk.
Swimming and rock climbing are prohibited. Bikes belong on the designated Vermilion River Area trails, not in the Dells. Do not assume Matthiessen guarantees spare parking when Starved Rock is busy; select an alternative before you travel.
4. Illinois Beach State Park: separate the beach plan from the dog walk
Distance from Chicago Union Station: 40.4 miles (straight-line to the park reference point).
Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park has distinct north and south units. IDNR describes a 1.8-mile Camp Logan multi-use loop in the north and a 2.2-mile gravel loop among the southern trails. Choose the unit for your activity using the official activities page.
Dogs cannot go on the beach or into the nature preserve. They can use the campground, picnic area and remaining trails on a leash. Swimming areas have no on-duty lifeguards; check posted water conditions before entering Lake Michigan.
Full Illinois Beach guide · Route to the South Unit · Route to Camp Logan
5. Kankakee River State Park: a river walk, not a swimming trip
Distance from Chicago Union Station: 50.1 miles (straight-line to the park reference point).
IDNR describes a three-mile route along Rock Creek with limestone canyons and a waterfall. Hiking and biking trails are on the river’s north side; equestrian trails are separate. Check the official activities page and park map for your starting point.
Swimming is prohibited throughout the park, including Rock Creek. Pets must stay leashed. If you plan to paddle, treat the river as a separate activity requiring a launch plan and current-condition checks.
Full Kankakee River guide · Route to the park office; confirm your trailhead
A two-day canyon weekend from Chicago
This is an editorial planning suggestion, not a fixed tour or a claim of a personally tested itinerary. Use it when both parks and your chosen trails are open.
- Before departure: check both parks’ notices, choose open trails and arrange your overnight stay. Use our reservation directory for official booking routes; accommodation is separate from park entry.
- Day 1 — Starved Rock: drive to the visitor center, confirm the open-trail map and choose a canyon walk that fits your daylight and ability. The October update lists French Canyon among the accessible destinations. Leave time for stairs and the return walk.
- Day 2 — Matthiessen: start at the Dells Area and follow the current detour. Choose an upper path or a Dells walk appropriate to conditions. Do not cross a closed bridge or treat canyon pools as swimming areas.
- If access changes: shorten or replace the canyon outing instead of trying to reach closed features. Kankakee River is a different river-walk option; recheck its conditions and calculate the new route before changing destinations.
Budget: plan separately for accommodation or camping, food and fuel. The two canyon parks have no entrance charge under the IDNR guidance checked above. Use our fee calculator for a broader trip, checking the linked agency prices before purchase.
Questions that change your choice
Which of these parks should I choose with a dog?
Choose a permitted trail or picnic outing. Indiana Dunes State Park excludes dogs from its beach; Illinois Beach excludes them from both the beach and nature preserve. Keep your dog leashed, carry water and match the trail surface and stairs to your dog’s ability. Illinois DNR’s general pet guidance also applies.
Should I visit Starved Rock and Matthiessen on the same day?
You can plan a short visit to each, but parking availability, open trails and daylight determine whether that works. For a first canyon trip, choose one substantial walk rather than assuming you can cover both parks. The two-day plan leaves more flexibility.
Can I use the national park pass at Indiana Dunes State Park?
No. Indiana DNR and the National Park Service operate separate parks with separate fees. Select the state park entrance when planning the state park trails or campground.
Continue planning: parks near other cities · Illinois park guide · Indiana park guide · Park Finder.
