The area around Peoria, Illinois’s largest city, is home to many state parks. These fascinating parks offer access to a diverse range of wildlife and wildflowers. What’s more, they also offer a variety of recreational activities.
If you enjoy camping, wildlife watching and photography, fishing, hunting, and other outdoor activities, you must give these state parks a try. They allow you to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy nature in all its glory.
But where do you begin? With so many great options available, choosing one park can be tricky. This is where we can help. Here are the top state parks you can visit when you visit Peoria, IL.
Map of State Parks Near Peoria IL
Here is a map of the Illinois state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Peoria
These state parks offer a range of recreational activities and camping opportunities for the perfect weekend getaway from Peoria.
1. Jubilee College State Park
Distance from Peoria: about 14 miles northwest of Peoria (straight-line).
Jubilee College State Park is an Illinois state park located 6 mi (9.7 km) west of Peoria, Illinois.
Highlights associated with Jubilee College State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Jubilee College State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Sand Ridge State Forest
Distance from Peoria: about 26 miles southwest of Peoria (straight-line).
Sand Ridge State Forest is a conservation area located in the U.S.
Highlights associated with Sand Ridge State Forest include waterfall scenery, beach access, and coastal dunes.
See our full Sand Ridge State Forest guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Palestine Lake State Recreation Area
Distance from Peoria: about 36 miles southeast of Peoria (straight-line).
Palestine Lake State Recreation Area is a public state park in Illinois. The park offers a peaceful retreat into nature for visitors of all ages.
Highlights associated with Palestine Lake State Recreation Area include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Palestine Lake State Recreation Area guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Edward R. Madigan State Park
Distance from Peoria: about 41 miles south of Peoria (straight-line).
Edward R. Madigan State Park covers 3.94 acres in Logan County, Illinois. Established 1971.
Highlights associated with Edward R. Madigan State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Edward R. Madigan State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Illini State Park
Distance from Peoria: about 63 miles northeast of Peoria (straight-line).
Location: 2660 E 2350th Rd, Marseilles, IL 61341
Illini State Park, which spans a 510-acre area, has a rich history. It is home to hickory, walnut, ash, elm, oak, and maple trees, blooming flowers, and abundant wildlife.
You can catch crappie, bluegill, catfish, carp, and a variety of other fish species here. Visitors can also boat on the Illinois River and use the park’s boat ramp, but they must watch out for barges coming out of Marseilles.
The park offers picnic areas, shelters (some with functioning fireplaces), and both tent and trailer campsites with electric and sanitation facilities for a top-tier camping experience.
You can also stretch your legs and hike through lovely trails like the short Marasattowa Trail or the Riverfront View Trail known as Country Ski.
You can also go birdwatching. If you’re lucky, you’ll see white-tailed deers, opossums, groundhogs, raccoons, beavers, and other wildlife as you walk through the park.
The park’s campground features 45 back-in RV sites with 30-amp electric hookups that can accommodate 50-foot RVs. They have 55 tent sites that can fit in standard-size campervans. These sites come with picnic tables, fire rings, a dump station, and other campsite facilities.
The park permits pets as long as owners supervise them and keep them on a leash of about 10 feet long.
Illini State Park is an Illinois state park on 510 acres (206 ha) in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States.
Highlights associated with Illini State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
See our full Illini State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
