Illinois is a land of diverse landscapes and terrain. To the nature lover, Illinois offers an abundance of wildlife and scenic beauty. The Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources has a wonderful online guide to Illinois state parks, each annotated with information on history, natural features, recreational opportunities, and facilities. Where available, campground maps are online, as well as a form to use for making campground reservations.


A variety of photos are scattered throughout the descriptions giving an excellent perspective of many of the areas surrounding the parks.

For those of you who are new to camping, Illinois state parks have a tent rental program called Rent-A-Camp, which provides an inexpensive and convenient opportunity to camp in many of the state parks. There are rustic cabins available too, if you prefer a shelter above that of a tent.

Eight of Illinois' state parks have lodges, which offer comfortable accommodations and fine dining to those who prefer to spend a night in a park without camping.

Plan to explore the wonderful natural areas of Illinois and get out to a state park near you. For information on Illinois' outdoors, check out:

• Illinois Parks and Recreational Areas