{"id":1306,"date":"2021-08-13T16:14:09","date_gmt":"2021-08-13T16:14:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/?p=1306"},"modified":"2022-02-27T11:17:07","modified_gmt":"2022-02-27T17:17:07","slug":"most-popular-illinois-state-parks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/","title":{"rendered":"Most Popular Illinois State Parks | Top 10 in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>After being closed for almost three months in 2020, Illinoisans were able to get out to the parks all year &#8211; and over 38 million took to the trails! Based on reports by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Pages\/default.aspx\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Illinois DNR <\/a>obtained by Midwest Camping &#8211; we identified the most visited Illinois State Parks. See the winners and losers across the state, avoid the crowds or join in on the fun below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_49 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Sneak Peek<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-6618c8d2a5f14\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #b86130;color:#b86130\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #b86130;color:#b86130\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-6618c8d2a5f14\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#Top_10_Most_Popular_Illinois_State_Parks_by_Number_of_Visitors\" title=\"Top 10 Most Popular Illinois State Parks by Number of Visitors\">Top 10 Most Popular Illinois State Parks by Number of Visitors<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#Honorable_Mention_%E2%80%93_Moraine_Hills_State_Park_800K_Visitors\" title=\"Honorable Mention &#8211; Moraine Hills State Park | 800K Visitors\">Honorable Mention &#8211; Moraine Hills State Park | 800K Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#10_New_Giant_City_State_Park_900K_Visitors\" title=\"10. (New) Giant City State Park | 900K Visitors\">10. (New) Giant City State Park | 900K Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#9_-_Fort_Massac_State_Park_11M_Visitors\" title=\"9. (-) Fort Massac State Park | 1.1M Visitors\">9. (-) Fort Massac State Park | 1.1M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#8_%E2%96%BE_2_Adeline_Jay_Geo-Karis_Illinois_Beach_State_Park_12M_Visitors\" title=\"8. (&#x25BE; 2) Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park | 1.2M Visitors\">8. (&#x25BE; 2) Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park | 1.2M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#7_-_Rock_Cut_State_Park_12M_Visitors\" title=\"7. (-) Rock Cut State Park | 1.2M Visitors\">7. (-) Rock Cut State Park | 1.2M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#6_%E2%96%BE_1_Kickapoo_State_Recreation_Area_12M_Visitors\" title=\"6. (&#x25BE; 1) Kickapoo State Recreation Area | 1.2M Visitors\">6. (&#x25BE; 1) Kickapoo State Recreation Area | 1.2M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#5_%E2%96%BE_1_Wayne_Fitzgerrell_State_Park_13M_Visitors\" title=\"5. (&#x25BE; 1) Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park | 1.3M Visitors\">5. (&#x25BE; 1) Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park | 1.3M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#4_%E2%96%B4_4_Kankakee_River_State_Park_13M_Visitors\" title=\"4. (&#x25B4; 4) Kankakee River State Park | 1.3M Visitors\">4. (&#x25B4; 4) Kankakee River State Park | 1.3M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#3_-_Clinton_Lake_State_Recreation_Area_15M_Visitors\" title=\"3. (-) Clinton Lake State Recreation Area | 1.5M Visitors\">3. (-) Clinton Lake State Recreation Area | 1.5M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#2_%E2%96%BE1_Starved_Rock_State_Park_24M_Visitors\" title=\"2. (&#x25BE;1) Starved Rock State Park | 2.4M Visitors\">2. (&#x25BE;1) Starved Rock State Park | 2.4M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#Is_Starved_Rock_the_most_popular_state_park_in_Illinois\" title=\"Is Starved Rock the most popular state park in Illinois?\">Is Starved Rock the most popular state park in Illinois?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#1_%E2%96%B41_Hennepin_Canal_State_Trail_27M_Visitors\" title=\"1.  (&#x25B4;1) Hennepin Canal State Trail | 2.7M Visitors\">1.  (&#x25B4;1) Hennepin Canal State Trail | 2.7M Visitors<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#What_is_the_most_state_park_in_Illinois\" title=\"What is the most state park in Illinois?\">What is the most state park in Illinois?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#Tool_Explore_all_of_Illinois%E2%80%99_State_Parks\" title=\"Tool: Explore all of Illinois&#8217; State Parks\">Tool: Explore all of Illinois&#8217; State Parks<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#See_which_is_popular_near_you\" title=\"See which is popular near you!\">See which is popular near you!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/#Want_to_know_more_about_Illinois_State_Parks_Check_out_our_other_articles\" title=\"Want to know more about Illinois State Parks? Check out our other articles!\">Want to know more about Illinois State Parks? Check out our other articles!<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Top_10_Most_Popular_Illinois_State_Parks_by_Number_of_Visitors\"><\/span>Top 10 Most Popular Illinois State Parks by Number of Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Honorable_Mention_%E2%80%93_Moraine_Hills_State_Park_800K_Visitors\"><\/span>Honorable Mention &#8211; Moraine Hills State Park | 800K Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/moraineview.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-671\" width=\"555\" height=\"363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/moraineview.png 740w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/moraineview-300x196.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 555px) 100vw, 555px\" title=\"_\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Opened in 1976,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/MoraineHills.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Moraine Hills State Park&nbsp;<\/a>has one of the only undeveloped glacial-fed lakes in Illinois leaving a pristine natural lake for fishing, hiking around, and boating! Under two hours from Chicago, this park is a popular destination for anyone looking for a little peace from the urban noise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2020, Moraine Hills saw a burst of popularity, helping it leap into the top ten list from #13 in 2019 as a new entry into the most popular Illinois state parks list. Unfortunately, that didn&#8217;t last into 2021 and they have now dipped back down to their #13 rank. This just means you&#8217;ll have an easier time getting a campsite at least!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_New_Giant_City_State_Park_900K_Visitors\"><\/span>10. (<em>New<\/em>) Giant City State Park | 900K Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/0\/0a\/Giant_City_State_Park.jpg\" alt=\"Giant City State Park\" width=\"671\" height=\"443\" title=\"_\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Camp\/Pages\/GiantCity.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Giant City State Park<\/a>&nbsp;offers one of the best options for exploring state parks near Carbondale. Experience the captivating natural beauty that makes up a state park with at least one of the eight trails located within the park!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#x2019;re looking for something else to do besides hiking, there are ponds for boating and fishing and bluffs for rock climbing and rappelling in the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Giant City jumped up to the top ten list this year but is still a few hundred thousand visitors from their 1.2M count in 2019. They&#8217;ve been undergoing some construction in the last couple of years, likely contributing to the swings in attendance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_-_Fort_Massac_State_Park_11M_Visitors\"><\/span>9. (-) Fort Massac State Park | 1.1M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/dsqeev865ph38.cloudfront.net\/media\/original_images\/on-fort-massac-state-park-il.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"_\"><figcaption>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.outdoorsy.com\/guide\/fort-massac-state-park-il\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.outdoorsy.com\/guide\/fort-massac-state-park-il\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Outdoorsy<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Bordered by the Ohio River, <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/FortMassac.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/FortMassac.aspx\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fort Massac State Park<\/a> saw just under 1 million visitors last year! As the first state park founded in Illinois, people have been enjoying the 1,500 acres of forested lands at the southern tip of Illinois for hiking, camping, or learning about the old fort maintained for over 110 years! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_%E2%96%BE_2_Adeline_Jay_Geo-Karis_Illinois_Beach_State_Park_12M_Visitors\"><\/span>8. (&#x25BE; 2) Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park | 1.2M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/8\/87\/Gfp-illinois-beach-state-park-shoreline-of-lake-michigan.jpg\/1280px-Gfp-illinois-beach-state-park-shoreline-of-lake-michigan.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"432\" title=\"_\"><figcaption>(Wikimedia)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/AdelineJayGeo-KarisIllinoisBeach.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/AdelineJayGeo-KarisIllinoisBeach.aspx\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park<\/a> is located along the beautiful Lake Michigan. Enjoy swimming in the cool waters on a hot sunny day or take a relaxing stroll along the beach to watch the sunset in the evening. As the only state park offering camping along the lake, Illinois Beach campgrounds are extremely popular during the summer months, so a reservation is recommended! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_-_Rock_Cut_State_Park_12M_Visitors\"><\/span>7. (-) Rock Cut State Park | 1.2M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/RockCutLake.jpg\" alt=\"camping in boone county\" class=\"wp-image-263\" width=\"599\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/RockCutLake.jpg 799w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/RockCutLake-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/RockCutLake-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" title=\"_\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to go camping or exploring in Winnebago County with immediate access to the vast outdoors, look no further than Rock Cut State Park. This park&#x2019;s 3,092 acres contain two lakes for water activities like fishing, swimming, boating, and winter skating. There are trails for hikers, horseback riders, mountain bikers, and cross country skiers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With tons of campgrounds and 40 miles of hiker trails, you can spend a whole week here and just scratch the surface! Activities plus the larger towns and cities nearby helped get Rock Cut on the list as the seventh most popular Illinois state park!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-button-wrapper gb-button-wrapper-9cae798e gb-button-wrapper-Buttonwrap\">\n\n<a class=\"gb-button gb-button-41ecb423 gb-button-text gb-button-basedesign\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/04\/rock-cut-state-park-review\/\">Interested? Check out our Trip to Rock Cut State Park!<\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_%E2%96%BE_1_Kickapoo_State_Recreation_Area_12M_Visitors\"><\/span>6. (&#x25BE; 1) Kickapoo State Recreation Area | 1.2M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/KickapooStateRecreation.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-790\" width=\"605\" height=\"383\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/KickapooStateRecreation.jpg 807w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/KickapooStateRecreation-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/KickapooStateRecreation-768x485.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 605px) 100vw, 605px\" title=\"_\"><figcaption> <em>(<a class=\"rank-math-link\" href=\"https:\/\/peregrinations-chichlee.blog\/2018\/08\/13\/kickapoo-paint-creek\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">peregrinations-chichlee<\/a>)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Over 1.2 Million people traveled to eastern Illinois to enjoy the outdoors at <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/Kickapoo.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kickapoo<\/a>. Just a ten-minute drive from Danville, IL, these 2,800 acres of forests, lakes, and hillsides are lush with opportunities to explore. Split in two by the Vermillion River, this park has six lakes and plenty of trails to come back again and again for making it the fifth most popular Illinois state park!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_%E2%96%BE_1_Wayne_Fitzgerrell_State_Park_13M_Visitors\"><\/span>5. (&#x25BE; 1) Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park | 1.3M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rend_Lake.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1295\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rend_Lake.jpg 800w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rend_Lake-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rend_Lake-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" title=\"_\"><figcaption>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dirtnapranch\/6330003204\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dirtnapranch\/6330003204\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flickr\/Lawless Designs<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/WayneFitzgerrell.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/WayneFitzgerrell.aspx\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area<\/a> offers easy access to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers&#x2019; 19,000-acre Rend Lake Reservoir to enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, picnicking, horseback riding, hiking, and other outdoor sports. As the most popular state park in Southern Illinois, 1.2 million people flocked to the park to spot the American bald eagle, red-tailed hawks, and a variety of mammals such as the white-tailed deer around the lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_%E2%96%B4_4_Kankakee_River_State_Park_13M_Visitors\"><\/span>4. (<strong>&#x25B4;<\/strong> 4) Kankakee River State Park | 1.3M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img src=\"https:\/\/media-cdn.tripadvisor.com\/media\/photo-s\/0d\/8b\/ef\/cb\/photo4jpg.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"_\"><figcaption>(Tripadvisor)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Nestled along the beautifully scenic Kankakee River, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/KankakeeRiver.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/KankakeeRiver.aspx\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kankakee River State Park <\/a>offers something for everyone. It&#8217;s no surprise that Kankakee River is in the top ten most popular state parks in Illinois. Last year, they saw an explosion of growth, likely driven by the long-awaited reopening of the Potawatomi campgrounds after<a href=\"https:\/\/www.daily-journal.com\/news\/local\/camping-available-at-potawatomi-campground\/article_4053f5e4-d065-11eb-9d50-a78d08c62633.html#:~:text=It%20is%20now%20open%20for%20the%202021%20season.&amp;text=BOURBONNAIS%20%E2%80%94%20Camping%20returns%20this%20year,24.\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.daily-journal.com\/news\/local\/camping-available-at-potawatomi-campground\/article_4053f5e4-d065-11eb-9d50-a78d08c62633.html#:~:text=It%20is%20now%20open%20for%20the%202021%20season.&amp;text=BOURBONNAIS%20%E2%80%94%20Camping%20returns%20this%20year,24.\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> five years of construction<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enjoy fishing for smallmouth bass, catfish, walleye, and Northern pike. Check out Rock Creek for a great angling spot or bring your boat to fish out on the river! If you&#x2019;re looking to experience the captivatingly stunning nature this park has to offer, be sure to try canoeing down the river or camping for a weekend!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We were even part of the numbers for last year &#8211; Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/10\/04\/review-kankakee-river-state-park-great-family-camping-in-central-il\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1350\">trip to Kankakee River State Park<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_-_Clinton_Lake_State_Recreation_Area_15M_Visitors\"><\/span>3. (-) Clinton Lake State Recreation Area | 1.5M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Clinton_Lake.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1296\" width=\"599\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Clinton_Lake.jpg 799w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Clinton_Lake-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Clinton_Lake-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px\" title=\"_\"><figcaption>(<a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dirtnapranch\/6330003204\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/dirtnapranch\/6330003204\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flickr\/Chauncey Davis<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Known for its 4,900-acre lake, <a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/ClintonLake.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/ClintonLake.aspx\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clinton Lake State Recreation Area<\/a> hosted 1.5 million visitors in 2020! With a sandy swimming beach and plenty of hunting and fishing opportunities, Clinton Lake has long been a favorite in east-central Illinois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_%E2%96%BE1_Starved_Rock_State_Park_24M_Visitors\"><\/span>2. (&#x25BE;1) Starved Rock State Park | 2.4M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"most-popular-illinois-state-park-starved-rock\" class=\"wp-image-1213\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/starved-rock-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" title=\"_\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1645980420288\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_Starved_Rock_the_most_popular_state_park_in_Illinois\"><\/span>Is Starved Rock the most popular state park in Illinois?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>While Starved Rock has long been an Illinois favorite, in 2021 the park seemed to reach its capacity and was overtaken by another park! Starved Rock is the second most popular park in Illinois with over 2.4 million visitors in 2021!&#xA0;<a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/camping-in-illinois\/16-illinois-state-parks-close-to-chicago-by-driving-time\/\">Less than two hours from Chicago, this state park&#xA0;<\/a>is perfect for waterfall chasing and exploring the canyons throughout the landscape.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The park fills up to capacity regularly, leading to state officials closing the parking lots similar to popular national parks! Be sure to check the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IllinoisDNR\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IllinoisDNR\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DNR Twitter <\/a>account if you&#8217;re trying to get out there during the peak summer season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_%E2%96%B41_Hennepin_Canal_State_Trail_27M_Visitors\"><\/span>1.  (<strong>&#x25B4;<\/strong>1) Hennepin Canal State Trail | 2.7M Visitors<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/HennepinCanal-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1297\" width=\"512\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/HennepinCanal-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/HennepinCanal-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/HennepinCanal-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/HennepinCanal-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/HennepinCanal.jpg 1944w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" title=\"_\"><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/HennepinCanal.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www2.illinois.gov\/dnr\/Parks\/Pages\/HennepinCanal.aspx\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Hennepin Canal State Trail<\/a> is unique in that it is over 100 miles long! Built along the namesake canal, this park gives visitors the opportunity to walk from the Quad Cities all the way to the Illinois River! No surprise that most visitors will make much shorter hikes along the protected canal, leading Hennepin Canal to be the most popular Illinois state park!<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1628866334986\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_most_state_park_in_Illinois\"><\/span>What is the most state park in Illinois?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Jumping up from being #2 in 2020, Hennepin Canal State Trail hosted over 2.6 million people in 2021, beating out Starved Rock! The long length of the trail helps it attract visitors all over the state.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tool_Explore_all_of_Illinois%E2%80%99_State_Parks\"><\/span>Tool: Explore all of Illinois&#8217; State Parks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"See_which_is_popular_near_you\"><\/span>See which is popular near you!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"tableauPlaceholder\" id=\"viz1645980123769\" style=\"position: relative\"><object class=\"tableauViz\" style=\"display:none;\"><param name=\"host_url\" value=\"https%3A%2F%2Fpublic.tableau.com%2F\"> <param name=\"embed_code_version\" value=\"3\"> <param name=\"site_root\" value=\"\"><param name=\"name\" value=\"MostPopularIllinoisStateParks2021\/ILParks\"><param name=\"tabs\" value=\"no\"><param name=\"toolbar\" value=\"yes\"><param name=\"animate_transition\" value=\"yes\"><param name=\"display_static_image\" value=\"yes\"><param name=\"display_spinner\" value=\"yes\"><param name=\"display_overlay\" value=\"yes\"><param name=\"display_count\" value=\"yes\"><param name=\"language\" value=\"en-US\"><param name=\"filter\" value=\"publish=yes\"><\/object><\/div>                <script type=\"text\/javascript\">                    var divElement = document.getElementById('viz1645980123769');                    var vizElement = divElement.getElementsByTagName('object')[0];                    if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 800 ) { vizElement.style.width='650px';vizElement.style.height='887px';} else if ( divElement.offsetWidth > 500 ) { vizElement.style.width='650px';vizElement.style.height='887px';} else { vizElement.style.width='100%';vizElement.style.height='877px';}                     var scriptElement = document.createElement('script');                    scriptElement.src = 'https:\/\/public.tableau.com\/javascripts\/api\/viz_v1.js';                    vizElement.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, vizElement);                <\/script>\n\n\n\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With almost 35 million total visitors across the Illinois state parks in 2020, the top ten contributed to over 13 million of the total! That&#8217;s more than 35%! If you&#8217;re looking to avoid the crowds when <a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/camping-in-illinois\/camping-in-cook-county\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"15\">camping near Chicago <\/a>or finding <a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/camping-in-illinois\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"73\">great state parks across Illinois<\/a>, check out our guides!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-4c395310\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-052d0a5a gb-headline-text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Want_to_know_more_about_Illinois_State_Parks_Check_out_our_other_articles\"><\/span>Want to know more about Illinois State Parks? Check out our other articles!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-grid-wrapper gb-grid-wrapper-4c871627\">\n<div class=\"gb-grid-column gb-grid-column-9354719a\"><div class=\"gb-container gb-container-9354719a\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-2ed3d616\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><span style=\"color:#b86130\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#x27A4;  <\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/12\/15\/illinois-state-park-fun-facts\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/12\/15\/illinois-state-park-fun-facts\/\">Illinois State Parks Fun Facts<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><span style=\"color:#b86130\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#x27A4;  <\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/camping-in-illinois\/backcountry-primitive-camping-in-illinois\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1255\">Illinois State Parks Primitive Camping<\/a><\/span> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><span style=\"color:#b86130\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#x27A4;  <\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/camping-in-illinois\/16-illinois-state-parks-close-to-chicago-by-driving-time\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1197\">Illinois State Parks Close to Chicago<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><span style=\"color:#b86130\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#x27A4;  <\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/05\/05\/illinois-state-parks-with-cabins\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"1068\">Illinois State Parks with Cabins<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><span style=\"color:#b86130\" class=\"has-inline-color\">&#x27A4;  <\/span><span class=\"has-inline-color has-black-color\"><a href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/02\/01\/cost-to-camp-in-illinois\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"809\">Cost to Camp in Illinois State Parks<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After being closed for almost three months in 2020, Illinoisans were able to get out to the parks all year &#8211; and over 38 million took to the trails! Based on reports by the Illinois DNR obtained by Midwest Camping &#8211; we identified the most visited Illinois State Parks. See the winners and losers across &#8230; <a title=\"Most Popular Illinois State Parks | Top 10 in 2021\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/2021\/08\/13\/most-popular-illinois-state-parks\/\" aria-label=\"More on Most Popular Illinois State Parks | Top 10 in 2021\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2144,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[9],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1306"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1306"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1306\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2144"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1306"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/midwestcamping.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=1306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}