The 2nd most popular state park in Illinois, Illinois Beach State Park was initially established in 1948, with the northern portion being added in 1982. It is located on over 6 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, encompassing 4,160 acres. I spent a lot of summers here (both at the beach and the campgrounds) with my dad and brother during my youth, and was also the area where I proposed to my girlfriend over 30 years ago...was nice to stop by with my now wife on this rainy day. It's official name is Adeline Jay Geo-Karis Illinois Beach State Park, renamed for the former state senator and conservation advocate in 2010 (a year after her passing). I went to high school in the area, and she was an important presence during that time, often sponsoring various academic and community awards for local students. Since it was rainy and a weekday, the large parking lots and beachfront were pretty empty. We walked it a bit, collected some sand (recently started to collect and label beach sand to further document my travels). There is a 'resort' hotel on the grounds (which I remembered) and The Pavilion (a combination camp store, souvenir shop, and concession stand), which I didn't remember (makes sense since it opened in 2021). The latter was closed when we stopped by (has limited hours during the non-summer time and is closed during winter). read more

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My first time here. I've avoided this area because it's surrounded by iffy neighborhoods with high crime rates like murders. They had a fall festival this past weekend with free guided walks so I figured it would be safe for us. Loved the guided walk and how informative it was. This is a high quality state park with lots of native plants still intact. So the whole place is pretty deserted but it did rain in the morning. Cars with completely tinted windows drive around in broad daylight. Pretty scary...The campgrounds have security that do not allow you to pass through unless you are a camper so that would make it safe. I saw a few police cars in the area as well. Personally, this isn't for me but if you are street smart, know your way around the neighborhood, it's great for hiking. read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Map - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

8/7/2024: Three dings 1) Parking lot bathrooms have no locks at all 2) Beach front south side of park mostly washed out except for section between hotel and trail head 3) Entrance to South Park entrance from main road is currently completely blocked by road closure if you are coming from the south, detour is available but adds time read more

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If you are looking for a quick day trip and live in northern Illinois or Southern Wisconsin, Illinois Beach State Park makes for a relaxing day of hiking, sun, swimming, picnicking or wind/kite surfing! There are 2 entrances to the park: North and South. We visited the south end which is located off Wadsworth Road. There is no fee to visit the Park or Beach. There are several areas to park depending upon where you would like to be located. I recommend bringing a tent or umbrella, beach blanket and chairs. There is a Camp Store which has a snack bar but, why not BYO? Illinois Beach Resort is located inside the park and offers Dining at Nolan's. Check the website for dining hours, the restaurant is not always open. You can spend 1+ hours at the Park. Wear comfy shoes for the hiking paths and bring suntan lotion for the Beach. The only downside: the brick enclosed "port o potties", super stinky. Also, NO pets. The Beach was super clean (no litter or cigarette butts), Park Rangers were continuously patrolling and plenty of room on the Beach for everyone! read more

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Great park beautiful view Excellent parking , many spots available but i suppose if you there on a crazy holiday weekend it would feel different. Amazing read more

A beautiful day at the park was made better by the illusion that absolutely no one else was there at all. Or at least that's how it felt for the longest time. Sure, wind-strewn balloons and water bottles were trapped here and there among the pebbles at the beach. Long grass on the more rustic trails was laid flat from the footfalls of our predecessors. Oh, and there were other cars at the parking lot. But for the longest time, it was nature, uninterrupted. Fish swam up to the edge of the Dead River, momentarily filling the space two ducks had just vacated. The waves rolled against the many rounded stones. And the sun and wind came to an agreement to balance each other out in perfect equilibrium. At the resort and north, there the people be. Perfume carried on the breeze. A bit of broken glass shone in the parking lot. And what I assume is the new concession/bathhouse building (mid-construction) lurked in the trees behind the 1960s structure it both emulates and seeks to replace. More time could be spent here, but more love could be shown for the place, too. Some of the trails were less than clear, and (obviously) some of the infrastructure is due for an update. As long as the lake doesn't change, this'll be a place to come for some time. read more

Illinois Beach State Park - The old bathhouses - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

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Beach was lovely, and the bathrooms, so clean, smells so delightful, there was poop on the ground and pee on the ground, gross read more

Illinois Beach State Park - the little gremlins forgot to wipe - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

Always enjoy Illinois beach state park. Been coming here for years and always enjoy those fall and winters. The beach has been getting bit grown in... I like it but used to be a lot more sand. yahoo read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Yahoooo... fall fun - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

A scenic place to visit. There were no entry fees even and access to the beach is easy with enough parking next to it. Mobile restrooms were not so clean but it seems it was off-season since there were very few people other than some tour buses that we saw. For a quick stop, this is a nice place. Plenty of options for camping here too. read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

How come I didn't find this before, when is so close?! This is exactly the type of campground I like. Wooded, big distance to your neighbors, steps to the beach, short drive to grocery stores and fast food. This is IT. I'm coming often next camping season! Bathrooms are clean. Showers are big. Only negative, bring your own toilet paper. read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

Illinois Beach State Park is the best state park in northern Illinois. The campground has large sites for tent and RV camping, the beach features the last remnant of 'beach ridge shoreline' in Illinois, and the Dead River Trail will bring you to clusters of cactus growing here! Yes, prickly pear cactus in Illinois!! I've camped in many Illinois State Parks and none offer the large sites Illinois Beach does. All for $25 a night. We camped last week and our tent was a couple of hundred yards from Lake Michigan. The trails will bring you through an oak woodland and savannah, dunes full of rare dune grasses and the famous cactus, and were set aside as a state nature preserve in the early 1960s. This place is a rare glimpse into what the northern Illinois shoreline looked like before it was settled. read more

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DOG OWNERS: I searched online before I visited the park and it says you can bring dogs to IL State Beach Park, but when I got there I learned that you can only take them to a few areas. Dogs are pretty much only allowed on the paved sidewalks (Including the one along the beach) and the forest-y area near the office. Dogs aren't allowed on the beach, trails, or nature preserve areas, which is understandable. It's probably best to leave them at home if you really want to explore. I'd recommend IL State Beach Park if you're going to the beach or looking to take a walk along the lake since it's peaceful and clean. Beware of flies though! read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Lake Michigan - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

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My family went here to go down to the lake and enjoy the water. We wanted to drive through the campground. When we drove over to the campground and asked if we could drive through. Their policy is unless you are camping there you cannot. We totally understood that. It was the fact that the employee was incredibly rude about it. He said as belligerent and kept at us. We weren't arguing or trying to convince him otherwise. Have no idea was caused him to be so mean. read more

So I've only been to the South Unit, but what we've seen there has had some nice views! As others have mentioned, one of the nice things about this State Park is that entrance/parking is free, yay! Jeremy C. and I have come by a few times on a whim to walk off brunch from N and T's Restaurant in Zion. We really had no idea where we were going or what the place had to offer but there's quite a bit to explore. The first time we parked at what seemed to be the main parking area right by the beach in the South Unit. The beach at this particular part of the park is pretty nonexistent, it's like 3 feet of pebbles and rocks that people try to cram into. We walked a little farther North on the path to find an area that was less crowded but still pebbly. There were decent views and plenty of water and rocks. The second time around we parked near the Nature Center (closed on Sunday) and we walked half of the Dead River Trail and half of the Dunes Trail. They were very different types of trails but both were very interesting, neither were particularly clearly marked except at the trailheads but were decently easy to follow. The Dead River Trail (1.8 miles) offered more shade from the trees and the trail was pretty narrow and not kept super well as there were some plants growing into the trail we had to walk through. But we did see frogs hopping across the trail at one point which was pretty neat. The Dune Trail followed closer to the shoreline and had several access points to the beach, it's wide and well paved, but doesn't offer much shade. The beach area here is beautiful, plenty of sand, although the area right by the water still has lots of pebbles. If you're looking to go straight to the beach there's also a short trail from the parking near the Nature Center that goes directly to the beach aptly named the Beach Trail. Overall I'd say the best experience if going for a day is to head to the Nature Center and pick one of the trails from there! read more

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We visited on a cool, crisp Saturday afternoon. It was very windy, too. There were a lot of people here for a wedding at the Beach Resort but otherwise, I did not see too many people at the park. Parking was plentiful and they have lots everywhere. We walked along the beach, which was relaxing to hear the waves crash against the rocks and the wind go through the trees. It was quite relaxing and a far cry from the popularity that is Starved Rock, another State Park, that is always busy. We also attempted to walk two different trails, one red, and the other yellow, but with the ample amount of rain the night before, a lot of the paths were underwater. It was wild seeing all of the old structures that are at least fifty-years old still standing. It felt like a throwback to a different time when this area was more popular. There are concrete buildings along the beach that at one point looked like it would have been a concession stand, bathrooms, etc. Overall, I really enjoyed the park. It wasn't crowded, which for me is a huge plus. I wish the walking trails weren't underwater but that's what you get for going the day after a big rain storm. I'll be back in the future to enjoy the scenic park. read more

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For free this is great. Biggest complaint is that bathrooms weren't open but was able to use the one at the hotel. Fun place to spend the day however I wish no smoking was enforced as it is a forest area. read more

Very nice and clean. Plus it's nice being able to go to the beach too. Would definitely return for another camping visit and definitely recommend camping here. read more

I really loved this park but the staff is SO rude. Do better! The amount of attitude I have faced with every interaction is kind of absurd. I would like to say that it's only been one time but to be honest I have not had one single pleasant interaction in the few trips I have been here - from check in to the person driving around the campground accusing us of having more than 2 tents on a site when clearly it was just a screened in canopy. Also for the amount you're charging I know you can afford to supply the bathrooms with hand soap... read more

IL Beach State Park in Zion (North and South Units) is one of Northern Illinois best kept outdoor activity secrets. Lots of parking, plenty of nicely groomed soft beach sand, clean water and few or no wave runner type watercraft. The day I visited, access to the beach was unrestricted- no passes needed or fees collected. If you enjoy the serenity of an uncrowded natural beach, and striking lake views, give IL Beach State Park a try. read more

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My family and I started a newer tradition that we camp at Illinois Beach State Park once a year. The campsites fill up quick in advance so it takes some strategy to plan but worth being within walking distance to Lake Michigan as you camp. There is a very lively atmosphere on weekends but much quieter during the week. There is a little store to buy fire wood, snacks and other essentials and nice (for park standards) restroom and shower areas. Book a site if you want to camp in style! read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

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Coming from NY, we were surprised to find this park which had no entry fee. Better than that, it was well kept, a great place to enjoy the beach along Lake Michigan, and simply worth the visit. There are walking trails too, if you choose to do that. There are restrooms too, though they arent the cleanest. Okay, they reek while walking by them. Other than that, this place is a must visit if in the area! read more

Camp ground: Very nice. Plenty of space between camping spots. Wasn't many people camping during the week. Full park with no camp sites available over weekend. We thought it would be noisy over the weekend. Very quiet. Several people had campfires going. Lots of kids riding bikes~With this in mind drive slow. We seen several people driving faster than speed limit. Showers were extremely clean. Could use new shower curtain but that's miner. The water pressure is hard and awesome!! Several playground areas for kiddos. Super friendly staff. Eager to answer your questions. Campground is well kept and very clean. Regarding beach past resort area: We drove by day after our arrival (7-9-19) to see where to put our kayaks out. To many people just hanging out in the parking lot. Decided our Jeep might get broken into if we went out in our kayaks. Very clean beach. Several people out swimming. No life guard on duty. Beach appears to be littered with trash. When you get closer you realize it's big white rocks and lots of shells. Perfect place to build a sand castle. No dogs aloud on beach area. For us to many people hanging out in parking lot for no reason. Loud music playing from their vehicles. I thought if they charged to get to the beach that would get rid of allot of people just hanging out for no reason. Would be a fun place for a family to hang out on the beach, play in the sand, and swim. read more

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Last wekend was our first time out here. It was a pleasant surprise. It was clean, it was not crowded, easy parking and great for the kids. I was worried that there may be areas where the little ones could get into some danger, but it was a very family friendly & safe area. There were rangers doing rounds too. We saw that there were campgrounds there too so we are very excited to go back! As long as you always clean up after yourselves, we can continue to have beautiful beaches!!!! read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

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This is where my husband go for quiet and beauty. What a beautiful stretch along lake Michigan to relax and be at peace with nature. The beach is fairly clean, but I do suggest taking and extra trash bag in with you to pick of the stray items that people rudely leave behind. We try to pick up garbage has we leave to do our pat in keeping this free state park a beautiful place for all to enjoy. The shore line is rocky, so good water shoes will go a long way towards protecting sensitive feet. read more

Really wish I discovered this park sooner. It's a nice getaway to get a taste of the outdoors while still being in the suburbs. They have a resort for those who aren't as into the outdoors while also having several lots where you can plug in whatever electrical gear you have while enjoying a nice picnic by the trees. It's great for small or large groups. I believe they do ask that you phone ahead if you're coming with a large group to see if it's too crowded or not during the pandemic. It seems to cater to wide range of outdoorsy people. If you're just curious and looking to get your toe wet this is a good place to start. It's a place that will require multiple visits to really know all that the park has to offer. It was generally clean. On a clear day, you can actually see the some of the Chicago buildings. It's almost like I was out of town but not really. read more

A lovely place for walking around and enjoying the preserve as well as Lake Michigan!

This place is beautiful. The long stretch of beach has fine, clean sand, perfect for picnics, walks or sunbathing. There are several rocky areas along the shoreline too, which is fun if you like scrambling around on rocks. No pets are allowed on the beach. The park is filled with hiking trails, as well as the occasional picnic table / grill set up. They have camping available here too, although I didn't venture into that area so I cannot attest to its quality. Best part: Free parking and admission. There are tons of spots at the beach so you don't ever have to worry about finding a place. Not so nice: Restroom facilities. They do have them. And by "them" I mean small rooms with toilet type things and t.p. No sinks or hand sanitizer. The place opens at dawn and closes at dusk. It's less busy than some of the popular beaches in Chicago, so if you're looking for smaller crowds (and you don't want to pay $20 for parking) this is the ticket. read more

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I went camping here last weekend with my boyfriend. The beach was pretty and the site we chose was nice! Though there were other campers around us (to the left and right of us they were two campsites away) it still felt like we had a good amount of space without others super close. We did a walk up campsite, as when I tried to book online it was too close in duration. I'm not sure why, but you can only reserve online up to three days ahead of time. However, the man working who checked us in was super friendly and the process of a walk up site was easy. You go look at the sites available in the 300s, pick a couple you like , and then come back to the check in where they will then check you in. It was quiet at night and felt safe. In the Summer I can imagine this would be a great spot with the beach so close! Though it was cooler this visit I still really enjoyed it and would likely return next time in the summer to really enjoy the beach. read more

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Unplanned trip to explore bit North of chicago is the reason for us to be here.This place is a good summer spot to relax. This preserve does not have any entrance fee.Nice trail to hike and bike around.The water is bit rough here and with no Life guards swimming is not really a good option but you can relax on shore .Lot of pebbles for kids to play around. Pros: Ample Parking No Entrance Fee Restrooms Cons: No life guards Pets not allowed read more

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Great beach for families! My 4 year old loves throwing the rocks into the water. Plenty of parking and picnic tables too. read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Rock filled beach - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

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Absolutely beautiful day to sit on the beach, enjoy the view of the blue waters....sadly we were run off by the flies. Had some Off on the car but it didn't seem to phase them much. Toured the camp ground....nice wooded lots. We'll be back! read more

I give a three star review because I don't know how to review something that isn't currently open. Living in the county for most of the last 30 years, the Illinois Beach State Park resort was a frequent place for us to go for Sunday brunch. For many years, it was excellent. Beautiful views, good buffet, good food good service. But then it would close and change hands and little things would suffer but basically still good food good service and of course beautiful views. Then my daughters hosted a birthday party for me there and we got a room for the night and that was nice too. I don't know who will take over the new contract or what their service will be like but I hope the state keeps this place open and running because it's a beautiful location and a great business opportunity and a resource for the neighboring areas. read more

SAND, SUN & FUN This state park is huge. There is a North branch and a South Branch which totals almost 6,400 acres. That's a lot of beach front property. Everytime we stop here it seems to always be quiet and not crowded. Maybe it's different on a Sat or Sun. There's many trails to choose from to get to the beach once you park your car. So you really can't go wrong. Now the signs say no alcohol but I did see guys drinking beer. I'm not sure if its a ticket or the Ranger takes you down to the log cabin to book you. Speaking of Rangers...who works here? I never see any employees! There are also signs warning of asbestos washing up on the beach and to call a hot line. Where is this stuff coming from? Maybe we should check the water currents and the potential businesses that might be dumping that junk into our lake. Hey we swim here and drink here...we don't dump here. A few other rules they have. No pets allowed and do not feed the water fowl. Check and check! Okay now with all of the rules fulfilled it was time to hit the beach. The views of Lake Michigan are amazing. I love how it feels like an ocean. Many of my out of town friends are amazed they can't see to the other side. They always ask if it is really just a lake. Most of them have not seen a lake that big. So you can grab a nice spot in the sand or start exploring the vast amount of trails here. I've also seen people bring there non motorized boats. In fact, today there was a guy from Ohio that practically drove his vehicle & trailer onto the beach to pick up his kayaks. Where is that ranger when you need him? I wanted to watch the guy try to get out because he didn't have much room to maneuver. But I left before he even tried to back out. Speaking of out of towners, I saw lots of different plates in the parking lot. I saw vehicles from California, Colorado, Ontario, North Carolina & Texas to name a few. So it is good to see tourist enjoying an Illinois beach and helping our economy. Those tourists need food, rooms and gas. So next time you are in the area and looking to hangout in a peaceful beach setting, then this is the place. It will be your little slice of serenity. George Costanza's Dad would love it here! read more

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The park is nice but the staff/security is unnecessarily adversarial. We mistakenly brought/needed three tents instead of two and during our stay a succession of three separate park cops aggressively addressed us about violating the rules. We would have been glad to pay for two camp spaces, and would have left the park if necessary, but there was no "ask" by the park cops- just aggressive language and posturing. I recommend the park adopt a protocol to address this situation and give campers clear options without all of the pointless antagonism. read more

The view and beach, campgrounds and trails get five stars..A review of the resort itself would get a two at the most. The service is Lacking and the actual resort is pretty dated... Dirty carpets and very slow elevator. Refrigerator n microwave look like they were landfill salvages... no irons unless you ask and then be prepared to wait. We left to breakfast elsewhere because after 10mins at restaurant we hadn't even been acknowledged.... Very sad that such a beautiful location is poorly kept... They are nice people and try though... read more

A good beach to come to when you're bored or in the Zion area..There isn't much to this beach in comparison to that of others.It is good to know we have one to go to in the Zion area when we want to cool off and take a break from our daily chores.. Parking is free from what i could tell, i didn't see any meters and it looked just as good as it had when i was a child growing up. The only drawback is you have to drive down a mile or so to get to the beach part and the speed limit is 30 miles per hour..Be sure to watch out for all the people walking or riding their bikes.It looks as if an accident is waiting to happen so you've been warned ahead of time. Btw.. Beach closes at 8pm and i don't think they allow you to Bar B Q on the beach or start fires.. not sure but it doesn't sound like a good ideal anyway..Have fun on your next beach out ting read more

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I've been to IBSP to bike and beach. The bike trails back here are pretty unique in the fact that they carve through nature area's spliced with abandoned parking lots and other leftover remnants. On the way you get random looks at the Lake. Most bikers are on a leisurely pace but the area sees little traffic, so zipping through is good too. Two stars earned. As for the beaches...it's probably a thumbs down now. A few years ago these beaches were clean and abundant. SW Lake Michigan beaches are slowly being overrun by water and this beach has lost 75% of its real estate in the process. What's left are pebbly cinder-sand beaches that don't cut it for anyone. Zero stars earned. If you're looking to bike, I'd recommend it. If you're looking for a beach, keep going south or north. Cheers. read more

This beach is, for the most part, very clean and it is also somewhat rocky. For that reason, I would advise you to wear water shoes. They provide you with port-a-potties which can be convinent. When I visited, the lake was very cold, and they do have a designated swimming area, obviously. The walking areas are very nice, and I enjoyed riding my bike around the lake, however no pets are allowed. I gave it 4 instead of 5 because it is not the cleanest it could be and there are no life guards in the beach. read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Lake Michigan - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois

Camped here on a Sunday- Monday. Quiet, a stones throw from the beach and decent sized spots. I am a tent camper and would recommend spots 248-255 for their shade and covering from tall pine trees (are also fairly flat). Beach access is excellent and basically private. Some nice trails as well for walking or biking. Free beach access for the day from the park entrance (vs camping) with tons of parking, picnic tables and grills in the park (no water views from park). Beautiful crystal clear water. Looking forward to coming back soon. read more

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Great area back in the pines. Close to the water, we will be back. Bike path is great. read more

Illinois Beach State Park - Parks Near Me - Zion, Illinois