Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield
From Chicago to the sandstone canyons of the Illinois River, then south to Lincoln’s New Salem and his home and tomb in Springfield.
- Distance
- 391 km (243 mi)
- Driving
- 4 h 20 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 8
- States
- IL
- Updated
- June 30, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 391 km (243 mi) with 8 stops, from Chicago to Springfield. About 4 h 20 min of driving in total.
More road trips in Illinois · More road trips from Chicago
Route description
Leave Chicago south-west on I-55 and I-80 to Utica, about 1 hour 45 minutes, for Starved Rock State Park. Its sandstone canyons have waterfalls in spring after rain and ice falls in winter. Visit on a weekday if you can, since parking fills on weekends. The park lodge and campground are near the visitor center, and trolley tours run in summer.
Matthiessen State Park is 3 km south of Starved Rock on IL-178. Its Dells area has a canyon with a waterfall and a stream you walk along, with more stairs than trails in some places. From here follow the Illinois River south-west on IL-29 to Peoria, about 1 hour. Peoria has a riverfront museum and a good park system.
From Peoria drive south to Petersburg and Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, about 1 hour 30 minutes. This is the rebuilt log village where young Lincoln worked as a shopkeeper and postmaster. The site has a campground, and an outdoor theater stages plays in summer. It is about 30 km from here to Springfield.
In Springfield, visit Lincoln’s tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery, his home and neighborhood, and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, all close together. The old state capitol, where Lincoln gave his House Divided speech, is also downtown. Parking near the Lincoln Home visitor center is paid but easy. The drive is mostly on flat farmland roads that are easy for RVs.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Chicago
IL - 2155 km
Starved Rock State Park
NatureUtica, ILEighteen sandstone canyons along the Illinois River, with seasonal waterfalls in spring and frozen falls in winter. Start at the visitor center; parking fills on weekends by mid morning.
- 34 km
Matthiessen State Park
NatureOglesby, ILA quieter neighbor of Starved Rock with the Upper and Lower Dells, a stream-cut canyon of sandstone walls and small waterfalls. Trails are short but muddy after rain.
- 499 km
Peoria
IL - 5100 km
Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site
HistoryPetersburg, ILA rebuilt pioneer village of log cabins, shops and a tavern where Abraham Lincoln lived as a young man in the 1830s. Free; interpreters in period dress in summer.
- 628 km
Lincoln Tomb
HistorySpringfield, ILThe granite obelisk tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery where Abraham Lincoln, his wife and three of their sons are buried. Visitors rub the nose of the bronze bust at the entrance for luck. Free.
- 74 km
Lincoln Home National Historic Site
HistorySpringfield, ILThe only home Abraham Lincoln ever owned, set in four restored blocks of his neighborhood. Free tickets for the house tour come from the visitor center on 7th Street.
- 82 km
Springfield
IL
Suggested stages and overnight stops
3 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Chicago → Starved Rock State Park · 96 mi · 1 h 43 minOvernight nearby, for example: Pleasant Creek Campground (5 mi); Starved Rock Campground (1 mi).
- Day 2: Starved Rock State Park → Peoria · 64 mi · 1 h 08 minOn the way: Matthiessen State Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Carl Spindler Campground (3 mi); Camp Wokanda (10 mi).
- Day 3: Peoria → Springfield · 83 mi · 1 h 29 minOn the way: Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site, Lincoln Tomb, Lincoln Home National Historic Site.Overnight nearby, for example: Double J Campground (9 mi); Riverside Park Campgrounds (5 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. Cold, short days in December–February. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield?
3-day road trip of about 391 km (243 mi) with 8 stops, from Chicago to Springfield. About 4 h 20 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield?
We suggest 3 days: about 4 h 20 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield start and end?
It starts in Chicago and ends in Springfield.
Which states does Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield pass through?
Illinois.
Where can you camp along Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield?
OpenStreetMap lists 21 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Carl Spindler Campground, Double J Campground and Riverside Park Campgrounds.
When is the best time for Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
