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Starved Rock State Park – Bench and trashcan Starved Rock📷 Visviva, CC0
Editor's pick

Starved Rock State Park

Utica, IL

Nature

Eighteen 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.

Nearest town
Utica, IL
Category
Nature & parks
GPS
41.3196, -88.9937
Editor's pick
★

Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.

Good to know

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. Cold, short days in December–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

Featured in these trip guides

Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield – Bench and trashcan Starved Rock© Visviva · CC0
55
Themed road trips

Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield

243 mi8 stops3 days

Nearby

Matthiessen State Park – Hanging on to Green (49760352958)© Joseph Gage from Yorkville, IL, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0
Nature

Matthiessen State Park

Oglesby, IL
Gemini Giant – GeminiGiantMoved© David Quigley · CC BY 4.0
Editor's pick
Oddities

Gemini Giant

Wilmington, IL
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio – Edwin H. Cheney House (7415413904)© Teemu008 from Palatine, Illinois · CC BY-SA 2.0
History

Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio

Oak Park, IL
Field Museum – FMNH Glyptodon© Zissoudisctrucker · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Field Museum

Chicago, IL

Campsites nearby

  • Starved Rock CampgroundCampsite
    1 mi from Starved Rock State Park
    OSMAdd to trip
  • Starved Rock Youth Group CampgroundCampsite
    2 mi from Starved Rock State Park
    OSMAdd to trip
  • Horseback Campground @ Matthiessen State ParkCampsite
    2 mi from Starved Rock State Park
    OSMAdd to trip
  • Pleasant Creek CampgroundCampsite
    5 mi from Starved Rock State Park
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Illini State Park CampgroundCampsite
    15 mi from Starved Rock State Park
    OSMAdd to trip
  • Tony's CabinCampsite
    19 mi from Starved Rock State Park
    Wi-Fi
    OSMAdd to trip

All campsites in Illinois · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026

FAQs

Where is Starved Rock State Park?

Starved Rock State Park is in Utica, IL, at GPS 41.3196, -88.9937. It is about 53 mi from Peoria.

Can you camp near Starved Rock State Park?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Starved Rock Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 8 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

Which road trips pass Starved Rock State Park?

Starved Rock State Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Starved Rock canyons and Lincoln’s Springfield.

What is there to see near Starved Rock State Park?

Places worth a stop nearby: Matthiessen State Park (2 mi), Gemini Giant (44 mi), Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio (74 mi) and Field Museum (81 mi).

When is the best time to visit Starved Rock State Park?

The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September. Still fine, with some compromises, in July–August and October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)