# Sandstone canyons, towpaths and lead-mining brick – by camper from the Illinois & Michigan Canal via Starved Rock and the Rock River to Galena

> From Chicago along the old canal to Lockport and Morris, through the canyons of Starved Rock and Matthiessen, via the Hennepin Canal to the Rock River at…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-547-illinois-starved-rock-galena/

**At a glance:** 7-day road trip of about 475 km (295 mi) with 14 stops, from Chicago to Mississippi Palisades State Park. About 5 h 16 min of driving in total. Best time to go: May–June and September. Tolls and vignettes for a car: about $4 (IL). From Chicago along the old canal to Lockport and Morris, through the canyons of Starved Rock and Matthiessen, via the Hennepin Canal to the Rock River at Dixon and Oregon, and through the hill country of Jo Daviess County to Galena and the Mississippi Palisades: around 600 kilometres away from the prairie clichés.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | approx. 475 km (295 mi) |
| Driving | 5 h 16 min |
| Suggested days | 7 |
| Stops | 14 |
| Route | Chicago → Mississippi Palisades State Park |
| States | IL |
| Best time to go | May–June and September |
| Tolls and vignettes | ≈ $4 |
| Updated | October 1, 2026 |

[Download GPX file](https://camping-spirit.com/gpx/rf-547-illinois-starved-rock-galena.gpx)

Practical guides for this route: [Driving in the US: The Rules European Visitors Most Often Get Wrong at the Wheel](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-driving-rules-visitors/), [Fuel, Tolls and Distances: Practical US Driving Math for Motorhome and Camper Travelers](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-fuel-tolls-distances/), [US national parks: entry fees, passes and reservations in plain terms](https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/us-national-park-passes/)

*From Chicago along the old canal to Lockport and Morris, through the canyons of Starved Rock and Matthiessen, via the Hennepin Canal to the Rock River at Dixon and Oregon, and through the hill country of Jo Daviess County to Galena and the Mississippi Palisades: around 600 kilometres away from the prairie clichés.*

## The spirit of the route

If you think Illinois is nothing but flat corn country, this route will prove you wrong. It begins on the edge of the metropolis, where a canal from 1848 opened the way from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi, and follows its towpath west: lock-tenders’ houses, limestone aqueducts, herons in still water. At the Illinois River the plain suddenly breaks open – in Starved Rock and Matthiessen, after rain, waterfalls tumble into mossy sandstone canyons, and in winter bald eagles perch by the dam. Further north it becomes rural and quiet: the Rock River with its bluffs and pines, small towns with brick centres, fords through a creek. At the end, in the Driftless Area that the glaciers bypassed, hills roll on to Galena, and from the bluff of the Palisades you can watch through the sliding door as the Mississippi drifts south in the evening sun between islands and backwaters.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Chicago to Morris (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** Chicago is just the starting point here. Leave the city on the toll-free I-55 (Stevenson Expressway) heading south-west, then via Lemont on the IL-171 along the Des Plaines River and the canal to Lockport. Continue through Joliet and on the I-80 or on country roads to Channahon and Morris. If you use the I-55, you can avoid toll roads altogether; the tollways around Chicago (I-90, I-94 to the north, I-294, I-355, I-88) are completely cashless. Within Chicago there are many low railway underpasses – know your vehicle’s height and set your navigation accordingly. Pure driving time 2 to 2.5 hours, considerably more in rush hour. From Joliet it quickly turns rural: industrial canals, floodplain forest, the first fields.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Lockport: This canal town was the administrative seat of the Illinois & Michigan Canal. The Gaylord Building, a limestone warehouse from the canal’s construction period, and the historic centre on State Street tell of the time when grain and timber were shipped from Chicago to the Mississippi. A footpath runs along the canal.
  - Joliet: a short stop for the Old Joliet Prison, the former limestone state penitentiary, now offering tours, or the Rialto Square Theatre. Joliet lies on old Route 66 – which is described in the CampingSpirit travel guide to Route 66.
  - Channahon State Park: Here stand one of the canal’s old locks and the lock-tender’s house, next to the crossing over the DuPage River. From here the I&M Canal State Trail, a flat towpath surfaced with crushed limestone, is easy to explore by bike.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Illini State Park near Marseilles on the south bank of the Illinois River, around 25 kilometres west of Morris: campground with electric sites under old trees and a dump station; check showers and season in advance. Reservations via ExploreMoreIL, the booking system of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. For tent campers: Gebhard Woods State Park in Morris and Channahon State Park offer basic tent sites right on the canal; they are not suitable for motorhomes.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the Chicago area and along the canal there is no legal option for wild camping; the car parks of the state parks and the forest preserves are closed at night. On the I&M Canal State Trail only designated sites for cyclists and hikers are permitted, with a permit from the park office.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Motorhome pick-ups from rental companies are usually in the suburbs – from there, head straight onto the I-55 and skip the city centre. For a visit to Chicago, it is better to take the commuter train (Metra) than to look for parking with a large vehicle. Fill up and shop before Morris: Morris has large supermarkets and filling stations with truck-friendly access.

### Stage 2: Morris to Starved Rock State Park (approx. 70 km)

- **The drive:** Take the US-6 west parallel to the canal via Seneca and Marseilles to Ottawa; two lanes, speed limit mostly 55 mph (88 km/h), hardly any traffic. From Ottawa, on the north side of the river, take Dee Bennett Road past Buffalo Rock to Utica, then cross the IL-178 bridge to the main entrance of Starved Rock. Alternatively, on the south side, take the IL-71 directly along the park. Pure driving time around 1.5 hours. The landscape changes from farmland to wooded bluffs above the Illinois River.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Gebhard Woods and Seneca: In Morris the canal crosses Nettle Creek on an aqueduct; in Seneca, landing ships were built during the Second World War and taken down the Illinois River to the Mississippi.
  - Ottawa: Here the Fox River flows into the Illinois River. Washington Square was the site of the first of the Lincoln-Douglas debates in 1858; statues commemorate it. The town has a well-preserved centre with murals.
  - Buffalo Rock State Park: On former mining land, the artist Michael Heizer created the Effigy Tumuli in the 1980s – huge earth sculptures of animals such as a snake, a turtle and a catfish, which you walk around on paths. There is also an enclosure with a few bison and a view over the river.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Starved Rock State Park Campground south of the river on the IL-71: 133 sites, all with electricity, plus showers, flush toilets, water taps and a dump station. Reservations online only via ExploreMoreIL, no earlier than six months and no later than four days before arrival; unreserved sites are allocated on site. Weekends from May to October are booked up first. In winter only part of the campground is open; check seasonal dates on ExploreMoreIL. Alcohol is banned in the campground.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Overnight stays are prohibited in the park and in the canyon car parks; the access roads are checked in the evening. In Ottawa, Utica and LaSalle there is no legal wild-camping option; fall back on the state parks or private campgrounds in the area.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The campground has a seasonal shop (roughly May to October) with firewood and ice; otherwise shop in Ottawa or Peru. Do not bring your own firewood from distant regions; buy it locally. In Ottawa the largest supermarkets and cheap filling stations are at the I-80 exit.

### Stage 3: Starved Rock State Park to Utica (approx. 30 km)

- **The drive:** A hiking day with short drives: from the campground to the Starved Rock visitor centre, a few kilometres south on the IL-178 to the Dells Area of Matthiessen, and back via Utica. All on short, well-built country roads; the vehicle stays parked for most of the day. The trails in both parks are partly sandy, partly built up with wooden stairs and boardwalks, and muddy and slippery after rain.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Starved Rock State Park: The rock above the river that gives the park its name is named after a legend according to which a group of Illinois people were besieged here in the 18th century. More than 20 kilometres of trails link the canyons; French, LaSalle, Wildcat, Ottawa and Kaskaskia Canyon, as well as St. Louis Canyon with its own car park on the IL-178. The waterfalls flow in spring and after rain; in high summer they are often only trickles, and in winter they freeze into columns of ice.
  - Starved Rock Lodge: The wood-and-stone lodge was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s; the fireplace hall and terrace are worth a visit, even if you are not staying there.
  - Matthiessen State Park: smaller and quieter than Starved Rock, with the Upper and Lower Dells – a narrow canyon with stairs, a stone bridge and Cascade Falls, a waterfall that plunges into a pool. The loop trail starts at Lake Falls at the top of the canyon.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Second night at Starved Rock State Park Campground (see stage 2). Matthiessen only has an equestrian campground, which is not intended for regular motorhome guests.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** No legal wild-camping option around the parks; the canyon car parks are only open during the day.
- **Insider tip for campers:** On sunny weekends in spring, in October for the autumn colours and when the waterfalls are frozen, the Starved Rock car parks are often full by mid-morning; the access roads are then temporarily closed. Come on a weekday or before 9 am, save Matthiessen for the afternoon and hike from the campground instead of driving. In January and February, bald eagles often sit in the open water below the dam at Starved Rock Lock and Dam – bring binoculars. Stay on the trails: there are repeated fatal falls from the sandstone edges.

### Stage 4: Utica to Hennepin Canal (Sheffield) (approx. 85 km)

- **The drive:** From Utica to LaSalle, where the Illinois & Michigan Canal ended, then via Peru on the US-6 west to Princeton and on to Sheffield; the US-6 runs parallel to the I-80, has two lanes and is quiet, speed limit 55 mph. Pure driving time just over 1.5 hours. Beyond Peru the open prairie begins, with silos, wind turbines and widely scattered farms.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - LaSalle: At the western end of the I&M Canal there is a restored lock; in some summers, rides are offered here on a replica of a mule-drawn canal boat – check with the City of LaSalle in advance whether and when. In Utica, the LaSalle County Historical Society Museum, housed in an old canal warehouse, tells the history of the region.
  - Princeton: The Owen Lovejoy Homestead commemorates an abolitionist whose house was a station on the Underground Railroad. North of town on the IL-26 stands the Red Covered Bridge of 1863, one of the few surviving covered bridges in Illinois – it is open to cars only, so park your motorhome in front of it.
  - Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park: The canal connects the Illinois River with the Mississippi at Rock Island and was built in the early 20th century as one of the first in the USA with concrete locks instead of natural stone. Today it is a narrow ribbon of water with a towpath, locks and bridges through fields and woods; the visitor centre is near Sheffield.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park: At several locks and bridges (such as Lock 17, Lock 21, Bridge 14 and Lock 22) there are basic sites without electricity or showers for self-sufficient campers. They cannot be reserved but are allocated on arrival; a staff member collects the fee on site in cash or by cheque. Ask at the visitor centre in advance about access for larger vehicles. If you need electricity and showers, drive around 15 kilometres south-west to the Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area north of Kewanee: 70 electric sites, shower building and dump station, water and showers only from May to October; reservations via ExploreMoreIL.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** There is no dispersed camping on public land in northern Illinois; the basic canal sites on the Hennepin Canal are the most natural legal option on this route. Camping is prohibited on the towpath itself and around the visitor centre. Supermarket car parks in Princeton or Peru only with the explicit permission of the store.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The towpath along the Hennepin Canal is flat and traffic-free and suits a cycling day; you often see no one for hours. Drinking water on the canal is only available at the visitor centre near Sheffield, not at the sites – fill your tanks in Princeton beforehand. On the I-80 near Princeton there are large truck stops with diesel and propane.

### Stage 5: Hennepin Canal (Sheffield) to Oregon (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** Take the IL-40 north, roughly following the feeder canal of the Hennepin Canal, to Rock Falls and Sterling on the Rock River. Then take the IL-2 upstream to Dixon and on upstream via Grand Detour, past Castle Rock, to Oregon. The IL-2 is one of the most beautiful country roads in northern Illinois: two lanes, bends along the river, limestone and sandstone banks, pines and oaks. Pure driving time around 2 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Dixon: The Ronald Reagan Boyhood Home is the house where the future president grew up in the 1920s; in Lowell Park on the Rock River he worked as a lifeguard. On the riverbank a Lincoln statue recalls that Abraham Lincoln was stationed here in 1832 during the Black Hawk War. Opening hours of the Reagan house are seasonal.
  - Grand Detour: The Rock River makes a large loop here. The John Deere Historic Site shows the workshop where John Deere developed his steel plough in 1837, which broke open the tough prairie soils; open seasonally.
  - Castle Rock State Park: A sandstone rock juts out above the Rock River; a wooden staircase leads up to a viewpoint over the valley. Nearby, the Ogle County Courthouse in Oregon and the town’s riverfront with views of the river.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Lowden State Park on the bluff opposite Oregon: campground under oaks and pines with 80 electric sites, shower building and dump station, plus basic sites without electricity. The electric sites can be reserved via ExploreMoreIL; book early for summer weekends. Castle Rock State Park only has a few basic sites, which are reachable by boat.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** There is no legal wild-camping option on the Rock River; boat ramps and state park car parks close at night.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In Lowden State Park, the roughly 15-metre concrete statue “The Eternal Indian” by Lorado Taft from 1911, popularly known as the Black Hawk Statue, stands on the bluff – reachable on foot from the campground, best in the evening light with a view over the river. Dixon and Oregon have supermarkets; the riverside car parks in the town centres are tight for large vehicles, so it is better to park on the outskirts.

### Stage 6: Oregon to Apple River Canyon State Park (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** First around 13 kilometres west to White Pines Forest State Park, then via country roads north to Freeport and on the US-20 west into the hills of Jo Daviess County. At Stockton or Warren head north to Apple River Canyon. The US-20 has two lanes, partly with overtaking lanes, and long climbs and descents. Pure driving time around 2 hours. Beyond Freeport the landscape changes: the Driftless Area was bypassed by the last glaciers, and the land is dissected, with valleys, rocks and dairy farms.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - White Pines Forest State Park: This is home to the southernmost natural stand of eastern white pine in Illinois. The park road runs through fords of Pine Creek, which you drive through on a paved bed – closed during high water. There is also a lodge with log cabins from the 1930s; check in advance whether it is operating.
  - Freeport: At the site of the second Lincoln-Douglas debate of 1858, a monument commemorates the exchange. Good for shopping and refuelling.
  - Apple River Canyon State Park: The Apple River has carved a canyon with walls of limestone and dolomite, rock ledges and springs. Short trails lead along the river and up to the edges.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Apple River Canyon State Park: basic sites without electricity in the woods (Canyon Ridge; Walnut Grove is for groups), with a dump station; Canyon Ridge closes on 1 November. Better-equipped alternative: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area near Lena, around 20 kilometres east, with a large lakeside campground and many sites with electricity and water; shower building and dump station from May to October. White Pines Forest State Park also has around 100 basic sites with a shower building, but only two with electricity; many sites there are sloping.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In the hill country of Jo Daviess County there is only private land and state parks; overnight stays outside campgrounds are not provided for. Farm tracks and farm driveways are private.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The fords in White Pines are shallow and paved but closed when water levels are high – heed the signs and do not drive into them at speed. If you have a long vehicle, take the park exit to the west towards the main road. On the US-20 climbs and descents alternate; go easy on the brakes, especially with a trailer.

### Stage 7: Apple River Canyon State Park to Mississippi Palisades State Park (approx. 95 km)

- **The drive:** Back to the US-20 and via Stockton and Elizabeth to Galena; the road rises and falls through the hill country and finally drops into the valley of the Galena River. After visiting the town, take the IL-84 south via Hanover and Savanna to the Palisades. In Illinois the IL-84 is part of the Great River Road and runs partly right beside the Mississippi, partly over hills; two lanes, speed limit 55 mph. Pure driving time around 2 hours.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Galena: The town owes its wealth to 19th-century lead mining; Main Street is lined almost unbroken with brick buildings from that era. A floodwall with gates protects the centre from the Galena River. From the riverside, stairs lead up to the residential streets on the hillside.
  - Ulysses S. Grant Home: The citizens of Galena gave this brick house to the victorious general in 1865; today it can be visited as a state historic site with original furnishings. Check opening hours in advance.
  - Mississippi Palisades State Park: limestone cliffs above the Mississippi north of Savanna, with rock formations such as Indian Head and Twin Sisters and viewpoints over islands, backwaters and barges. The trails are steep, some with steps.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Mississippi Palisades State Park near Savanna: 241 sites in shaded and open areas, 110 of them with electricity; flush toilets and showers (May to October), two dump stations and water. Reservations via ExploreMoreIL. The entrance is closed at night – arrive in good time.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Sleeping in your vehicle is not provided for in Galena and Savanna; Galena has paid car parks where camping is not allowed at night. On the Mississippi riverbank the boat ramps are closed at night.
- **Insider tip for campers:** In Galena, Main Street is narrow for large vehicles and crowded at weekends; park in signposted car parks outside the floodwall or on the other side of the river and walk across the bridge. If you want to continue north across the Mississippi, you will find Dubuque, Prairie du Chien and the riverbanks upstream in the CampingSpirit travel guide to the upper Great River Road. Savanna has a supermarket and filling stations.

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Northern Illinois has no public land for dispersed camping; there is no national forest and no BLM land. Overnight stays are only permitted at designated campgrounds. The car parks of the state parks and the forest preserves around Chicago are closed and checked at night.
- Reservations for Illinois state parks are handled centrally via ExploreMoreIL, the online system of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. At Starved Rock online only, six months to four days in advance; the reservation fee is not refunded on cancellation. Unreserved sites are in some cases allocated on site on arrival.
- Entry to Illinois state parks is free; you pay for campsites, cabins and facilities.
- Rest areas on the interstates are for taking a break, not for staying overnight; observe the maximum parking time on the signs. Supermarket and department store car parks only with the store’s permission; many municipalities prohibit overnight stays in car parks.
- Ticks (deer tick, American dog tick, lone star tick) are common from spring to autumn; Lyme disease is widespread in northern Illinois. Check yourself after every hike, especially after the canal paths and meadows. Plus mosquitoes and biting midges near water.
- Hunting: Hunting season runs in autumn and winter; some state parks close parts of their grounds on certain days for deer hunting. Wear bright clothing when hiking.
- Apps: iOverlander, Campendium, The Dyrt and ExploreMoreIL; Park4Night is not widely used here.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Dump stations: at Starved Rock, Lowden, Apple River Canyon and Mississippi Palisades, as well as at many other state park campgrounds and private campgrounds; the basic sites on the Hennepin Canal and the I&M Canal have none. Some truck stops on the I-80 offer dump stations for a fee.
- Drinking water: at state park water taps; not guaranteed at basic sites and often turned off in winter. Fill your tanks in towns or at large campgrounds.
- Empty grey water and chemical toilets only at dump stations; draining into canals, rivers or ditches is prohibited.
- Propane: filling stations, truck stops, DIY stores and farm supply stores fill US cylinders; European cylinders are generally not filled. Good supply on the I-80 and in Ottawa, Peru, Princeton, Dixon and Freeport.
- Electricity: many state park sites offer 30 A, some 50 A; basic sites (Class B/S, C) have no electricity.
- Firewood: buy locally, do not transport it over long distances; camp shop at Starved Rock seasonal, otherwise at filling stations in Utica and the towns.
- Shopping and fuel: supermarkets in Morris, Ottawa, Peru, Princeton, Dixon, Oregon, Freeport, Galena and Savanna; between towns only small shops.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Speed limits: interstates outside the Chicago area mostly 70 mph (113 km/h), in the Chicago area often 55–65 mph; two-lane highways mostly 55 mph (88 km/h). Considerably lower in towns and near schools; follow the signs.
- Tolls: The Illinois Tollway (including the I-90, I-294, I-355 and I-88, the Reagan Memorial Tollway towards Dixon) is completely cashless. With I-PASS or a compatible E-ZPass you pay the lowest rate; without a transponder the toll must be paid online via “Pay By Plate” within 14 days of travel, after which an invoice is sent to the registered keeper, possibly with additional fees. Pay By Plate is more expensive than I-PASS. Motorhomes with a trailer or many axles may fall into a higher class – current rates at illinoistollway.com. For rental vehicles, clarify the rental company’s toll arrangements in advance. The I-55 out of Chicago and the I-80 west of Joliet are toll-free.
- Mobile phones may only be used hands-free while driving in Illinois. “Scott’s Law” requires you to change lanes or slow down considerably when passing stationary emergency and breakdown vehicles with warning lights; violations are severely punished.
- Heights: In Chicago and in older towns there are low railway underpasses and car parks with height restrictions; the covered bridge near Princeton is for cars only. Enter your vehicle height in your navigation.
- Tornadoes and thunderstorms: Northern Illinois is in the zone of severe thunderstorms, mainly from April to June but possible into autumn; in 2004 a tornado destroyed parts of Utica. Use a weather app or weather radio with National Weather Service warnings, and seek a solid building during a tornado warning – a motorhome offers no protection. The state park toilet and shower buildings are often the nearest shelter.
- Flooding: The Illinois River overflows its banks mainly in spring and after heavy rain; riverside trails in Starved Rock, boat ramps and low-lying roads around Ottawa and Utica are then closed. The Rock River and the Mississippi also rise in spring. Never drive through flooded roads; check river levels with the National Weather Service.
- Winter: From December to March snow and black ice are possible, and the trails in the canyons ice over; many shower buildings and water taps are then closed.
- Emergency: 911. Mobile coverage along the route is mostly good, but patchy in places in the canyons of Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Apple River Canyon.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- I-PASS or E-ZPass (or the rental company’s toll arrangement): the tollways around Chicago are cashless, and Pay By Plate is more expensive and easy to forget.
- Tick tweezers, permethrin for clothing and repellent with DEET or picaridin: ticks are common on canal paths, meadows and in the canyons from spring to autumn.
- Hiking boots with grippy soles and, in winter, microspikes: sandstone steps and wooden stairs in Starved Rock and Matthiessen are slippery after rain and in icy conditions.
- Bikes: the towpaths of the I&M Canal and the Hennepin Canal are flat, traffic-free and surfaced with crushed limestone.
- Levelling ramps: many sites in White Pines, Lowden and Apple River Canyon are sloping.
- Weather radio or severe-weather app with National Weather Service warnings: for storm fronts, tornado warnings and flooding on the Illinois River.

_As of 2026-10. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Sources

- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Lowden State Park: Camping](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/camp/park.lowden.html)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Illini State Park: Activities](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/activity/park.illini.html)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – White Pines Forest State Park: Camping](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/camp/park.whitepinesforest.html)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – White Pines Forest State Park: Lodge](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/lodge/park.whitepinesforest.html)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park: Camping](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/camp/park.hennepincanal.html)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area: Camping](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/camp/park.lakeleaquana.html)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area: Activities](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/activity/park.johnsonsauktrail.html)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Apple River Canyon State Park (Faltblatt)](https://dnr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dnr/publications/documents/00000016.pdf)
- [Illinois Department of Natural Resources – Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail](https://dnr.illinois.gov/parks/about/park.imcanal.html)
- [State of Illinois – Pay By Plate (Illinois Tollway)](https://illinois.gov/services/service.pay-by-plate.html)
- [Village of North Utica – Buffalo Rock State Park](https://utica-il.gov/?p=5196)
- [Wikipedia – Buffalo Rock State Park](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Rock_State_Park)

## Which stops are on the route from Chicago to Mississippi Palisades State Park?

1. **Chicago** (IL)
2. **Lockport** (IL)
3. **Channahon** (IL)
4. **Morris** (IL)
5. **Ottawa** (IL)
6. **Starved Rock State Park** (Utica, IL): 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.
7. **Matthiessen State Park** (Oglesby, IL): A 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.
8. **Princeton** (IL)
9. **Dixon** (IL)
10. **Grand Detour** (IL)
11. **Oregon** (IL)
12. **White Pines Forest State Park** (IL)
13. **Galena** (IL)
14. **Mississippi Palisades State Park** (Savanna, IL): Wooded bluffs and rock outcrops above the Mississippi River, with trails to overlooks across the water. Go in autumn for foliage, and wear sturdy shoes, since some paths are steep and rocky.

## When is the best time for the route from Chicago to Mississippi Palisades State Park?

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. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is Sandstone canyons, towpaths and lead-mining brick – by camper from the Illinois & Michigan Canal via Starved Rock and the Rock River to Galena?**
7-day road trip of about 475 km (295 mi) with 14 stops, from Chicago to Mississippi Palisades State Park. About 5 h 16 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Sandstone canyons, towpaths and lead-mining brick – by camper from the Illinois & Michigan Canal via Starved Rock and the Rock River to Galena?**
We suggest 7 days: about 5 h 16 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Sandstone canyons, towpaths and lead-mining brick – by camper from the Illinois & Michigan Canal via Starved Rock and the Rock River to Galena start and end?**
It starts in Chicago and ends in Mississippi Palisades State Park.

**Which states does Sandstone canyons, towpaths and lead-mining brick – by camper from the Illinois & Michigan Canal via Starved Rock and the Rock River to Galena pass through?**
Illinois.

**Where can you camp along Sandstone canyons, towpaths and lead-mining brick – by camper from the Illinois & Michigan Canal via Starved Rock and the Rock River to Galena?**
OpenStreetMap lists 62 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Fox Bluff, South Sabula Lake Park and Love's RV Hookup.

**How much are the tolls on the route from Chicago to Mississippi Palisades State Park?**
Tolls and vignettes for a car: about $4 (IL). Estimate with typical rates; motorhomes pay more, and vehicles over 3.5 t often pay by distance.