Giant City State Park
Makanda, IL
Huge sandstone blocks form “streets” in the forest, with a stone lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps.
Giant City State Park near Makanda in southern Illinois opened in 1927, covers about 4,000 acres (1,600 hectares) and has been a National Natural Landmark since 1980. It is famous for the “Giant City Streets”: on the Giant City Nature Trail you walk between tall sandstone blocks that resemble the streets of a city. The park also contains the prehistoric Giant City Stone Fort Site.
Giant City Lodge was built in 1934 and 1935 by Company 696 of the Civilian Conservation Corps from local sandstone and dedicated in 1936. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1985 and now houses a restaurant and a gift shop. For campers there are 85 reservable Class A sites, 14 walk-in tent sites and an equestrian campground. Other options include climbing and rappelling at two locations, a 12-mile (about 19 km) horse trail, nearly 17 miles (about 27 km) of hiking trails and the River to River Trail. According to Illinois DNR, the lodge is open from early February to mid-December (as of October 2026).
- Nearest town
- Makanda, IL
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 37.6020, -89.1900
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Hot in July. Cold, short days in January. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Little Grassy Campground & MarinaCampsite4 mi from Giant City State Park
- Crab Orchard CampgroundCampsite10 mi from Giant City State ParkTentsCaravans
- Trail of Tears CampgroundCampsite12 mi from Giant City State ParkToilets
- Turkey Ridge Tent CampgroundCampsite12 mi from Giant City State Park
- Deer Ridge CampgroundCampsite12 mi from Giant City State Park
- Pine Hills CampgroundCampsite14 mi from Giant City State ParkToilets
All campsites in Illinois · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Giant City State Park?
Giant City State Park is in Makanda, IL, at GPS 37.6020, -89.1900. It is about 7 mi from Alto Pass.
Can you camp near Giant City State Park?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Youth Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 35 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Giant City State Park?
Giant City State Park is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Shawnee National Forest: southern Illinois hills and Sandstone bluffs, cypress swamps and two great rivers – by camper through Southern Illinois and the Shawnee National Forest.
What is there to see near Giant City State Park?
Places worth a stop nearby: Bald Knob Cross of Peace (8 mi), Little Grand Canyon (12 mi), Superman Statue (40 mi) and Garden of the Gods (44 mi).
When is the best time to visit Giant City State Park?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)