The Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum is named after a prominent African-American labor activist and union activist. Philip Randolph founded the Sleeping Car Carriers Brotherhood, a union of African-American workers. Indiana Dunes National Park, Indiana's only national park and the closest national park to Chicago, straddles a 15-mile section of Lake Michigan's southern shoreline. He lived here from 1844 to 1861 before becoming the sixteenth member of the United States.
UU. This fascinating battlefield park commemorates and interprets the battles of January 1813 in Monroe and Wayne Counties. That battle was the Tecumseh Native American Confederacy's greatest victory on the Trail of 1812, as well as the United States' greatest defeat. Established in 1970 for its incredible and diverse natural features, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is a lesser-known gem in the glittering crown of America's national parks.
As the region flourished throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, cities expanded and development spread more and more. Locals escaped to the Cuyahoga Valley desert to picnic, play, hike, and recreate. Stacker compiled a list of the closest national parks to Chicago. National parks are ranked by the closest straight-line distance, measured from representative points in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, the IL-IN-WI metropolitan area, and each national park.
Estimated driving times come from Here and are only available in the lower 48 states. All featured distances and driving times are estimated using locations representative of the center of each subway and national park; for some locations within the metropolitan area, the actual distance may be slightly shorter or longer to reach the nearest entrance to a park. Whether you reside in the Chicago area or are planning a visit, the Windy City has access to at least 11 areas protected by the National Park Service. They range from National Heritage sites to picturesque trails and nature reserves to full-fledged national parks.
Indiana Dunes National Park is an hour's drive from Chicago, just across the Illinois-Indiana border in Porter, Indiana. It has about 15 miles of protected shores along the southern end of Lake Michigan and includes interesting rock formations, gentle sand dunes, and picturesque wetlands. Visitors to the park will enjoy a wide variety of wildlife, hiking, camping, bird watching, and fishing. In summer, you can take a dip in Lake Michigan at one of the park's public beaches.
There are 50 miles of walking trails and 37 miles of bike trails. With 15,000 acres of diverse landscapes, the park is also home to natural monuments and archaeological sites. The Ice Age National Scenic Trail is a 1,200-mile-long trail that runs along the edge of an enormous ice sheet that is thought to have once covered most of North America. Established in 1980, the visitor center and headquarters closest to Chicago are located in Madison, Wisconsin, a 2.5-hour drive north of Chicago.
The trail has some of the best hiking opportunities in the Midwest. Located in northwestern Michigan, Sleeping Bear Dunes is a 5.5 hour drive from Chicago, in the northwestern region of Michigan, and is home to the famous and challenging Dune Climb. The overlooks offer stunning views of Sleeping Bear, Pyramid Point, and Empire, which are located 400 feet above Lake Michigan on glacial moraines. The seven-mile-long Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, with lake views, is popular for sightseeing by car to see the colors of fall.
The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail leads to the town of Glen Haven, which has retained its charm since 1900 and has changed very little. Kayakers and canoeists of all experience levels will be able to float and paddle peacefully along with some thrilling rapids on the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, a 200-mile-long water trail a 6.5-hour drive from Chicago. Around 252 miles of rivers are protected here, including the Namekagon River and the St.
When you're out of the water, there are trails and towns to explore in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Lighthouse fans will want to make the roughly 8-hour trip to the Apostles Islands in Bayfield, Wisconsin. The 18 islands have six lighthouses in total, which can be accessed by kayak from the Apostle Islands Lighthouse cruise service. Paddle and explore the sea caves of the islands and the mainland.
In late July and early August, look for wild blueberries that grow in the forest. .
