Pere Marquette State Park - Grafton, Illinois

Pere Marquette State Park comprises 8,050 acres making it Illinois’ largest state park.

The Park is famous for the beauty of its fall colors and as a home for bald eagles in the winter. In addition to the spectacular views of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers from several scenic overlooks, visitors can take advantage of a variety of year-round recreational activities, including hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, fishing, boating, and taking part in interpretative programs.

The Park is dotted with over 150 small Native American burial mounds and the Illini Confederacy occupied the area when the Joliet and Marquette made their journey. A number of archaeological studies have been conducted here, most notably at the location of the Pere Marquette Lodge. Prior to its construction in the 1930’s and again during the lodge’s expansion in 1985, evidence that the location was a prehistoric habitation site was uncovered.

The new Visitors Center provides displays that cover the region’s history and the types of environments the visitor can encounter as well as housing informative interpretative programs. The Lodge consists of both new facilities as well as those constructed by the CCC. All this and more makes Pere Marquette State Park a great place to explore!

Directions: FROM St. Louis (Forest Park)
Take I-64 West to I-170
Take I-170 North to I-270
Take I-270 East to MO-367
Take MO-367 North to IL-100 in Alton
Take IL-100 North to Pere Marquette

FROM St. Louis County (Kirkwood)
Take I-270 North and then East to MO-367
Take MO-367 North to IL-100 in Alton
Take IL-100 North to Pere Marquette

FROM Chicago, Peoria, Springfield and points north

Take I-55 South toward St. Louis
Take Route 140 West to IL-3
Take IL-3 to Clifton Terrace Road
Take Clifton Terrace Road South to IL-100
Take IL-100 North to Pere Marquette State Park

FROM Effingham, Indianapolis, Cincinnati and points east

Take I-70 West toward St. Louis
Take IL-143 West to IL-100 in Alton
Take IL-100 North to Pere Marquette State Park

FROM Cairo, Memphis and points south

Take I-55 North to I-255 near St. Louis
Take I-255 North to I-270
Take I-270 West to IL-111
Take IL-111 North to IL-143
Take IL-143 West to IL-100 in Alton
Take IL-100 North to Pere Marquette State Park

FROM Columbia, Springfield, Kansas City and points west

Take I-70 or I-64 or I-44 East toward St. Louis to I-270
Take I-270 East to MO-367
Take MO-367 North to IL-100 in Alton
Take IL-100 North to Pere Marquette State Park

Location: Grafton, IL 62037

Phone: 618-786-3323

Written by Travel Writer · Filed Under Southwest