NPS Sites Near Chicago
Within 150 miles of Chicago, two National Park Service sites offer recreational opportunities in the region. Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, located 37 miles away along Lake Michigan, is the closest unit and drew 2,629,497 annual recreation visits according to NPS data. The lakeshore features sand dunes, beaches, and hiking trails across its protected landscape.
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail, situated 128.5 miles from Chicago, is an NPS-designated scenic trail that received 29,125 annual recreation visits. The trail spans across the Upper Midwest and showcases geological features related to glaciation. Both sites are accessible by vehicle from the Chicago area for day trips or extended visits.
| NPS unit | Annual visits |
|---|---|
| Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore · 37.1 mi | 2,629,497 (2025) |
| Ice Age National Scenic Trail NPS Unit · 128.5 mi | 29,125 (2025) |
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Nearby-NPS units and their annual recreation visits are from the NPS Visitor Use Statistics package (haversine match within 150 mi of the city centroid), verified June 2026. Null visitation renders as “n/a”, never 0. How we compile this.