🥾 ActiveLong weekend · from Chicago, IL

Dunes, Trails & River Forests

Escape Chicago for windswept dunes, hidden forest trails, and peaceful river moments across three natural treasures.

Day 1 — Indiana Dunes National ParkDay 2 — Pokagon State ParkDay 3 — Kankakee River State Park

Day 1 — Indiana Dunes National Park

🚗 1 hr 11 min driving📍 5 stops

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Morning

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Drive

Chicago, IL → Indiana Dunes National Park

1 hr 1 min8:00 AM → 9:01 AM

Indiana Dunes National Park

★ 4.6

Escape the city by hiking towering sand dunes and pristine beaches along Lake Michigan, where you can swim, explore diverse ecosystems, and catch stunning sunsets just 40 minutes from Chicago.

9:01 AM📍 See location

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Lunch

🍽️ Lunch10:01 AM

Lucrezia Café

A longtime Indiana Dunes-area favourite serving classic Italian — house-made pastas, thin-crust pizzas, and tiramisu in a warm, candlelit room. Reliable, generous, and always busy on weekends.

★ 4.5Italian Restaurant📍 Maps →

2 options · tap to switch

☀️

Afternoon

Indiana Dunes State Park

★ 4.7

Climb the towering sand dunes and descend to the Lake Michigan shoreline on the 3-mile Dune Succession Trail, experiencing dramatic elevation changes and sweeping water views.

12:00 PM📍 See location

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Evening

🚗

Drive

Indiana Dunes State Park → Wagner's Ribs

10 min5:00 PM → 5:10 PM

🍽️ Dinner5:10 PM

Wagner's Ribs

Satisfy your craving for fall-off-the-bone ribs and classic BBQ at this legendary roadside joint that locals have been raving about for decades.

★ 4.4Barbecue Restaurant📍 Maps →

3 options · tap to switch

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Serenity Springs

Private lakeside and woodland cabins in northwest Indiana, close to Indiana Dunes National Park — a genuinely nature-immersed overnight that feels nothing like suburban Chicago. The ponds and forest set a very different pace from the dunes themselves.

Day 2 — Pokagon State Park

🚗 3 hr 39 min driving📍 6 stops

🌅

Morning

🚗

Drive

Indiana Dunes National Park → Pokagon State Park

2 hr8:00 AM → 10:00 AM

Pokagon State Park

★ 4.7

Park includes a swimming beach, guided horse rides, toboggan run, nature center, campsites & inn.

10:00 AM📍 See location

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Lunch

🍽️ Lunch11:00 AM

Jed’s BBQ & Brew of Angola

A northern Indiana BBQ and brewery that covers both bases well — smoked meats and craft beer in a laid-back setting. An honest midday stop on any Indiana lakes trip.

★ 4.8Restaurant📍 Maps →

2 options · tap to switch

☀️

Afternoon

Pokagon State Park Toboggan Run

★ 4.6

Ride vintage wooden toboggans down an icy 700-foot chute during winter, launching onto the frozen lake for an exhilarating splash-down finale.

12:00 PM📍 See location

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Evening

🚗

Drive

Pokagon State Park Toboggan Run → Village Kitchen

9 min5:00 PM → 5:09 PM

Village Kitchen

★ 4.6

Dig into home-cooked comfort food at this Angola staple — hearty, satisfying plates that hit the spot after a full day of lakeside trails and toboggan runs.

5:09 PM📍 See location

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Drive

Village Kitchen → Chicago South Suburbs

1 hr 30 min6:09 PM → 7:39 PM

Hoppy Pig

★ 4.3

A well-regarded dinner spot near Hampton Inn Kankakee.

7:39 PM📍 See location

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Hampton Inn Kankakee

A clean, well-maintained property in Kankakee convenient to both the Kankakee River State Park trailheads and the morning drive north or south along the Illinois river corridor — good breakfast and an easy location for the next day's activities.

Day 3 — Kankakee River State Park

🚗 2 hr 9 min driving📍 4 stops

🌅

Morning

🚗

Drive

Chicago South Suburbs → Kankakee River State Park

1 hr8:00 AM → 9:00 AM

Kankakee River State Park

★ 4.7

Paddle down the scenic Kankakee River or bike its picturesque trails, discovering hidden natural beauty and peaceful waterways just beyond Chicago's reach.

9:00 AM📍 See location

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Lunch

Brickstone Brewery

★ 4.3

A Bourbonnais, IL brewery with a full food menu of pub staples done reliably. The house beers are the draw, and the patio is a solid place to recharge mid-trip.

10:00 AM📍 See location

☀️

Afternoon

🚗

Drive

Kankakee River State Park → Rock Creek Trail

4 min12:00 PM → 12:04 PM

Rock Creek Trail

★ 4.8

Trek through lush forest canyons along this scenic ravine trail, crossing wooden bridges and spotting cascading waterfalls tucked into shaded limestone walls.

12:04 PM📍 See location

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Evening

🚗

Drive

Rock Creek Trail → Jimbo's

2 min5:00 PM → 5:02 PM

Jimbo's

★ 4.7

Grab casual, satisfying Italian beef sandwiches and local favorites at this no-frills gem that captures authentic Chicago-area food culture away from the downtown crowds.

5:02 PM📍 See location

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Drive

Jimbo's → Chicago, IL

1 hr 3 min6:02 PM → 7:05 PM

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