Illinois Beach State Park
Zion, IL
Illinois Beach State Park in Zion protects the last natural beach ridge shoreline left in Illinois, with about six miles of sand split between a North Unit and a South Unit. Behind the beach are dunes, oak savanna, and marshes that hold hundreds of plant species. The South Unit has the lodge, campground, and main swimming area.
The wildest beach in Illinois with miles of dunes, though parts of the shore are eroding and swimming areas are limited.
How we score beachesWalk the Dead River trail in the South Unit, where the river meets the lake through the dunes.
Free parking at the South Unit beach lots and the North Unit.
Paved paths and boardwalks lead from the lots over the dunes to the sand.
Illinois Beach is warmest in late July and August. Spring wildflowers and fall migration make the trails worth a trip in the off-season.
This isn't one entrance, it's a stretch with a few. Here's where locals actually meet up.
North Unit
A quieter, wilder stretch north of the former Zion nuclear plant site, running up toward North Point Marina.
Get directions →More Great Lakes beaches
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