Nature reserveHidden gem
Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
Wilmington, Illinois
Restored tallgrass prairie with a small bison herd, a few minutes off the road.
- Cost
- Free
- Time to allow
- 2 hours
A big stretch of former ammunition plant land has been turned back into prairie, run by the US Forest Service. Bison have lived here since 2015, and there are trails for walking and cycling through open grassland. It is a quiet change of pace after the Joliet traffic and sits close to Wilmington on the Route 66 corridor.
Good to know
- Bring binoculars for the bison and grassland birds
- Pack water and sun cover, there is little shade
- Check the Forest Service page for which areas are open
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon
- Vehicles
- Fine in any car
- Dogs
- Dogs on a lead
Data: Roadtrip. Things change: check opening times, prices and rules before you go.
Know what the drive costs
Roadtrip works out the fuel or charging cost of any drive for your exact car, finds the cheapest stations on the way, and plans the stops.
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