Pere Marquette State Park
Notice: Park notice — details
- Status
- Open (per official listing)
- Entrance fee
- Statewide rule — see below
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed
- Camping
- YesAlso lodge or inn rooms
- Official site
- dnr.illinois.gov(618) 786-3323
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Current alerts 1
Closure Park noticeATTENTION PARK VISITORS The Pere Marquette Interpretive Program is looking for volunteers! If you're interested in sharing your love of nature,… (more)
ATTENTION PARK VISITORS The Pere Marquette Interpretive Program is looking for volunteers! If you're interested in sharing your love of nature, history, and the outdoors while making a difference in your community, we'd love to have you join our team. Please visit the Interpretive tab for more information about volunteer opportunities and how to get involved. Winter Visitor Center Hours: November 1st Thru March 31st Monday–Saturday, 8:00 AM–3:30 PM CLOSED SUNDAYS
Posted by the park. Official alert
Overview
Pere Marquette State Park is a 116-acre park in Jersey County, about 12 miles north of St. Charles.
Its trail network totals roughly 12 miles, according to the park. If you'd rather not camp, the park offers lodge rooms.
Fees and passes
Free: 'The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) does not charge an Entrance Fee to any state owned or operated land.' Camping, cabins and shelters are fee-based.
Statewide fee rule from Illinois's park system; this park’s page doesn’t list its own fees.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ExploreMoreIL (IDNR camping, cabins, group camps and shelters)
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed
Dog Walking Dogs are allowed in the park, both in the campgrounds and on the trails. All dogs must be kept on a leash, and their waste must be picked up and removed.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Reserve Your Campsite
For visitors who prefer a rustic experience, Pere Marquette offers a wide range of camping opportunities:
Click here to go to reservation site ExploreMoreIL™
Reservations must be made three days before the date comes. We can also only make reservations 180 days in advance (six months typically).
Firewood is sold for $6 by the campground hosts in spots 1 & 2. Firewood from outside Jersey County, Illinois, is not permitted.
*Campground Address: Park Rd. Grafton IL. 62037 *
Class A (ELECTRICAL/RV) Campground MAP
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80 Reservable Sites (6 months out; sites go early in the fall months)
- All Class A sites have 20, 30, and 50 amp service.
Rent-A-Cabins
There are two rent-a-cabins available (Sites 13 & 15). The Rent-A-Cabins are NOT handicapped accessible
Read more from the park
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Cabins sleep up to six people
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Cabins have one full-sized bed and two sets of bunk beds.
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Cabins have electricity but do not have water inside the cabin.
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Cabins are next to the bathhouse for bathrooms and showers.
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These rustic cabins do not have as many amenities as cabins at the lodge; to see all of what is included, see our brochure below.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW Rent-A-Cabin brochure
Class B (PRIMITIVE/TENT)
- **Class B is NON-RESERVABLE
- Location is just NORTH of the Class A sites
- Show up, find an open site, set your tent up
Bring your driver's license and license plate number to the campground host (Class A sites 1 & 2) OR go to the Visitor Center (take HWY 100 WEST [AWAY FROM GRAFTON] 1/4 mile) to pay your reservation fee
The Class A campground has 80 sites, two of which are handicap accessible. These sites have electrical hookups only, with a sanitary dump station, drinking water, and a shower building available on the grounds. All spots are available for reservation. The nearby Class B tent camping area also has access to the shower building. Within the Class A campground, the park offers two Rent-A-Camp cabins.
Group Camping
Popular among scout groups is the Youth Tent Camp Area, also known as Duncan Hill. This separate campground offers a picnic shelter and tables, pit-type toilets and drinking water. Duncan Hill reservations can be made online.
Duncan Hill Youth Tent Group Camps are reserved for youth groups. The price is $2 a person (child or adult) per night with a minimum of $20 per night.
We are going to open Camp Piasa May 27 – Oct 16 AND Camp Potawatomi June 13 – Oct 16. We will be starting the lottery process March 18th. This should give everyone plenty of time to talk to friends and family and see which camp and dates will work best for your group. The first lottery is for groups staying 6 nights or more. The second lottery is for groups staying fewer than 6 nights. The third lottery is for day use, which takes place April 1st. Below is the application and regulations for both camps. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Useful Links
- Group Camp Welcome Letter
- Group Camp Application
- Group Camp Regulations Reservations for campsites, cabins and picnic shelters, and group camps may be made at ExploreMoreIL™.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
Trails
Bike Trail
The Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail runs from Pere Marquette State Park to the City of Alton, approximately 20 miles south of the park. The entire trail is paved. Visitors can use the trail for a variety of activities, such as biking, hiking, jogging, and pushing strollers. Horse riding and all other equestrian activities are banned from this trail; if interested, go to the nearby equestrian trails. This is the only trail for biking; it is illegal to bike on hiking trails.
Hiking
Approximately 12 miles of marked trails provide scenic hiking to beginners and experienced hikers alike. Lush forests, towering bluffs, and an abundance of wildlife provide the perfect backdrop for your outing. Trail maps are available in and outside the Visitor Center. Hiking trails are open from sunup to sundown. Dogs must be leashed on the trails for both their safety and the safety of others. Any animal waste should be removed from the trails or public open areas. Biking is NOT allowed on hiking trails; it is illegal to have a bike on the hiking trails. For more information on trails or trail recommendations, you can come to the Visitor Center and ask a staff member for their help. If you are interested in a guided hike, you can contact the Visitor Center for more help and information.
Read more from the park
Hiking Trail MAP
Fishing
Boating and Fishing
A wide variety of fish, such as bluegill, carp, catfish, crappie, drum, largemouth bass, and white bass, attract anglers to the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. Launching ramps and ample parking provide access to the river, with courtesy docks available when weather conditions and river levels permit. Future plans include a full-service marina. The Two Rivers Family Fishing Fair is an annual youth fishing fair in June and is a popular way to hook youngsters into fishing.
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Picnic areas
- Park or camp store
Lodging
- Lodge or inn rooms
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Getting there
- Address
- 13112 Visitor Center Lane
Grafton, IL 62037 - Nearest town
- St. Charles — about 12 mi north (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 38.9730, -90.5430
- Phone
- (618) 786-3323
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Illinois State Parks (IDNR state parks and recreation areas) — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- IDNR All Parks list (AEM content-fragment list JSON) + each unit's landing page for official title, coordinates, address, phone
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology