When spring arrives, most of us can’t wait to head outside, enjoy the warmer weather, and see flowers in bloom. Whether we drive around to see flowers or go hiking, it’s just a great feeling to get out of the house and see nature coming back to life. We decided to put together a flower road trip that will take you to some of the most eye-popping flower fields in Illinois. Let’s get started!

Google Maps
Here is a link to an interactive map and you can add other stops to it.

1. Tulips - Garfield Park Conservatory, Chicago

Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N Central Park Ave, Chicago, IL 60624, USA
Garfield Park Conservatory/Facebook
Tulips have long been associated with spring in Illinois as they are one of the first flowers to bloom. But you don't have to fly all the way to The Netherlands to see fields of these flowers. From parks to farms, you can find fields of colorful, eye-popping tulips right here in the Prairie State, and no place seems to display them better than the historic Garfield Park Conservatory. Although this park has thousands of flower species, it's the tulips that are the real showstoppers. For more information, visit the Garfield Park Conservatory website.

2. Wildflowers - Deer Grove Forest Preserve, Cook County

Deer Grove Forest Preserve, W Dundee Rd, Palatine, IL 60067, USA
Eric Qiu/AllTrails
With wetlands, forest, and prairie habitats, you're bound to see incredible wildflowers carpeting the landscape at this forest preserve. One of the best trails that leads to wildflower fields is the Deer Grove Forest Preserve East Red, Black, and Brown Loop. This 7.1-mile trail is located near Palatine. For more information on the trail, visit the AllTrails webpage.

3. Lavender - Nettle Creek Lavender Farm, Morris

Nettle Creek Lavender Farm, 8255 N 4000 W Rd, Morris, IL 60450, USA
Nettle Creek Lavender Farm/Facebook
Next up on our list of beautiful flower fields in Illinois is in the town of Morris. You don't have to travel all the way to Provence, France to visit fields of lavender. Nettle Creek Lavender Farm has a u-pick flowers lavender field as well as u-pick flowers and herbs. They are open seasonally and sell products they make using the lavender growing on the farm! For more information, visit the Nettle Creek Lavender Farm website.

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4. Zinnias - Rendleman Orchards, Alto Pass

Rendleman Orchard, 9680 IL-127, Alto Pass, IL 62905, USA
Rendleman Orchards Facebook Page
While Southern Illinois' Rendleman Orchards is known for their high-quality produce, they also have u-pick flower fields with sunflowers and zinnias, which are an impressive sight for anyone who drives by! When the season starts at the start of the summer in mid-June, stop by the farm and pick some gorgeous flowers to take home. And don't forget your camera! For more information, visit the Rendleman Orchards website.

5. Virginia Bluebells - O'Hara Woods Nature Preserve, Romeoville

O'Hara Woods Preserve, 1034 W 135th St, Romeoville, IL 60446, USA
Angelic Steele/TripAvisor
To see the Virginia bluebells at this nature preserve, it's best to take the 3-mile O'Hara Woods Loop in Romeoville which is a great trail for any hiking skill level. If you've never seen a sea of these beautiful blue native wildflowers before, you are in for a treat! For more information, visit the O'Hara Woods Nature Preserve AllTrails webpage.

6. Wildflowers - Lincoln Memorial Garden, Springfield

Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center, 2301 E Lake Shore Dr, Springfield, IL 62712, USA
Lincoln Memorial Garden/Facebook
The Lincoln Memorial Garden has recreated native landscape from the time of Abraham Lincoln, so you will find many wild prairie flowers throughout its 100 acres. Hike along six miles of trails and enjoy the peace and quiet here. For more information, visit the Lincoln Memorial Garden website.

7. Wildflowers - Casper Bluff Land and Water Reserve, Galena

Casper Bluff Land & Water Reserve, 870 S Pilot Knob Rd, Galena, IL 61036, USA
Harold Jaeger/Google
This 85-acre reserve in Galena boasts incredible views of the Mississippi River and has a significant archaeological site of 51 ancient mounds. There is also a vast prairie that bursts to life with wildflowers each spring. This reserve is worthy of a day trip to see both the flowers and the archaeological site. For more information, visit the Casper Bluff webpage.

If you were to search “flower fields near me” one of these places will most certainly pop up at the top of the list! There are obviously many more Illinois flower fields we could add to this list. Have you ever been to any of these beautiful flower fields in Illinois? If so, which ones were your favorites? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section!

If you’d like to explore hikes around any of these fields, you can find some great trails by going to the AllTrails+ website.

If you really love flowers, the Chicago Botanic Garden is definitely worth your while!

If you’re interested in staying in the Chicago metro area for a longer length of time, you might want to consider a stay at the Four Points by Sheraton Peoria in beautiful Peoria!

If you’re still in the mood for more Illinois adventures, take a look at this video about the historic river town of Galena:

 

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More to Explore

More Adventures in Illinois

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | June 29, 2023

Where can we find historic landmarks in Illinois?

  • The Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville are a series of mounds from almost 1,000 years ago where earlier peoples lived.
  • The Dana-Thomas House in Springfield is an example of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's "Prairie Period" style.
  • The Rock Island Arsenal in Rock Island is the largest government-owned weapons manufacturing arsenal and also served as a prison camp for Confederate soldiers during the Civil War.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other time-honored historic landmarks in Illinois.

Where are the best places to go for a weekend getaway in Illinois?

  • Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby spans 1,630 acres and encompasses miles of trails, canyons, and waterfalls that you could explore for a long weekend.
  • The Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway spans 33 miles and takes you through several charming small towns including Grafton, Hartford, and Alton.
  • Galena is a popular weekend getaway for its beautiful downtown area with numerous accommodation options, shops, and restaurants.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other wonderful places to go for a weekend getaway in Illinois.

Where can we find haunted cemeteries in Illinois?

  • Blood's Point Cemetery in Belvidere is where locals report seeing a dog with red, glowing eyes, phantom vehicles, and other creepy occurrences.
  • Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur is where the ghosts of prisoners who died of Yellow Fever during the Civil War are believed to walk the grounds.
  • The  Alton Cemetery in Alton is haunted by the spirit of an abolitionist who was shot during a riot in the 1800s, as well as a mysterious woman in black.

Read on to learn more about some of the many other spooky haunted cemeteries in Illinois.

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