Here’s your sign to look up to the stars. Tucked away just two hours from Chicago, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve is about to become your favorite excuse to stay out past dark.
Here you’ll find Illinois’ only International Dark Sky Park—complete with a stargazing trail, an off-the-grid observatory, and 11 brand-new campsites made for making memories under the Milky Way. Whether you’re a seasoned skywatcher or just in it for the vibes, this is where wild prairie by day turns into cosmic theater by night. Telescopes not required—but highly encouraged.
Middle Fork River Forest Preserve
Just two hours from Chicago, Middle Fork River Forest Preserve is where the prairie meets the river and where the day turns into something cosmic by night.
Middle Fork is Illinois’ only International Dark Sky Park, and it’s now home to a brand-new Dark Sky Trail featuring star-shaped benches, hammock stands (BYO hammock!), and telescope-ready viewing nodes. And don’t miss the solar-powered observatory with a fully retractable roof—built by hand and powered by the sun.
While the park closes 30 minutes after sunset, it stays open all night long for night-sky seekers. The North Waterfowl Management Area remains open 24/7 for stargazing, year-round.
Whether you're an avid astronomer or casual constellation chaser, this is your launchpad to the stars – so come start your dark sky adventure.
Palos Preserves Urban Night Sky Place
Just 30 minutes outside Chicago, Palos Preserves is where the skyline fades and the stars come out to play. As the largest Urban Night Sky Place in the world, it’s the ideal spot for city dwellers to come and meet the cosmos—no telescope required.
Miles of trails wind through ancient woodlands and quiet wetlands, but it’s after dark that Palos really shines. Bring a blanket. Bring a friend. And bring your curiosity. From fireflies to falling stars, Palos delivers that big-sky feeling without ever leaving Cook County.
Adler Planetarium
At the edge of Lake Michigan, the lights of Chicago give way to something even brighter—the stars. Welcome to the Adler Planetarium, where science meets storytelling and the night sky always steals the show.
By day, it’s all about hands-on discovery—you can touch a meteorite, navigate the cosmos, and explore the mysteries of black holes and galaxies far, far away. But by night? That’s when the real magic begins. Once you step out onto the lakeside observation terrace, you’ll discover one of the city’s premier stargazing spots, where skyline silhouettes and telescope viewings transport you into a scene straight out of a sci-fi dream.
This isn’t just a museum. It’s your launchpad to wonder.