4 night road trip...WHERE should i go within 12 hour drive--hiking, camping, natural hot springs, rock climbing, etc.... (Chicago: motel, prices)

[clacal1]

anyone have any suggestions? I can't seem to find anything that is not at least 15 hours away from Chicago.

[myrc60]

Great Smoky Mountains? Almost in your time-range.

Originally Posted by clacal1

anyone have any suggestions? I can't seem to find anything that is not at least 15 hours away from Chicago.

That's one reason we moved down here.

[linicx]

I know Hot Springs. I'd say it is betweem 15-17 hours from Chicago - depending upon traffic and weather - and how well you like driving through mountains at night. If you want to plan a little different, you can still visit the baths.

Hot Springs has three things seasonal baths, free water-bring your own bottles. horse races = and some times dog or c*** (bird) fights if you can find them. Otherwise it is wall-to- wall tourists and traffic like LV. .If the recing season is on you will have a hard time finind a place to park much let alone fina a motel or camping. Been there done that. .

[Scio42]

Just off the top of my head, a couple places within reasonable driving distance of Chicago (less than 6 hrs) where you can do 3 out of the four things (hiking, camping & rock climbing - Natural hot springs are more of a rarity in the midwest):

1) Shawnee National Forest in Southern Illinois. There's plenty of camping & hiking opportunities. Last time I checked you can rock climb at Jackson Falls (near Ozark, IL) and also at Cedar, Draper's Bluff, and Ferne Clyffe State Park in the vicinity.

A bit closer to Chi-town

2) Mississippi Palisades State Park in NW corner of Illinois near Savanna.

3) Devil's Lake State Park in Wisconsin, north of Madison near Baraboo.

None of these places would be like a Rocky Mountain climbing (or even Smoky Mountain) adventure, but they are nice and MUCH closer.

[hawk1]

" some times dog or c*** (bird) fights "

There's a reason NOT to go there!

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by clacal1

anyone have any suggestions? I can't seem to find anything that is not at least 15 hours away from Chicago.

Are you serious? Cant find any camping or hiking or rock climbing within 15 hours? There's a lot more than you think.

There are no hot springs around, but TONS of hiking and camping. There is all the hiking you want at Starved Rock State Park, Matthiessen State Park and Mississippi Palisades State Park as well as Apple River Canyon State Park, Castle Rock State Park, too. Those are a whopping 3-4 hour drive from Chicago at most.

Travel a little further into WI and the state parks there also offer some incredible hikes. CHeck out Wildcat Mountain State Park, Devils Lake State Park, etc, etc, etc, etc.

There is also the incredible Garden of the Gods in Shawnee National Forest, which is only 6 hours away that has more hiking than you can ever shake a stick at. There is decent rock climbing at Devils Lake, Shawnee National Forest and Mississippi Palisades.

Also easily within 15 hours is everything Michigan and the UP offer... unspoiled beaches, incredible hikes and thundering waterfalls, towering sand dunes, rock climbing, etc, etc.

Just curious, are you new to the Midwest?

[linicx]

Originally Posted by hawk1

" some times dog or c*** (bird) fights "

There's a reason NOT to go there!

I am serious. You do not undestand Arkansas..

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by linicx

I know Hot Springs. I'd say it is betweem 15-17 hours from Chicago - depending upon traffic and weather - and how well you like driving through mountains at night. If you want to plan a little different, you can still visit the baths.

Hot Springs has three things seasonal baths, free water-bring your own bottles. horse races = and some times dog or c*** (bird) fights if you can find them. Otherwise it is wall-to- wall tourists and traffic like LV. .If the recing season is on you will have a hard time finind a place to park much let alone fina a motel or camping. Been there done that. .

Just for the record, there's no way it takes that long to get to hot Springs. It's less than 7 from St. Louis, so it can't possibly take more than 11 hours or so total.

Clearly, that's still a long drive -- probably too long given the destination -- but I just wanted to point that out.

A closer distance but with the mountainous atmosphere you're looking for would be the Missouri Ozarks. MO has some great state parks worth checking out. They are at least a million times nicer than those in Illinois (which I've found to be shockingly disappointing) and the few I've been to in Wisconsin.

[STLCardsBlues1989]

^A lot of people don't understand that Arkansas is full of hills (called the Ozark Mountains) and lots of lakes. I've been to Hot Springs, but it's been a few years.

Missouri has lots of hiking and camping as well, but not so much on the hot springs or rock climbing as far as I know.
Missouri also has caves, some of which you can tour. Brewers in St. Louis used caves to keep their wine cool before refridgeration was invented.
Some Missouri caves you can explore (prices vary):
Onondaga Cave State Park - Cathedral Cave - Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites, MoDNR
Fantastic Caverns - America's Only Ride Thru Cave! ... Springfield, Missouri, U.S.A.
Fantastic Caverns, Springfield, Missouri
Bridal Cave and Thunder Mountain Park
Meramec Cavern - Missouri's Buried Treasure - www.AmericasCave.com
Crystal Cave - Springfield, Missouri - Crystal Cave Missouri, Cave tours, Visit Crystal Cave Missouri

Here's some rock climbing info: Rock Climbing Routes in Missouri, United States - Rockclimbing.com
There's no shortage of places to camp in Missouri, and camping is available in just about any area of the state of Missouri and Southern Illinois. Be warned, it does get pretty humid here in summer. Even when on vacation I really enjoy a camper with air conditioning.

I think Johnson Shut-Ins in Southeast Missouri might still be closed.

[aragx6]

^^ Johnson's Shut-Ins is supposed to reopen this year: Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park - Recovery Update - Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites, MoDNR

Actually, I believe it was supposed to open last year and was delayed -- I hope that doesn't happen again. Great memories of near concussions and drownings there from my childhood LOL!