Are you looking for the best spots for fall foliage around Naperville? We are lucky in the Naperville area to have so many great spots for leaf peeping!
Want to know when fall colors will be at their peak around Naperville? Check out this fall foliage prediction map from SmokyMountains.com. Simply move the slider at the bottom of the map to get an idea of when leaves will be at peak colors around Naperville and across the United States. No map like this can be 100 percent accurate, of course, but it can give you a good idea of when fall colors will peak.
Ready to go find some beautiful fall leaves? Here are some great spots for leaf peeping!
Morton Arboretum |
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Morton Arboretum 6.5 miles 13 minutes 4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532 630-968-0074 Public garden and outdoor museum in Lisle. The Fall Color Festival celebrates the most brilliant season at The Morton Arboretum. Take in 1,700 acres of seasonal splendor, as hundreds of thousands of trees from 40 countries blaze with fiery orange, warm gold, and vivid crimson. Hike or bike in the crisp fall air. Drive scenic roads to see spectacular vistas. Make family memories in our award-winning Children’s Garden or enjoy fall-themed events. |
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve |
 Photo: "Waterfall Glen" by Chad Horwedel is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 |
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Fabyan Forest Preserve |
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Fabyan Forest Preserve 15 miles 26 minutes 1925 S Batavia Ave, Geneva, IL 60134 (630) 232-5980 A Fabyan Forest Preserve in Geneva is located on the Fox River. The park is spread across both sides of the river with an island and two bridges connecting both sides of the park. There is parking on either side of the river. The paths are wide and easy to keep socially distanced. On the east side of the river, there is a historic windmill. The windmill is closed during the pandemic, but you can walk up to and around it. On the west side of the river is a landscaped hillside that includes a scenic Japanese-style garden. The park is located, on both sides, of the Fox River bike trail. Excellent location to easily bike walk or take children and easily social distance. |
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Mayslake Forest Preserve 18 miles 26 minutes 1717 31st St, Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 206-9566 The 90-acre Mayslake Forest Preserve in Oak Brook provides a pristine setting of picturesque grounds that house historical buildings, including Mayslake Peabody Estate and the Portiuncula Chapel. It offers fishing on Trinity and Mays' lakes, a trail, picnicking and off-leash dog area, and beautiful flower and herb gardens surrounding the mansion and chapel. Mayslake Peabody Estate is one of the District’s five education centers and provides nature-related experiences and programs for all ages. |
Starved Rock State Park |
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Starved Rock State Park 71 miles 1 hour and 15 minutes 2678 E 875th Rd, Oglesby, IL 61348 https://www.starvedrocklodge.com/starved-rock-state-park |
Anderson Japanese Gardens |
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Anderson Japanese Gardens 80 miles 1 hour and 25 minutes 318 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 (815) 229-9390 Anderson Japanese Gardens is a beautiful, outdoor setting that inspires the mind and energizes the soul. The gardens are in a 13th-century "pond strolling" garden with several waterfalls and ponds, streams, rock formations, winding paths, and a sukiya-style tea house and guest house (built by Masahiro Hamada). The twelve-acre landscape of streams, waterfalls, winding pathways, and koi-filled ponds has been rated one of North America’s highest-quality Japanese gardens for more than a decade. |
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Hononegah Forest Preserves 94 miles 1 hour and 30 minutes 80 Hononegah Rd, Rockton, IL 61072 (815) 877-6100 Hononegah is the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County’s oldest preserve and one of its most popular. Purchased in 1924, the preserve is located on the north bank of the Rock River and bisected by Dry Run Creek. The preserve was once a camping area for Stephen Mack, the county’s first European settler, and Hononegah, his Native American wife. Upon entering the preserve, visitors will enjoy the drive over the Rainbow Bridge and up into the cool maple grove. The campground has campsites interspersed in a mature stand of white oaks and hickories. A launch for fishing boat access to the Rock River is available. Hononegah’s majestic woods make it a popular spot to enjoy fall color displays and woodland wildflowers in spring. |
Mississippi Palisades State Park |
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Mississippi Palisades State Park 125 miles 2 hours and 20 minutes 16327A IL Rte. 84, Savanna IL 61074 815-273-2731 The Mississippi Palisades State Park, located near the confluence of the Mississippi and Apple rivers in northwestern Illinois is known for its steep cliffs and interesting rock formations, as well as its beautiful trails that lead you to some of those awe-inspiring giant boulders. One such trail is the Sentinel, clocking at over 1.3 miles it’s the longest trail in the park and leads you to smack dab into Sentinel Rock, where you can take a turn at trying to conquer this monolith. |
Pere Marquette State Park |
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Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton 276 miles 4 hours and 45 minutes 13112 Visitor Center Ln, Grafton, IL 62037 618-786-3323 Located along the Mississippi River, this 8,000-acre state park is a "nature lover's paradise," and is "famous for the exceptional beauty of its fall colors and for its wintering bald eagles," according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. |
Shawnee National Forest |
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Great River Road Drive |
 Photo: "October 15, 2010-8" by HeatherBradleyPhotography is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 |
Great River Road Drive The cities it runs through are Galena, Moline, Quincy, Cairo Grandview Drive is a drive and park that offers scenic views of the Illinois River while walking, biking, or hiking one of the many beautiful trails. There is a place located in the heart of America, sometimes referred to as THE heart of America. It represents four centuries of history and heritage, a compilation of thousands of stories that paint the picture of America's evolution. Its 550-mile route on Illinois' western border offers breathtaking views and majestic landscapes that inspire and soothe the soul. Nature has been kind to the banks and bluffs, attracting thousands of species that travel thousands of miles for a visit or to make themselves a home. Originally discovered by Native American Indians, the rich fertile soil and waterways are ideal partners for agriculture and farming, a region that feeds the world today. This is your destination for a weekend trip or an extended journey that allows you to explore, play, shop, or simply unwind. Welcome to the Illinois Great River Road National Scenic Byway. The drive is especially beautiful in autumn, with the ever-changing colors of fall leaves. |
