Thanks to its location right along the Indiana-Illinois state line, the Indiana municipality of Terre Haute is within a short drive of several state parks in both Indiana and Illinois.
Turkey Run State Park: Located about 35 miles north of Terre Haute in Marshall, Ind., Turkey Run is the second state park established in the state. It features hiking, picnic areas, canoeing and fishing.
Shades State Park: Located about 50 miles north of Terre Haute, outside Crawfordsville, Shades is open March through November during the day. It features scenic natural sandstone cliffs.
Prophetstown State Park: This park is 95 miles north of Terre Haute and features hiking and biking trails, and a historic area where American settlers battled Native American tribes in 1811.
Shakamak State Park: Located about 30 miles south of Terre Haute in Jasonville, this park sits on 400 acres of man-made lakes. Campsites and rental rowboats are available, as is ice fishing in the winter.
McCormick's Creek State Park: Once was a sanitarium for the wealthy, this park was Indiana's first state park. Just 43 miles to the southeast of Terre Haute, it features beautiful caves and waterfalls and more than 10 miles of hiking trails.
Going into nearby Illinois isn't a big deal when you're from Terre Haute. Here are some parks in the Land of Lincoln that aren't too far of a drive.
Lincoln Trail State Park: Just 20 miles due west from Terre Haute, this park is named for the exact route followed by Abraham Lincoln's family when heading from Indiana to Illinois in the 1830s. Located in Marshal, Ill., the parks central feature is a lake. It has areas for fishing, boating, as well as camping and picnicking.
Fox Ridge State Park: Located in Charleston, Ill., about 53 miles from Terre Haute, this park sits on more than 2,000 acres. It features plenty of hiking in rocky, forested areas, and is home to a wide variety of wildlife.
