Sailing in Illinois

Lake Michigan on one edge, the Mississippi on another, Illinois boating covers more ground than most coastal states can claim. The northeastern shoreline delivers genuine Great Lakes cruising; the western and southern borders belong to big working rivers. In between, boaters run the Chicago harbors, thread the Chain O'Lakes, or drop down historic waterways like the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, each with its own character and its own marina services.

Chicago is the center of gravity. The Lake Michigan shoreline around the city carries world-class marinas, sailing clubs, and a deep charter market. From there, the Illinois River runs southwest to the Mississippi, a long-distance cruising route through locks and dams, past Peoria and Starved Rock State Park. One trip can move from skyline to river bluff to wildlife-thick backwater without leaving the state.