HomeIllinoisMattoon › Friendship Garden

Friendship Garden

4.6 ★★★★★ 100 Google reviews · Running trail in Mattoon, Illinois · Dawn to dusk

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Dawn to dusk

Confirmed from Friendship Garden's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicQuiet

Garden park with picnic tables and flowers that's good for kids and a popular spot for weddings.

What runners say about Friendship Garden

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (100 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 5 mentions

“Beautiful little Park great for taking pictures or just strolling through and enjoying the flowers and the scenery”

🌾 quiet & peaceful 5 mentions

“Peaceful serene small garden spot in town.”

A great place pray, read and relax. A nice garden trail with a relaxing fountain to enjoy. I love going there!😀

★★★★★ — Shane , May 2018

Been here for a few weddings, great spot. Always like to go through when off on a walk with our dogs.

★★★★★ — Trenton , Oct 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 100 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 6 mentions

“Beautiful little Park great for taking pictures or just strolling through and enjoying the flowers and the scenery”

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🤫 Quiet / uncrowded 5 mentions

“Peaceful serene small garden spot in town.”

More trails like this →

Plan your run at Friendship Garden

The practical stuff

  • AccessDawn to dusk — the gates close, so do not plan a run that finishes after dark
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • Websitedhnature.org
  • Phone(217) 235-4644

Hours

Monday 8 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 8 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 8 AM–8 PM
Thursday 8 AM–8 PM
Friday 8 AM–8 PM
Saturday 8 AM–8 PM
Sunday 8 AM–8 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Friendship Garden

1698 Lafayette Ave, Mattoon, IL 61938

Get directions

Running trails near Mattoon

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Lincoln Prairie Grass Trail Western Terminus

4.7 ★★★★★ 6 reviews

Mattoon, IL

under a mile away

Lytle Park

4.7 ★★★★★ 290 reviews

Mattoon, IL

Family-friendly space with picnic areas and a playground, plus tennis courts and a pool.

1.2 miles away

Douglas-Hart Nature Center

4.8 ★★★★★ 468 reviews

Mattoon, IL

Scenic

Informal park with a playground, trails, a visitor center and ponds featuring turtles and birds.

3.6 miles away

Douglas-Hart Foundation

5 ★★★★★ 7 reviews

Mattoon, IL

3.6 miles away

Morton Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 325 reviews

Charleston, IL

Community park featuring a playground, baseball diamond, picnic pavilion & public restrooms.

10.4 miles away

Woodyard Conservation Area

4.5 ★★★★★ 49 reviews

Charleston, IL

Kid-friendly recreation area featuring well-kept hiking trails, a lake and a butterfly garden.

11.8 miles away

All running trails in Mattoon, IL →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.