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Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
4.5 ★★★★★ 892 Google reviews · Running trail in Whittington, Illinois · Open 24 hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Not reported
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Open 24 hours
Confirmed from Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area'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.
Converted farmland now a 3,300-acre park with camping, hiking & a lake for fishing & water sports.
What runners say about Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
“Very well maintained grass areas with brush cut back and trails very visible.”
“It has a park as well as a basketball court and many bike trails, it's a really beautiful place to be at and I hope to go again.”
“For the crowd that celebrated July 4th here, it was well managed, amenities were good, and it was very peaceful and enjoyable.”
Just solo camped here in the Bay Loop while I was on a noodling trip on Rend Lake! Great campground. Ample toilets, showers and pit toilets. Lots of sites right on the lake. Some playgrounds and a bike/walking path. Each site has a picnic table and nice raised fire pit that has a grate. Very nice boat launch and docks.
Only stayed there one night, in a stop over, heading home from a 2 week vacation in TN and NC. It was a beautiful spot with a very nice walking trail through the park. Camp Host and her secretary were super nice 🙂🐕Would stay here again.
We had a great visit at Wayne Fitzgerald State Park. The campsites are huge compared to other campgrounds in the area. Our host was fantastic and resolved a problem where a new arrival stole our reserved campsite. We were camping with a motorhome and needed to go into town.
It was really nice, I suggest bring bug spray, but if you want to be as close to nature you will be, deers came right up to camp several times as well as raccoons but they weren't really a problem.
Trail conditions & character
“It has a park as well as a basketball court and many bike trails, it's a really beautiful place to be at and I hope to go again.”
“Picnic areas are to be reserved BBQ, Bathrooms cleaned Yes cleaned.”
“For the crowd that celebrated July 4th here, it was well managed, amenities were good, and it was very peaceful and enjoyable.”
“All sites are asphalt paved with the majority of sites being level with some exceptions.”
“All sites are asphalt paved with the majority of sites being level with some exceptions.”
“There was a bouncy house, hot dogs and trick or treating all free!”
Plan your run at Wayne Fitzgerrell State Recreation Area
The practical stuff
- AccessOpen 24 hours — no gate to beat, so a 5am or a 10pm run both work
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- 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.
- At the trailheadrestrooms — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitednr.illinois.gov
- Phone+1 618-629-2320
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | Open 24 hours |
| Tuesday | Open 24 hours |
| Wednesday | Open 24 hours |
| Thursday | Open 24 hours |
| Friday | Open 24 hours |
| Saturday | Open 24 hours |
| Sunday | Open 24 hours |
Running trails near Whittington
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
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