Six Exilarating Off-Road Parks and Trails Across the Midwest for ATVs, Dirt Bikes, and 4WD Vehicles

Jun 30, 2024

It’s International Mud Day, so we thought we’d celebrate by sharing some of the best picks for off-road adventures on ATVs and dirt bikes across the Midwest! On today’s post, you’ll find six exhilarating off-road parks and trails to enjoy for a bit of adrenaline pumping action. These incredible destinations offer no shortage of thrills, chills , and adrenaline as you explore these unique paths and trails designated for off-road vehicle use. Make some unforgettable memories with your friends and family as you race across hills, weave through forest trails, and get down and dirty zipping across all different types of terrain! Plus, some facilities offer on-site camping and RV options for additional outdoorsy excitement.

Atkinson Motorsports Park in Atkinson, Illinois

This park features 10 miles of trails and welcomes ATVs, UTVs, Dirt Bikes, Motorcycles and even Dune Buggies. Featuring some of the best riding opportunities in Northwestern Illinois, this park offers 100 acres of forested area with plenty of lakes and hills, as well as 116 acres of desert-style riding through valleys and hills and vista points. There are also 28 different campgrounds on sites, featuring a fully plumbed shower house and facilities. There’s also a wonderful kid-friendly track with lots of room for them to adventure and explore! RV campers will be able to lodge at the RV park across the street, Shabbona Creek RV park, for those who prefer not to “rough it”.

The Cliffs Insane Terrain Motorsports Park in Marseilles, Illinois

Offering 300 acres worth of trees, dirt, mud, watercrossings, and steep hills, this adventure park is perfect for thrillseekers. Small motorcycles, dirt bikes, UTVs, and ATVs are all welcome here. The park is open Friday through Monday in the Summer from 9AM to 5PM, and Saturday/Sunday in the Winter from 9AM to 4PM. Trails are marked by difficulty level, making it a great spot to bring trail riders of all levels. The Green Trails offer easy rides, Blue Trails are perfect for intermediate riders, and the Black Trails offer more difficult challenges. Bypass Trails and Bypass Areas are multidirectional rides, otherwise the other trails are “one way” only for safety. Take a guided tour of the park with their experienced and trained guides on either a Yamaha Wolverine or a Viking, and enjoy a 1-hour experience through the woods with driving lessons and helmet provided!

Little Egypt Offroad Park in Crab Orchard, Illinois

This 900 acre off-road park features a newly redesigned and regraded motocross track for dirt bikes and sport quads that’s open to all classes of riders, as well as a special Kids Track option for junior riders. Visitors can enjoy all sorts of terrain from mud and dirt to rock and sand and then some. Dirt Bikes, ATVs, and side-by-sides are all welcome to ride, but please note that helmets are required for anyone on a dirt bike or ATV. With more than 50 miles of trails, it’s sure to provide hours of entertainment and excitement as you race along the muddy trails through the forests.

Badlands Off-Road Park in Attica, Indiana

This incredible park features 800 acres of terrain to traverse. You’ll find everything from dirt to rock to sand to water and mud. No matter if you prefer to ride the trails or your heart skips a beat to fly up and down a series of dips, dunks and hills, you’ll find it all here. Plus, there’s ample space to set up a campsite or bring your RV to really enjoy the great outdoors with some camping time. If you’ve had enough of an immersion in nature during your ATV and off-road adventures, there are lodgings on site such as their premium villa rentals, and even a food shack for some meals and snacks not cooked over a campfire. The park and its establishments are open 7 days a week from 9AM to 5PM, except for major holidays and special closures.

Haspin Acres in Laurel, Indiana

With 750 acres of wooded hills, specialized trails, and plenty of natural habitat, this incredible hidden gem is a great middle ground for travelers who are vacationing in either Cincinnati or Indianapolis! Make a day trip on your itinerary plans and enjoy numerous wooded trails, rocky terrain, and even creek crossings for the most adventurous rider, but plenty of opportunity for novices to begin their riding career, too. You’ll find plenty of rural and wilderness landscapes to explore, with numerous special events and challenges posted by the park’s management. It’s a great weekend getaway for the adrenaline junkie, especially if you make time to try your luck at the challenging hill-climb known as The Devil’s Backbone.

Kansas Rocks Recreation Park in Mapleton, Kansas

This is the perfect family-friendly spot for off-roading fans with nearly 400 acres to explore and 30 miles of trails! Everything from UTVs, 4WD vehicles, Mountain Bikes, and even hiking enthusiasts are all welcomed to visit (ATVs/Quads/Motorcycles are prohibited here) The Park offers summer hours on weekends, with Saturdays available from 8AM to 7PM and Sundays from 8AM to 5PM. All trails are marked by experience level from beginner to intermediate to expert with clear designation and description. Mountain biking and hiking enthusiasts will love the nature trails and challenging hikes, and if you keep your eyes peeled you may notice some of the local wildlife like bobcats, mountain lions, different lizards and snakes, and deer! Trail riders and off-roaders will love the rocky wooded trails, find exhilarating creek crossings and mud, as well as plenty of challenging hill climbs to traverse.

How to Select a Trailer for Your Off-Road Travel Needs

If you’re into off-roading motorsports and trail riding, you’re going to need to choose a great trailer for transporting your ATV to your adventure destinations, so we’re starting our post off with some great advice on how to select the perfect one for your needs. By the time you finish our post, you’ll be able to hitch up the trailer to your new car from Classic Auto Group and take this show on the road!

Check the max towing capacity of your vehicle. Make sure that the towing capacity of your truck, SUV, or crossover can withstand the trailer and ATV weight for your needs. Do not exceed the max capacity or you’ll risk damaging your vehicle and your trailer with ATVs on it!
Decide how many ATVs you’ll be transporting. A single-axle, open landscape trailer is perfect for single ATVs or small machinery like mowers, etc, and generally measure in at about 5ftx8ft. Most of these have a ramp in the rear that folds down, and are lightweight enough to be pulled by small pick-ups and SUVs. If you need to haul 2-3 ATVs at a time, a larger 12ft-14ft, side load trailer will get the job done; the removable ramps for this style will attach to the sides. You can also opt for a 12-14ft single axle landscape trailer with both rear ramp and side removable ramps. It is also able to haul larger machinery as well for dual purpose options like small garden tractors or ride-on mowers.
Explore your options for enclosed trailers or open trailers. Each of these styles has their own benefits. ATVs and UTVs are different heights, and you’ll need to choose a trailer that’s most appropriate for your off-road vehicle’s height, width, and weight. If you’re looking for something that doubles as a small garage while storing your ATVs/UTVs while away or at home, then an enclosed trailer is more suited to your needs.

Do you have a favorite off-road park in the Midwest region? We’d love to hear all about it! Tell us in the comments on our social media, and we may feature your suggestion in an upcoming travel blog post!