Grand View Drive Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Grand View Drive Park is a scenic park located in the state of Illinois, known for its picturesque views of the Illinois River Valley.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park offers visitors a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, biking, and picnicking. The park is also home to several points of interest, including the Tower of Peace, a historic tower that offers panoramic views of the surrounding area, and the Grand View Drive Scenic Byway, a 2.52-mile scenic drive that winds through the park and offers stunning views of the river valley.
One of the best reasons to visit Grand View Drive Park is for its breathtaking views. Visitors can take in stunning views of the Illinois River Valley from the Tower of Peace, which stands at 50 feet tall and was built in 1936 as a monument to peace. The park is also home to several other scenic overlooks, including Prospect Point, which offers views of the city of Peoria, and Council Overhang, which offers views of the river valley and nearby bluffs.
Other points of interest in the park include the Grand View Drive Scenic Byway, which winds through the park and offers visitors a chance to take in the scenery from the comfort of their car. The park also features several hiking trails, including the Sigel Trail and the Constitution Trail, which offer visitors a chance to explore the park's natural beauty.
Interesting facts about Grand View Drive Park include its designation as the "World's Most Beautiful Drive" by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1910. The park is also home to several historic landmarks, including the Grand View Drive Scenic Byway, which was built in 1909 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The best time of year to visit Grand View Drive Park is during the spring and fall, when the weather is mild and the foliage is at its most vibrant. The park is also open year-round, and visitors can enjoy winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.
Overall, Grand View Drive Park offers visitors a chance to take in some of the most breathtaking views in the state of Illinois, along with a range of outdoor activities and historic landmarks.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Area Campgrounds
| Location | Reservations | Toilets |
|---|---|---|
Carl Spindler
|
||
Kickapoo Creek Rec Area campsite
|
||
Woodford State Conservation Area
|
Lower Grandview Drive Park
Endres Park
Glen Oak Park
Detweiller Park
Spring Bay Fen Nature Preserve