Free Public Boat Ramps in Illinois
Illinois has 112 free public boat ramps — launches operated by state fish & wildlife agencies, counties, and federal lands with no access fee. The highest-rated is Island Park in Geneva (4.7/5).
- 1.Island Park★ 4.7GenevaFox River
- Washington townshipWest Hickory Lake
- 3.Beck Lake★ 4.6Northfield TownshipBeck Lake
- Clyde townshipLake Carlton
- MetropolisOhio River - West
- RochesterWabash River
- LenaPecatonica River
- 8.Big Bend Lake★ 4.5Des PlainesBig Bend Lake
- ElginRiver Mile
- 10.Tower Rock★ 4.5
- Barren townshipRend Lake
- Irishtown townshipCarlyle Lake
- 13.Daley Park★ 4.1ChicagoSouth Branch Chicago River
- CentervilleRoyal Lake
- Portland townshipHadaway Slough
- AlsipCalumet Sag Channel
- HighlandSilver Lake
- MakandaDevil'S Kitchen Lake
- Cave-In-RockOhio River - West
- MilroySpring Slough
- Pontoon BeachHorseshoe Lake
- Port BarringtonFox River
- Palos TownshipSaganashkee Slough
- ChicagoRiver Canoe
- Barren townshipMine Number 21 Reservoir
- SavannaTown Lake
- East DubuqueMississippi River
- Irishtown townshipCarlyle Lake
- RosecransSterlink Lake
- Pope townshipHem Pond
- GalenaGalena River
- SpringfieldLake Springfield
- Grand Tower townshipTurkey Bayou
- RingwoodNippersink Creek
- CairoOhio River - West
- Pontoon BeachHorseshoe Lake
- FayettevilleKaskaskia River
- New AthensHalfmoon Lake
- St. ElmoSaint Elmo Old City Reservoir
- Okaw townshipLake Shelbyville
- Pomona townshipCedar Creek
- LaconGoose Lake
- Grand TowerMississippi River
- Tamalco townshipCarlyle Lake
- Seminary townshipKaskaskia River
- East Fork townshipCarlyle Lake
- RocktonRock River
- Indian Creek townshipCity Reservoir
- ProphetstownRock River
- Shafter townshipVandalia Municipal Reservoir
- SavannaTown Lake
- RingwoodWonder Lake
- Levan townshipKinkaid Lake
- Anderson townshipLincoln Trail State Park Lake
- Gold townshipBureau County Ditch
- Morton GroveWest Fork North Branch Chicago River
- Northfield TownshipSkokie Lagoons
- MolineRock River
- Des PlainesBig Bend Lake
- Northfield TownshipDes Plaines River
- Wheeling TownshipBeck Lake
- Schiller ParkCrystal Creek
- MaywoodDes Plaines River
- ChicagoSouth Branch Chicago River
- ChicagoSouth Branch Chicago River
- InglesideLong Lake
- GurneeLake Carina
- Cincinnati townshipRunning Slough
- HamburgMississippi River
- MichaelIllinois River
- NaplesIllinois River
- PearlIllinois River
- BrowningSangamon Bay
- BrowningCross Slough
- FrederickLittle Lake
- Banner townshipCopperas Creek
- CentrevilleHarding Ditch
- Centreville townshipGrand Marais Lake
- Bay CityOhio River - West
- BrookportOhio River
- Lenzburg townshipRichland Creek
- EvansvilleKaskaskia River
- Bolo townshipWashington County Lake
- Bolo townshipWashington County Lake
- Sullivan townshipWhitley Creek
- HamiltonCheney Creek
- West DundeeRiver Mile
- ElginRiver Mile
- Vernon HillsLake Charles
- Irishtown townshipCarlyle Lake
- EbnerJohnson Creek
- ElizabethtownOhio River - West
- Elk Grove TownshipBusse Lake
- Elk Grove TownshipBusse Lake
- Carrier Mills townshipSahara Lake
- WinnetkaLake Michigan
- North ChicagoLake Michigan
- Turner LandingPrairie Pond
- HamptonMississippi River
- HamiltonCheney Creek
- Melrose townshipLock and Dam Number Twenty-one
- CARLYLECarlyle Lake
- ShelbyvilleWhitley Creek
Frequently Asked Questions
Are public boat ramps free in Illinois?▾
Most public boat ramps in Illinois are free to use — they're operated by state fish & wildlife agencies, counties, and federal lands. BoatLaunchMap lists 112 free public launches in Illinois. Some charge a small daily launch fee or require a parking permit.
How many free public boat ramps are in Illinois?▾
Illinois has 112 free public boat ramps mapped on BoatLaunchMap, each with GPS coordinates, ratings, and directions.
What is the highest-rated free boat ramp in Illinois?▾
Island Park in Geneva is the highest-rated free public boat ramp in Illinois, with a 4.7/5 Google rating.