Weldon Springs State Park

Billed as a park for all seasons, Weldon Springs State Park offers something for outdoor adventure lovers and their canine companions all year round. Found just southeast of Clinton in DeWitt County, this 550-acre park offers a long list of recreational activities to enjoy.

During the warmer weather, fishing and boating (on Weldon Springs Lake), wildlife watching, and camping are all popular. Hikers also frequent this big and beautiful park, and there are several trails of varying lengths and difficulties to explore. You can wander alongside meandering streams, try to spot rare bird species, and even keep your eyes peeled for more than 30 different butterfly species.

When the weather starts to cool and the snow arrives, winter visitors can enjoy sledding and tobogganing on a one-eighth mile hill, try their hand at ice fishing or tackle some cross-country skiing.

Pets are more than welcome in the park, but they must be on a leash of 10 feet or less. They also need to be under your control at all times, and it's up to you to ensure that they don't cause a nuisance to other campers. Of course, you'll also need to clean up after your pet whenever required.

Once named by Family Circle magazine as one of the "Top Twenty Campgrounds in America,” the Weldon Springs State Park campground features 75 campsites with electricity, a shower building (open from May until the end of October), cooking grills, picnic tables, and pit toilets. There are also areas available for tent, backpack, and large group camping.

Whether you're just stopping in for a picnic or you're planning on staying a few nights or more, Weldon Springs State Park is the paw-fect environment for a dog-friendly camping holiday. It's roughly 165 miles from both Chicago and Indianapolis, so why not check it out with your canine companion?