Illinois Waterway Visitors Center - Ottawa (IL)

5 /5 David Mueller: Nice stop if you make it out to Utica or Ottawa, Illinois. Always fun to watch a barge lock through. There is a nice visitor center and several good spots to observe. Clean restrooms. Great view of Starved Rock from this location. Picnic area onsite.

5 /5 Brandy Biedenharn: This was a wonderful stop! They have a stamp here if you have a stamp passport. We got to see a boat from Florida going through the lock from Ft Lauderdale, Florida! There is loads of information if you are interested in what the Army Corp of Engeniers are doing here and what it is they do! Theres also free observation viewers that you can look at the eagles in the blue herrin nests! This us a must see!

4 /5 John and Carrie Lake: Driving the bottom road back from Utica we stopped on a whim and were glad we did. My first time being back in the area after many years and this stop was awesome. We were lucky enough to see a barge coming up river. We thought there was no way it would fit but it did. Really neat to see. There is a small exhibit hall with bathrooms that we used. We were thankful for them. We didn’t interact with anyone and the place was very dusty inside. Outside was were the real beauty was. Definitely worth a visit.

5 /5 Will Handley: Another very clean and well maintained USACE property. Visitor center is loaded with history on this amazing waterway and shipping corridor. Parking for any size rig or RV. Flush toilet bathrooms at the visitor center. Trash cans, picnic tables and grills. Leashed dogs are welcome on exterior grounds. I had 3 bars of Verizon 4G LTE Roaming.

5 /5 John Moore: Located at the Starved Rock Lock & Dam,the Visitors Center is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The small museum explains how Illinois Waterways are part of our National water system. From the visitors center you can go upstairs to the outdoor viewing area and watch the operation of the lock and dam. Unfortunately the day we visited there were no boats passing thru. You might get lucky tho and see an eagle or merganser flying overhead. Open 7 days a week from 9-5. Plenty of parking is available. Free admission.