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VISITING ALLERTON
Allerton Park & Retreat Center is located at 515 Old Timber Road, Monticello, IL 61856, approximately 28 miles southwest of the main campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Yes! We are open daily 8am to sunset (closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day).
Thanks to a generous donation from the McCraw Family, Allerton’s Visitor Center Visitor Center is currently under renovation, with an expected opening in the spring of 2023. For now, you can find essential information and tips for a successful Park on our Virtual Visitor Center page.
The Greenhouse Café has peak and non-peak hours. Find current hours and view the menu here.
The McCraw Family Visitor Center is currently under construction, with an expected opening of Spring 2023. Stop by the Greenhouse Café for maps or check out our Virtual Visitor Center.
North of the Main Parking Lot, there is a picnic area with tables, grills, and restrooms. Picnic tables are also available near the Meadow.
Restrooms are available in the Greenhouse, in the Visitor Center, and near the Main Parking Lot. A composting toilet is available at the Buck Schroth Trailhead.
There is no admission fee, but donations are encouraged to help keep Allerton the free public resource it has been since 1946. No matter the amount, donations are greatly appreciated and make a difference in helping to maintain and improve the Park! Donations can be made at any of our outdoor kiosks or online.
The Greenhouse Café offers fresh, made-to-order sandwiches, salads, drinks, and treats. Find current hours and view the menu here.
Seating is available inside, on the Café patio, and at nearby picnic tables.
Many formal garden areas include paved pathways to and around the garden areas. However, because of the historic nature of the property, not all areas of Allerton are accessible. Please contact us at 217-333-3287 or allertoninfo@illinois.edu if you need assistance planning your visit.
Can I buy an Allerton souvenir?
Yes! The Greenhouse Café offers a selection of merchandise, from shirts to ceramic Fu Dogs, for sale. The Mansion’s Front Desk also offers a variety of Allerton-inspired items available for purchase.
Yes! Find details on arranging a private tour, and upcoming public tour dates here.
Because we host private events in the Mansion, it cannot always be open to the public. However, you can see the entire Mansion and hear the history of the estate by taking a guided tour. Find information on tours here.
Yes! Find information on lodging here.
If you lost something and are still onsite, visit the Greenhouse Café or the Mansion Front Desk. If you have already left, give us a call at 217-333-3287 or email allertoninfo@illinois.edu.
How do I find out about events or programs?
Be sure to sign-up for the enewsletter here, and check out our Facebook page.
Where do I check-in for an event or overnight lodging?
Unless otherwise noted, please check in at the Mansion’s Front Desk.
PARK USE
Is anything prohibited in the Park?
Camping, collecting (firewood, plants, flowers, mushrooms, etc.), fireworks, fishing, hunting, swimming, open fires, alcohol, and weapons are all prohibited without consent. Please remember that Allerton is a smoke-free area.
Yes, but please keep them leashed and clean up after them. Four-legged friends are also welcome in the Evergreen Lodge!
Yes. Please use provided grills in designated picnic area only.
Can I ride a bike on the trails or garden paths?
No, bikes are not allowed on the trails and garden paths. Feel free to ride your bike on Allerton roads (The Sun Singer circle is perfect for kids!). Paths and trails are open for hiking, jogging, and cross-country skiing.
ABOUT ALLERTON
How can I find out more about Robert Allerton and the Park?
There are several excellent resources available for history buffs. The book Robert Allerton: The Private Man & The Public Gifts is available for sale at the Mansion’s Front Desk as well as the Greenhouse Café. If you prefer hearing the information in person, find more information about guided tours here. You can also find more information on our website here.
NATURAL AREAS
Why are there fires in the woods? Do I need to call for help?
Prescribed fire is used as a tool to manage our forests in the Fall and Spring. If you come across a fire in the Allerton Natural Areas it is likely part of our management plan. Signs are posted at trailheads and along major roads alerting guests of smoke and fire. Local dispatch is made aware of our fires.
A sign says that Allerton allows deer hunting. Is it safe to hike?
Yes! Allerton began managing deer through hunting in 2004. Archery hunting is allowed in the park October 1st – January 15th. Approximately 30 hunters participate in the program, and each hunter is required to follow a very strict set of Allerton-specific regulations to ensure the safety of our hunters and Park visitors. Each hunter is also required to contribute 30 hours of volunteer service per hunting season in order to participate. Visitors are perfectly safe hiking the Allerton trails during deer season.
No, please stay on the trails. The Allerton Natural Areas are used by 25-30 different University researchers every year. Our Natural Areas are full of research plots and transects that cannot be disturbed. Find out more about specific projects here.
“Take only photos, leave only footprints!” Please do not collect anything (firewood, plants, flowers, mushrooms, etc.) at Allerton.
Are there really rattlesnakes at Allerton?
We think so… the eastern massasauga rattlesnake was last seen at Allerton in 2012. Allerton is one of three locations in the state of Illinois with recent records of this federally protected snake species. The snakes are extremely difficult to find and your chance of encountering one in the park is very slim. (And, no, Mr. Allerton did not introduce the rattlesnakes to the area to protect his property!)
What are the seasonal highlights?
Wildflowers begin blooming in mid-March and peak in early May (especially bluebells in April/May). Spectacular formal garden displays include the Peony Garden in May and the lilies and annuals in summer. Hardy chrysanthemums and striking fall colors peak in October. Winter at Allerton should not be overlooked; the quiet stillness of the snow-covered landscape is breathtaking.
MISC.
Always! Find more information about volunteer opportunities here.
Visitors can take Old Levee Road over the Sangamon River, turn left on Allerton Road, then take Allerton Road all the way into Monticello. Learn more about area attractions here.
Evergreen Lodge – brick building located south of the Main Parking Lot
Gate House – brick building located just off Old Timber Road near Rathje Drive, east of the Brick Wall Garden
House in the Woods – gray stucco building located west of the 4-H Camp on Old Timber Road
All of these buildings are used as overflow rooms for individual stays, weddings, retreats, and conferences. These buildings are not open to the public for touring.
