McHenry district, Illinois, United States

Places to visit near Harvard

Harvard is a town in McHenry district, Illinois, United States, home to about 9,194 people. Within 50 km by road there are 21 places to visit — 7 wildlife, forests & gardens, 4 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 2 parks and 1 churches. The must-see places are Beck's Woods (6 km), Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (21 km) and Yerkes Observatory (21 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Harvard on the map

Harvard, Illinois
Harvard, McHenry district, Illinois, United States. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

Harvard at a glance

Location
McHenry district, Illinois, United States
Population
about 9,194
Coordinates
42.4222° N, 88.6137° W
Places within 50 km
21 (21 must-see)
Best time to visit
November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks and churches

Top places to visit near Harvard

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Harvard: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Harvard

Things to see near Harvard, by type

Wildlife, forests & gardens near Harvard

35 wildlife, forests & gardens within 100 km of Harvard. The closest is Beck's Woods (6 km). Best time: november to march for sightings.

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Lakes, dams & reservoirs near Harvard

32 lakes, dams & reservoirs within 100 km of Harvard. The closest is Geneva Lake (23 km). Best time: august to december when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

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Parks near Harvard

25 parks within 100 km of Harvard. The closest is Woodstock Square Historic District (23 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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Churches near Harvard

21 churches within 100 km of Harvard. The closest is Pettit Memorial Chapel (32 km). Best time: year-round.

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Forts & heritage near Harvard

13 forts & heritage within 100 km of Harvard. The closest is Colonel Gustavius A. Palmer House (41 km). Best time: october to february.

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Museums near Harvard

12 museums within 100 km of Harvard. The closest is Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum (27 km). Best time: year-round.

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A one-day trip from Harvard

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 129 km on the road.

  1. Start in Harvard
  2. 6 km Beck's Woods · nature spot, McHenry
  3. 22 km Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum · museum, Boone
  4. 40 km Woodstock Square Historic District · park, McHenry
  5. 19 km Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge · nature spot, McHenry
  6. 19 km Geneva Lake · lake, McHenry
  7. 23 km Back to Harvard

Plan a longer trip from Harvard — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Harvard

No traveller has reported from around Harvard yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Harvard

    All places near Harvard by distance

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Harvard by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Wildlife, forests & gardens735Beck's Woods (6 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs432Geneva Lake (23 km)
    Other attractions125Yerkes Observatory (21 km)
    Parks225Woodstock Square Historic District (23 km)
    Churches121Pettit Memorial Chapel (32 km)
    Forts & heritage113Colonel Gustavius A. Palmer House (41 km)
    Museums412Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum (27 km)
    Temples09Hindu Mandir of Lake County (62 km)
    Mosques & dargahs05Islamic Foundation North (73 km)
    Beaches & coast14Big Foot Beach State Park (28 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints01Fabyan Windmill (83 km)
    Waterfalls01Whitnall Park Waterfall (91 km)

    Harvard: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Harvard?

    Beck's Woods (nature spot, about 6 km), Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (nature spot, about 21 km), Yerkes Observatory (attraction, about 21 km), Woodstock Square Historic District (park, about 23 km), Geneva Lake (lake, about 23 km), Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum (museum, about 27 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Harvard?

    21 places on Spotwander: 7 wildlife, forests & gardens, 4 lakes, dams & reservoirs, 1 attraction, 2 parks, 1 church.

    Which is the nearest sanctuary to Harvard?

    Beck's Woods, about 6 km by road; Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge (21 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest lake to Harvard?

    Geneva Lake, about 23 km by road; Elizabeth Lake Nature Preserve (36 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest park to Harvard?

    Woodstock Square Historic District, about 23 km by road; Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Rockford (44 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Harvard?

    Start in Harvard, visit Beck's Woods, then Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum, then Woodstock Square Historic District, then Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge, then Geneva Lake, and drive back — about 129 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Harvard?

    November to March for sightings for wildlife, forests & gardens; August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open for lakes, dams & reservoirs; year-round for parks and churches.

    Towns near Harvard

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Harvard’s location and population from GeoNames; see also Harvard on Wikipedia. Data sources & credits.