The Peru center is around 1 mile southeast of Illinois Valley Regional Walter A Duncan Field and 6 miles west of Starved Rock State Park.
Peru, Illinois, has varied temperatures and prices throughout the year and travelers often enjoy the dry season the best. That season lies between May and October. The days are sunny and warm and the nights don't drop too low temperature-wise. There also isn't a lot of rain and no snow during that timeframe.
While spring, summer, and early fall are the best weather times to visit the area, it's also the most expensive time to stay in Peru, Illinois, because it is when most travelers come. To avoid both the crowds and the higher prices, travelers might be better off coming to the region during the later fall months or early in the spring before things get busier.
For those who appreciate snow, staying in the area during the winter might be an ideal time to relax and remain inside. Peru sees quite a bit of snow over an average winter and the cold temperatures are prevalent as well. Travelers can save a lot on airfare and accommodations during that time.
La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Peru Starved Rock State Park is a great place for those with AAA memberships to stay since they give discounts to those individuals. There are 63 rooms available, all of which feature flat-screen TVs with HD channels. Kids under the age of 19 further the discounts since they can stay with a parent or grandparent for no extra charge. And the free continental breakfast keeps everyone happy first thing in the morning.
Staying at the Quality Inn allows travelers to make use of their AAA benefits as well, just off I-80 in a modern 3-story building. The rooms have en suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, coffee makers, and more. Some rooms are even further upgraded and have ergonomic chairs to go along with the desks and whirlpool tubs in the bathrooms. The indoor heated pool works well for families any time of the year and everyone staying there gets a free hot breakfast.
Staying at the Hampton Inn & Suites Peru puts guests within walking distance of the Peru Mall and the Illinois River. The rooms are warm and inviting and give guests custom-designed beds and full desks as well as lap desks that let people work on the bed. Suites have extra living spaces and pullout sofas, but every guest gets a hot breakfast with the option of a breakfast bag to-go on weekdays. The indoor pool and whirlpool tub are extra perks for further value.
The Super 8 by Wyndham Peru Starved Rock State Park also gives extraordinary value to every guest. The updated guest rooms, free breakfast, and Wi-Fi allow guests the enjoyment they deserve at a price they can afford. The modern rooms sleep up to 6 and have premium cable and satellite channel options. Guest laundry amenities allows travelers to stay clean for longer stays.
At the top of the list of things to do in the area is almost always visiting Starved Rock State Park. This wilderness area along the Illinois River is known for steep sandstone canyons, which were formed by glacial meltdowns. Many visitors come to the region with this park in mind for hiking and adventures. Several of the canyons have waterfalls and trails lead to overlooks that host views of the river and nearby dams. You might see a variety of birds and other wildlife within the park as well.
Buffalo Rock State Park in the nearby Ottawa sometimes gets overlooked by visitors, but shouldn't. This park hosts buffalo by the dozens and there are plenty of hikes to enjoy that take visitors to back areas filled with cliffs that have amazing color arrays and rock formations. The views are second to none in the area, but the sandstone can be loose and fragile so hikers should proceed with care.
Mitchell's Grove Nature Preserve is another place for hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. The trails are not maintained well, but the park is amazing for those who want to trek down a footpath to Mitchell's Creek. The treeline takes visitors down the creek and along Tommohawk Creek with huge rapids, sandstone bluffs, and endangered trees along the way.
The Hegeler Carus Mansion is great for history buffs as it gives unaltered examples of the complete work of August Fidler and W.W. Boyington. With the history prevalent in the mansion, guests get a good idea of the background of this particular family and their relationship with the Illinois Valley as a whole.
For the shoppers in the family, the Peru Mall is the largest mall in a 50-mile area. It holds a movie theater and also popular stores like JCPenny and Bergners. The 465,000 square foot mall has a food court with sit down restaurants around its perimeter.
Below are reviews of the city of Peru, IL from an actual visitor's perspective.
Peru was beautiful and so welcoming.
We were in town for a wedding so the only place we really got to visit was the venue but the people we were in contact with or nothing been inviting what we did see as we passed through town was a well kept picturesque community tucked in an area of Illinois we didn't know existed
The hotel is close to Starved Rock State Park.
Nice clean area
Everything was pretty local to the hotel so that was nice and convenient.
the beds were comfortable, the room was clean I love visiting Peru and wish I could spend a little more time here.
Nice place to stay.
Located 1/2 way to my destination. Also, it has a convenient: Starbucks, McDonalds, and Kohls.