Right Off the Highway Runs & Hikes
*This is Death Valley NP and is nowhere near a highway
Illinois
I-57
Volmer Grove Trail, Exit 342, South Chicago
Free as far as I know. User Submitted
User says: "Less than 5 minutes from the Vollmer Road exit is this 3.8 mile loop. Take Vollmer Road east to the entry point (on the left/north). Being Illinois, it’s flat—no inclines. It is located in a forest preserve, so there are some great things to see and hear on this paved trail."
Old Plank Trail, Exit 340?, South Chicago, Lincoln Hwy/Rt. 30 Exit
Free as far as I know, User Submitted
User says: "It’s about 5 minutes from the highway. The full length is around 22 miles from Chicago Heights to Joliet, but this is a good entry point in Matteson. Exit I-57 at Rt. 30. Take Route 30 east to Cicero Ave, turn right (south) to Gateway Drive. Turn right on Gateway Drive and park. This is a great place to begin a westward hike. As this is a long, mostly straight trail, you’ll want to hike west until you feel you’ve hit a good halfway point, then double back. Again, this is Illinois, so it is very flat. There are a good variety of landscapes along this trail. The round trip stretch from this Cicero Avenue entry point to Harlem Avenue is just over 6 miles. But you can go further, if you want. "