2026 Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race

Starting from Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles, the Mid-American Canoe & Kayak Race follows the winding southward current of the Fox River down to Aurora. The long-distance route covers approximately 10 miles of moving flatwater, framed by wooded banks, riverside communities, and parkland. Because the course follows a low-gradient river valley, vertical elevation loss is minimal, but the water conditions themselves vary significantly depending on late-spring rainfall and seasonal flow rates.

St. Charles and Aurora are situated in the western suburbs of the Chicago metropolitan area, making travel straightforward via Interstate 88 or Interstate 90. If you are flying in from outside the region, Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is approximately 35 to 40 miles northeast, while Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) lies around 40 miles east. Visiting paddlers often base themselves in either downtown St. Charles or near Aurora along the I-88 corridor, depending on whether they prefer proximity to the morning launch or the finish venue.