Climbing in or around Chicago (2 Hour driving radius)???

What's up climbing community!!
I'm looking for some help! I am going out to Chicago for a business trip from December 10th to the 16th, and would love to sneak some climbing in to see what "IL" has to offer(Bouldering, sport, Trad, TR, or whatever. I am kind of limited on the amount of gear I can bring with me). Does anyone know of any crags or boulders close by or in the vicinity??(within an hour or two drive!!)Is anyone up for some climbing when I get out there??? I know it's freezing out there, but I'm from Colorado and willing to give it a shot!!

Your best bet will be hitting the gym...if you're willing to drive further you can hit some great areas...
Red River Gorge, KY 6-7 hours
Southern Illinois, 5-6 hours
Devils Lake & other scattered Wisconsin Crags, 3+ hours
This time of year I recommend the Red or So ILL...Good Temps & Great Routes!!!

The closest would be best, but I am a traveler so I don't mind a drive! I will have a vehicle, but no climbing partner so I will probably just bring a chalk bag, and some shoes. The SoILL sounds nice just because it is an hour or two shorter. I will probably drive out very early on Saturday morning or Friday night to wherever and climb all day then drive back that night so I can catch a plane Sunday morning. I wish I had more time, but you get what you get I guess! Is the Red River Gorge better?? Maybe an extra hour or two might not be that bad. If I could meet up with someone I would bring more gear and do some trad or sport, but looks like I'm solo. So bouldering it is for me! Oh well, that will have to do! Thanks for your feedback!

RRG is, in my opinion, the best sport cragging in the country. Not too much bouldering though. & finding a partner this time of year will be a little harder with Miguels closed for the season...but, if you go to So Ill you should be able to hook up with some climbers pretty easily. The Therapy wall is a good spot for warm-ups and it's pretty easy to meet people (most everyone there this tie of year is local & friendly). There is also some stellar bouldering scattered throughout the area.
Dr Topo has a guide for the bouldering & climbing at Jackson Falls...http://www.drtopo.com/guidebooks/usa/illinois

Go to Jackson Falls. You will love it!
Other areas in So Ill include. Cedar's bluff Draper's Bluff, Ferne Clyfe State park, and Giant City.

Drapers is great and offers a few 2 pitch climbs, but you'll need trad gear. If you hit up Jackson make sure to get on Group Therapy 10b(i think, its been awhile) Lovely Arete 11a...or if you're going to boulder hit up The Ghetto Life, Yosemite Slab, if you're really good (im not) Body Karate.

The closest climbing to Chi town is the Mississippi Palisades, three miles north of Savannah, Ill overlooking the the mighty Miss. While the the crags in Southern Illinois hold way more routes, the Palisades are only about 2-3 hours from Chicago. It's been about ten years since I've been there (I grew up in West Chicago; now I live in New Castle, CO), but it was a neat little area. I did climb there in January once during my college days. There is a gym in Warrenville, IL that is a good Chicago climber's networking spot to find partners. I've been in there a few times; it's about twenty minutes from my folk's house and my dad goes to that health club. The name of the wall escapes me (vertical something?), but it is in a "Lifestyle Fitness" center. If you don't find someone to hit real rock, that gym is actually pretty cool. It has some pretty good crack features. I climbed in zion with a guy, Darin, from Nicros who put the gym together. Not that I've been to many gyms, but I was impressed.

Vertical Endeavors in Warrenville. Best gym in the area. I drove 40 mins once or twice a week for two years back when I was in high school to climb there. There are some damn good climbers there. The route setting is usally stellar and the gym itself rocks. $15 for a day...If you wanna lead in the gym they'll give you a rope for free, just have to sign it out. Gotta take the lead test first though...(ohh so hard, climb a 5.9 take a small whip and finish up, dont fall or backclip)Take a look at the website...make sure you look at the warrenville location though, not the VE's in Minn.

Oh, and avoid the palisades unless you love chossy limestone. Save yourself the trouble and just keep driving somewhere better.