The crash happened at about 11:32 p.m. on Saturday in the area of Ottawa Bend Drive at the West Branch of Nettle Creek, police said.
Officers found a car upside down, submerged in the creek behind the office of Gebhard Woods State Park, police said.
Rescue swimmers recovered the driver, who was the only person in the car, out of the car.
The driver was taken to an area hospital where they died.
He was identified as Sean Michael Rentauskas, 21 of Coal City, the Grundy County Coroner's Office said.
The fire department removed the vehicle from the creek.
No other information was available.