These campgrounds are more comparable to a state park but may include hidden fees for non-residents. This property is located inside the Shawnee wilderness area away from any rod or private property. They cost extra to stay in.There's also places with camper plug ins. Prices vary, but most offices charge between $5$10 per night. With more than 70 acres of water in three separate spring-fed lakes, this Illinois RV park has a little something for everyone. It's also home to one of the largest cities in the U.S., as well as many cities that have small town charm and unique attractions. But many of the campgrounds shut down water facilities in during the winter season (October 1 April 30). Heron Pond is a hike along a floating boardwalk over a swamp filled with Cypress and Tupelo trees. If you want to go camping right on Lake Michigan, then Illinois Beach State Park is the place to go. Visitors also enjoy more than eight miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding as well as cross-country skiing in winter. Learn more about this land:The trees shade the camping sites at Spring Creek Farm. These have a microwave in them to. Chain o Lakes State Park is part of Illinois largest hub of natural lakes, offering a range of water-focused activities to any camper. Classified as D for dry camping or boondocking. This park even offers freshwater scuba diving. The most famous trail is Observation Point; a 5.5 mile hike along the naturally sculpted landscape. One of the top spots for boondockers in central Illinois is the St. Louis district of Carlyle Lake. Starved Rock State Park is one of my personal favorite places for camping in Illinois. Mountain bike, equestrian, cross country ski, and snowmobile trails are mixed in among the many areas hikers can explore. Accessibility for people with disabilities at campgrounds in Illinois is important, so There is plenty of ADA Camping in Illinois if you know where to look! Explore 15 miles of hiking trails or rock climb in the Sentinel, Twin Sisters, or Indian Head areas. Each area has a shelter equipped with electricity, charcoal grills, and playgrounds. Weve compiled our favorites from the northern region here. Located on the western shore of Lake Shelbyville, Opossum Creek offers some of the best lakeside tent camping in Illinois. You can set up your own campsite and fire ring as long as its at least 150 feet off the trail. There are over 40 miles of hiking trails and 23 miles of mountain bike trails in the park for active campers. Since then, I have camped in 48 states and hiked in nearly all of the National Parks. Minimum stay: 1 night. Amenities include a rustic, on-site general store, laundromat, concession, bath-house, and Wi-Fi. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! 2 Rock Island Koa, Rock Island . We do not have full electric and water sites available. Beautiful forests with deer, turkey, and fox. Find awesome camping in other states with our other best state camping guides: 99 Fun Camping Activities and Games That Will Guarantee You A Blast In The Outdoors. There are private RV parks surrounding the Chicago area and many of the Illinois State Parks have campgrounds with full amenities. Best Treehouse Glamping in Illinois - Timber Ridge Outpost & Cabins. Every site here comes with electric hookups and has easy access to restroom facilities with flush toilets and showers. Skip to content Midwest Camping MENU MENU Home Northern Illinois has dozens of campgrounds perfect for adventure seekers and families if you know where to look. Still looking for more options? This is the place to go if you want to go rock climbing along the river bluffs. We want to keep in touch! Looking for the best camping near Rock Island? Check out our full Illinois state guide for campgrounds in every county! Robbie has backpacked over three hundred miles of the Appalachian trail, visited seventeen national parks, and camped regularly for the last two decades. From scenic forests and rolling hills to vast prairies and lakeshores, Illinois has a variety of camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. Campgrounds in Island Lake Illinois: Campendium has reviews of Island Lake RV parks, state parks and national parks making it your best Island Lake RV camping resource. Not much beats camping by a lake. Hipcamp is created with and hope for our future. Take your pick of some of the states most rewarding hikes, including the River to River Trail and the Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, and dont miss the extraordinary rock formations of the Garden of the Gods. Many people even choose to do ice fishing in the winter! Top 10 Campgrounds and RV Parks Illinois With Indiana on the west and the Mississippi River on the East, Illinois is filled with rolling farmlands, prairies, hills, and even wetlands. Use our packing list for your next camping trip! Ask us! Off-site attractions located nearby include more than one thousand acres for hunting, horseback riding, and hiking. From van life to RV living, my goal is to help you live a more adventurous life.READ MY STORY. Please leave your campsite clean so no woodland creatures are harmed and the landscape is kept in a safe condition for the next camper.The Composting Toilet (weather permitting) is available and plenty of potable water from our Spring-fed Well. For an extra private experience, check out the romantic Pioneer tent. The lake boasts more than ten different species of fish in its waters, most notably muskies. There are even better tent campsites that lie slightly deeper within the woods. Make a reservation today! Besides fishing, water activities on the lake include boating and winter skating. If youre feeling adventurous, test your skills with the moderately challenging self-guided compass course. Springfield, IL 62702 Hikers and equestrians can also enjoy the forests trail system. Now, that you know our favorite places to camp in Illinois we want to hear from you! Whether you choose a cabin or stick to the tents, dont forget to take advantage of the 4 miles of paved trails and another 9.7 miles of unpaved hiking and cross-country ski trails just outside your campsite. Head down the Giant City Nature Trail to explore the prehistoric sandstone bluffs and rock formations referred to as the Giant City Streets. Weve rounded up our very favorite Illinois campgrounds for tents and RVs (including a few free campgrounds!). I want to get families, singles, anyone and everyone outdoors and enjoying the world of camping! Conveniently located between Peoria and Bloomington Illinois. but will not power RVs. As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Convenient amenities include Wi-Fi access, restrooms with hot showers, concession, and coin laundry. Starved Rock Campground, IL. Anyway, its getting to be that time of year when you want to get out in nature and sleep under the stars at some of the best camping in Illinois. Although swimming is prohibited in Waverly Lake, boating is allowed with proper permits. Dispersed tent camping in the heart of the Shawnee National Forest. Camp Sullivans featured Red Barn activity house offers an almost thirty-foot climbing wall that you wont find at any other campground on this list. The campground sits near Spring and Pine Creek, the babbling waterways that meander through the park. This state park also offers winter activities, such as cross-country trails and ice-skating on the lakes. Fishing, camping, canoeing, and. They are available in shaded and open areas. The campground also has a playground, swimming beach, boat ramp, and dump station. Be sure to explore the Big Rocky Hollow trail to see the parks breathtaking 100-foot intermittent waterfall. There is 8 miles of hiking and nature trails as well as plenty of opportunity for fishing, boating and hunting. Provides electric hookup, and some visitors even reported public use Wi-Fi. Theres also campgrounds with electricity and showers on-site where you can take your RV or tent. Need more ideas? Visitors can fish the day away in one of two spring-fed lakes within the park, rent a paddle boat, play a game of volleyball, or take a dip at the sandy swimming beach. To learn more information or make a reservation, give them a ring at630-933-7248or visit theforest preserve website! Whatever your camping style, I'm sure you'll find . While there might not be a ton of hills in Illinois, there are still natural formations that can only be accessed via walking trails. Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish & Wildlife Area. There is a view of the river valley from the camping field. There is also a separate equestrian campground at, 235 Giant City Rd, Makanda, IL 62958, USA, There are 210 premium Class A sites and 60 Class B sites. Buffalo Rock, Channahon, Gebhard Woods, Rock Island Trail, Silver Springs and Woodford are all walk-in campgrounds. Add a deeper experience to your stay at Spring Creek Farm! Camping info for Rock Island County, Illinois. Fish for bluegill, channel catfish, or sunfish in the stocked lake. There is also a playground for the kids. Located in Palatine, this is a hidden campground and cabins right in the middle of the suburbs. Campingislands.com Nineteenth-century towns, vineyards, and scenic river valleys provide a change of pace in Western Illinois. Theres something for everyone with loads of fun or a relaxing getaway! Camping, fishing, kayaking and hiking are the activities this park is known for. Map All Illinois Campgrounds Sleeps: 6. This RV campground also provides coin laundry, a bath and shower house, fire rings, and a camp store. Find out more about the, 801 Kayak Morris Rd, Morris, IL 60450, USA, 9995 N Girl Scout Rd, Stillman Valley, IL 61084, USA. This is also a cool place to go geocaching, metal detecting (permit required), or bring your pet to experience the fall colors. If you're planning a weekend getaway to camp in Illinois then you are in the right place! This property is located on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Huntley. Tucked away in the corner of the campground, this solar-powered canopy tent has a nice wooden porch to give you the perfect place for a morning cup of coffee or midnight stargazing. Located in the town of Mount Vernon, Archway RV Park is family owned and operated and geared towards family fun. Join UsSign up for all the latest camping news & tips. Its best known for its water activities. Natural island camping in the Rock River in northern Illinois. 7. Night skies are beautiful, and on clear nights the Milky Way is visible along with the Big Dipper and other constellations. 8195 S IL Route 2, Grand Detour, IL 61021 With numerous high bluffs and rock faces, this beautiful Illinois campground is a treat for rock climbers looking for a free spot to hunker down for the night. Equestrian campsites and a 7-mile horseback riding trail are also available. The Shawnee National Forest spans a large portion of southern Illinois. Rich history in this property. A truly picturesque, woodland state park with a walk-in campground perfect for those interested in tent camping in Illinois. I also have two construction trailers that we remodeled with couches chairs tables and refrigerators and TV's. This state park covers over 1,500 acres, and camping couldn't be more enjoyable in its semi-wooded area. The natural beauty here makes, 27374 E 900 North Rd, Le Roy, IL 61752, USA, After spending all day enjoying Garden of the Gods, relax at. In addition to the massive lake nearby, there are also smaller lakes for fishing and hiking around! Illinois is home to 309 state parks most with camping. Camping near Rock Island State Trail is easy with Hipcamp, where private landowners offer one-of-a-kind camping experiences. Pacific Coast. The most popular parks fill up quickly so youll want to reserve a spot ahead of time. The park offers not only daily and weekly rates, but monthly rates as well. Motorized and non-motorized boats both permitted. Private campgrounds offer more amenities than the average state park campground in Illinois (and many allow you to bring alcohol, unlike the Illinois DNR). As long as buildings, water and electrical service are available, regardless of the date, the regular camping fee will apply. This tent-only campground offers full-sand, wooded campsites on the banks of the Illinois River just one hour from Chicago. Parking is available on the campground for smaller cars. There are over 300 campsites with full amenities plus cottages to book. Situated on the banks of the Illinois River, the Starved Rock Campground provides an ideal setting for fishing, boating, and hiking. A tranquil environment without the noise and air pollution motorized vehicles create, Gebhard Woods is walk-in campground, offering tent-camping only. The Twisted Oak, Big Oaks, and Twin Oaks campgrounds within the Argyle Lake State Park offer all types of campsites, including primitive tent campsites without amenities. Other nearby attractions include the Grubb Hollow Prairie Nature Preserve to the east and the Anderson Conservation Area across the river to the south in Missouri. Elders from a Wisconsin tribe came in the 1960s to trek the land and perform a ceremony to honor their ancestors. There is 20 miles of paved bike trail to cycle through and lots of opportunities for bird watching with over 230 species identified in the park. Chain o Lakes also offers four trail systems where campers can walk, bike, or even ride a horse to experience the serenity of being surrounded by nature. Coon Creek offers 181 campsites. In the summers, you can take a kayak, canoe or boat on one of the parks two lakes. If the state parks are full, there are also some county forest preserves that operate fantastic campgrounds, like in Will county, Dupage county, and even Cook in Chicago! You may have to carry some of your gear to get to the campsites, but youll enjoy much more seclusion than the rest of the campground and many other places on this list. Ontario Quebec. I have fishing small boating swimming on site. A camp store offers groceries, firewood, and other supplies for the 150 campsites within the SRA. Located just 90 minutes north of Chicago, this is the largest concentration of natural lakes in the area making it a boaters paradise. April 15, 2022 / Travel Illinois, North East US States Boondocking, United States. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Last-minute getaway? We are close to Nachusa Grasslands with their buffalo and Franklin Creek Park with it's natural spring and hiking trails and Oregon with their bike paths and Autumn on the Prairie in Oregon Illinois. Nestled in Winnebago County, Sugar River Forest Preserve is a 500+ acre county forest with traditional campgrounds and a primitive campground right along the namesake river. Hiking is also available on the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail. With the Mississippi River running along the western border, Lake Michigan at the northwest border, Shawnee National Forest in the southwestern corner, and six large state forests throughout the state, youre never far from top-notch camping. Although the amount of water falling depends on rainfall, the sandstone bluffs are always a sight worth seeing. 110 sites come with electrical hookups. In fact, some of the most beautiful state parks allow primitive camping. In the Shawnee National Forest, for example, boondocking is permitted in designated areas. Map Directions Satellite Photo Map Localities in the Area Grand Detour Village Photo: Kranar drogin, CC BY 2.5. Find info on campgrounds, marinas, hiking trails, ski . Northwest KOA offers some of the best winter camping in northern Illinois! Starved Rock State Park, Utica Township Richie Diesterheft/Flickr There are 129 campsites available here that have electricity, showers, and flush toilets. Best Romantic Glamping in Illinois - Camp Aramoni. You also can find over 6 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails in the park. Camping is generally permitted 150 feet off the trail, and 150 feet away from the lakeshore. Illinois might be notoriously flatthe states highest natural point, Charles Mound, is easily eclipsed by Chicago's Willis Towerbut there are still plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures in the Land of Lincoln. For those who dont want to stay in a tent, glamping is quite the upgrade. 1 Camelot Campground, Rock Island : Activities: boating, fishing, paddle boats, hiking. Theres also plenty of hiking trails and fishing opportunities in the area. Learn more about, Kayak Morris will camp with you at multiple sites throughout northern Illinois, but they have their own private campground that abuts William G. Stratton State Park. If you plan far enough in advance, you may be able to snag one of the sites just along the river. Kankakee River State Park is home to several campgrounds for RVs, tent campers, and even backpackers. About an hours drive from Chicago lies the Muskie Capital of Illinois. Carlyle Lake is a large area split into several different campgrounds, but the one that offers boondocking is the area owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).