Thursday, March 28, 2024

Don't Miss

Best Camping Spots In Illinois

Kankakee River State Park Bourbonnais

TOP 5 CAMPING AND BOONDOCKING SPOTS IN ILLINOIS / RV LIFE

Kankakee River State Park totals an area of 4000 acres, enveloping an 11-mile stretch of the Kankakee River on both sides. Its easily reachable from Chicago on Interstate-55, and the drive takes just over an hour. This unspoiled natural setting provides a ton of recreation opportunities for hikers, bikers, campers, and anglers. The river is excellent for canoeing.

There are plenty of camping spots to choose from within the state park, including 110 Class A sites. A further 150 Class B and C sites are on offer, some with electric hookups, and two cabin rentals set in the woods. There are no primitive sites available in this state park, but the large selection of campgrounds has something for everyone.

Sunset Lakes Rv Resort

This RV resort near the Quad Cities in Hillsdale is one of the largest, most activity-packed places to go RVing in all of Illinois. Five fishing lakes, tennis and basketball courts, outdoor pool, and a fitness center are just a few recreational attractions at Sunset Lakes. The resort also offers on-site canoes and paddle boats, as well as kayak access. All campsites are full-service.

Yogi Bears Jellystone Park Pittsfield Il

As an award-winning campground several years in a row, Yogi Bears Jellystone Park at Pine Lakes offers the best in family fun. Kids love the inflatable water playground on the lake, and paddleboards, paddleboats, and kayaks are available. They also offer other fun activities including tie-dying, horseshoe pits, outdoor movies, live music, hiking, biking, hay rides, crafts, games, and much more.

A post shared by Kelsey Picchianti on Aug 5, 2016 at 6:30pm PDT

Don’t Miss: Tent Camping In Colorado Springs

Jumers Casino & Hotel

This Rock Island, Illinois casino offers free overnight RV parking in a designated lot. Although it limits stays to one night, it is a perfect stopover location for family camping road trips. Visitors can try their luck at the casino or take a day trip to nearby Wicks Lake, or the Mississippi or Rock Rivers. The casino also offers many nightlife and dining options.

Top 10 Campgrounds In Illinois

5 of the Best Places to Camp in Illinois

Sharing is caring!

  • Pin33

Does your family like to camp? If so, this list of the Top 10 Campgrounds In Illinois is a great place to begin! Camping is a fun and budget-friendly way to vacation and have fun while getting to experience the outdoors. Are you wanting to plan a camping trip soon? If you are feeling a little stuck on where to go, we have created a list for you to determine where your adventures will take you.

Also Check: West Coast Camping Road Trip

Van Buren State Park South Haven Mi

Another Lake Michigan highlight within two hours of Chicago is Van Buren State Park. One mile of sandy beach offers chill-out space as well as tall sand dunes to explore. Nearby, the campground offers 220 sites with electric hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. The swimming beach is popular with campers in the summer, and boating is another great option. One unique activity this state park offers is metal detecting, so you can search for treasure on your camping trip!

Moraine View State Park Campground

About: With fully developed facilities for picnicking, camping, hiking, swimming, fishing, boating, horseback riding and hunting, the 1,687-acre Moraine View State Recreation Area, with its 158-acre lake, is a beautiful, convenient and accessible locale for relaxation and recreation.

Location: 27347 Moraine View Park Rd., LeRoy, IL 61752

Recommended Reading: Tent Camping Near Gainesville Fl

Turkey Bayou Campground Shawnee National Forest

This free campground near Murphysboro sits near a 20-acre oxbow lake that was once part of the nearby Big Muddy River. The site offers both campground and dispersed camping. A boat launch on the Big Muddy is available and anglers can try their hand at landing largemouth bass, channel catfish, and sunfish in either the lake or river. Motorized and non-motorized boats both permitted.

What To Do Near Me: Fabyan Forest Preserve

Amazing Camping Spots In Illinois. TOP 16

When Colonel George Fabyan and his wife Nelle bought significant acreage in northern Illinois, they had a home built for them by Frank Lloyd Wright, a home that after their deaths became the Fabyan Villa Museum. Col. Fabyan also had a Japanese garden constructed, which today is open to the public, and it is a peaceful and quiet refuge from everyday life.

In the 1920s, the Colonel had a large Dutch windmill moved from its original site and onto his land one of the few wind-powered windmills in the United States, it is built from cypress wood and dates back to the 1850s. Around the windmill is park land ideal for picnics. The entire Fabyan estate is on the banks of the Fox River and adjacent to the Fox River Trail, and so it is a wonderful destination for fishing, walking, and cycling.

You are reading “25 Best Places to Visit in Illinois” Back to Top or More weekend getaways, what to do near me, must see attractions, stuff to do near me

Places to eat near me, coffee shops, flea, farmers market, tropical honeymoon trip finder, wedding venues near me, lunch, brunch, restaurant near me, RV camp, cruise, hotel, where to stay, sandy beach by car: Santa Barbara Restaurants, Things to Do in Toronto, Columbia Wedding, Things to Do in Norwalk, Things to Do in Cheyenne, Caves in Iowa, Things to Do in Mesa

Don’t Miss: Best Places To Go Camping In Oregon

Why Youll Love Sycamore Rv Resort

Sycamore RV Resort is the perfect summer destition, as its surrounded by 30 acres of lakes! Guests can enjoy spending the day relaxing at the swimming beach, practicing their fishing skills while waiting to hook a bite, or heading out on a boat rental. With lake activities, volleyball, basketball, tennis, and wireless internet connections, youll never run out of things to do!

Devils Kitchen Near Marion

Image from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters on Wikimedia Commons

Of all the water in Illinois available to eager anglers, Devils Kitchen is one of the clearest and the deepest of that lakes in Illinois, and plays host to a flourishing population of rainbow trout and largemouth bass. Sunfish, perch, and bluegill may also be caught from the lake, and a ten horsepower motor limit ensures the lakes stays clear and calm year-round. Given the size, depth, and quality of the lake water, Devils Kitchen is a popular location for bass fishing tournaments, with 6 tournaments being held on the water in 2018.

You May Like: Rv Camping In Colorado National Parks

Why Youll Love D & W Lake Camping And Rv Park

A relaxing day fishing on the lake, watching the stunning sunset every night from your campsite, and spending quality time with your family as you barbecue a lunch- these are all things you can enjoy at D & W Lake Camping and RV Park, and thats just the beginning! At this Illinois park, youll also have the convenience and comforts of wireless internet, full hookup campsites, and hot showers.

Lake Of Egypt Near Marion

The 20 best camping spots in Illinois.

Located at the very southern tip of the state, Lake of Egypt is a large, sprawling body of water that offers more of the best crappie and bass fishing in Illinois. Due to its size and variety of bays, fingers, and nooks, the Lake of Egypt provides substantial opportunities to fish for both beginners and advanced anglers. For those interested in the winter fishing in Illinois, Lake of Egypt is a prime location for crappie fishing when the weather is cooler.

Recommended Reading: Best Fall Camping In Oklahoma

Camping In Southern Illinois State Parks

The best camping in the state can be found in Southern Illinois. This is the place to go if you love outdoor adventure. Activities like camping, hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, climbing and hunting are popular in the area. There are a variety of state parks with campgrounds ranging from basic tent sites to full-featured RV campgrounds.

Southern IL Campgrounds
Wayne Fitzgerrell

Mississippi Palisades State Park

Mississippi Palisades State Park has a wealth of scenic views, historic trails, and year-round recreational activities. The park features more than 200 Class A and B campsites, restroom and shower facilities, picnic areas, and six picnic shelters. Explore 15 miles of hiking trails or rock climb in the Sentinel, Twin Sisters, or Indian Head areas. Bring your camera and visit one of the parks several scenic overlooks which all boast incredible views of the Mississippi River.

Recommended Reading: Best Camping Portable Power Station

Places To Visit In Illinois: Morton Arboretum

The Morton Arboretum is a world-class facility in Lisle, Illinois in the Chicago metropolitan area. Set over 1700 acres, the arboretum has sixteen miles of hiking trails and other paved routes for driving or cycling. Its many offerings include a fragrance garden, a ground cover garden, and a maze.

A childrens garden helps introduce youngsters to arboreal conservation. Morton Arboretum has extensive educational programming for people of all ages, including cooperative programs with local colleges and universities. The Sterling Morton Library has over 27,000 works about trees, botany, and nature. The gardens have a gift shop and a café, and visitors can rent bicycles to explore the paved trails.

Top sights, 4 day road trip map, weather, 24 hour restaurants, 48 hours in, cheapest good restaurants for families with dogs, beaches near me, directions, events, spa resorts, elevation, summer, nice pools, healthy, romantic restaurants, forest, buffet, city, tree, dinner, rentals, tent, flight, upscale, under water, pools: Vermont spring getaways, Largest Cities in Illinois, Springfield, Chicago Shopping Spots, Coral Gables, Outlet Malls Florida, Highest Elevation in Florida

Austin Acres Camp Outback

The 5 Best Places To Go Camping in Illinois

Affordable family lodging, camping cabins, campers and primitive camping. We are minutes away from Ohio River, Tower Rock Park boat ramp, Elizabethtown boat ramp, good eating places, LakeTucumseh and Woopie Cat, Iron Furnace, Stone Face, Garden of the Gods, Rim Rock, Cave-in-Rock and lots of scenic views. Children and pets welcome.

  • 287-7454
  • Elizabethtown

Don’t Miss: San Luis Obispo Camping Reservations

Apple River Canyon State Park Apple River Il

Apple River Canyon State Park offers scenic canyon areas, massive cliffs, and lush vegetation filled with a wide variety of wildlife. The Apple River Canyon has cut through the limestone for centuries, forging the current landscape and exposing numerous fossils. Campers are provided with nearly 50 campsites and six group sites. Winter camping is also available in this beautiful state park.

Tips For Camping With Dogs

Sniff out these tips to make sure your camping experience is a pawsitive one for you, your pupper, and your camp neighbors.

  • Dont leave dogs unattended in vehicles or tied up at the campsite.
  • Keep dogs leashed so that they dont mingle with other critters.
  • Always give your pup a good pet to check for ticks and make sure shes up to date on her Lyme vaccination as an extra precaution.
  • Clean up after your dog and pack it out.

Wheres your pals fave place for dog-friendly camping near Chicago? Woof at us in the comments and be sure to tag #SidewalkDog in all your adventures!

Featured photo: Christoph Wesi

Sidewalk Dogs mission is to help dog parents spend more time with their puppers by discovering and sharing activities they can do and places they can gotogether! Sniff out our award-winning newsletter and , and join our .

Recommended Reading: Terrell Camping Center Terrell North Carolina

Best Camping Near Chicago With Kids

Reserve OnlineLocated on 6.5 miles of coastline off Lake Michigan sits the Illinois Beach State Park. This park features sandy beaches, dunes, hiking trails, a forest, as well as marshland. Families can enjoy days at the beach, hikes through the trails, rolls down the sand dunes, and walks in the forest.

Then when night falls, this is one of the largest campgrounds near Chicago with 241 campsites for tents and RVs. There is also plenty of parking for trailers, boats, and cars. Each campsite comes with electricity hookups and access to bathrooms and showers. The campground is open from April 1-December 30th.

Reserve OnlineStarved Rock in Utica, Illinois is a beautiful place to camp, hike, and explore. There are 129 campsites available for both tents and RVs with electrical hook-ups, a picnic table, and a grill grate for hot dogs and burgers over the fire. There are portable toilets throughout, plus two shower houses with additional indoor bathrooms. The campground is located in the state park along the banks of the Illinois River.

Starved Rock State Park has canyons, waterfalls, and loads of hiking trails to explore by day.

At Starved Rock, there’s plenty to do all day with canyons, waterfalls, and 13 miles of trails. Speak with a guide about which trail is best for you, depending on the age of your kids. There are plenty of low hikes for younger kids in addition to the overlooks and bluffs more suitable for older children. The campground is open year-round.

Yogi Bear Jellystone Park Camp Resort Millbrook

The are the 10 Best Camping Spots in Illinois! # ...

Everyones heard of Yogi Bears Jellystone Parks, and this location near Chicago is perfect for a family break with the kids! Pools and planned activities can keep everyone entertained, with mini gold and plenty of nearby places to go hiking and fishing. You can find everything you need for a memorable camping experience.

When staying at Jellystone Park Resort, most campers sleep in their RV. A range of RV sites with different hookups are available, or cabin rentals if you dont have a rig. Well-equipped tent sites are also on offer, with space for two vehicles. The tent campsites also include a fire ring, picnic table, and electrical access.

Illinois is full of colorful prairie and plenty of diverse nature.

Also Check: Best Fire Pits For Camping

Green River Oaks Camping Resort Amboy Il

This amenity-filled camping resort is perfect for families with kids of all ages. They offer rental units at affordable prices and wide variety of family-friendly activities including fishing, tubing, kayaking, rafting, arts and crafts , and mini golf to name a few. This camping resort also has two heated pool, two playgrounds, and even an arcade.

Pere Marquette State Park

Pere Marquette State Park in western Illinois near St. Louis is known for its spectacular fall colors. This is the place to go if you want to go rock climbing along the river bluffs. 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.

You can also go tent or RV camping here. The campgrounds have electricity and shower houses.

You May Like: Camping World Of Rocklin Parts & Accessories

Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

About: If you’re looking for the ideal place to drop your line, enjoy a day on the boat, or a weekend camping, visit Clinton Lake State Recreation Area in east central Illinois. Recreational opportunities abound at the 9,300-acre site. Clinton Lake is the cooling lake for the Exelon Power Station, and the IDNR manages recreation on the lake and surrounding lands.

Location: 7251 Ranger Rd., DeWitt, IL 61735.

Crazy Horse Campground Llc

Best Place to Camp for FREE in Southern Illinois

About: Located north of Jacksonville and west of Springfield, IL, Crazy Horse Campground is a family oriented Illinois campground with lots of space to run and play! Whether you want to fish from our stocked ponds, participate in planned crafts and activities, play disc golf, listen to live music, swim with your kids, or relax by the fire. Our camp store offers snacks, drinks, sundrys and hot food, not to mention Firewood and Ice. There is something for everyone at Crazy Horse!

Location: 2113 Crazy Horse Rd., Ashland, IL 62612.

You May Like: Camping World In Newport News Virginia

Kickapoo State Recreation Area

Kickapoo State Recreation Area is an outdoor playground for campers. Its one of the few parks in Illinois where you can go scuba diving. Theres also single-track mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, boating and fishing to be done in the area.

Two large campgrounds are available to campers for both tent and RV travelers. There are also primitive walk-in sites if you want a more secluded destination.

Beautiful Backpack Camping Spots In Illinois

Illinois offers plenty of opportunities for backpacking in the many scenic landscapes throughout the state. With such a wide variety of landscapes and natural habits available, backpackers are afforded a diversity of camping experiences. From state parks to wilderness areas, Illinois makes an excellent place for primitive camping. Here are five beautiful backpacking spots in the state.

You May Like: Rv Camping Near Pigeon Forge Tn

Ferne Clyff State Park

Ferne Clyffe has been known as an outstanding natural scenic spot for nearly 100 years. An abundance of ferns, unique geological features and unusual plant communities create an atmosphere that enhances the many recreational facilities offered at the park. Trails wind through picturesque woods, allowing visitors to view fascinating rock formations and inspiring vistas.

Fish Lake Beach Camping Resort Volo

10 Of The Best Rustic Camping Spots in Illinois

Fish Lake Camping Resort is the perfect place for a family vacation. You can fish and swim to your hearts content, enjoying the sandy beaches and clean water. Anglers come by to catch crappie, bass, catfish, carp, and even more fish species. The picnic area and playgrounds are perfect to keep kids entertained.

Campers can sleep in their tent or RV, or rent a more glamorous accommodation. All sites have water and electric hookups, with a fire ring and picnic table. Anyone paying for camping also gains free access to the heated pool and themed weekend activities!

Don’t Miss: Does Camping World Take Trade Ins

Latest Posts

Popular Articles

Stay in touch

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.