The 2022 Guide To State Park Camping Reservations In All 50 States
Making reservations at state parks, especially when planning a trip that crosses multiple states, can be both complex and frustrating. Each state, and in some cases, individual parks, make their own rules for when and how theyll take reservations for a night under the stars.
While we cant completely streamline the process for you, we can give you the information you need to snag the right reservation at exactly the right timeheres your guide to state park camping reservations.
Austin Acres Camp Outback
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
Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area
Located in Alexander County, this area is known for its 10,200 acre area that includes a 2,4000 acre shallow lake which includes large stands of tupelo, swamp cottonwood and cypress trees. Also known for its Canadian goose and bald eagle observation vantage point during the fall and winter.
- 776-5689
- Olive Branch
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Voted The #1 Attraction In The State Of Illinois
Starved Rock State Park is a world apart from anything else in Illinois! Amazing, seasonal waterfalls are active in the spring and after heavy rains. We have 13 miles of trails to explore and the Illinois River offers fishing, boating, extraordinary views and great places to relax.
Starved Rock State Park is open daily from sunrise to sunset.The Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.The movie theater is temporarily unavailable.Closed on Federal Holidays.
Free, guided hikes are offered JUNE-NOVEMBER.Pre-registration is required.
To request free guided tours, scout programs, and school field trips, please email Lisa Sons, Natural Resource Coordinator at:
Upcoming Events:Flights of Fancy Photography Show Wildflower Walks with a Naturalist Weekend Junior Ranger Day & National Trails Day Fall Colors Weekend in mid-OctoberGhosts of Starved Rocks Past Eagle Watch Weekend
Village Of Cave In Rock
There are 34 Class A sites that rent for $20 a night, and $30 a night on holiday weekends/weekdays . Each is equipped with electricity and can accommodate units up to 60-feet long. Twenty-five Class B/S tent sites also are available for $10 a night, and showers, restrooms and dumping stations are present in both camping areas.
- 289-4325
- Cave-In-Rock
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Starved Rock State Park
PO Box 509, Utica, IL 61373
Starved Rock is one of the top attractions in the state and a favorite place to camp. Out-of-state visitors will understand the appeal when they experience the parks 18 stunning canyons. Glacial meltwater sliced through sandstone to create dramatic, tree-topped stone walls. More than 13 miles of trails explore the lush vegetation, waterfalls, and natural springs. The campground is located a short drive from the main park area, which has a lodge, visitor center, and access to hiking trails. Its a peaceful spot, and a convenient way to get into the park early and avoid the day-tripping crowds. All 129 campsites include a cement pad, picnic table, grill, and electric hookups. Note that the number of sites for RVs over 30 feet is limited.
The Comlara Camping Season Is Fast Approaching The Parks Department Will Begin Accepting Camping Reservations Starting Saturday April 2 2022 Please Read The Following Carefully
On-Line Reservations start at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022. If you don’t already have an account set up, please go to www.camplife.com/COMLARA
In-Person Reservations start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at the COMLARA Park Visitor Center.
Phone-In & Mail-In start at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022
Reservation Deposits require the first night’s camping fee, PLUS the Reservation Fee PER SITE! For Deposit Schedule please see the Camping Section under Outdoor Recreation at the icons to the left.
Reservations can be made for dates April 3, 2022 through October 16, 2022.
F.M.I. please call the COMLARA Park Visitor Center at 434-6770
CAMPGROUND SITES
- 11 primitive/walk-in sites in the Main Recreation Area
- 16 primitive/walk-in sites in the White Oak Area
- Walk-in group tent camp area at both the MRA and WOA locations
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Looking For The Best Places To Camp In Illinois
Youre in the right place! In this guide, we will be covering the following:
- The lowdown on the 15 best campgrounds in Illinois
- The insider scoop on the best tent sites, state parks, and RV parks something for every style of camper!
- From boating to hiking, activities and adventures available onsite or nearby
- Looking for free, dispersed camping in Illinois? Well tell you where to find it!
It is true that the Prairie State is, indeed, prairie for the most part. However, one of the best-kept secrets about Illinois is its rich natural beauty paired with plentiful outdoor recreation.
If Illinois only calls to mind Lake Michigan, cornfields, Abraham Lincoln, and deep-dish pizza, let us expand your horizons.
From dense forests for hiking to pristine wetlands for birding and kayaking, were here to school you on the must-see state parks, campsites, and unexpected landscapes that Illinois has to offer.
Ready to discover the best camping in Illinois? Read on!
Hog Rock Ranch & Campground
Enjoy 3/4 mile of Ohio River frontage in the Shawnee National Forest. We have 115 RV sites with 30amp/120V electric and water. We have boat ramp access to the river and two dump stations. Open May 1st through November 15th and are just up the river from Cave-In-Rock. Come for a weekend, stay for a week, or even longer.
- 289-4724
- Cave-In-Rock
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Illinois River Forks State Park
Near Medford, Oregon, United States
Heading to or from the Oregon coast or the giant redwoods on Hwy. 199, you may want to stop for a picnic at this lovely day-use park. Located at the confluence of the east and west forks of the Illinois River, the park offers picnic tables and restrooms . There is a short walking trail near the picnic area and a 9-hole disc golf course. The Illinois Valley is a unique geologic area with many rare plants. Visit here to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.
Know Before You Go
- A life jacket loaner station at Heritage Landing, with life jackets of various sizes available. Be aware of swift currents and hidden obstructions beneath the surface. Wearing a life jacket, and making sure it fits properly, saves lives.
- Boaters: check ahead for obstructions on the Oregon State Marine Board’s Reported Obstructions and Alerts page.
Picnicking
- Picnic shelter reservable for up to 50 people.
Animals
Yes, pets are allowed at this park. Please bring a bag for cleaning up after your pet and keep on a leash at all times.
Miles Of Trails And 18 Canyons Wait Your Discovery
We highly recommend you come back to Starved Rock during different seasons of the year. The entire park, including the canyons and trails, look completely different in the fall and winter than in the spring and summer.
Please stay on marked trails at all times. Take out what you bring in and leave no trace that you were here. There is no swimming, wading or rock climbing allowed in the park. Have fun and hike safely.
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Horseshoe Lake State Park Overview
Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground has 25 single-family campsites for tents, trailers and RVs. The campground is a short walk to the lake and a few miles from the Mississippi River. Each campsite has a table, fire ring and grill. Group camping is also available. The campground has drinking water, vault toilets and a dump station. Campfire wood is also available for sale from the campground host. There are no showers or hookups at the campground. Primitive, or class C camping, is available from May 1st thru Sept 30th.
Horseshoe Lake State Park Area Recreation
Horseshoe Lake State Park is includes 3,000 acres and a 1,200-acre lake. It is located near Highway 111 in Madison County. The park offers a wide variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, biking, boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, picnicking and wildlife viewing. There are also numerous hunting programs from September through February. There are no boat rentals, but there is a ramp for boats with motors up to 50 horsepower . No swimming or jet skiing allowed.
Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area is another option and is about 84 miles away. It has 91 campsites for tents, trailers and RVs.
Dixon Springs State Park
There is a Class B trailer camp area with a sanitary dumping station and electricity available. A tent camping area is also provided for the primitive camper. Campers need to obtain a permit from the park personnel. Cabins and a group camping area are available for organized groups.
- 949-3394
- Dixon Springs
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Please Read The Following Carefully
On-Line Reservations start at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022. If you don’t already have an account set up, please go to www.camplife.com/COMLARA
In-Person Reservations start at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at the COMLARA Park Visitor Center.
Phone-In & Mail-In start at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2022
Reservation Deposits require the first night’s camping fee, PLUS the Reservation Fee PER SITE! For Deposit Schedule please see the Camping Section under Outdoor Recreation at the icons to the left.
HAPPY CAMPING!
Kickapoo State Recreation Area
10906 Kickapoo Park Road, Oakwood, IL 61858
Trail running, hiking, biking, canoeing, trout fishing, and even scuba diving are just a few of the outdoor activities that make Kickapoo a destination for adventure seekers of all ages. A former surface mining operation has been transformed into this state recreation area, with forest, wetlands, rivers, and 22 deep-bottom lakes. The campgrounds have over 90 sites that can accommodate RVs, although site sizes vary. About half have electric hookups, and in general sites are spread out, shaded, and level.
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The Great Outdoors Are Waiting For You
Experience the great outdoors and natural beauty at one of the area’s campgrounds. Set up camp near Lake Michigan or in the middle of a state park, either way you will feel like you are miles away from your everyday life.
A full range of recreational opportunities complement the expansive shoreline of Illinois Beach State Park. Stretching leisurely for 6 and a half miles along the sandy shore of Lake Michigan in Northern Illinois, Illinois Beach State Park encompasses the only remaining beach ridge shoreline left in the state. The park features a 244 campground sites with electricity and access to showers and facilities. You must obtain a camping permit from the park staff before settling in. The 4,160 acre state park offers ample opportunities for swimming, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and just appreciating nature.
Fish Lake Beach Campground, located in Volo, IL and 40 miles north of Chicago, is a family owned and operated campground since 1939. This campground features an 85 acre spring fed lake with 2 fishing piers, a large beach with swimming area, playground, rowboats and paddle boats, swimming pool, basketball and volleyball courts and recreation center. The campground is open May 1 October 15.
What To Bring Camping
What you bring camping will largely depend on how youre planning to do it. If youre roughing it with a tent and a sleeping bag, for instance, youre probably going to want to bring along a sweater, some water, a flashlight or a solar-powered light, sunscreen, a First Aid kid and a tent repair kiti.e. the necessities you can carry on your back.
If you’re posting up with a monstrous RV, however, you’ll have plenty of room for all of the above plus your toiletries, spare clothing, water wings for your kidsyou name it. Which brings us to our next topic: camp classifications.
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Cave In Rock State Park
There are 34 Class A sites that rent for $20 a night, and $30 a night on holiday weekends/weekdays . Each is equipped with electricity and can accommodate units up to 60-feet long. Twenty-five Class B/S tent sites also are available for $10 a night, and showers, restrooms and dumping stations are present in both camping areas.
- 289-4325
- Cave-In-Rock
Comlara Park Camping Reservations & Fees
Reservations can be made starting the first Saturday in April In-Person,, for dates through October 16. A non-refundable deposit of the first nights camping fee PLUS a separate $7.00 IN-PERSON reservation fee OR $10.00 PHONE-IN OR ON-LINE reservation fee PER SITE is required. . When making a reservation over the phone, your deposit must be charged to your Visa, Mastercard, or Discover Card at that time. Reservations by mail should include name, address, phone number, and date of reservation, preferred site number, and a deposit in the form of a check or money order. Reservations can be made in-person at the COMLARA Park Visitor Center during operating hours.
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Shabbona Lake State Park Campground Information
Shabbona Lake State Park Campground is a semi-wooded area with 150 Class A sites with electricity, showers, vehicular access, boat launch, playground, kids fishing area, and The Camp Store. No more running into town when you have forgotten an item, just walk over to The Camp Store to find it. We have everything you need! Bring your kids over and use our loaner fishing poles! We also have paddle boats that you may rent to enjoy a scenic view of Shabbona Lake.
Each campsite has a gravel parking space, picnic table, and a campfire ring. Campfires are only allowed in the ring, you must either purchase firewood at The Camp Store or you may bring in wood as long as it has been certified by the Illinois Department of Agriculture as having been inspected and found pest free. All vehicles must park on the gravel pads. Please remember to erect your tent on or within 15 feet of the gravel pad.
A single camp is considered to be a family of no more than four adults, or a group of no more than four unrelated adults. Four unrelated adults without children may occupy up to two tents per campsite.
Idnr Launches New Camping Reservation Site
Just in time for the return of camping season, The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced the launch of their brand new, user-friendly, reservation platform.
Starting today, you can visit Camp.ExploreMoreIL.com to explore the many unique camping options throughout Illinois, and ExploreMoreIL.com for hunting and fishing licensing, watercraft and snowmobile titling, registration and renewals. These sites can be easily accessed on all of your desktop and mobile devices, not need to download an app. Simply open your favorite browser, visit the site and save the page for quick access in the future.
This new platform features an intuitive user interface, access to a 24/7 call center , and a seamless transition from the IDNRs previous wildlife and fish licensing system and Reserve America camping platform.
Prior users will just log in as theyve done in the past, with their existing credentials. All profile, license and past purchase information, as well as active campground reservations, have been imported into this new system. New users can easily create a username and password, then start exploring the site.
We want to invite Illinois residents and visitors to our state to explore more of Illinois, said IDNR Director Colleen Callahan. The new ExploreMoreIL.com and Camp.ExploreMoreIL.com platforms make it easy for everyone to enjoy the outdoors and all the great places and activities Illinois has to offer.
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Giant City Park Campground
Giant City is a popular weekend retreat because of its varied and well-kept campground facilities. There are 85 campsites in the Class A Campground which provides water, electricity, showers and sanitary facilities for tent and trailer camping. The shower building in the Class A site closes the day after the first shotgun deer season and re-opens April 1st. A separate Class A equestrian campground is located off the horse trail in the southwest corner of the park. Camping reservations may be made for Class A sites. There is also a youth group camp and primitive walk-in tent sites.
Information
From camping and horseback riding to fishing and rappelling, Giant City is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Visitors can enjoy the many hiking trails.
Giant City is a popular weekend retreat because of its varied and well-kept campground facilities. There are 85 campsites in the Class A Campground which provides water, electricity, showers and sanitary facilities for tent and trailer camping. The shower building in the Class A site closes the day after the first shotgun deer season and re-opens April 1st. A separate Class A equestrian campground is located off the horse trail in the southwest corner of the park. Camping reservations may be made for Class A sites. There is also a youth group camp and primitive walk-in tent sites.
Contact Details
Illinois State Park Campgrounds That Accommodate Rv Camping
- Argyle Lake State Park
- Chain O Lakes State Park
- Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
- Delabar State Park
- Hamilton County State Fish and Wildlife Area
- Horseshoe Lake-Alexander State Fish and Wildlife Area
- Illini State Park
- Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
- Johnson Sauk Trail State Park
- Jubilee College State Park
- Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area
- Lake Murphysboro State Park
- Mississippi Palisades State Park
- Moraine View State Recreation Area
- Morrison-Rockwood State Park
- Randolph County State Recreation Area
- Red Hills State Park
- Rice Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
- Rock Cut State Park
- Sam Dale Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
- Sam Parr State Park
- Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area
- Walnut Point State Park
- Washington County State Recreation Area
- Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park
- White Pines Forest State Park
- Wolf Creek State Park
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