Good Campgrounds in Illinois?

I have a younger sister who lives in the Chicago area. She was home for Christmas and saw our camper. Now she has the fever and wants to meet us in southern Illinois to camp sometime this summer. Any suggestions?

I have not camped in southern IL, but might I suggest a trip to www.rvparkreviews.com? Sometimes it's difficult to sort out what differnt campers say about the same campground. What seems to appeal to some, also seems to be poison to another. I just weigh the good against the bad on the old scales of judgement, and then take my pick.

Best of luck.

BamaFamily,

It’s been more than 25 years since we’ve stayed in a campground in Southern Illinois. First off, just what do you mean by “southern?” For many people in the Chicago area, southern is anything south of Kankakee. :) The southern Illinois we camped in was quite far south.

I can’t give any advice about private campgrounds anywhere in Illinois, we always chose state parks. When our kids were small, we wanted the true camping experience – with hiking and campfires, etc

We’ve stayed in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park – on Rend Lake just a few miles north of Benton. It was a favorite of ours. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R5/WAYNE.HTM

We camped many times at Ferne Cliffe State Park, it’s a great park for camping, picnics, and hiking.
http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R5/FERNE.HTM

We never stayed at Cave-in-Rock State Park, but we went there often for day trips. River pirates used the cave as a hideout when the Ohio River was a primary travel route. http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R5/CAVEROCK.HTM

I agree with Scruffy and Tater, Rend Lake would be a great place for you and your sister to camp. Along with the State Park there are also a number of Corps of Engineer campgrounds around the lake. Some of the Corps sites have full hookups. You can check them out at http://www.recreation.gov/

Shelbyville, IL has a nice state park and Corps Engineer park that is located on Shelbyville lake. Great fishing at the park. The Corps park has some full hookups available. The Sanchris state park is very nice also and it is around 20 miles from Springfield.

The State has a new campground open at the World Shooting and Recreation Complex about 4 miles north of Sparta, IL. They have over 1,000 sites of which, 600 are electric, sewer, and water. There's also a restaurant (with bar) on the premises called 17th Street BBQ.

depending on what type of cg you are looking for . We have several with just elect , water & elect and full hookups. we are also making a name with our b&b and wineries. I am located 30 mile from the southern end of the state . The parks that have been mention are all good . Rend lake has both a state park and federal .

let me know if i can help you locate a campground.Rend Lake is right off I-57 and I think it has a motel and cabins to rent.