Beach camping in Illinois

Dip your toes in beach camping in Illinois—it’s more common than you think.

94% (656 reviews)
94% (656 reviews)

Popular camping styles for Illinois

Value Prop
Value Prop

Beach camping in Illinois guide

Overview

With an eastern coast on Lake Michigan and lakes dotting the state, Illinois has more opportunities for beach camping than most campers would guess. An hour from Chicago, Illinois Beach State Park is an obvious choice thanks to its shoreline boardwalk and waterside campsites, while Lake Michigan RV sites mean campers can get up early to fish for salmon, trout, or panfish. Camp near Starved Rock State Park on the Illinois River between Peoria and Naperville for access to rock canyon hiking and waterfalls where you can cool off, or pitch a tent at a primitive camping spot on Shawnee National Forest's River to River Trail. Further south is Rend Lake in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park, where you can find lake views and sounds of the water lapping the shores. Although amenities vary, many waterfront camping options in Illinois are dog-friendly with fire pits and potable water.

Top cities in and near Illinois

Top regions in and near Illinois

Safety at Hipcamp

Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Inclusion Policy
Hipcamp Hand

Safety partners

Recreate Responsibly

About us

Hipcamp is the most comprehensive resource for beautiful private campsites.

Discover and reserve tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping.

Download the Hipcamp App

Hipcamp is created with ❤️ and hope for our future.