Camping in Illinois

Discover and book the best campgrounds, cabins, RV parks, and more.

Camping in Illinois

From Lake Michigan beaches to Shawnee National Forest trails—campers have options in Illinois.

Top-rated stays

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Frakers Grove Farm

3 sites · RVs, Tents250 acres · ILFrakers Grove farm has been in my family since the 1980’s but the history of Frakers Grove dates back to 1828 when Michael Fraker arrived to this area and negotiated a peaceful settlement with the Indians and became the first settler in the North Eastern Knox County. His grave is located on the property, and it is estimated that there are 26 other graves of relatives and friends in the area. Camping on a 250 acre farm located in Western Illinois. There is a 1.5 Acre stocked lake and a small creek running through the property. There are some trails running through the property. Wildlife found on the property include: Deer, American River Otters, Beavers, Geese, Wood Ducks, Racoons, etc. 1 Walk-in Camp Sites & 1 Drive-In Site by the pond available, each with a fire ring and picnic table. We are testing out RV Camping as well, feed back is appreciated! Overall this is primitive wooded camping behind and around pond, the RV site is next to the polebarn. Guest WiFi is available near the buildings. We can aid in getting your tent and supplies to and from the campsite on check-in and check-out days with a side by side if requested. Effective 5/31/2023 we now have a Porta Potty available for our guests to use located up by the Pole Barn. NOTE: This is an active farm; during the spring and fall there is more activity with heavy machinery. We also have Chickens and Pigs. In 2023 we are building a pasture to start our herd of cows, cow's should arrive in 2024.
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The Farm Girl and Friends

2 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Litchfield, ILThis land is a working animal farm. There are many farm animals to see here. You can pet goats, donkeys, rabbits, and many more. Located off of the Litchfield exit on interstate 55 just 52 miles from STL... Bring your Camper or pitch a tent on site of a working animal farm. If you like panoramic views of gorgeous sunsets, petting farm animals, relaxing in a peaceful setting this place is for you. Just minutes from shopping and restaurants in Litchfield. It’s about a 5 minute drive to Gillespie lake where the fishing is excellent also they have a really nice beach roped off for swimming and it’s free of charge.  Experience taking a nice hot shower in an outdoor shower. Also there is a sink with running water available and a private porta-potty. There is one 50 amp electric outlet for a camper Available for an additional $10 a night fee. Which can be reduced to 30 amps if needed. Please let us know at the time of booking to reserve the electrical outlet otherwise we cannot guarantee availability.  This is a delightful place to be if your searching for that farm experience! Come visit for a night or stay a few days I’ve been told by many of my visitors that they want to live here! Warning if you are not fond of animals or if you are allergic to cats or dogs this probably isn’t a good choice for you. Update due to social distancing and Covid-19 we have widened our campsites to create more privacy. We are honored to be chosen for Illinois and featured in the October 1 edition of Outside magazine.
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Escape to Nature

8 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Huntley, IL This property is located on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Huntley. It is only an hour west of Chicago. Glamping: A family or friends’ group can book 3 bedrooms together with a shared kitchen, living room, bathroom and laundry room, or each room can be reserved individually as a private bedroom with shared living spaces. The best part is the shared outdoor patio, where you can enjoy the evening. Our ducks, geese, turkeys and chickens will visit you, and you'll see likely see deer, raccoon, opossum, wild turkey, sandhill cranes, falcons, hawks, woodpeckers, coyotes and cardinals, all right from your seat in the backyard. Harmony Inn also has a 4-person room with an en-suite bathroom, with a queen-sized bed and a set of bunk beds, sitting area, a small kitchenette with microwave and refrigerator, and a private entrance. Guests in this room enjoy another semi-private patio with its own fire pit and comfortable seating. A complimentary continental breakfast is provided your first morning. If you preorder it the day before by 8 pm, we also offer a delicious, reasonably priced hot breakfast including eggs from our own chickens and ducks! All of our rooms are nonsmoking, and pets are not allowed. What to do here: Hike all over our six acres of countryside. If relaxation is your goal, we partner with a traveling massage therapist who will come to you on-site. Downtown Huntley and McHenry County host an assortment of festivals, free concerts, and celebrations throughout the year. The Farmer's Market and antique shops are worth the visit. The Illinois Railway Museum, within 10 miles, is the largest railway museum in the United States. Enthusiasts come from all over to ride on steam, diesel, and electric trains. When you're ready for a faster pace, head into Chicago, where the city offers unlimited attractions. Need more ideas? Ask us! We love being your concierge!
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Welcome to our Magical Woods

8 sites · Tents16 acres · ILPeaceful & enchanting. Very rustic and private. 
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McCully Heritage Project

9 sites · Lodging, Tents940 acres · Kampsville, ILThe McCully Heritage Project is a 940- acre environmental center located one mile south of Kampsville, Illinois in beautiful and remote Calhoun County.  We are a private non-profit left as the legacy of Howard and Eva McCully.
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R&L Farm with Tent & RV Camping

5 sites · RVs, Tents5 acres · Marseilles, ILThe property has sloped grass areas and a level hard packed gravel driveway with 1 pedestal 50A, 30A, and 110 + outlets + $5. There's a small pond and ravines. The property joins The Cliffs Insane Terrain Off Road Park and is 2.5 miles to downtown Marseilles. Downtown Marseilles has several bars, restaurants, a bowling alley, and ice cream. Walmart 13 miles away and there's a boat launch to Illinois River approx. 5 miles. We have cheap firewood. We have chickens and farm fresh eggs that are $4 a dozen.
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Zellers' Peaceful Place

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents4 acres · Ashton, ILWe have 4 acres of flat land with lots of flower beds, and even a dog agility course. Our property has a great view of a BNSF rail line, about 1 mile away as the crow flies, so trains are heard. You can bring your own tent or we can set one up for you. We also have a large tent which we can set up for you with a large inflatable queen size bed. You'll need to bring your own sheets and pillows. If you want to just escape home quickly, book our Cabin Shalom where everything is ready for you including sheets, fridge, microwave, coffee pot, tv with DVD, wifi, and a chimnea fireplace We have firepits available and I can provide smore makings if interested at an additional charge. We are halfway between Rochelle (with it's railroad museum, Kennay's Distillery, Artist's Garden, other quaint shops, and Chicago Land Skydiving Center) and Dixon-the hometown of Ronald Reagan and the Petunia Festival. 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.
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1912 Vintage Barn Experience

3 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents6 acres · Niantic, ILThe 1912 Barn is a 106 historic post and beam barn that makes a wonderful backdrop for a night out in the country. Located only 25 minutes from Springfield historic sites and 10 minutes from Decatur, IL this location makes it easy to tour during the day and relax by the camp fire in the evening.
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CSC Permaculture Project

5 sites · Lodging, Tents9 acres · Cabery, IL8.7 Acres, One Vision.We Are Building A Demonstration Project That Shows How To Create Truly Sustainable Community. Using Permaculture.Our idea is to:-Develop the overall biological health of the property, thereby increasing abundance and sustainable utilization of the land-Utilize the space for educational and demonstration purposes in accordance with our vision, mission, and goals-Create approaches and programs (Like Hipcamp!) to make the property economically self-supporting and capable of generating income for the CSC and for individuals working upon the property-Support the experience of community on the property by providing opportunities for meaningful relationships among those who work with the land and among those who visit the property for recreation, education, and meditation-Work to make the property inviting to the CSC participants, Stelle residents, and community visitors
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The Old Rugged Barn

24 sites · RVs, Tents3 acres · Towanda, ILI grew up on a farm and thrilled to be enjoying country living once again!We are in central IL near Historic Rt 66, minutes north of Bloomington-Normal with easy access from I-55. I've only been here since 2010, but we are making constant strides to make the place into a place for visitors and community to enjoy. Our 3.5 acres is highlighted by the Old Rugged Barn and welcome the opportunity to host any kind of event! The Old Rugged Barn..... where happy happens!!
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Wine Trail Wilderness

11 sites · RVs, Tents37 acres · Pomona, ILWe call our home "The Villa".  It looks like an Italian villa structure appropriately placed between two wineries in the middle of the Shawnee Forest.  It is actually a straw-bale home with supplemental solar energy provided by an array of 18 solar panels.  Originally built as a Holistic Healing Center, we have converted it into a comfortable home with great vibes.  We have converted an old grain bin into a "GrainZebo" just outside our home as a great place to hang out with friends and family. We hope you enjoy the relaxed feel we get living out here in the woods when you come visit.  We will be happy to help you feel at home out here. 
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Bear Creek Farm and Ranch

14 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents103 acres · Palmer, ILWe purchased our 45 acre farm in 1997, since then we have operated a sustainable small organic farm.  In January of 2018 we purchased 58 more acres that is attached to our land.  The property has a greenhouse, high tunnel and about a half acre of field that we raise vegetables & fruit on.  We have a 3 acre pond with a naturally sustaining fish population, we swim in the pond, many small pastures and woods with streams running through them.  Plenty of wildlife, hiking & mountain biking areas.  We have a certified kitchen at the farm and have products raised & made on the farm to purchase.  Supposedly the house is haunted and there are a couple of haunted sites within 15 miles of the farm. 
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Camping trips for every style

Find your new favorite spot.

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All camping options

Illinois might be notoriously flat—the state’s highest natural point, Charles Mound, is easily eclipsed by Chicago's Willis Tower—but there are still plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures in the Land of Lincoln. Head to the windswept shores of Lake Michigan, grab your backpack and hit the trail in the Shawnee National Forest, or hop in your RV and set out along Route 66. With more than 300 state parks to explore, and a huge choice of campgrounds, glampsites, and cozy cabin rentals, campers have options to suit all four seasons. Summer is peak season, so book well in advance.

Where to Go

Chicago & Around

Once you’ve marveled at the skyscrapers and filled up on hot dogs in Chicago, you’ll find several of Illinois’ most impressive state parks within day-trip distance of the Windy City. Cool off at Illinois Beach State Park along the shores of Lake Michigan, hike to waterfalls and camp in the woods at Starved Rock State Park, or admire the fall foliage in Matthiessen State Park. For winter campers, Rock Cut State Park is a hotspot for cross-country skiing.

Great Rivers Country

Nineteenth-century towns, vineyards, and scenic river valleys provide a change of pace in Western Illinois. Hop between towns like Peoria, Moline, and Galena along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers; spot bald eagles in Grafton, or rent a cabin at nearby Pere Marquette State Park. Mississippi Palisades State Park is another regional highlight, where you can hike, rock climb, or cross-country ski, depending on the season. 

Land of Lincoln

Illinois’ bucolic heartland was the long-time home of Abraham Lincoln, and historic sites are scattered around the countryside between Springfield, Bloomington, and Decatur. If you’re up for one of the world’s most famous road trips, drive your RV on down to Springfield, the birthplace of Route 66, or if woodland views and lake fishing are more your jam, head to Walnut Point State Park, Wolf Creek State Park, or Sangchris Lake State Park.

South Illinois

The rambling Shawnee National Forest stretches over much of southern Illinois, encompassing miles of hiking and horseback riding trails between the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Take your pick of some of the state’s most rewarding hikes, including the River to River Trail and the Rim Rock National Recreation Trail, and don’t miss the extraordinary rock formations of the Garden of the Gods. First-come, first-served campsites are available at several NF campgrounds, or you can pitch your tent or park your RV in the dispersed camping areas.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Illinois is a great destination for camping, offering a diverse range of landscapes, from the shores of Lake Michigan to the rolling hills of the southern part of the state. Illinois has numerous state parks, national forests, and private camping options for both tent and RV campers. Some popular camping destinations in Illinois include Starved Rock State Park, Shawnee National Forest, Illini State Park, and Chain O'Lakes State Park. You can find more camping options in Illinois on Hipcamp. The state offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, boating, and birdwatching, making it an ideal camping destination for all ages and interests.

Boondocking, or dispersed camping without facilities, is generally allowed on public lands in Illinois, such as national forests and some state forests. However, it is important to check the specific regulations and guidelines for the area where you plan to camp, as rules may vary. In the Shawnee National Forest, for example, boondocking is permitted in designated areas. It is not allowed to boondock in Illinois state parks or on private lands without permission from the landowner. For more secluded and private camping options in Illinois, consider checking out Hipcamp for a variety of unique camping experiences.

To reserve a campsite in an Illinois state park, you need to visit the Reserve America website. This website allows you to search for available campsites in Illinois state parks, view the amenities and features, and make reservations online. You can also call the park directly to inquire about availability and make reservations over the phone.

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