98% (62)
Top-rated campgrounds near Carthage
98% (62)
Top-rated campgrounds near Carthage
Public campgrounds near Carthage
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
M
Mel
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Tent camping was great. beautiful creek. We took back two sites so we had plenty of room to spread out. Pit toilet is by the geode mine area so take the site before the bridge if that's important to you.
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Mel
August 2025
16 ft car
With pets
Got there early and took the back two sites so tents were farthest back from the one other site in the vicinity and we used the fire and picnic table in the other one. The creek is beautiful and all solid rock in the creek bed so you can hunt for all kinds of cool fossils and geodes without getting muddy. The only pit toilet is up by the gate/entrance where the geode mine is so if you're thinking you want to be close than take the first site before the little bridge but be aware people showing up to the geode mine early in the morning might make noise with their pickaxes.
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Cj
July 2025
Tent
We
Loved the place. We were the only people camping... definitely primitive camping!!! But that is what we were looking for. Clean, safe. Talked to some people who were digging on land and they found bucket full of geodes..... definitely going back!!!
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J
Jessica
June 2025
Tent
With kids
Amazing geodes, peaceful site full of frog and cricket songs.
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T
Tim
June 2025
16 ft car
We had a relaxing evening! The campsite was clean, included a picnic table, fire ring, and a trash can. Right next to the creek, close enough to hear a small waterfall all night long. While you may hear the occasional vehicle off in the distance, the site is secluded and private. Minutes away from food and convenience stores, as well as the Mississippi River. You can dig for geodes on the property, and we found plenty of good ones.
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Mark
May 2025
43 ft travel trailer
Jensen Woods is a camp, not a camp site. It is not just a sleeping spot. The difference in our stay was the access to showers, bathrooms, fishing, nice scenery, a small archery range, and a lot of space. The sites are large, spacious, have electric and water, and there is a dump station close by for black and grey.
If you are going to stay in your RV for much of the trip, this is a great summer place to visit. However, during the summer, Illinois is the happy home to ticks. We use a grass covering (9x6) at our steps landing, but we still found it necessary to spray, check, and actually had to pull out one tick that had nestled its way into one of us. We would recommend this camp for nature lovers (during the summer), and everyone else outside of tick season (check google for more info).
Finally, your stay at Jensen Woods supports their mission/ministry to provide youth retreats/camps during the summer months. So, your stay does help a good cause. Keep Camping!
Mark Cox, PhD
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L
Lesa
May 2025
16 ft car
It is rustic so is quiet, and surrounded with woods with a stream next to your camp. Trash cans present. Enjoyed nature. Great time.
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Kristen
May 2025
Tent
With pets
Loved camping next to the creek and exploring! The site was clean and well maintained.
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Paige
January 2025
Tent
We had a fantastic visit at Johnny's place. We were the only ones there since it was a cold Thursday in January but we will definitely go back. The sites are well spaced with fire pits and picnic tables. Ours was right on the creek which had been frozen but the water running under the ice was beautiful.
The space is close to houses which we could see because the leaves are off the trees but it felt like we were far away. It was so peaceful. I read reviews of dogs barking in the distance which we did hear but we also heard some coyotes, lots of owls, some raccoons getting in a kerfuffle, and the sounds of so many birds.
The spots were pretty level and shaded but we were able to set up our solar panels. We traveled in our Jeep with roof top tent and set up our annex room and awnings plus our privacy potty tent away from the site. We did not use the bathroom that's on site.
Great that there are trash bins available.
Overall I totally recommend the place and look forward to making it a regular spot to get away to.
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