Lake Camping Near Olney, Illinois, US: 12 Best Lake Campsites 2026

In Olney, you’ll find over 525 lake-focused campsites ranging from $25 to $51 a night. If you want easy access to the water, this area delivers: campsites cluster around quiet lakesides, perfect for a morning swim or an afternoon paddle. Top picks like Camp Lakewood Campground (6 reviews) and The Farm-ish Camp & Gather Barn (1 review) give you room to stretch out and space to explore. Facilities often include toilets, showers, and pet-friendly spots—handy if you’re travelling with a dog or just want a hot rinse after a hike. People come here for hiking, snow sports in the colder months, and swimming when it’s warm. Locals know: mornings are quietest by the lake, and the sunsets don’t disappoint.

97% (11)

Top-rated campgrounds near Olney

In Olney, you’ll find over 525 lake-focused campsites ranging from $25 to $51 a night. If you want easy access to the water, this area delivers: campsites cluster around quiet lakesides, perfect for a morning swim or an afternoon paddle. Top picks like Camp Lakewood Campground (6 reviews) and The Farm-ish Camp & Gather Barn (1 review) give you room to stretch out and space to explore. Facilities often include toilets, showers, and pet-friendly spots—handy if you’re travelling with a dog or just want a hot rinse after a hike. People come here for hiking, snow sports in the colder months, and swimming when it’s warm. Locals know: mornings are quietest by the lake, and the sunsets don’t disappoint.

97% (11)

Top-rated campgrounds near Olney

1. The Farm-ish Camp & Gather Barn

100%

(3)

38mi from Olney · 94 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging

Camp and gather at our family owned farm- The Farm-ish Momstead, also known as The Martin Family Farm. Available for primitive camping, day use, or event gathering. Amenities could include the use of the event barn for groups and events, a lake, fishing (bring your own pole and tackle, kayak or SUPs), bonfire pits, a shelter house, and a reliving farm experience if you choose to take part- beef cows, dairy goats (often including milking and goat kids), a mini highland cow, and chickens. Included in your stay is our resident Safety Manager, our collie Tilly. Please know she has a job to do and her best tool is her voice. You may hear barking as she keeps critters away. Other than that, she’s super friendly, although she may forget her manners at times and jump when excited.

2. Camp Lakewood Campground

94%

(18)

39mi from Olney · 58 sites · RVs

Welcome to Camp Lakewood Campground! We are your premier Campground in Effingham, Illinois. We are proudly family-owned and operated by Kiefer Campgrounds. Kiefer Campgrounds are part of a collection of parks that spare no expense to ensure your stay with us is nothing less than the BEST! We are ideally located within 1 mile of I-70 and I-57, and we are open year round. We are also golf-cart friendly. Give us a call at 217-342-1111 for more details.

3. Sam Dale Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

69 sites · Johnsonville, Illinois

At Sam Dale Lake, drink in all the beauty found in the gently rolling hills, lush woods, and shimmering waters. This place is certainly not short of recreational adventures, offering a bit of fishing, picnicking, and all around camp vibes. You may run into the critters that call this place home—owls, turkey, beaver, and deer that roam about the timber and brushy fields like they own the place (well, they kinda do). Undoubtedly, the best part about this place is the 194 acre lake that boasts 5 miles of sandy shoreline trials. There are also a few secluded ponds scattered about that are prime for fishing and relaxing. The camp sites here are nicely tucked away in a wooded and much more secluded section of the park, giving you the natural privacy you are in need of without taking you too far away from all the lakeside action.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

4. Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

55 sites · Kinmundy, Illinois

Land your limit of largemouth bass, bluegill or crappie at this well-stocked, beautiful lake.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

5. Lincoln Trail State Park

204 sites · Marshall, Illinois

The focus of Lincoln Trail State Park is the lovely Lincoln Trail Lake. It’s thickly-wooded shoreline and myriad of small coves and inlets, makes it a great lake for exploration and wildlife viewing. Around the lake, you’ll discover rare wildflowers, ancient forests, and shady ravines and valleys.Small boats with small motors (or, better yet, no motors) are perfect for serene explorations. Try your skill at hooking largemouth bass, crappie, sunfish, and channel catfish. Then head over to one of two secluded campgrounds to set up your home away from home and fry up your catch. The pace is slow at Lincoln Trail State Park, and that’s just the way we like it.

Pets

Electrical hookup

Toilets

6. Fox Ridge State Park

44 sites · Charleston, Illinois

Your lazy Sunday just got a bit more action-packed! At Fox Ridge State Park, turn your lazy into relaxation: stroll through the rolling hills, causally boat around the lake, and picnic under a shady tree. Hike the trails and bring a camera to catch a snapshot of all the creatures and plants you’ll see! Nearby is the awesome Lincoln Log Historic Site, a definite must-see for historians and patriots alike.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

7. Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area

76 sites · Enfield, Illinois

You're almost guaranteed to land a fish at this well-stocked lake.

Pets

Toilets

Campfires

Public campgrounds near Olney

Sam Dale Lake Campground

30mi from Olney · 69 sites · Tents, RVs · in Sam Dale Lake State Fish & Wildlife Area

Stephen A. Forbes Campground

37mi from Olney · 55 sites · Tents, RVs · in Stephen A. Forbes State Recreation Area

Lakeside Campground

47mi from Olney · 100 sites · Tents, RVs · in Lincoln Trail State Park

Fox Ridge Camground

47mi from Olney · 44 sites · Tents, RVs · in Fox Ridge State Park

Plainview Campground

47mi from Olney · 104 sites · Tents, RVs · in Lincoln Trail State Park

Hamilton County Campground

49mi from Olney · 76 sites · Tents, RVs · in Hamilton County State Fish & Wildlife Area

Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community

K

Krista

November 2025

Group trip

Weekend Trip to The Farm-ish Camp & Gather Barn

Beautiful place and perfect for what we needed. Carrie was so helpful and friendly. We felt very welcomed.

David

November 2025

23 ft travel trailer

5 nights at Camp Lakewood Campground

Camp Lakewood was perfect for the few nights I stayed there. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. Plus, it was really nice to have Fatso's Pizza just a 30 second walk away. The pizza there was excellent!

W

Waylon

September 2025

32 ft Class A

With pets

Weekend Trip to Camp Lakewood Campground

Camp Lakewood is a small and quiet campground. Just minutes off I-70. Our site (22) backed right up to the lake. Very friendly staff and Fatso's (on location pizza, wings, ice cream, and more) has some of the best pizza we've ever had! We will definitely visit again!