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Nature surrounding the campsites. Photo 1 of 6 of McCully Heritage Project
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McCully Heritage Project

Hosted by Mc · Kampsville, Illinois
7 sites · RV, Tent, Lodging · 940 acres
98%
·
255 reviews
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Best Hipcamps in Illinois
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2026.
Family-friendly
Recent Hipcampers say this Hipcamp is great for families and kids.
Best in Illinois: Finalist
Named one of the best Hipcamps to visit in 2024.
Staff verified
Accuracy verified by Hipcamp's on-the-ground team.
The 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.

Select a site

Tent-only sites

5 sites
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Site 4 - McCully Heritage Project

97%
(76)
Tent site · Sleeps 6
Pitch your tent in one of four widely spaced sites. Each site has enough room for multiple tents and includes a fire pit and picnic table.  The sites are just a short walk from our shower/restroom facility. The fishing ponds are just a quarter mile walk from the campsites, and access to the numerous trails throughout our 940-acre property is directly from the campsites.  While we have four designated sites, it is rare for all to be full, and likely that you'll be the only campers here most days.  We are located in a very remote/rural part of Illinois in a county nestled between the Mississippi & Illinois Rivers, but only 75 miles north of downtown St. Louis. We have been included in John Shirle's "The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois."
Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site

Site 3 - McCully Heritage Project

96%
(50)
Tent site · Sleeps 6
Pitch your tent in one of four widely spaced sites. Each site has enough room for multiple tents and includes a fire pit and picnic table.  The sites are just a short walk from our shower/restroom facility. The fishing ponds are just a quarter mile walk from the campsites, and access to the numerous trails throughout our 940-acre property is directly from the campsites.  While we have four designated sites, it is rare for all to be full, and likely that you'll be the only campers here most days.  We are located in a very remote/rural part of Illinois in a county nestled between the Mississippi & Illinois Rivers, but only 75 miles north of downtown St. Louis. We have been included in John Shirle's "The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois."
Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site

McCully Heritage Project pond site

98%
(44)
Tent site · Sleeps 25
Campers can enjoy camping near the water of our 1.5 acre fishing pond.  The site is ideal for families or group campouts. There's plenty of space, a firepit with firewood, a picnic table and a gazebo. Our ponds are stocked with bluegill, bass and a few catfish.  Please note the ponds are public, so access is not restricted to others fishing or walking trails between dawn & dusk. There is a gravel road back to the pond, but no formal parking area. Restrooms and showers are located at our main site, about 0.15 miles (800 ft) from pond site.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site

Site 1 - McCully Heritage Project

99%
(44)
Tent site · Sleeps 6
Pitch your tent in one of four widely spaced sites. Each site has enough room for multiple tents and includes a fire pit and picnic table.  The sites are just a short walk from our shower/restroom facility. The fishing ponds are just a quarter mile walk from the campsites, and access to the numerous trails throughout our 940-acre property is directly from the campsites.  While we have four designated sites, it is rare for all to be full, and likely that you'll be the only campers here most days.  We are located in a very remote/rural part of Illinois in a county nestled between the Mississippi & Illinois Rivers, but only 75 miles north of downtown St. Louis. We have been included in John Shirle's "The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois."
Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site
  • Picture of the site

Site 2 - McCully Heritage Project

96%
(28)
Tent site · Sleeps 6
Pitch your tent in one of four widely spaced sites. Each site has enough room for multiple tents and includes a fire pit and picnic table.  The sites are just a short walk from our shower/restroom facility. The fishing ponds are just a quarter mile walk from the campsites, and access to the numerous trails throughout our 940-acre property is directly from the campsites.  While we have four designated sites, it is rare for all to be full, and likely that you'll be the only campers here most days.  We are located in a very remote/rural part of Illinois in a county nestled between the Mississippi & Illinois Rivers, but only 75 miles north of downtown St. Louis. We have been included in John Shirle's "The Best in Tent Camping: Illinois."
Short walk to site
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers

RV/tent sites

1 site
  • Picture of the site
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  • Picture of the site

McCully Heritage Project Levee

99%
(75)
RV/tent site · Sleeps 8 · Vehicles under 16 ft
Campers can enjoy camping just below the levee from our pond site. There's plenty of space, a firepit with firewood, a nice open area, but unfortunately little shade. Our ponds are stocked with bluegill, bass and a few catfish. Please note the ponds are public, so access is not restricted to others fishing or walking trails between dawn & dusk. There is a gravel road back to the site, but no formal parking area. Restrooms and showers are located at our main site, about 0.15 miles (800 ft) from pond site.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
No electrical hookup
Showers

Lodging

1 site
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  • Picture of the site

Watkin's Place at McCully

100%
(43)
Cabin · Sleeps 20 · 2 bedrooms · 4 beds · 1 toilet
This cabin is a perfect place for a weekend or weeklong retreat. It is truly a place to get away from it all. Enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature under the shade of the catalpa trees. Eat dinner under the stars. The Watkins Place is private & secluded with access to the hiking trails at the McCully Heritage Project.  It is surrounded by about an acre of open area, perfect for pitching a few tents.  This is nice place for a family or group campout where "non-campers" can come along and have a bed to sleep in! Cabin includes 2 bedrooms (1 full, 2 twin, +futon); Full kitchen; Bathroom with shower; Central heat & window a/c; DVD player/TV; Charcoal Grill; Campfire pit; Picnic table; Towels & Linens; board games & puzzles.
Campfires allowed
Toilet
Potable water
Pets allowed
Showers
Picnic table

Reviews

98%· 365 reviews

Themes

  • Review summary

    Generated from real Hipcamper reviews

    This campsite offers a truly secluded and peaceful experience, ideal for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. With well-maintained trails and campsites, it's a haven for hikers and nature lovers. The clean facilities, including bathrooms and showers, add comfort to the camping experience, while the ample supply of firewood ensures cozy campfires. However, campers should be mindful of ticks and occasional road noise, which have been noted by some visitors.

  • Andrew G.

    Tent camped at Site 3, Sept 2026.

    Recommends

    Had a good trip. The fishing was good but something is going on with the water level in the main pond at the moment as it dropped a couple feet.

  • Alicia G.

    Camped at Watkin's Place at McCully with friends, Sept 2026.

    Recommends

    Great cabin in the woods. We appreciated being able to stay and visit with each other. We did not use, but other may be interested in the charcoal grill and outdoor fire ring. Indoors, there was space for cooking - including a coffee maker, a nice room for hanging out and playing games, an enough space to sleep all 5 of us. Place was clean and all set for use when we arrived. We did run into some ticks on our beautiful hike. We are thankful for the large bucket, hot water., and outdoor hose. For those that have dogs and find that your tick prevention meds are not cutting it there is a very nice veterinary hospital about 40 minutes drive from the cabin (Jersey-Calhoun Veterinary Hospital). They took prompt care of us, only charged us for the meds and helped us on our way to the laundry mat right down the road on Route 67. With the ticks gone and the fun continued. We would stay again.

  • Andy L.

    Tent camped at Site 4, Sept 2026.

    Recommends

    I loved how secluded the property was. We went Labor Day weekend and we never saw another soul.

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Amenities

  • Fire pitsPrivate fire pit at each site · Firewood provided, Firepit
  • Flush toilets
  • Potable waterSpigot, Tap, Bottled water or jugs
  • ShowersHot water
  • Picnic tables
  • WifiAt some sites
  • Trash disposalRecycling bin, Trash bin
  • Cooking equipmentAt some sites · BBQ
  • PlaygroundAt some sites
  • No electricity hookup
  • No water hookup
  • No laundry
  • No hot tub

Things to know

  • Walk-in access at some sites2WD accessible. Short walk at some sites; drive in at the rest. Wheelchair accessible at some sites.
  • Pet-friendlyOff leash okay at some sites.
  • Campfires allowedAlways review local fire regulations before enjoying a campfire.
  • Check-in processMeet and greet with your host at some sites; head straight to your site at the others.
  • Cancellation policyFlexible at some sites; Moderate at the others. Full refund 24 hours before check in time starts.
  • Check-in and check-outCheck-in times vary by site (from 12pm). Check-out at 12pm.
  • Booking windowBook up to 12 months ahead. Same-day bookings at some sites; the others need 2 days' notice. Minimum stay 1–2 nights depending on the site. Stay up to 29 nights depending on the site.

Extras

  • Firewood bundle$5.00 per itemOne bundle of firewood included per night for a booking, additional bundles available as extras for $5. In other words, add this extra if you think you'll burn more than one bundle. You can pay for extra firewood on site as well.

Location

Kampsville, Calhoun County, Illinois, United StatesTo respect the Host's privacy, the precise address of this land will be provided after booking

Your Host

Mc Cully H.Joined January 201860% response rateResponds within 15 hours

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