1855 Campground

My partner and I needed a spot close to the Shut Ins & Elephant Rock park (about 20-25 minute drive) when all of the other campgrounds were full and this was the perfect spot. Bill’s land is beautiful, very peaceful, and well maintained. Little brushy creek was so gorgeous running right by our camp spot, it added the most perfect scenery to our site. We will definitely be back to visit Bill & his wonderful campground.

Gwyn J.

2 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2026

beautiful campsite, kind host

Tent ·

my partner and I stayed at campsite 1 and it was absolutely stunning! the site itself was very spacious which gave us a lot of wiggle room to set up. the creek is a short 10ft away or so. it’s filled with fish, crayfish, water bugs, and other fauna. the host, bill, was such a sweet person. he greeted us when we arrived and showed us around his property. we had a great conversation and although he was off the property, he told us to message him if we needed anything. the firewood bundle was very generous. I assumed it would be maybe 7 or 8 pieces, but it was closer to 25-30 pieces which he covered with a tarp to prevent the wood from getting wet. overall, the entire property was beautiful and clean, and bill was incredibly nice.

Jupiter S.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2026

Wilderness camping with amenities!

Tent ·

Bill’s land is truly a gift to nurture the soul immersed in wilderness and the peaceful sounds of nature. It is surrounded by Mark Twain National Forest but close to main roads and easy to locate. As a solo traveler, I felt comfortable and completely safe. The tent sites are generously sized, carefully maintained and designed for privacy. Disconnected from technology (ya’ll no cell reception…), I camped for 5 days next to a lovely stream that lulled me to sleep each night (site#1) and, with no other guests, enjoyed the solitude in wandering the entire property each day. Amenities include a fire pit, picnic table, grill (including a grate scraper!), a large rack of firewood, clean outhouse and a convenient outdoor HOT shower! This was a huge perk after hiking all day at several state parks located in reasonable proximity to Bill’s beautiful property. I particularly enjoyed hiking Johnson Shut-In State Park. The property also boasts a lovely pond complete with a swimming deck and beautiful sunsets. Bill is a kind, personable and thoughtful host. His passion for delivering a one-of-a-kind wilderness experience is evident in all the details of this beautifully maintained landscape. Thanks Bill for a truly memorable stay.

Pamela S.

11 reviews

Recommends

· May 2026

Nancy's landing

Tent ·

Campsite 7 Robert’s Mountain

Nice flat spot for our large tent/fly setup. Wonderfully secluded and quite, such a peaceful stay and a great host.

Martin O.

5 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2026

Tent ·

My wife and I really enjoyed our stay here. It was very quiet and peaceful, and Bill was a great and accommodating host. I would definitely recommend it!

Ryan S.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2025

Tent · Group trip ·

This was our third consecutive year camping at Bill’s campground, and each time is as wonderful as before (if not more). Bill cares for the land so well and thoughtfully that it’s difficult not to be stunned everywhere you look. Key highlights (besides the joy of wilderness camping) include a variety of terrains, a cold and refreshing creek, a pond, generous wood bundles/refills, and great conversations with Bill. There are plenty of attractions nearby such as Elephant Rocks and Johnson’s Shut Ins, which I highly recommend checking out if you’re in the area. Thank you as always, Bill!

Trenna S.

3 reviews

Recommends

· July 2025

Peaceful and Private

Tent ·

We had such a great time camping here! The host was very nice, and the property was spacious and really peaceful. It wasn’t crowded at all, which made it feel like our own little escape. One of my favorite parts was falling asleep to the sound of the spring right next to our tent. It was so relaxing. My boyfriend and I also explored Elephant Rocks and Johnson’s Shut-Ins while we were in the area.

Jacinda E.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Tent ·

Second time camping at Bill’s and it is always a lovely time!

Abbie L.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Tent · Group trip ·

Campsite 7 Robert’s Mountain

We loved Bill’s camp site, it was magical. A spring fed creek, plentiful firewood, friendly host, <20 mins from Johnson Shut-ins…what more could we ask?

Violet H.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Great camping, Homey land

Tent ·

We LOVED Bill’s 1855 Campground! The grounds are incredibly spaced out, a gorgeous lake on property, lovely creek as you come in, and frolicking room in between! Bill lives off grid so if you need anything he’s always there, and came in clutch when our air pump took too much wattage for our battery… Firewood comes with the site, which is incredible, and the whole experience is great.

Tristan K.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

We'll be back!

Tent · With kids ·

Bill, your host, is a pleasure. The grounds are beautiful and have great energy. This is a well thought out and maintained outdoor experience. Minimal impact on the surroundings, love that. Two outhouses! Questionable phone signal! You can simply enjoy your people, the sounds of nature, sounds of water, the crackle of fire. We will go back. We want to try camps 1 and 4.

Geo H.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Perfect Little Spot

Tent ·

Site 6 Hiddin Hollow

This campground was exactly what I needed— after graduating from school I really just wanted to get away and recenter myself. 1855 Campground was the perfect spot to do that, I spent most of the time during my 4 days out there just admiring what was around me. I stayed at site 6 which is nestled into the woods and right next to a lovely little meadow. It was fun exploring the campground and seeing the wildlife. I spent some time laying in the sun on the edge of the lake and floating out on an oversized tube. The campground is fairly close to other sights in the area; Johnson’s Shut-Ins, Taum Sauk Mountain, and I spent an afternoon up at Council Bluffs Lake (a nice 40 minute drive). It’s definitely wilderness camping, but it’s a fantastic spot for those who enjoy it. The outhouse is well maintained and I was able to get water from the spring on site and Bill had already set me up with some firewood at my site when I arrived. It’s very quiet and incredibly scenic. I loved my stay and hope to return someday :)

Katie L.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Great camping

Tent ·

Site 3 Bills Hill

Great camping experience. Clean beautiful land with plenty of space to have a more personal experience. Bill is super nice and is a great host. He gave us a bundle of wood for a nice fire and shuttled our things to the site. I would definitely spend another weekend camping on his land.

Dylan L.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent ·

Great spot, really special set up. I felt very welcome and privileged to be on this beautiful property. Bill is great, bring your instrument if you have one, you may just get a good jam session like I did. Visit the pond at sunrise if you want a memory that will last forever

Karl S.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Best Campground

Tent · Group trip ·

Site 6 Hiddin Hollow

We had a great time at 1855 Campground! I will definitely come back. I have camped at the shut ins campground but I think prefer this one. Sure the johnson's Campground has some flushing toilets but it doesn't have Bill :). Bill was great and super friendly. He took our stuff in his tractor to and from the site , making it easy to settle in. Site 6 was perfect for our group due to it being more secluded than the others. Loved that we had privacy and good amount of space for 4 tents! It's close to all the parks like Elefant Rock , and Johnson's shut in, good convenient spot. Def will come back.

Melissa A.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent ·

Camping here was great! The views were great and the directions were clear. Loved the creek next to the site, great place would definitely recommend.

Lianne C.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent · With kids ·

Excellent camping location! We stayed at site four, the grove, and it was absolutely beautiful. We ended up caught in a thunderstorm over night and the view of the grove when the lightning flashed was absolutely beautiful. Also the first site we've stayed at that provided a free bundle of firewood.

Cameron B.

3 reviews

Recommends

· May 2025

Tent ·

Plenty of firewood provided. Bill was a very kind host. Would stay here again!

Sasha O.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· May 2025

Camping near a stream

Tent ·

A fantastic site that secluded and well maintained. Plenty of good firewood and sleeping with the sound of flowing stream nearby. Bill was a great, friendly host! I highly recommend any of his camping options.

Brandon B.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· September 2024

Tent · Group trip ·

This was our second time back to Bill’s and we spent our trip in the meadow on his land. The views waking up each morning were magical and we made friends with the butterflies flying around in the wildflowers. Bill is an excellent steward of his land and is so helpful—going so far as to secure our campsite when it started raining and we were not at his property. Hope to return many times. Also has plenty of firewood and supplies he can help provide. Thanks again, Bill!

Trenna S.

3 reviews

Recommends

· July 2024

Perfect campfire setting

Tent ·

About a million times better than camping at Johnson's Shut-Ins SP. Super quiet, lovely creek and lots of firewood. Super nice site.

Lawrence L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· July 2024

Great creekside campsite

Tent ·

Little Brushy Creek was an awesome site. Super quiet, except for the restful sounds of the creek, and well laid out. We had 3 tents and there was plenty of space for all of them. Bill provided a bunch of wood and the parking spots were all mowed and super easy to park. Well done Bill, highly recommended

Lawrence L.

2 reviews

Recommends

· May 2024

Tent ·

Campsite 7 Robert’s Mountain

Bill was fantastic! We ended up checking in a lot later than anticipated and he waited up for us, and helped cart our camping gear to the site in the dark. He was friendly and the site was amazing! 10/10 would recommend to anyone!

Mallory R.

3 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2024

Tent ·

Site 6 Hiddin Hollow

This is a very secluded site, a great place to just relax. It was also nice to put the phone away and forget about it for a few days.

Chad W.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2024

Little slice of paradise

Tent · Group trip ·

Bill was an absolutely wonderful host and I could not be more grateful that he opened his heart and land to my friends and I for the solar eclipse. The campsite on the top of the mountain (#7) is an absolute dream with a view of the night sky that's unmatched even on my parent's farm in rural Kentucky. I was fully prepared to pack all my things up the hill but Bill even lugged them up for us with the tractor. I will undoubtedly be back to Bill's before the summer sets in to experience the magic of Robert's Mountain.

Lindsey F.

5 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2024

Tent ·

We had a fantastic stay! The campsite was clean and the trails were very well maintained and easy to navigate. Bill was such a friendly and welcoming host. We’re excited to visit again in the future!

Beth W.

4 reviews

Recommends

· April 2024

Tent ·

Camping on Bill’s property was lovely! It’s a scenic area with plenty of space to spread out and explore. He tends the land very well and there was plenty of firewood for two nights. Just be careful of ticks during the spring and summer!

E Carmen A.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2024

Great Host and Location

Tent · Group trip ·