1855 Campground

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.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· July 2025

Tent ·

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

Abbie L.

6 months on Hipcamp

Recommends

· June 2025

Tent · Group trip ·

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.

6 months 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.

7 months 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.

7 months 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.

7 months 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.

7 months 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.

7 months 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.

7 months 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.

7 months 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 ·

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.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2024

Great Host and Location

Tent · Group trip ·

I camped here with friends during the 2024 solar eclipse, and despite every campsite being reserved, it didn’t feel like we were on top of each other. The host was very nice and the provided firewood was enough for a fire at night and a midday fire for smores.

Joe E.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2024

Tent · Group trip ·

Site 3 Bills Hill

Stayed here for the eclipse, at night it got a lot colder than we thought (hilly terrain means sun is blocked earlier) but i've never seen so many stars in my life. Campsites are spread out nicely, Bill is friendly, helped bring our stuff to our site, and gave us hiking suggestions that were a ton of fun, and Biscuit is an excellent head of security. We're definitely returning in the fall to see the fall leaves, this is a really nice spot!

Nicole J.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· April 2024

A great value and experience

Tent ·

Site 5 Walnut Grove

Bill’s campground was an excellent place to stay! He is a wonderful host. Sites are well kept. If you’re going toward the back of the campground, I would recommend the mountain site. The site by the entrance by the river would be a gray place to stay as well.

Sara R.

1 year on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2024

Weekend Camping

Tent ·

We spent a weekend camping on Bill’s land. We were at the number 7 campsite (Robert’s mountain). The campsite was beautiful and secluded. Bill was an amazing host. From helping us take our camping supplies to the campsite with his tractor to recommending places to hike and fish, he really went the extra mile. Overall a wonderful experience.

Grant H.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· March 2024

Tent ·

We had a great time camping on Bill’s land. He was friendly and very knowledgeable. The land itself was scenic and beautiful. Would definitely stay again.

Ted H.

3 reviews

Recommends

· September 2023

Tent · Group trip ·

Site 5 Walnut Grove

It’s was extremely well kept and beautiful. Bill was also a very nice and helpful host!

Tommy Z.

2 reviews

Recommends

· September 2023

Tent ·

Really enjoyed camping here and was able to appreciate the surrounding area and woods on Bill's land! He is a great host and pleasant to talk to. There is a small pond which is a short walk through the entire camping area which is really peaceful and has plenty of space to sit back and relax! Party of 2 for tent camping and was given plenty of space in site 1. Sites 1 and 2 are able to park near and are still tucked back enough to have privacy. There is a little stream that runs through the property which is right next to site 1. Recommend camping here if you are in the area and want a quiet spot. Also easy to get to several of the parks in the area. Did not have cell service in this area so be prepared on directions prior to being in the area.

Derek H.

2 years on Hipcamp

Recommends

· August 2023

Father and son camping

Tent · With kids ·