- Hidden Springs State Forest
The best RV parks in Hidden Springs State Forest, IL
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Read millions of real reviews from campers like you—so you know what to expect.Top-rated campgrounds near Hidden Springs State Forest
Camp Lakewood Campground
Camp Lakewood Campground
94%
(18)
13mi from Hidden Springs State Forest · 58 sites
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.
Pets
Full hookups
from
$51
/ night
Serenity Fields Farm
Serenity Fields Farm
95%
(165)
31mi from Hidden Springs State Forest · 4 sites · Tents, RVs
We are originally from Northern California. We are enjoying our expansive farm with all it's fresh air, fresh food, plants, animals, and fun events. We enjoy time relaxing in hammocks and letting the world pass us by. Bring your family out to enjoy all the farm has to offer, or take advantage of the serenity and privacy!
We are open to family reunions & parties, large gatherings of friends etc! We are happy to have a group that can party and consume adult beverages without driving or worrying about making noise. Sites 2 & 3 can accommodate big groups and vehicles. If you want the farm to yourself, book all three sites! Message me to discuss possibilities.
Learn more about this land:
Pitch your tent near the creek (site 1) in a completely private site (kids can sleep in the truck bed topper or fort if they'd like) or on the field to the side of the house (site 2) for a semi-private spot nearest to the bathroom and with a wood chip drive entrance for larger vehicles or (site 3) a semi- private spot down by the creek and the hay bales to the left of the house. (Or pick a spot of your choosing). Enjoy the farm animals, walk the property, build a fire, and enjoy the outdoors!
There are more animals to pet from April through October (typically we have bunnies, chickens, sheep, cats, dogs, alpacas, miniature horses, horses, pig, goat, etc.). In the winter the horses, alpacas, chickens, dogs, cats and sometimes bunnies are available to visit.
Firewood bundles available for $10
The creek at times is swimmable, other times it's walkable, and sometimes in the heat of July it's very shallow. There is a zip line, log or bridge to cross the creek.
There is a state park (Ft. Daniel) less than 5 minutes away and others a bit further (Spitler or Sand Creek)
Horseback riding may be available upon request - $25.00 per person or $50.00 per family.
There is a large shaded playground in the front yard for the kids with a trampoline, small zip line, ninja line, slack line, silks, climbing dome, hammocks, etc.
BATHROOM: If you are looking at the house from the street, the bathroom is on the right of the house, attached to the house. It is a small shed looking building and is pictured. It has a toilet and running hot and cold water.
Pets
from
$24
/ night
Bird Watch at Pine Lake
Bird Watch at Pine Lake
95%
(11)
33mi from Hidden Springs State Forest · 6 sites · Tents, RVs
Our property has a robust migratory bird population. We see Blue Heron, geese, ducks, song birds, birds of prey, including the occasional Bald Eagle visit our property.
We have a small wetland area and pond, which attract a lot of wildlife, such as muskrat, deer, fox, frogs, turtles, and other small woodland animals.
We have wooded areas as well as meadows, which are perfect for tent camping, and are a short walk from the parking area.
Our property makes a great base camp for exploring local areas of interest.
Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site is just a few miles south of Charleston.
Lake Charleston is just a few miles away, and boasts several nesting pairs of Bald Eagles. There are also fishing, hiking and bike trails around Lake Charleston.
We are very close to Illinois' largest Amish Community in the Arcola/Arthur area, with many Amish shops, bakeries, quilt shops, and more.
Aikman's Wildlife Adventures is in nearby Chesterville.
There is a very nice bike path just to the west of our property. This bike path takes you through Charleston, past the Coles County Fairgrounds, and into Mattoon.
Pets
from
$25
/ night
The Quiet Countryside
The Quiet Countryside
99%
(79)
34mi from Hidden Springs State Forest · 1 site · Tent, RV
Easy access for campers located by a pond. Great for fishing and relaxing! 30 AMP electric hookup, can accommodate water fill up and sewer dump. There is a covered pavilion with picnic table and chairs. There is a grill and a fire pit. If you’re looking for a quiet getaway you will love it here! Located close to the interstate. Plenty of restaurants near by and Vandalia lake is 8 minutes from campsite.
Electrical hookup
Water hookup
Pets
from
$30
/ night
Bella Vita Private Resort
Bella Vita Private Resort
93%
(40)
34mi from Hidden Springs State Forest · 53 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
Welcome to Bella Vita Resort and Glamping where we're dedicated to reviving the timeless joy of family bonding and outdoor adventure. In a world where life moves quickly, we invite you to slow down and savor every moment with your loved ones.
Our mission is simple: to provide a wide array of group activities that cater to all ages, ensuring that everyone can join in the fun and create lasting memories. Whether you're a seasoned camper or new to the outdoor experience, there's something for everyone to enjoy at Bella Vita.
For those traveling with RVs, we offer spacious sites with 30/50-amp with partial and full hookups, providing the perfect blend of comfort and convenience. If you prefer luxury tent camping, you will love our glamping tents. Our regular tent sites come equipped with 110 amp electric, allowing you to enjoy a cozy retreat under the stars while still having access to modern amenities.
For true nature enthusiasts, we also offer primitive sites situated along the serene lake or river, where you can immerse yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors. Whether you're fishing, hiking, or simply taking in the picturesque views, our primitive sites offer a truly immersive camping experience.
At Bella Vita Resort, we believe that life is meant to be lived to the fullest. Join us in embracing the simple pleasures of outdoor adventure and family bonding, and rediscovering the joy of living your best life.
Pets
Full hookups
from
$30
/ night
Bear Creek Farm and Ranch
Bear Creek Farm and Ranch
100%
(844)
40mi from Hidden Springs State Forest · 5 sites · Tents, RVs, Lodging
We purchased our 45 acre farm in 1997, since then we have operated a sustainable small organic farm.
In January of 2018 we purchased 58 more acres that is attached to our land.
The property has a greenhouse, high tunnel and about a half acre of field that we raise vegetables and fruit on.
We have a 3 acre pond with a naturally sustaining fish population, that we swim and boat in. There are hiking trails that go through many small pastures and woods with streams running through them.
Plenty of wildlife, hiking and mountain biking areas. We have a certified kitchen at the farm and have products raised and/or made on the farm for folks to purchase.
Supposedly our house is haunted and there are a couple of haunted sites within 15 miles of the farm.
Nearby Taylorville has a Walmart, Aldi, Kroger, and many small local businesses. There is a YMCA and a few parks.
Lake Sangchris State Park is close by. The capital of Illinois, Springfield is 35 miles from the farm.
Pets
from
$35
/ night
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
Brie
December 2025
16 ft car
It was a safe place to stay, and the bathrooms had a heater in them which was nice given how cold it was. There was no hand soap or toilet paper, so prepare accordingly. The website and listing doesn’t make it exactly clear but this is largely an open concept RV park, limited wildlife, with several long term residents. It is right next door to a pipeline plant that has very bright lights on all night long. It isn’t the most peaceful location because of that, and isn’t where I’d recommend going to for a getaway retreat. But it is safe and has some nice amenities. Worked out good for a place to sleep on a long roadtrip. Also just as an fyi for the potable water, there is a hookup setup for water if you have an RV. If you do not have an RV though, you will need to use the bathroom sink. We boiled it and it was fine.
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David
November 2025
23 ft travel trailer
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!
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K
Karina
October 2025
Tent
Group trip
This is our second time visiting Bear Creek Farm and it was once again Amazing! Camp sites are clean and spacious along with fantastic service from Debbie and the fam. Wood was provided for us at our camp site and although it did rain during our stay, we still had an awesome time here. Though we couldn't keep our fire going due to the rain we were greeted with a delicious breakfast that Matt prepared for us. I am so happy to have found Bear Creek Farm and ranch and will definitely be coming back.
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H
Heather
September 2025
Tent
With kids
What a great place for families! We stayed at the creek-side camp and loved the privacy. It was perfect with our 5 and 7 year old as they were able to head to the playground alone with walkie talkies. For younger kids, the site closer to the playground may be a better fit. Julie was kind and helpful with every question we had! The property is also close to town, should you need anything at all - like we did!
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A
Abby
September 2025
Tent
We had a lovely night at Bear Creek Farm and Ranch. Site 2 was peaceful, well-maintained, and felt private. We would definitely stay here again
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Christian
September 2025
Tent
For central Illinois this place was amazing! The site itself was unique and secluded with a cool zip line within it. All the animals on the farm were fun to check out and interact with. Most of all Julie and her family were wonderful and thoughtful people to interact with.
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j
jessica
September 2025
20 ft travel trailer
We loved this place! The scenery is beautiful and super relaxing after a long day of driving.
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P
Patsy
September 2025
Tent
With kids
Literally had such a great time tent camping on Julie's Farm! From the spaced out nature of every site, the zip lines all over, and the activities for the children to do! To the responsiveness of Julie and her family 💖 We had our space but we also could nearly always find someone to ask questions or just chat 💖
The herbs and vegetables and flowers and variety of animals 💖
Julie also allowed us to have an impromptu birthday party for my daughter and she enjoyed the farm so much, she cried as we were leaving. Best private camping we've found so far! 👏👏 thanks again Julie and Serenity Farms
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Waylon
September 2025
32 ft Class A
With pets
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!
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Cecile
August 2025
13 ft pop-up camper
Great place to relax and recharge on our road trip. Very nice welcoming and charming property.
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Jane
August 2025
15 ft pop-up camper
With pets
The site is pretty much what we expected as based on images from the website, but it was also much more. We had an unfortunate event or three prior to arriving, let the host know our pop up was not working properly but we had a tent. She was welcoming and friendly.
it is difficult to put into words the calm I felt sitting on the patio feeling the cool breeze off the pond and listening to the music of splashing water.
Another "wow" moment was the fact that the host had a family party on the private area across the pond and we really didn't hear much at all.
The bathroom/shower was clean and the water was hot.
the sites are new gravel, so keep toes and soles in mind. the play area and firepit seemed inviting. This place is highly recommended.
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Renée
August 2025
Tent
With pets
Brady’s place was just right for a one-night stopover on my cross-country trip! There is soft grass for pitching a tent, and a graveled area if you have a trailer. Brady provides a small picnic table, a cooking table, and several chairs, all under a spacious canopy for protection from rain (or hot sun!). There are also lights, an electric outlet, and a hose for fresh water. The outdoor shower is wonderful! There’s also a comfy swinging bench for watching the sun set over the small pond.
My only caveat is that the area is pretty close to the road, with no barrier. There wasn’t a lot of traffic and little to none at night (so noise wasn’t an issue), but you do have to keep an eye on kids or your dog so they don’t run into the road.
See moreK
Karen
August 2025
16 ft travel trailer
With pets
After spending many nights at crowded state parks, it was delightful to relax in peace and quiet. The most noise we heard, was the bull frogs!
We were greeted by Matt. He is a kind and gentle soul and truly cared about his home and our comfort.
If you get a chance to travel to Palmer, Illinois, do yourself a favor and check out this great property. We are glad we did!
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Jeff
August 2025
Tent
With kids
Julie and her family were very welcoming! Our family, including our 8 year old son, loved our stay at the farm. From a zip line at our site, to kittens to play with and even a horse ride, we had a great day and night. Highly recommended!
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Madeline
August 2025
22 ft Class B
With pets
We absolutely loved this spot and wish we could’ve stayed longer to enjoy this calm, quaint HipCamp! The hot shower was a huge bonus!
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Amy Jo
August 2025
31 ft travel trailer
Beautiful spot, thoughtful owner. Really the best spot we’ve ever been. Caught lots of bass, there’s a little place down the road that serves chicken wings and drinks!
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Amanda
August 2025
34 ft fifth wheel
Place was amazing. It was easy to find and pull into. Crystal was very attentive to made sure we had contact if we needed anything right away. It was very pretty and peaceful. Bonus, all the other campers staying there were super friendly! Would definitely go back if in the area again.
See moreJ
Jim
August 2025
Tent
With kids
My kids absolutely love Bear creek! Got tons of bass on top water frogs! Very exciting for me and both my kids! 8 and 10! Great place to hike around as well!
See moreK
Karen
August 2025
16 ft Class B
This was a great spot to stay for the night. Peaceful setting and easy access from I-70 while traveling cross country. Brady greeted us and ensured we had everything we needed for a peaceful night.
See moreJ
John
August 2025
Tent
This is a great place to stay! Quite and well kept.
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