- Starved Rock State Park
The best camping in Starved Rock State Park, IL
93% (28)
Gushing waterfalls, ice sculptures, white-tailed deer and soaring eagles offer year-round excitement
The best camping in Starved Rock State Park, IL
93% (28)
Discover the most magical spots to pitch your tent or park your rig on your next Starved Rock State Park adventure.
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Read millions of real reviews from campers like you—so you know what to expect.Stories from the community
Joe
1 week ago
Tent
With kids
Had another awesome trip here. I was allowed to hike to the creek and camp. It was so beautiful and peaceful.
The dog and horses are very friendly and cool. The hoasts are very nice.
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James
2 weeks ago
Tent
Fantastic piece of land and fantastic people! It was quiet and beautiful, perfect kind of spot for cozy and secluded camping. Heidi couldn’t have been more nice and helpful, it was really a phenomenal experience. Can’t say enough good things, definitely try this out!
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Leticia
3 weeks ago
31 ft Class C
Russell was very accommodating and had great communication with us the whole time. We had a great time staying at his property!
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Eric
3 weeks ago
Tent
Easy to get to, great spot, tons of room. It's a horse farm with lots of friendly animals running around. (But the camping area is down a small trail and secluded). Heidi brought us fresh eggs in the morning and the roosters made sure we didn't over sleep and waste our day. I'd def come back here. Thanks
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Emily
3 weeks ago
Weekend Trip to Yurt Glamping Tents + Farm Animals
What a lovely stay! We so enjoyed our break from city life. Loved our farm tour and spending time connected to nature. :)
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Victoria
November 2025
19 ft travel trailer
Sandra is a wonderful, welcoming person, property is beautiful,site is clean , quiet & safe. I love the fall colors on the trees & hiking trails. I would recommend.
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Tom
November 2025
Tent
This trip was much colder than our typical trips to Katie's land, but we still had such a nice time!
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Jennifer
November 2025
Tent
With pets
Suzanne, Jeremy and roommates were AMAZING! I love their property and the work they have put in to it to share with others. They spent so much time with me, teaching me! The horses , chickens (Beta ❤️), stocked pond and mowed paths. Beautiful!
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Evan
November 2025
Weekend Trip to Yurt Glamping Tents + Farm Animals
A wonderful place. Sam is a wonderful host and my wife and I loved seeing all the animals and the farm facilities!
See moreJoe
November 2025
Tent
Great, beautiful place will definitely be back. Lots of firewood around, quiet and friendly.
Has some cool horses.
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Cristian
October 2025
Tent
Easy check in and check out simple signs and location. Nice set up.
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Katie
October 2025
Tent
Nice property. Gorgeous sunset. Portapottie is on the other side of the property which I wish I knew beforehand as I may have camped elsewhere. It's a bit dark since it's in a barn and has no hand sanitizer so just make sure you've got a flashlight and hand sanitizer if needed. The instructions say if you have a car small enough with high clearance you can cross the bridge (mine was too big to drive across which is fine), but the owner said the bridge isnt built to be driven across. So for anyone thinking of driving to your campsite, just be aware of that! :)
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Santos
October 2025
Tent
I loved hearing the owls and seeing the horse in the morning. This was a lovely piece of land and I would definitely recommend camping here.
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HERNAN
October 2025
1 night at Yurt Glamping Tents + Farm Animals
Our camping trip was absolutely amazing! The Daisy Hill cabin was clean, cozy, and comfortable a perfect spot to unwind after exploring. Sam was super communicative and helpful, and everyone on the farm was so welcoming. James was incredibly kind and even helped us milk the goats and collect eggs from the chicken coop. Such a fun, hands-on experience! Sarah did a fantastic job sharing the history of the farm and letting us play with the goats.
We also loved supporting the nonprofit organization behind the farm. Their mission is truly inspiring and something we’re proud to be part of. The farm itself was beautiful, the market veggies were fresh and delicious, and having access to the learning center for Wi-Fi and clean restrooms was a huge plus.
Overall, a 10/10 experience. We can’t wait to come back with more family and friends!
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Shannon
October 2025
Tent
My friend and I had the best time here. Our campsite felt nice and private. We could spot a few other campers through the bare fall trees, but everyone was far enough away that it still felt peaceful.
The walk from the parking area to the campsites isn’t bad at all. When we arrived, they even helped us bring our supplies to the site on a tractor. The wagon by the porta-potty was very helpful when we were packing up, although I’m sure we could have asked for help from the tractor, too. In the morning, I walked out to my car and saw all the horses grazing in the sunlight. It was such a serene moment, I almost forgot where we slept!
We had big plans to go hiking in the nearby canyons, but honestly, we were having so much fun on the farm that we never left. The dogs, especially Tiller, were total sweethearts. Heidi was super friendly and gave us a tour of the barn and all the animals. She was so patient and kind, we had a lot of tour questions, especially about the barn cats!
We bought firewood and fresh eggs from Heidi, and they were delivered right to our site, making everything feel easy and relaxed. We felt safe and welcome the entire stay--Tiller even curled up at our campsite for a while, keeping us company like a little protector, so sweet. Heidi and her family are awesome hosts, and we’re already talking about when we can come back!
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Drew
October 2025
Tent
This is our 3rd time camping here. We love the land. And Heidi is an amazing host who always goes above and beyond
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Andy
October 2025
Tent
It was secluded, quiet and nice. Owner was kind and very responsive!
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Sky
October 2025
1 night at Yurt Glamping Tents + Farm Animals
Great stay awesome location. We have already booked our next trip!
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Autumn
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Yurt Glamping Tents + Farm Animals
The yurt (tent) was amazing. Batteries were provided for charging of phones + plugging in a fan. The bed was super comfortable and the layout of the tent made our rainy day a blast with enough room to still have fun. The firepit is a welcome addition to the site and the hammock is AMAZING. We spent as much time on the hammocks as possible. Overall, the trip was great and the farm tour and activities were a nice break from normal camping stuff.
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Mark
October 2025
Tent
I drove down a path, leading to the campsite. There are a lot of deep ruts along the way. Small, low profile vehicles might not make it! My SUV did. It is very secluded, in the woods, next to the Illinois River, only about 100 yards away. I had a great experience. And would do it again.
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Other options near Starved Rock State Park
The best camping in Starved Rock State Park, IL guide
Overview
About
Melting snow and spring rains create dazzling seasonal waterfalls in a dozen-plus canyons. Steep sandstone walls carved by ancient glacier meltdowns create striking topography that’s unusual for Illinois. Hiking trails provide easy access to the most-scenic St. Louis, Wildcat and French Canyons.
While the spring brings cascading water, winter creates its own beauty in this park. The water repeatedly freezes and melts, creating ever-changing ice sculptures. Cross-country skiing is permitted in winter, and ice climbing is allowed if conditions permit.
Staying in the park can be as rustic or glamorous as you like. The on-site lodge and conference center offers log cabins with original knotty pine paneling. Also available are updated hotel rooms, an indoor pool, and a sauna.
The sprawling campground has 133 premium sites with electricity. Campsites include grill pits, and open grassy areas are conducive to tents. If you’re not up for cooking, the lodge has a restaurant and lounge.
93%
28 ratings · 10 reviews
Mixed feelings
· November 2018
Crowded!
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Mike D.
7 years on Hipcamp
July 2018
Definitely come to Starved Rock for the hiking. Dog friendly trails as long as they’re on leash. We came off season, around October, so we didn’t get the big crowds or see any raccoons. Facilities were pretty clean too! Highly recommend camping off season!
Michael E.
8 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2018
Beautiful canyons
Bill M.
7 years on Hipcamp
Recommends
· January 2018
Prepare for a lot of people. Popular site but great for those looking to get away in the Midwest.
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Alena C.
7 years on Hipcamp
December 2016
Starved Rock is a lot of fun if you go in the off-season or early in the morning. I went in late October thinking no one would be out and found it was physically difficult to walk on the Starved Rock paths because there were so many people - you had to turn sideways! The campgrounds were even full and parking was overflow as people parked on the streets leading into the area. I suggest going in the morning in the winter as it's gorgeous. Wear yaktraks or similarly tractioned footing as the walkways can be very slippery. The waterfalls are beautiful when frozen!
Hatie P.
9 years on Hipcamp
November 2016
Should you hike at Starved Rock? Heck yeah, it's gorgeous. Should you try to find a place to camp there? Not if you want to sleep. I've tried camping at the campgrounds within the park twice now (probably closer to seven times if you count the times I looked and the sites were all booked.) I absolutely love this park, but the campgrounds flood, the raccoons have formed a food-jacking motorcycle gang, and the other campers don't understand "quiet time." Go for the waterfalls and the trails, but stay at one of the private campgrounds nearby.
Alexandra V.
9 years on Hipcamp
July 2016
Stayed here back in 2006. The campsites are typical for state parks, close.
I didn't keep which site we were at. Modern bathrooms & showers.
The hiking is fantastic! There's a beautiful visitor center also. We stayed 3 nights & explored the area.
Cynthia K.
9 years on Hipcamp
September 2015
There are three state parks right around here and this is a fun destination. The raccoons at this campground are very aggressive. As night falls, they come up from the canyons near the campground. Five of them trotted right past us.
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Heather S.
10 years on Hipcamp
August 2015
Love Starved Rock for hiking, but not camping. Hickory Hollow is 2 miles away and we always prefer to stay there. Family owned, nice grounds, and away from the crowds. Day hike at starved rock, but stay at any other camping resort outside of the park.
Elva D.
10 years on Hipcamp
July 2015
Starved Rock is a great place to hike but the campground is nearly always crowded and loud... not to mention expensive. Great place for a family get-together, since the bathrooms/showers are relatively decent, but look elsewhere for peaceful camping.
Jason B.
10 years on Hipcamp