While you might scratch your head when reading the headline for this particular roadside primitive campground, once you have been here or if you know the area, you will agree that this is the most perfect descriptor of the place. Located in north central Illinois, and just a five minute drive south of Interstate 80, you’ll come across Clark’s Run Camping on Route 178 just as you are heading into down into Utica, and I specifically make mention of ‘down’ as the majority of Illinois is quite flat, but in these parts, where the ice glaciers carved out the basin that created the Illinois River, you will indeed note that you will hit a decent downgrade shortly after passing the intersection where Route 6 meets 178.
The first thing I would tell you about Clark’s Run Camping is that this likely is not going to be at the top of your list in terms of campgrounds to choose from in the area. So let me apologize in advance if I somehow have lowered your expectations - but given this dilapidated outpost, it's the right thing to do. There’s tons of options available with a 10 mile or say radius, but that said, this is one of the few ‘off-the-radar’ choices you might want to consider when visiting the Illinois River Valley area, particularly during the major summer holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day), where if you haven’t booked up something WELL IN ADVANCE of arriving here, then Clark’s Run Camping likely will have some vacancy ... and well, that might be my best advice - during peak times here in the Illinois Valley where there might be any 'room at the Inn,' Clarks Run might just be a good spot to consider, if you don't have any other viable options.
As for the campground, there’s some pros and cons to being here. As for the pros, you are in spitting distance of downtown Utica, which is a very quaint little historic village that has a main street (and not much else) packed with a handful of really great restaurants and bars (more on that later) as well as very well meaning and hospitable locals. Second, if you don’t like the idea of planting your tent next to an RV parking lot and relish the idea of a nice, albeit homey, primitive campground environ, than you might actually really enjoy Clark’s. There’s only about 8 sites here and you can either enter straight from Route 6 (just be on the lookout for the roadway sign that will point you in the right direction, and no, it’s not the cemetery, that’s just to the right of the campground) or turn into the off-road right as you come across Red’s City Limits, which is an old-schooled tavern that offers up an outdoor, backyard beer garden, pool tables, darts, which serves up pizza, (domestic only) beer, wine and spirits. The only other upside to this place is that it runs along a small creek, and feels quite intimate as there’s only a small handful of spots to choose from offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Downsides? Oh yeah, there's a number of 'em. To begin with, this spot feels more like someone’s backyard than it does an actual campground. It’s also very overgrown and in desperate need of some TLC whether it’s the grass that needs to be mowed or the shrubbery itself that needs to be cut back. Additionally, what little this place has in the way of amenities – fire ring, and, um, that’s it, not even a picnic table – is completely outdated and falling apart. The only other downside is the road that brought you here – as the campsites are located right next to it, you will hear the swooshing of traffic all night long (and well into the day), but there is no stop or any other reason that cars would be honking their horns, so it’s just passerby traffic that you will have to contend with. But overall, for $25 a night, especially during peak season, if you come packing everything you need and have ZERO expectations, then you’re actually sitting pretty.
Insider’s tips? I’m from this area, so let me give you a handful: (1) You’re right near Starved Rock and Matthiessen SPs, so if you didn’t come here for either of these wonderful outdoor natural incarnations, then you should absolutely make it part of your visit; (2) If you come bearing watercraft and are looking to access the Illinois State River, than you are absolutely in the right place and there are no shortage of great access points, although I would strongly recommend the lower dells of the Starved Rock SP; (3) When you grow weary of opening up your Cordova cooler and want to have someone else prepare a meal for you, either head back to the intersection of Route 6 & 178 where there’s Cajun Connection and you’ll want to make sure you order either the Jamabala or the fried gator tail (don’t ask, just order and thank me later) or head on into Utica, where there’s a few great spots I would recommend, including Joy & Ed’s Grill for breakfast griddle and eggs or Lodi Tap Room, which took over for the very long-term, most amazing bar of all time in the Illinois Valley for Banger Shrimp, Chicken-N-Chips or a good ‘ol Rueben; (4) Looking for a place to ‘whet your whistle’? Then head on over to Red’s City Limits, which you can literally walk to (and stumble back from) the comforts of your tent OR head into Utica and check out Obscurity Brewing Bier Garten for some unusual draft brews or August Hill Winery for some fairly mediocre wine from Illinois; and (5) Finish off your entire camping experience by visiting Two Girls and a Cupcake for some sweet, albeit overpriced, desserts and treats.
Happy Camping!
