$6 / night

Camper submitted image from Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area - 1

Camper submitted image from Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area - 2

Nature

Camper submitted image from Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area - 3

Roads

Camper submitted image from Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area - 4

Camping

Camper submitted image from Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area - 5

People

Established Camping

Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

21 Reviews

About

State Park

A primitive camping area at Jim Edgar Panther Creek has seven three-sided shelters to camp near or in for a fee of $6 per night. Hikers and mountain bike riders must travel approximately a quarter-mile from the nearest parking lot to access the shelters.

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Location

Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area is located in Illinois

Coordinates

39.981465 N
90.07038 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Walk-In
Park in a lot, walk to your site.

Stay Connected

WiFi
Unknown
Verizon
Unknown
AT&T
Unknown
T-Mobile
Unknown

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)
Group
Cabins
Equestrian

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Firewood Available
Phone Service
Reservable
Showers
Drinking Water
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

/ night

For information regarding reservations, contact this campground directly.

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General Info

Reservations

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Steve H.

Guide

Reviewed May. 2, 2024

Prairie Lake Campground @Jim Edgar Panther Creek

Pleasant campground with 2 loops. Clean bathrooms with showers. Choice of full hookup or just electric on outer perimeters of each loop. Small fishing lake. 2 campground host sites with wood and ice for sale.

Site19

Month of VisitMay

David F.

Guide

Reviewed Nov. 30, 2023

State Park away from busier Illinois

https://camp.exploremoreil.com/ 84 electric RV sites all reservable except 21 First Come sites. 18 sites are full hookup. Several 50 amp sites but majority are 30 amp. Modern Shower house and 7 Vault toilet buildings. Newer Campground so Shade Trees are smaller still. Have camped here 4 times past 3 years. Like the quite agricultural Illinois environment but suggest shopping for your needs prior to leaving larger cities as most of the few small towns are limited to a Bar and Dollar store.

Site17

Month of VisitNovember

Jennifer K.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 23, 2022

Great Friendly, Family Park

We certainly didn’t expect the Prairie Lake Campground to be full in late October! Both loops were full, but there was just enough space for us to squeeze in for 2 nights! (A few spaces seemed to be filled with deer hunters who were up and out quite early.) Site has electricity with water centrally located in the center of the loop. We needed a 100 ft fresh water hose to fill up. Luckily a friendly neighbor had one for us to borrow! Nice warm bath house had push button showers with locks on the stalls with a dry space to dress inside the stall. Lake has boat dock with about 6 slips. The point on the lake was a beautiful setting for a fall wedding on Saturday! Lots of families with kids riding bikes around the loop and some playing wiffle ball in the open field. Each spot had a picnic table and fire ring. Our spot, #78 sat under a tree with great shade. Bagged ice is available at 1st host site for $4 and a bundle of firewood for $6

Site78

Month of VisitNovember

(12) View All

Pam L.

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 2, 2021

peaceful camping in the middle of nowhere

we stayed for four days at the end of October. There was alot of rain and our site was pretty muddy. we made the best of it and always enjoy the local area and small towns. We have stayed here several times and will again.

Carter C.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 12, 2021

Nice and clean!

We stayed at a full hookup spot nice shade and well kept grass. Went kayaking which is nice and I’m sure canoeing would be to. Showers are kept and open and the stall locks.

Site29

Month of VisitOctober

Casey C.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 12, 2021

Great place for a local getaway

Great local place to camp. Beautiful lake with fishing and boat access. Cabins on the water. A lot of full hookup spots available with roughly 7 first come, first serve.

Site29

Month of VisitOctober

Hannah S.

Ranger

Reviewed Jun. 16, 2021

Spacious spots located near Springfield

Spacious spots some tree covered. Hiking, biking path, a pond, and quiet overall.

Month of VisitNovember

Ryan

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 6, 2021

Great campground

Lots to do at this campground. Hiking, biking, fishing.

Ray & Terri F.

Legend

Reviewed Mar. 25, 2021

Nice of the beaten path campground on a lake

The campground is nice and well maintained and sites are fairly well spaced with lots of grass and open areas. We were in site 26, one of the FHU sites, for 10 days. Most of the sites were deceptively unlevel though. Our front wheels were about 4” off of the ground on our 36’ Class A, even though the reservation system lists the grade as“None”. Our site also had a fairly large but shallow depression on the passenger side of the pad that filled with water and got muddy when it rained, which it did the entire week. The water did tend to drain quickly, but the mud persisted for a little while. AT&T coverage was“inconsistent”, generally with 1-2 Bars and speeds between 0.15 to 0.75 MB/s, but usually around or less than 0.4 MB/s. Although the campground is supposed to have WiFi for purchase through a 3rd party, I was unable to get a stable connection to it. There is no cable, but we did have DISH satellite coverage at our site, as would most of the sites, as there are only fairly small trees in the campground itself, and I didn’t test OTA DTV channels.

The sewer opening was quite a bit larger than any of our adapter rings, and although we had dumped our gray tank several times during our stay, on the last two days, the sewer drain did backup and spill out a little, so be aware and watch closely. It also happened to one of our neighbors as well the same day. The park staff, who were very friendly and helpful, are aware of the issue and are trying to look into it.

There are several trails around the campground area, but it was cold and rainy the entire week we were there, and so unfortunately didn’t get to hike any, but would have liked to. This park is really off of the beaten path, so be sure to stock up groceries, propane, etc. before arriving.

Site26

Month of VisitApril

(4) View All

Amanda C.

Guide

Reviewed Aug. 3, 2020

Lovely Primitive Campground

Stayed one night in July. We tent camped in site 1 of the primitive campground. There are 7 sites well spaced with a picnic table, fire ring, trash can and three sided shelter in each site. Pit toilets are in the middle. Each site is along the tree line with plenty of shade. These are walk in sites ranging from 0.10 miles to 0.50 miles from the parking lot. Just $6 a night. Hiking trails, kayaking and fishing are available but we didn’t get a chance to take advantage of those things. Very friendly and helpful campground host drove over from the RV campground to register us and even offered to take our stuff to our site. Great experience. Only 3 sites in use on a Friday night.

Kathy S.

Scout

Reviewed Nov. 25, 2019

We had the place to ourselves

It was March, it was cold at night, but this ADA cabin had heat & electric, 5 beds with mattresses, beds with mattresses (2 pr bunks beds in the second room). Cement sidewalks from parking area to toilets & cabins, each with a waterfront view, fire pit & picnic table. From our cabin we walked grassy paths to a lovely bridge. Around the pond's perimeter are dispersed sites for tent-camping or possibly day-use. It was a challenge to find the park entrance, at night, and the closest small town is about 10-miles away. The very reasonable cost was transacted online.

Rachel H.

Traveler

Reviewed Aug. 8, 2019

Secluded Gem

Nicely kept lake campground. Spots 56-60 overlook the boat docks. Bass fishing is good here. Showers are doable but don’t ever seem to be truly clean. Kayaking and canoeing is great here also. Cabins are small, rustic with no AC or water but are all nicely placed on the water. Campsites don’t have any shade. Drawbacks: dirty showers, no beach/swimming.

J K.

Legend

Reviewed Aug. 6, 2019

Very nice!

This is a really nice campground but the only downside is that it can be pretty windy. Nice sites with some that are right on the lake.

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Lucas T.

Guide

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2019

Windy

Under developed CG. Lots of hunting and fishing opportunities but grounds are years always from being fully grown. Always super windy too!

Audrey S.

Traveler

Reviewed Jul. 19, 2018

Clean good value

Nice clean facility. Nice cabins, but no AC

SiteCabin 5

Month of VisitJune

Chelle L.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 10, 2018

Private, shaded, with amenities even in primitive camping

I have camped in the primitive campground numerous times. It is shaded, private, has a shelter, picnic table, and fire pit that you can cook on. Watch out for the poison ivy and get a map from an employee to hike the trails. They can be hard to find but camping is fantastic!

Site2

Month of VisitJuly

Brandy C.

Scout

Reviewed Jun. 9, 2018

Safe environment

I went with a church group. This campground seemed well laid out and was affordable. It also felt like a safe environment for the family

Month of VisitJuly

Carla C.

Guide

Reviewed May. 17, 2018

Nice,campgrounds with big spaces

This campgrounds have big sited..

Month of VisitNovember

Lucas T.

Scout

Reviewed May. 17, 2018

maybe someday

This is a nice,well kept campground but being newer has small trees with little shade. Also has been very windy on the few occasions we have stayed with an open field at entrance. There is a nice lake wnd plenty of public ground to hike or for seasonal hunting.

Sheryl K.

Scout

Reviewed May. 5, 2018

This will be a nice campground

Some full hookup sites available. Nice campground and relatively inexpensive. Hasn't been around that long so few trees in the campground proper. We go there in the spring to de-winterize. With limited shade it would be hot as blazes in mid summer. Boat dock close by and lots of open areas for hunters. Overall pretty good.

Site20

Month of VisitMay

Sarra W.

Guide

Reviewed Oct. 1, 2016

Had a great time!

Family place, would go back!