Best Camping near Smithton, IL

Searching for the best camping near Smithton, IL? There's so much to see and do, from exhilarating hikes or bike rides to exploring the local dining and shopping. Find the best campgrounds near Smithton, IL. Read helpful reviews and tips to find the perfect camping option for you and your crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Smithton, IL (65)

Showing results 1-10 of 65 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Smithton

Recent Reviews In Smithton

496 Reviews of 65 Smithton Campgrounds


  • Camper-submitted photo from St. Francois State Park Campground
    September 9, 2024

    St. Francois State Park Campground

    Peaceful

    I stayed from 9/4/24-9/8/24. I stayed in the primitive campground. It was very quiet and peaceful. My site was close to the camp host and the shower house. Shower house was nice with 4 separate showers with locking doors. Water pressure was great and they were clean. There is a handicap shower unit as well that had a bench and hooks and a shelf to keep your things dry. The bathrooms were separate from the showers with 4 locking stalls. These too were kept clean and toilet paper was always full. Four sinks and mirrors and one outlet close to the sinks for hairdryer etc. The grounds were clean and grass was nicely cut. My campsite had a picnic table a campfire with grill grate and a light post to hang a lantern. The camp host were very friendly and drove around often on golf carts to make sure ppl were ok or needed anything. There was a place to fill your bottled water containers. The checkin office sold ice, campfire wood and a variety of ice creams, stickers and t shirts and sweatshirts. The park has trailheads to hike and an equestrian area. River access for swimming and fishing. There is a separate area with electrical sites and also handicap sites in the electrical and primitive campgrounds. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and will be returning often.

  • Camper-submitted photo from St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA
    September 8, 2024

    St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA

    Do not stay here

    The management and owner of this place do not care about their business or their customers. We had a terrible accident at this campground over the summer where a tree crushed and totaled our camper van, thankfully none of our family was harmed. KOA immediately wiped their hands of this telling us they have nothing to do with it and we needed to deal with our insurance. They did not even feel the need to refund our stay. I would NEVER stay here again and suggest if you do, hopefully you have really good insurance.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Cahokia RV Parque
    August 26, 2024

    Cahokia RV Parque

    Great Stop Over Location

    The location is just 15 minutes from downtown St Louis. Service was great and site came w power and water and sewer hookup. Showers were ok and they were clean. Pull through site was a life saver.

    Great BBQ place on site and camp guests get a discount!

  • Camper-submitted photo from St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park
    August 8, 2024

    St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park

    Best campsite we've found to explore STL

    Well maintained and well managed park. Staff on duty at all hours is awesome! We called ahead but didn't need a reservation. It is a city park and had that feel... not many trees for shade but the lake was pretty and the playground was good for the kiddos. Five minutes from food and stores. 30 minutes from downtown Saint Louis. I'll

  • Camper-submitted photo from Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park
    July 26, 2024

    Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park

    Can’t beat the convenience just wish it were a tad less sketch

    I’m just happy there are a lot of people here. Half the place is full but there’s just an underlying sketchy vibe. Gateway arch is a 20min walk and baseball stadium just 15min beyond that. Hard to beat that convenience. Just want to feel a tad safer.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground
    June 30, 2024

    Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

    Great Community camp not too far off the highway

    My sister and I stopped here on our way to wisconsin, We were surprised how lovely it was! Birds everywhere and the lake was so huge. The camp sites were big and many of them, the bathrooms were always clean and had AC!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park
    June 27, 2024

    Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park

    Great short term camping

    Nice spots and facility. Great place to just drop in for a short 1 night stay. Well maintained facility. No staff on site, book via camplife and they send you a gate code

  • Camper-submitted photo from Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground
    June 21, 2024

    Boulder Rec. Area - COE Campground

    A beautiful little spot !

    First off, a bang for you buck compared to some surrounding camp sites. They have PLENTY of sites, most with some view of the water. They have a boat launch, bathrooms, and showers. We stayed here 3 nights. The shores are quite rocky so it can be difficult to access the water just to swim. Overall, it was great. My only complaint is there is only one trash located in the beginning on the park & it was full, full, full!!!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park
    June 19, 2024

    Draft Kings at Casino Queen RV Park

    Great location!

    Even though this RV park is in a city, we felt safe. And it's view of the Gateway Arch can't be beat. Easy check in, but the camp host said the shaded spots were too narrow, they were not. Stayed three nights and saw all the sites: The Gateway Arch, Union Station, aquarium, botanical gardens, Anheiser Busch brewery tour, Guido's restaurant. Asphalt level pads with FHU, both 30 & 50 amp service. We have had a fun time here even doing laundry.

  • Camper-submitted photo from St. Francois State Park Campground
    June 16, 2024

    St. Francois State Park Campground

    RV campsites

    Awesome place to camp. Bummed the sites didn’t have their own water hookups. Staff is super kind. Quiet time is at 10pm and fellow campers are certain to enforce that rule but that’s unfortunate for those of us who still want to listen to music and sit by the fire. Overall great camping spot!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area
    May 30, 2024

    Illini Campground — Eldon Hazlet State Recreation Area

    Wonderful surprise

    Arrived just after a terrible storm so parts of the park were closed for clean up. The parts that were open were all cleaned up, spacious sites, easy access, with fantastic hosts. An absolutely beautiful evening in gorgeous surroundings…we’ll be back and so glad we stumbled upon this place. Didn’t use the showers so can’t report on the facilities….

  • Camper-submitted photo from St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park
    April 19, 2024

    St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park

    Good now, and will be really nice when the trees get bigger

    Stayed here most of the several weeks we needed to be in St. Louis for family matters. Definitely our favorite place in the area. The grounds are clean and pleasant, if a bit sparse with little shade. This will change over the subsequent years, however, as there are many relatively newly planted trees. The nicest spots are the ones by the lake, with only one neighbor and a better view of the lake. The staff are kind and helpful. Water and electric worked fine. Each site has a fire pit and picnic table. Trash and recycling receptacles are huge and convenient. My only complaint is the poorly thought out sink situation in the bathrooms which make it impossible to wash in a sanitary way as you must hold the tap to keep the water flowing and there are no paper towels to that with, only hand dryers. There is boating and archery on site, a dog run, and a small playground.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Cahokia RV Parque
    April 9, 2024

    Cahokia RV Parque

    Clean bathrooms, but noisy night

    Checking in was easy enough and we got a spot near the bathrooms. We came in late and the check in board was easy.

    Lots of people who smoke. But the bathrooms are smoke free and we're clean.

    Nights are noisy!!! About 3am sounded like a dump truck was driving through camp and lifting several dumpsters and backing up and doing it again. It wasn't really but it was that noisy.

    Lots of longer term tenants. But everyone we bumped into were kind or just kept to themselves.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Sharp Rock Falls Recreation
    April 4, 2024

    Sharp Rock Falls Recreation

    Longbranch Shooting House And Saloon

    You're welcome to at longbranch! Please make your reservations.
    Only 16 spots left!

    Ava Illinois +1 618-318-6734 Text your name and number of people on your campsite to reserve your spot.

    The Solar Eclipse Event "PARK @ THE MOON"

    Extended or early arrivals welcome. Just simply request more information in the text. We will get ahold of asap with a more information and a confirmation number.

    #ShareThisPost #solareclipse2024

  • Camper-submitted photo from Hawn State Park Campground
    March 24, 2024

    Hawn State Park Campground

    Nice campground in the woods.

    We camped at site 39 over the weekend. The park was very clean and family friendly. There are several hiking trails and an overlook. The restrooms and showers are still closed for the season, but there are primitive vault toilets. The sites are very close together, so there is not much privacy. Also, some have electricity and some not. The firewood was wet und would not burn. The landscape around the park was very nice. We camped here to visit the Gateway National Park and Mastodon Natural Site.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Washington State Park Campground
    March 13, 2024

    Washington State Park Campground

    December Camp

    Loved the campground! However, lesson learned to reserve a campsite further from the road. Great hiking trails. Fishing not so much. Scenic views. Easy plug n play electric on a 30 amp box, no issues with blowing fuses like I have at other big state parks. Clean vault toilets (I didn't like how people would drive into the park from the highway just to use the bathroom).. overall good stay though. I'll definitely go back!

  • Camper-submitted photo from Pyramid State Recreation Area
    February 4, 2024

    Pyramid State Recreation Area

    Nice campsites and lots of lakes

    We stayed at the campground on the north end of Pyramid. The campsites were close together but we visited in February so we were the only campers. The fire pits were a little run down but the sites were nice and level with a table. No lantern posts. Pit toilets that were decent. The park office is a pretty long drive from the north end campground. The hiking is limited but the campground was peaceful and close to the lakes. Probably covered in bugs in the summer. Overall pretty nice stay

  • Camper-submitted photo from St. Charles County Klondike Park
    January 10, 2024

    St. Charles County Klondike Park

    Fantastic Camping Just Off The Katy Trail

    I have bike-packed along the Katy and this is an excellent spot for an overnight(s) stay. It is a tough, but short, climb from the trail. You may have to walk up the hill - challenge made :-) . This is a St. Charles County Park and it is well maintained. They also have small cabins though pretty basic. Make sure to store your food securely overnight - the racoons are pretty thick and hungry at night. I have also done short bike-packing trips from Chesterfield and St. Charles for an overnight(s) stay. If you need it, grab food in Augusta or Defiance before arriving. There are no services in the park.

  • Camper-submitted photo from Beyond the Trail RV Park
    October 10, 2023

    Beyond the Trail RV Park

    Convenient Location

    The location of the campground is ideal being located adjacent to the Katy bike trail and within walking distance from restaurants, a brewery and wineries.  The sites are mostly open, small and tight for larger RVs. The roads are all gravel as are the sites and there is limited grassy areas. The site services, electric, water and sewer, are located to the front of the site and extensions were needed for both the electric and sewer. The park has no onsite laundry and there are none in town. If it wasn't for the location I would probably give the park 2 stars.



Guide to Smithton

Camping near Smithton, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From scenic parks to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the beautiful trails at Hawn State Park Campground. One visitor mentioned, "The park was very clean and family-friendly. There are several hiking trails and an overlook."
  • Fishing: Enjoy fishing at St. Francois State Park Campground. A camper shared, "Close access to river for fishing and kayaking."
  • Cave Tours: Visit the famous Meramec Caverns. A reviewer noted, "We walked the Walking Fern trail, just half a mile but offered varied terrain and its own cave."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness at places like Washington State Park Campground. One visitor said, "Very clean campsites with lots of shade for tent campers & nice level lots."
  • Friendly Staff: Many campers enjoy the helpful staff at Meramec Caverns. A reviewer mentioned, "The staff was very friendly and helpful. Check-in was very easy."
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Campers often mention the peaceful environment at Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park Campground. One camper noted, "When I was there it wasn't crowded, and so it was quiet."

What you should know:

  • Site Proximity: Some campgrounds, like Hawn State Park Campground, have sites that are close together. A visitor warned, "The sites are in close proximity to one another so it gets crowded during holiday weekends."
  • Limited Amenities: At St. Louis West / Historic Route 66 KOA, amenities like drinking water and toilets are not available. A camper mentioned, "Other than the entire campground losing power... it was a good stay."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Campers should be prepared for wildlife at places like Meramec State Park Campground. One family reported, "Our site had skunks and raccoons each night."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Parks: Look for campgrounds like Hawn State Park Campground that offer hiking and nature trails. A parent shared, "Took the youngest kids for their first camping trip, and it could not have been better."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to plan activities like fishing or hiking. One camper at St. Francois State Park Campground said, "There were two great trails in the park and there was staff on site doing educational programs that my kids really loved."
  • Pack Snacks: Always have snacks on hand for the kids. A camper at Washington State Park Campground mentioned, "The whole family enjoyed staying here."

Tips from RVers:

Camping near Smithton, Illinois, has its perks and quirks. With the right preparation, you can enjoy a memorable outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Which is the most popular campground near Smithton, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Smithton, IL is Cahokia RV Parque with a 4-star rating from 14 reviews.

  • What parks are near Smithton, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 9 parks near Smithton, IL that allow camping, notably Carlyle Lake and Wappapello Lake.