A small lake sits at the center of Camp Lakewood, and many of the gravel sites look directly out over the water. The campground occupies a mix of forested and open terrain near Effingham, Illinois, with some sites shaded through the morning and others more exposed. The roads winding through the property are tight in places, and several reviewers note that navigating to a site can require real maneuvering, particularly for larger rigs. Staff will guide arrivals to their spots, which helps given the limited signage.
Sites vary considerably in character. Site 19 has a deck and waterfront views, while site 2 is a pull-through with full hookups and shade until mid-afternoon. Not every site gives direct lake access for fishing, so anglers should request a waterfront location when reserving. Bass fishing draws some visitors, and as Riley J. notes, "the bass are biting." A dock serves as the swimming area. Sites are close together, and the campground fills up on holiday weekends, so advance reservations are worth making.
The on-site amenities are a practical draw for overnight travelers. A bar and store provide food, drinks, and basic supplies without requiring a trip out. Pizza from the in-house kitchen has drawn consistently positive mentions. Laundry facilities and showers are available and, by multiple accounts, kept clean. The campground also has full hookups, a dump station, and WiFi. One recurring note: a sewage smell and highway noise have been flagged by some guests, which is worth factoring in for light sleepers or longer stays. Rick suggests the grounds are especially worthwhile "in summer and fall when leaves are on trees."
Camp Lakewood tends to work best as a stopover or short stay for travelers moving through central Illinois. Nearby services including Walmart Effingham Supercenter and Cracker Barrel Effingham are within easy reach for resupply. Campers planning a longer stretch in the region can browse campgrounds around Effingham for additional options. If the lake-view sites are available, they are worth the extra step of requesting one when booking.
Description
We are your premier Effingham, Illinois Campground family owned and operated by Kiefer Campgrounds. We are an RV Park and Campground ideally located on the north shores of Lake Pauline in scenic South Central Illinois. If you are searching for a quiet and peaceful setting within 1 mile of I-70 and I-57, call or book online today!
Camp Lakewood Campground is open year round
**Hours of Operation: **
All Kiefer Campgrounds are open 24 hours a day. Our registration office and store hours vary depending on season. Site deliveries will be made only during open office/store hours. Night check-in is available anytime the office is closed and you can reserve online 24 hours a day.
Campground Policies:
- Parents and visitors are responsible for the conduct of their children while on the premises. Children must be at their campsite during quiet hours which are 10pm to 7am. An adult must accompany small children when using the restrooms or while in the game room.
- Use existing campfire rings only. Do not move fire rings. Do not burn or put trash in fire rings. No outside wood is allowed inside the campground.
- There are no tents allowed on RV sites.
- There is only one tent allowed per tent site.
- Please place all garbage in the trash dumpster located across the parking lot from the office.
- No dirt bikes, ATV’s, or mini-bikes ridden in the campground.
- RV/vehicle washing is not permitted in the campground.
- Our campground is not responsible for accidents resulting in injury to guests and/or damages to their property, or for the loss of valuables of any kind.
- Do not run generators in the park.
- Internet access is provided as a free service to our guests; however, we are not responsible for any damages to files, hardware, or any other problems that may occur as a result of your usage. Outages can and do occur. In the event of an outage, every attempt will be made to restore internet service as quickly as possible.
- Do not damage trees in any way.
- No lines stretched between trees or across camp sites.
- Anyone not abiding by the campground rules will be asked to leave with no refund.
- The office reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.
- All campsites will be paid for in advance at the time of registration.
Pool Policy:
The pool is open Memorial Day through Labor Day from 9:00 a.m. to dusk. There is no lifeguard on duty. State law requires that anyone (15) fifteen years old or younger be accompanied by a guardian of (21) twenty-one years of age or older while in and/or around a pool area. Therefore, we will ask any children swimming without an appropriate guardian to leave the pool and pool area. We put your child’s safety above all else, and we hope you agree with us. We also must stipulate the following while in the pool area: NO smoking, NO pets, NO food nor drinks, and NO diving and/or running for safety purposes.
Golf Cart Policy:
We now allow privately owned golf carts on our properties! All drivers must be 18 years or older with a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance. All drivers must sign a liability waiver before using their cart on property. The owner of the cart is financially responsible for any damage caused by their cart to the campground property or any other camper’s property on the grounds.
Pet Policy:
We love pets! We welcome all non-aggressive pets that visit us on a leash with their owner attached. Please remember that others walk where you and your pet walk, so please pick up what they leave behind. If we all do our part, no one will be stepping into anything unpleasant. Please keep your pets feeling safe at all times. Pets often do not like being left alone in a strange place or around strange humans and may need your assistance and reassurance.
Check In/Check Out Policy:
All campsites will be paid for in advance (at check-in). Check-in time begins at 1:00 p.m. Check-out time is 12:00 p.m. for campsites and 11:00 a.m. for cottages and cabins. If you need a late check-out, please make arrangements with the office.
**Campsite Policy: **
We allow only one (1) camping unit and six people per site. Additional charges will occur for more than two adults per site. Only one passenger vehicle allowed per site. All others are asked to park in the visitors parking. If you have concerns with this guideline, please contact the office.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsCamp Lakewood is located in Illinois near Effingham
Address
1217 West Rickelman Avenue
IL
Coordinates
39.14685 N
88.56556999999998 W
Connectivity
T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/3/26- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 7/3/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/3/26
Connectivity
- T-Mobile5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 3 usersLast on 7/3/26
- Verizon5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 6 usersLast on 7/3/26
- AT&T5GExcellent CoverageVerified by 2 usersLast on 7/3/26
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Cabins
Features
For Campers
- Trash
- Picnic Table
- Firewood Available
- Reservable
- WiFi
- Showers
- Drinking Water
- Electric Hookups
- Toilets
- Alcohol
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Sanitary Dump
- Sewer Hookups
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- 30 Amp Hookups
- 50 Amp Hookups
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 59 min from Champaign, IL
- 1 hr 5 min from Terre Haute, IN
- 1 hr 9 min from Decatur, IL
- 1 hr 35 min from Springfield, IL
