Campground

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4.0

out of 5

27 Reviews

Reviewed May. 15, 2025

A real gem

There has been some confusion on the app—for clarity—this campground is not free, but don’t let that stop you! We paid only $20 for our one night stay. Big, beautiful and well maintained. We had electricity, free showers, topped off our water tank. It’s a great deal. Gorgeous trees, big pull thru site—top notch!

Site93
Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Feb. 12, 2025

Close to home

Been going to this campground all my life. She's showing her age! This would be a great place for a mower! I use this campground as my initial trip out each year to shakedown the camper for the year. Lots of trails, fishing is bad, campground is overgrown.

Month of VisitApril
Reviewed Sep. 26, 2024

HEY DYRT

How about doing a fact che k before giving bad info? It states in the very first section telling about the park that ALL CAMPERS MUST OBTAIN A PERMIT FROM THE CAMP HOST OR RESERVATIONS, but on the pro section you tell us that we don't need a permit. You know hmmmm I just got a warning g ticket from AC DNR for camping without A PERMIT FACT CHECK YO SHIT, DO YOUR JOB

Siteall I am from illinois
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Jul. 26, 2024

Not free camping

My mistake for not researching this place further but it was listed on the dyrt’s free camping sites, but this is a paid/reservation based site. Unfortunately we arrived passed check in (which starts at 3pm) and couldn’t stay here for the night

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 18, 2024

Nice park with activities

Camp sites in the middle are on the smaller end but side sites have plenty of room. Drive is paved and pretty level. They have tubes kayaks and cannons

Site34
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Scott B., June 18, 2024
Reviewed Jul. 20, 2023

Not bad but sites too close together

I can only speak about the non-electric sites. It was a weeknight so I only saw 2 other occupied campsites in the whole area (did not see the campers though). Being that it was empty it wasn’t bad. If it was full I think it wouldn’t be quite so nice. It’s very open.

Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 23, 2023

Wooded sites

Beautiful campground located right off I-74! The sites are mostly wooded and relatively level. Clean, spacious shower houses. Only complaint I have are the weeds being quite tall between sites.

Site85
Month of VisitJune
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Amy B., June 23, 2023
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Amy B., June 23, 2023
Reviewed Sep. 21, 2022

Private - Minimally Maintained

Big, semiforested plots, which are far enough apart to feel very private. Extremely pretty sites, but the firepits are overflowing with ash and not well maintained. There aren't any showers, and the potties aren't just pit toilets, they're old school outhouses with no lights, and bug nests everywhere, including a wasp nest.

Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Jul. 16, 2022

Outstanding

Really a great state park will always come back

Site059
Month of VisitJuly
Reviewed Jun. 19, 2022

Nice affordable campground

The hosts/checkin folks were great and still checking in people at 9:30. Pulled in without a reservation after a long drive and was pleasantly surprised to find them still working. Simple sign in and we were at our site. Seems like a large campground but very quiet. The Erie group is all fairly open except for the perimeter but didn’t bother us because we were out at daylight. Only one bathhouse, but many pit toilets around the grounds. Lots of bugs at night in our area.

SiteErie
Month of VisitJune
Reviewed Jan. 11, 2022

Stormy night but solid campground

Stayed here on Dec. 10, 2021 (yes the night of all the tornadoes throughout the Illinois/Kentucky/Tennessee area), I and everyone else at the campsite got pretty lucky, we were just outside the path of the main storms that did so much damage. The campground itself seems solid, but I will admit... I did not use many of the facilities that evening. The camp host at the entrance was super nice though. I can't remember the campsite number, it was near the restrooms at the back of the campground.

Month of VisitDecember
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Brandon R., January 11, 2022
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Brandon R., January 11, 2022
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Brandon R., January 11, 2022
Reviewed Sep. 30, 2021

Nice park

Nice park decent showers and bathroom facilities just wish they had just one more shower/bathroom facility

Site45
Month of VisitSeptember
Reviewed Aug. 23, 2021

Nice campground

We stopped in for the night on our way west. The check in was easy and the young lady was helpful in picking us a great spot. It’s quiet and very clean! If we lived closer I would definitely come back!!!

Site26
Month of VisitAugust
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Nancy B., August 23, 2021
Reviewed Jan. 29, 2021

My 'home' campsite.

I live about 30 minutes from Kickapoo SP and anytime I feel I need to camp I head over. Great little campground in Central Illinois. Some pretty trails overlooking, beside, and sometimes through water. The RV sites are great for either rv, van, or tent camping with a lot of level ground at most sites. There are some real diamonds of a campsite hidden here that you can basically be in the woods with clear ground for a level tent. I love this simple campground and have brought a handful of friends here who also enjoyed it.

  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by David P., January 29, 2021
Reviewed Sep. 11, 2020

Keeping it basic (Primitive nonelectric site)

Have to walk to the site but if you want nonelectric/ primitive that’s what you get. Water pump at either side of the entry. Some outhouses available. Trails close as well as fishing areas. Large sites for camping. Deer and wildlife seen in the mornings. Really nice way to get off the grid for a second without having to go too far.

  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Cassandra  I., September 11, 2020
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2020

Our favorite so far

The spots for RVs are HUGE. The roads and nice and wide and the views are beautiful. The weather was not nice to us during our stay, but we still got to get out on the lake and canoe (Kickapoo adventures). We also took a short hike when it wasn’t raining and really enjoyed it. This park has a lot more to offer than what we were able to do. I saw playgrounds, corn hole, fishing spots galore, bike trails, etc. I didn’t see anywhere to swim, which was disappointing. Overall though it was a great visit. We’ll definitely be back!

  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Rebekah S., August 2, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Rebekah S., August 2, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Rebekah S., August 2, 2020
Reviewed Aug. 2, 2020

Great place!

I’ve been camping at Kickapoo for 5 years and I love it. The campground hosts at the entrance are kind and helpful and the campgrounds have been undergoing improvements making it even more enjoyable.

  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Brian W., August 2, 2020
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Brian W., August 2, 2020
Reviewed Jun. 24, 2019

Great camping for out door enthusiasts

Campground is well maintained. Clean bathrooms. Large level sites. They offer great activities such as movies, float trips, kayaks, canoes, paddle boats. Snack shop on site. They also have live entertainment at times at the stage by the snack shop.

Wooded area with nice picnic spots. Newer playground equipment. Hiking trails. Lots of fishing areas.

Highly recommend this camp ground.

Reviewed Jun. 19, 2019

Average midwestern state campground

Several loops.  Tent loops are pretty much open fields.  We stayed in a loop with electrical hook up.  Sites are level and there are trees through out the campground.  Sites on the interior of the loop can be close to the one behind it so check your site carefully before you choose it.  Bathrooms are older but clean.  Shower does not allow for adjustment of water temperature.  Hiking trails are not well marked except for the mountain biking trails, which were well marked.

Month of VisitMay
Reviewed Jun. 1, 2019

Keep it dry

Nice CG. No booze signs posted, take it serious! Watched a ranger evict and entire group late in the evening for drinking. They weren’t being rowdy but we’re breaking the rules. Nice place to canoe!

Reviewed May. 27, 2019

Great Trails and Paddling

Campground is super basic but the access to trails and paddling is amazing. This park is severely underfunded so don’t expect much for amenities. That said it’s a great place to setup for a weekend on the trails.

  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Josh M., May 27, 2019
  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Josh M., May 27, 2019
Reviewed Aug. 31, 2018

kickapoo

depending on what you would like this campground has a little bit of everything. There are camp sites that are walk to for some more distance from others, a lot of close drive to spots, RV, and a lot of close boat camping sites. the park itself has a lot of trails to explore and a few lakes to fish at. it is also a local spot to tube.

  • Review photo of Kickapoo State Recreation Area by Jennifer S., August 31, 2018
Reviewed Aug. 28, 2018

Nearby race track

It’s a shame that this park is located so close to a motor speedway! The Saturday night tent camping ambience was ruined by the sound of cars rounding a track at high speeds from about 8-10 pm.

Before you book here, make sure the nearby speedway doesn’t have an event.

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2018

Cozy, rustic, but with some amenities

It’s the perfect mixture of rustic and convenient. Nice, wooded spaces and a small section of “primitive” walk-in sites. They have a trading post if your looking for a cold soda or ice cream, kayak and canoe rentals, shower house was nice and clean. It’s not so nice that it takes away the “camping” of it all, though!

Reviewed Jul. 12, 2017

Convenient getaway

This is one of our go-to places. They have RV sites that vary in size and quality but we almost always go.for the primitive sites. Vault toilets and water are available and a shower building is just up the hill. Lots of wildlife and.close to hiking, biking, and fishing.

Month of VisitMay