$16 - $32 / night

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Facilities

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People

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Established Camping

Opossum Creek

6 Reviews

Opossum Creek, near Shelbyville, Illinois, is a charming campground that offers a relaxing escape right by the shores of Lake Shelbyville. With a mix of tent and RV sites, it’s a solid choice for families and friends looking to enjoy the great outdoors.

The campground is known for its beautiful views and well-maintained facilities. Many visitors have praised the spacious sites, especially those near the water, which provide a perfect backdrop for camping activities. One camper mentioned, “We stayed on site 39. Quiet view of woods and part of cove,” highlighting the serene atmosphere that many appreciate here.

Amenities include electric hookups and a boat ramp, making it easy for those with boats to hit the water. Campers can also enjoy the nearby fishing opportunities and trails that lead to the lake. As one reviewer noted, “There is a dump station, boat launch and fish cleaning station,” ensuring that all your needs are covered during your stay.

While the campground can get busy, especially during peak season, the friendly vibe and access to nature make it a popular spot. Just a short drive from Shelbyville, you’ll find convenience in nearby amenities while still enjoying the tranquility of the outdoors. Whether you’re here for a weekend or a longer adventure, Opossum Creek has plenty to offer for a memorable camping experience.

Description

US Army Corps of Engineers

Lake Shelbyville

Overview

Opossum Creek Recreation Area has a quiet campground that sits on the western shore of Lake Shelbyville in the heart of central Illinois. The lake and surrounding land offer outdoor activities for people of all ages, including fishing, swimming, picnicking and simply relaxing. Click Here for a Virtual Tour

Recreation

Lake Shelbyville offers a multitude of fishing opportunities for catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, muskie, walleye, white bass and bluegill. Opossum Creek provides a fishing pond for children age 12 and under with an accessible fishing dock. There are also several other ponds with farmed fish available around the lake. Hunting areas located within a short drive offer numerous game species, including quail, rabbit, pheasant, deer, dove, turkey, waterfowl and woodcock.

Natural Features

Opossum Creek overlooks the lake shore and provides plenty of shade. Oak and hickory are the lake region's dominant tree species. Foliage turns a variety of red, orange, purple and yellow each fall, while prairie flowers dot the landscape in spring and summer. Numerous species of songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl and raptors inhabit the lake area, as do mammals such as cottontail rabbit, white-tail deer, gray and fox squirrel, muskrat and mink.

Nearby Attractions

Wolf Creek State Park, Woods Lake Waterfowl Refuge and Okaw Bluff Wetlands Complex are popular locations for wildlife watching, birding and hunting near Lake Shelbyville.

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Location

Opossum Creek is located in Illinois

Directions

From Shelbyville, Illinois, take State Route 128 north for 3.5 miles. Turn right onto County Road 1650 N. Continue nearly a mile to County Road 1880 E. Turn right and travel 0.5 mile to County Road 1600 N. Turn right again and drive one mile into the Opossum Creek facility.

Address

1989 State Hwy 16
Shelbyville, IL 62565

Coordinates

39.4455556 N
88.7725 W

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Access

Drive-In
Park next to your site
Boat-In
Sites accessible by watercraft.

Stay Connected

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

Site Types

Tent Sites
RV Sites
Standard (Tent/RV)

Features

For Campers

Trash
Picnic Table
Phone Service
Reservable
Drinking Water
Electric Hookups
Toilets
Pets
Fires

For Vehicles

Sanitary Dump
Sewer Hookups
Water Hookups
Pull-Through Sites
50 Amp Hookups
Big Rig Friendly

Contact

General Info

Reservations

Make reservation

Drive Time

35 min from Decatur
1 hr 7 min from Springfield
1 hr 7 min from Champaign
1 hr 26 min from Bloomington

Teri M.

Scout

Reviewed Jul. 11, 2021

Peaceful Campground

We stayed on site 39. Quiet view of woods and part of cove. Plenty of parking and can walk down to the lake. Water hookup and electric. Full hookups available closer to front of park. We like quiet and this site was great. I tent camp too and the sites at the end of our "leg" look great. Even got our kayaks to the water not far from our campsite which was a bonus! If you have a boat, there is boat ramp too with large parking lot. Not too far from Shelbyville and the dam also. Overall a great campground!

Site39

Month of VisitJuly

Mike D.

Guide

Reviewed Jul. 9, 2021

Great Views and well maintained campground.

We got 4 families from our block together to get down to this campground for the 4th of July weekend. We reserved sites 27, 28 and 29. 27 is right down by the water and has amazing views. We used this as our hang-out and cooking area. I'd suggest getting 27 and 28 as they are kind of on top of each other. You can't swim right off of site 27 but behind 28 there is a little train down so a swimming cove that is pretty nice.

As I always do...I got a pontoon boat to take out on the lake. I'm just a sucker for that kind of thing. You can get them from Findlay Marina or Lithia Springs. Last summer we camped at Coon Creek and got a boat from Findlay. It was fine but the drive over the water takes quite a while. A storm swept in last year and it was not fun taking that boat all the way back up to Findlay. This summer, I went to Lithia Springs Marina to rent the boat and it took about 10 minutes from this campground. Worth the extra 5 minute drive. We got a regular pontoon on the 3rd and the big ol' party barge on the 4th.

Back to the campground! Sites 27 and 28 are really big. They sit on a big hill with lots of space for the kids to play. The other sites I saw were more standard sized.

Bathrooms and showers were clean and nice.

Site27, 28 and 29

Month of VisitJuly

(7) View All

Debra M.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 1, 2021

Tent sites have amazing view, RV Full hook-ups close, electric only spaced

There are 81 sites in total, 17 tent with electric, 17 full hook up and the remaining are electric RV sites. There are 6 water hydrants in the park that make it easy for all not water sites to fill up with their hose. There is a dump station, boat launch and fish cleaning station. There is one main shower and bathroom house with a second bathroom only site. There are porta-potties at each of the three tent groupings. There is a children's playground and trails to walk toward the lake and fantastic views.

If you don't care about full hook up, try for the sites 39 to 46 and 11 to 34 that offer more privacy. We were in spot 11 that is right next to the shower house, but faces away from it and your view is trees and the lake.

Less than 10 minute drive to the town of Shelbyville and the US Army Core of Engineer Visitor Center and dam. Lots of great fishing around and several marinas if you don't have your own boat.

Site11

Month of VisitJune

(10) View All

Kathie M.

Legend

Reviewed Jun. 19, 2020

Nice quiet campground on shores of Lake Shelbyville

Very nice campground on Lake Shelbyville. Camped here with young boys in tent every year for years on site 27- views of lake the best! Electric even for tent sites (have come in handy for fans for the hot hot nights in a tent!). Newer bath house is nice. Some RV sites have water hookup also.

Kevin C.

Scout

Reviewed Sep. 7, 2018

Beautiful mature oaks abound

Plenty of shade. this is an older campground showing some of its age. The few full hook up sites are beautiful. Many of the other sites are out of level. All the site are pretty close to the water.

Many of the campers also have boats here that they anchor right by their sites

Site18

Month of VisitSeptember

Michael M.

Ranger

Reviewed Oct. 10, 2017

Nice so can be crowded

The Opossum Creek Recreation area is open year-round for the boat ramp and Disabled / children fishing pond and pier. The campground is only open Memorial Day to Labor Day. I camped here in June, however I did the photography in October so there are no campers in the shots. This campground is only about 6 miles from the town of Shelbyville where there is a Walmart, restaurant’s, gas stations, bait, hardware stores, medical care, the Shelbyville Dam, Beach, City Park with lakeside trails and firewood. This proximity to facility’s makes it popular, so having less than 100 campsites it tends to fill up quickly. It is advisable to book ahead on-line if you want to stay here. The sites are nice and the park is clean, but the sites are close together. The boat ramp is well thought out with tons of parking and being close to town is usually busy in the summer season. This campground is also cared for by the Corps of Engineers and seasoned camp hosts man the gate house at the campground. The disabled fishing pond is well stocked so it is easy for wheel chair bound fishermen to catch their daily quota. I recommend this campground for people with motorhomes, fifth-wheels and campers that want to take in the Shelbyville lake town experience while visiting.

Site57

Month of VisitJune

(5) View All

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to camp at Opossum Creek?

Camping at Opossum Creek can cost between $16.00 and $32.00 depending on the site.

Does Opossum Creek have RV hookups?

According to TheDyrt.com, Opossum Creek has 50 amp electric hookups, water hookups and sewer hookups.

What is the max vehicle length at Opossum Creek?

Opossum Creek allows vehicles up to 100 feet.

Are fires allowed at Opossum Creek?

Yes, according to campers on TheDyrt.com, fires are allowed at Opossum Creek, although make sure to check current fire restrictions in the area.

Is there cell phone reception at Opossum Creek?

According to campers on TheDyrt.com, Verizon signal is good, AT&T is unknown, and T-Mobile is unknown.

How hard is it to get a campsite at Opossum Creek?

Some campers book as far as 6 months in advance, so on high-demand weekends it can be very difficult to get a campsite at Opossum Creek. If you want to get a last-minute campsite at Opossum Creek, try setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

Why is it so hard to get a campsite at Opossum Creek?

There are 70 campsites at Opossum Creek and over 80 million Americans who camp! Try snagging a cancellation by setting up a text message Alert at TheDyrt.com/alerts

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