Best RV Parks & Resorts near Apple River, IL

This campground offers sites with electricity for RVs but some of the sites seem pretty narrow to use RV awnings. We booked an RV site but decided to camp. The site had a picnic table and fire ring but since it was an RV spot not a lot of good tent placement options. There are numerous pit toilets to use. The park has hiking trails that are accessible from the campground. The lake has a walking trail, kayak ramps and boat ramps.

We stayed here twice over the last several years. It is close to some family friends (whom I like to visit but not stay with! lol) and has a lot to offer. We have stayed in the primitive campsites but there are other accommodations available including full hook up RV sites. Sites cannot be reserved so you need to hope for a walk-in availability. One of the coolest things about this park is that you can see how the river carved into the limestone and shale and created cliffs and canyon. I really get into that type of seeing the power of nature over time kind of stuff. Typical midwestern wild life is abundant. Raccoons, deer, rabbits, squirrels, chimpmunks and a lot of birds will be seen my most who visit I assume. We saw a single hawk the first time but were told there are many (which was confirmed our second visit) and a lot of different birds but we are really slow with learning to identify them. The primitive campsites are what you would expect. There were more rocks on the tent pad than usual but nothing that can't be cleared with a few sweeps of your boot.

This campground has gorgeous scenery, since it is literally ON the banks of the Mississippi River. The campground is primarily concrete sites for RVs and there is a smaller grassy area set aside for tents only.

Pros: fishing, beautiful location, clean vault toilets and shower house, firewood on site for $5 a bunch, and sites aren't too crowded together. Lots of wildlife to enjoy- turtles, birds, muskrat, and fish.

Cons: Since it is right on the river and there is also lots of marsh, the bug situation was a bit much, especially when there was no breeze. Bring a screened canopy if you want to enjoy the outdoors without swatting bugs all the time. There is a single trail but the bugs made it unbearable. We hightailed it thru the supposed 40 mins trail in 30 just to escape them. The other con is that there are so few tent sites. If you are a tent camper, there are a handful of sites set aside between 2 big loops of RV spots (see red circle on map). The spots were hard to find on the map and we had to carry all out gear from the parking spot to our site so not ideal.

We love this state park for family camping. The sites for RVs have electrical, but no water. The bathrooms are OK, its what you expect from a state park. But the hiking around the park is amazing. There are tons of trails, and 2 wooden observation towers to climb so you can see all the way to Madison on a clear day! If it's a hot summer day, enjoy the swimming pool or head over to Cave of the Mounds where it's always cool. There's also a biking camp ground right off the Ice Age Trail, which makes it a great stop for an overnight or just a break. You're also close enough to drive to Mt. Horeb if you need more action or beer.

We've always enjoyed this campground because the overnight camping are has fewer sites, and therefore less crowded. It's a nice shaded area with some tight spots. If you are in a tent, some even have gravel pads for a level area that drains well. For RVs, be sure to select a bigger site than you think you need. Sometime's it's tricky to maneuver your camper so big rigs may want to stay elsewhere. Our 30 ft. travel trailer fit fine, with some skilled driving. Lots of trees for shade or hammocks, and bigger fields and picnic areas if you need some space to play frisbee.

Blue Mounds State Park is a great campground.  I love the area all the trees.  They have hike in campsites, bike in campsites and regular campsites.  They also have a group area.  If you are in a tent you will have great luck, I would advise in a trailer or Motor Home to inspect you site closely before you say yest to it, or you may be like us and change it 3 times.  Not very many level sites unless you can get up on the tent pad.  At one we thought was fairly level our tires were a good 3 inches off the ground in front.  We finally found one we could live with.  They have limited sites with Electricity so also if you need that look around.

I will have to say that the facilites are really nice and very clean in fact I have never seen a bathroom floor that clean on a weekend.  

Speaking of weekends it does fill up most weekends so you will need to make reservations unless you want to use the hike in sites.

They have a recreation are also in the park that has a beautiful pool.  Picnic areas that are great and towers you can go up to see the Mounds. 

WE have spent 2 times there this summer and will be back next summer.

If you are there there are a few areas to visit.

Mt Horeb the Troll Capital.  It is a small town about 20 miles if that.  Has a Troll theme and you can see the trolls all over the town.  Some good restaurants and one of the weekends we were there was the Art   Tour it is in the entire area and had some great art studios you could visit.

Cave of the Mounds is another place you have to visit.  This is a great cave during the week they give guided tours on the weekend it is self guided but have docents around explaining everything.  Well worth the money and trip.  This is about 5 miles from the Park.

I will say no internet and cell phone was very spotty. It is also one of the darkest areas if you are into the stars, just put something on for Mosquitos. 

All in all a good solid 4, only down side was we were in a Motor Home and the not level sites was not the best.

The sites are very well isolated and shaded, and have a well maintained gravel and packed earth surface. Not great for staking a tent, but doable. Excellent for RVs but some sites are non-electric. There are no other hookups, but there is a dump station. Every site has a fire pit and a picnic table. Many sites have a slight slope. Trail access to both the state park trails and to the Military Ridge Trail which runs nearby.

I stayed two nights in a tent and really struggled to find an ok spot on my site to pitch it, between the slope and the occasional roots and rocks. I managed to get stakes in but only at great effort. It looked like some other sites may have been better suited.

There is a raccoon problem here. They were definitely snooping through my things on the first night. Heard coyotes during the night in the distance.

Overall I'm pretty happy with my stay due to the location in the park, and most of the issues I had would be moot with an RV.

Unfortunately, I can no longer say this is a great, affordable place to stay. The weekly rates increased by over $75 a week for the full hookup sites this season.  

There was also a link to last years pricing still active until 4/16 that has since been deactivated when I asked to have my pricing adjusted to that amount. Seems deceptive to me, having 2 different prices in 2 different places on their site.  They will not honor the price and told me if I don't like it I can find somewhere else to camp. 

Also, they no longer offer kayaks, which was the big draw to the campground. 

We may keep our reservation this year, but likely won't be back next season.

Nice CG with full hookups, tables, fire rings, hard pads. Sits right along railroad. Showers, RR, recycling, host site at site #1. Marina, downtown Clinton nearby.

Smaller CG has full hookups, trash dumpster, fire pits (no wood available at CG), city playground adjacent, with football field, horseshoe pits, shelter, bb court, hiking trail along Deep Creek, showers/restrooms.

Well, we were definitely the only tent in an otherwise completely rv/camp trailer section of the park. Sites are level and small, but completely sand and gravel -- so was a bit tricky getting our pegs in. There is really no privacy here and you can see all your neighbors, and be seen by them. That being said, everyone was respectful of quiet hours and very friendly. Also our site had FULL sun, so def something to plan for. A lot of others had more midday tree coverage it seemed. Did not look at the walk-in tent sites as they were all booked, but I imagine being down in the trees would afford more seclusion.

No Tmobile service for the most part, but that was fine for me. The main draw here were the caves and trails and they absolutely exceeded expectations! Even my little chihuahua seemed to enjoy her first spelunking experience.

Stropes is nice (formerly Shaws) and so is the new management. It's a peaceful place to unwind. Seems best for RVs/Campers.

Did not stay only rode through and walked around on scouting trip looking for a nice place to camp, just not what I was looking for.

Municipal campground next to a playground with what looked like one long time resident, bathrooms had chains and padlocks on the door due to vandalism (as per the sign).

Around a dozen tent pads with tables and BBQ pits and same amount of RV spots

Nice boat ramp across the street with Pearl River access.

Had pics but phone died, sorry

Nice Campground. Quiet, with level sites spaced decently with nice shade. Bathrooms were OK and showers not great. From the Campground you can walk to all the hiking trails and explore the caves. The park and caves are so fun!