Best Campgrounds near Aroma Park, IL

We stayed in the Chippewa Campground in early October.

Pros:
 - Large trees provided a high shade canopy and an open feel

 - Well maintained open-grass layout

 - Spacious campsites, similar to other IL State Parks we've stayed at

 - Quiet (when we visited)

 - Boat ramp is accessible via trail or a short drive away

 - Another boat ramp about 3 miles downriver makes a gorgeous through-paddle possible

 - Many miles (7ish?) of riverside paved trail for jogging, walking, or biking adjacent to campsite

Cons:
 - We liked no brush because it gave the campground an open feel. But if you were looking for privacy, you won't get it from the layout
 - Some sites had fewer trees than others and might not be able to accommodate e.g. hammocks, market lights, etc. We picked one with a good setup of surrounding trees
 - BYO watercraft, no watercraft concession

 - No riverside campsites a-la Illini State Park etc

Overall: Great state park to serve as a base for a point-to-point paddle. Great fall colors.

Not much has changed since my previous visit to this self-acclaimed 'four star campground.'  As my post from a bit more than a year ago provided quite a bit of detail on this campground, I’m following up on that review by sharing more fotos as well as providing a topline update:

Highlights: (1) Close proximity to I80 provides access to this CG in under 10 minutes; (2) There’s a number of amenities here like an inground pool, general store, arcade, playground, laundry and restroom / shower facilities, although most amenities need some TLC; (3) The CG community here is simply massive, yet friendly; (4) A small catch & release pond; (5) Decent hiking can be had nearby at Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Buffalo Rock SPs; (6) Solid kayaking and canoeing can be accessed nearby in the Illinois River

Lowlights: (1) This CG could use some TLC with some areas in need of actual repair; (2) Some of the RV and trailer overnighters here appear to be professional workers who commute and / or are more LT residents; (3) Given the massive size of this RV park, complete with 5-6 different ‘neighborhoods,’ it is both busy and noisy; (4) Designated tent camping is separated from the RV/ trailer tribe and makes one feel more like a 2nd class citizen; (5) Residents are very visual and vocal about their political beliefs

Happy Camping!

Can get a little crowded ar times

This is a really lovely spot! There’s 2 bars of Verizon service, a shower house with warm water and flush toilets, as well as pit toilets. There are a few hiking trails that leave from the campground as well. My only problem was that it was extremely busy when I visited and some of my neighbors were quite loud (although they quieted down by quiet hours).

Welcome to Illini SP and hopefully before you read this review, you will have learned that there is not 1, but 2 campgrounds to choose from, so pay attention if you want to select the right one for your camping outdoor nature blissful experience. Regardless of either campground that you might chose, the area that you find yourself in is quite special, from both an historical perspective as it was in this Illinois Valley that the French traded with Native Americans, chiefly (pun intended) in these parts that means the Illiniwek or Illini for short. Hence, no matter where you might stray, you’ll come across a litany of either indigenous Native American or French named towns, such as the small town of Marseilles, which is just across the river from Illini SP, and because you are in Illinois and not France, you must purposefully mispronounce (those 2 ll's are hard, like the L in Lumber, versus the Latin version, which would have you pronouncing those 2 ll's like a Y). 

And while you could make an argument for staying at either one of these two campgrounds here at Illini SP – that would be a choice of either Whitetail to the west or Grand Falls to the east – the short and the quick of it all would be this: 

If you are tent camping, choose Whitetail (west). 

If you have an RV or 5th Wheel, choose Grand Falls (east). 

Don’t have time to read anything further? Then take it from me, if you follow my sage advice, you won’t be disappointed. But hey, if you’ve got time and want to read some of the finer points of these 2 campgrounds, then read on. 

Let’s get down to brass tacks. The major differences between these 2 campgrounds? There’s essentially 3 noteworthy points that you should give consideration to. 

First, let’s highlight the view. While both campgrounds offer close proximity to the Illinois River, you will be challenged to actually see the river from Whitetail, unless you head far west on Hawk Road where there is a separate picnic area complete with an in-ground fire pit, stand-up BBQ grills, picnic tables, designated fishing areas and bathroom facilities that have sweeping views of the mighty Illinois River. Over at Grand Falls, you’ll have magestic riverfront views of the same river, but you can do so from the comforts of your actual campsite (unlike over at Whitetail), providing you are lucky enough to book any of the sites numbered 003– 018. 

Second, let’s talk about amenities. Grand Falls has more sites with full hook-ups, so if you are in an RV or 5th Wheel, me thinks that having all of the usual amenities like water, electric and sewage might be important. If you are a tent-pitching member of my tribe, we actually prefer‘ less is more’ and are less reliant upon such amenities, making Whitetail the better choice for tent campers. 

Third, let’s consider the ambiance. While both offer up their own amenities and access to some pretty great hiking trails, Grand Falls is clearly the busier and much larger of the two campgrounds, where I would also add, apart from a smaller loop, the vast majority of camping areas here are wide open offerings with not so much privacy. You’ll experience much richer areas of privacy, solitude and much less noise along with a healthier dose of P&Q over at Whitetail. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If ‘getting dirty’ is on the menu, then head on over to The Cliffs Insane Terrain Off-Road Park, which is pure fun for both kids and adults alike, but be sure to wear that helmet as it does get bumpy!; (2) At $10 per night for type ‘C’ primitive camping and $20 per night for the deluxe well-paved and connected accommodations, either campground here at Illini SP are some of the most inexpensive campgrounds you’ll come across here in the Prairie State; (3) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or on-board mini-fridge, fret not, there’s some really decent restaurants around this area of which I highly recommend the following: Snug Harbor Marina or Bobaluk’s Beef & Pizza; Further afield, of which you’ll have to trust me, is completely worth the drive: I highly recommend Lone Buffalo for its fish & chips followed by any one of their local micro-brews, which in particular, I prefer the lager; (4) Should you come towing canoe or kayak, you’ll definitely want to take a spin in the Illinois River, wherein I HIGHLY recommend heading westward towards Buffalo Rock SP and, if you have time, even further west the ever amazing, Starved Rock SP. 

Happy Camping!

"Our family had an incredible stay at Leisure Lake Resort RV Park over Easter week. The location was perfect for a peaceful retreat, and the amenities provided everything we needed for a comfortable and enjoyable visit. The kids had a blast with the available activities, and it was the ideal setting for our family to come together and create lasting memories. The staff was exceptionally friendly and went above and beyond to ensure our stay was pleasant. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a family-friendly getaway!"

Located just 5 minutes south of I80, which is one of the busiest highways that runs east– west through Illinois and just a couple stone’s throws north of the mighty Illinois River, you’ll find Glenwood RV Resort located on the outskirts of the very small Midwestern town of Marseilles (specifically mispronounced so as not be confused with its actual French origins, brought here by the French fur traders in the 1500 and 1600’s). While Glenwood sits on some 100+ acres with ample space for anyone hauling a 5th wheeler, driving an RV or wanting to pitch a tent, there’s lots of grassy areas to set up camp just about anywhere you look.

What struck me as somewhat odd, although you do find this in a few campgrounds around these parts as opposed to the recreational nature of what most people think about when camping, there were quite a few seasonal residents here along with large swaths of blue-collar workers that seem to make camping here more of a residential choice. If you arrive to this place and are somewhat put off by the less than polished first impressions you will encounter, as was I, just check in here at the office and keep heading north into the campground where you will see it opens up to a pretty nice suite of amenities as well as two distinct campground neighborhoods – the center ridge and the north ridge – of which you will find some 140 or so RV parking spots.

For mi tent-pitching bredren, keep on heading north to the Outback, where you’ll come to fresh green spots perfect for setting up your camp underneath the Midwestern starry night. As far as amenities go, there’s quite a bit: horseshoe pits, catch & release pond, covered pavilions, kitchen, telephone area, shower/ restroom facilities, game room, 2 kid’s playground, trading post, swimming lake, in-ground pool and kid’s pool with outdoor deck, tennis court, baseball diamond, volleyball and basketball court as well as an entertainment area / stage. The RV slots are full hook-ups offering 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage and there is a designated dump station upon entry / exit of the property (near the front entrance) where you will also discover horse stables for rent that come with access to a nearby horse pasture.

Insider’s tips? Sure, here's a few: (1) While this wouldn’t be my first choice for an overnight outdoor camping adventure, in a pinch, it’s not bad with all of the amenities, proximity to Illinois River and overall affordability; (2) If you come to this area to do some hiking, you’re in great luck as there are quite a number of really great state parks nearby to check out, including Starved Rock, Matthiessen and Illini; (3) Should you want to go spinning on your bike, there’s great long flat and scenic trails all along the I&M Canal corridor that parallels Illinois River and which passes right in front of Buffalo Rock SP; (4) When you get tired of trying to conjure the next meal from the depths of your on-board mini-fridge or bear-proof, goat-clawed Cordova cooler, then nearby Marseilles will have a few joints to consider, from Ziggy’s which is like a diner, Illini Lounge and Snug Harbor Marina, which has a nice view of the Illinois River – but if you want truly an exceptional meal, head a bit further west to Ottawa to Lone Buffalo which is a micro-brewery and gastropub, of which I highly recommend the fish & chips.

Happy Camping!

As we were driving eastbound on I80 that day, we spotted the Love’s RV Hookup, which is a new concept that this oversized fueling depot / travel store has been working on for the past year or so. Having checked out one of their other locations in Bloomington earlier in the year, which I have to admit, I was fairly impressed by, we decided to stop in here to have a look. Located just due east on the outskirts of little known Morris, Illinois just off I80, this little roadside stand isn’t the largest Love’s I’ve ever seen, but it sure does pack a punch. 

If you do find yourself hustling and bustling east or west along the I80 corridor and are in need of a pit stop or an overnight stay, then the good folks at the Love’s RV Hookup have you covered. While the other Love’s I have stopped by seem enormous by comparison, this spot felt more like a corner convenience store that also had a fairly large fueling bay (4 double-sided pumps) in the front, primarily for cars and SUVs. 

As you pull in, there’s 4 spots earmarked to the right of the entrance for RV’s. As you pull further along in front of the Love’s fueling bay, on the other side, an additional 6 or so slots exist for other RVs to park. In all, there’s 10 back-in RV slots available and inside you’ll find that there’s 7 individual shower stalls (all of which were in pristine, brand-new shape when we stopped by) along with a laundry facility, which we were happily surprised by, as well as a designated RV dump service, propane refill station and all of the typical hook-ups (water, 30 / 50 amp electric and sewage) along with WiFi. Inside, there’s of course the Love’s retail market, which was just decent, an ATM, Hardee’s and Naf-Naf (think Subway, but instead, Middle Eastern food). There’s even a small dog park here. As I hinted at, quite a lot here for such a small location. 

If you would like something more substantial to eat, just head back west on I80 to the next exit, where if you head north there’s an IHOP, Chili’s, Bellacino’s Pizza or you can head on back to the TA Travel Center where they actually have a proper sit-down 24 hour restaurant called R-Place. If instead of heading north, you drive south on the main drag (Road 47), there’s a Buffalo Wild Wings, Pizza Hut, Starbuck’s, Wendy’s, Culver’s, Dunkin' and Burger King. But if you want something a bit more memorable, I would recommend either Morris Diner & Pancake House or La Casa Michoacana. And if you don’t mind a slightly longer drive back towards Ottawa, there’s 2 amazing places I would recommend that you won’t soon forget: Hank’s and Lone Buffalo. 

Should you want to actually enjoy a bit of the nature around these parts, you can continue to head south on N. Division Street / Road 47 where you’ll come to 2 parks: Goold and Chapin, where either would make for a great place to stretch your legs, walk the dog or grab a picnic. If you’d like something a bit more splendid, then head on over to William G. Stratton SP or Gebhard Woods SP where you will be able to hike the I&M Canal State Trail. 

While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot: 

Convenience: 5 

Safety & Security: 4 

Quality: 5 

Peace & Quiet: 4 

Amenities: 3 

Overall, I scored this location a 4.

Happy Overnighting!

Rv park opened this may 2023. It’s open all year. Clean full hookups, pull through and back in sites

Located a few miles due east of Marseilles, you’ll navigate some decent twists and turns once you turn north on Route 6 to find Four Star Campground, where you’ll follow E 2625th Road north and take your second right and follow the single lane that dead ends here. Upon entry, you’ll immediately find the Four Star General Store, which also serves as the main office where you’ll check-in, as well as the makeshift laundr-O-mat, arcade room and general market store where basic groceries, firewood, ice, snack & soda vending machines as well as sundries can be purchased. 

Tucked behind the main office is a decent sized swimming pool and children’s playground. Beyond the main office awaits this rather behemoth campground menagerie, chock full of mostly RVs and 5th wheels, with a decent population residing on a rather semi-permanent basis, which is made evident by the lawn furniture and wood decking that you’ll find adorns most designated slots. This sprawling complex has a number of different options from the first single slim loop (a.k.a. Muskrat Run) that you’ll come across once making it past the main office, which is comprised of perfectly organized side-by-side RV slots. To the west of this, there’s Nathan Circle, where there’s about 2 dozen sites, that also end in a small loop. To the east of Muskrat Run is Matthew Circle, which has a straight path south with about 2 dozen more RV slots, with the first intersection taking you to the other side of the camping outpost, where there are 3-4 distinct areas or ‘neighborhoods’ organized in concentric circles. 

From an amenities standpoint, beyond what I have already pointed out, there are restroom / shower facilities at the main office, but these are slightly less than mediocre and not terribly clean. Most of the RV sites are both pull-through and back-in with all the traditional hook-ups (30 / 50 electric amp, water and sewage) provided with general site surface being grass and fairly flat and easy to set up on. You’ll discover that wherever you go the telephone and / or power lines are hanging all over the place and when not bear / exposed in some places, are definitely too low for comfort. All of these back-half slots encircle Beaver Lake, which, um, is more like a pond in need of a decent clean-up, as this fresh water lagoon is more reminiscent of a swamp, which is ironic, considering most of the residents here who proudly display ‘Drain the Swamp’ flags wherever you might meander. 

While there were some very ingenious and crafty ways in which a number of campers (er, residents) here have erected their outposts, there’s a handful of areas, I must admit, which definitely look a bit scary and unsettling, especially when you consider that in these parts, folks like to project their pointed political beliefs quite overtly (as in signs, flags, bumper stickers, tattoos and posters wherever you might choose to wander throughout the campground). Let’s just put it this way – despite the fact that I actually live in the South, it took this place ... clear up here in the North, mind you ... for me to be put in the very awkward position of trying to explain to my 10 year old daughter why there were so many Confederate flags in a place where, no doubt, ancestors of the very residents of this place fought to preserve the Union. I only bring this up, not to be political in any context, but as if you are wanting to find a place to camp for the night and want to leave the politics behind, you will find it very difficult to do that here at Four Star Campground. 

Apart from this, I found the management to be quite hospitable and welcoming as well as most of the fellow campers. If you are a tent camper, while this place is definitely more geared towards the RV-toting type, you can find a few isolated spots out in the Outback Area, where you will feel secluded from the rest of ‘gen pop’ and will be able to enjoy a slice of amazing Midwestern nature underneath the stars with a brilliant roaring fire to roast some marshmallows on. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Like most places that create a name that would suggest a good quality experience, Four Star Campground really doesn’t live up to its name and should reconsider naming itself 1 or 2 star Campground; (2) Should you be towing watercraft with you on your sojourn here, Beaver Lake, again, which is more like a pond, won’t satisfy your oar rowing ambitions, so I would recommend skedaddling over to the Illinois River, which you can access and launch from either over in nearby Seneca, to the east, or Marseilles to the west; (3) When you grow weary from deciding upon that next meal from the depths of your RV mini-fridge or roto-molded bear-proof Cordova cooler, then head on over to Ziggie’s, Fat Daddy’s Bar & Grill or Boondocks Food & Spirits for some glorified Americana bar food; (4) If you are searching for some really amazing food and don’t mind driving slightly further afield for it, I HIGHLY recommend Rip’s Chicken over in Ladd for what is, I promise, the best fried chicken experience you’ll ever have in your life, or Lone Buffalo in Ottawa, which is one part micro-brewery and another part gastro-pub, where I would give a strong nod to the fish-n-chips; and (5) Net-net, this place is more for lone workers that are working 12 hour shifts at nearby plants than it is for families wanting to explore the outdoors, so I would definitely recommend that if you are the latter, keep on looking for another more suitable spot. 

Happy Camping!

The sites here are pretty close together and not particularly private. The good thing is it wasn't particularly booked up the night I stayed there. No showers and the pit toilets exist. (I've seen worse, I've seen better, clean but doors are a bit hard to shut the door, no handwashing readily available). I'd recommend this for folks bringing a camper more so than planning to pitch a tent if you want to stay more than one night.  It's a good spot for a quick overnight just outside Chicago.

A little pricey. $63 with tax and amenities. Did have free ice, free coffee, and juice, and donut in the morning. Rail yard behind the row of trees. I believe they were humbling train all night long.

This was a walk up quick overnight for me. Plenty of sites available and self registering was easy(cash or check only). Tent loop was surprisingly dark at night for how close to town you are. There is a train somewhere in the area that I heard few times. Interior of the loop had more level sites with less privacy where as external were a various degree of slope but more private. The shower was hot and clean. For the price it's a solid experience, though plan on a car & tent wash after lots of tree sap.

Potowatami campground is divided into four loops. We camped in the Osage loop. Garbage cans are at the start of the loop. A central shower house is on the main road midway between the loops. Right at the start of Osage is an entrance to the crushed gravel bike path. It gave us a great hike through the trees. You can find picnic areas and playground equipment by following the bike path. The camp host checks you in. He gave us the signal in case we drive out of camp. Wave the sign out your window and re-enter camp. He also told us about rock creek nature trail. It’s just across the main road near the ranger office entrance. There are another couple miles of trails if you want some diversity.