Thomas F.
Ranger
RangerSpitler Woods State Natural Area
Fun Camping
Great sites. Plenty to do. Favorite place to camp in Illinois.
Dog-Friendly Camping near Beason, IL
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Weldon Springs State Park Campground permits dogs in all camping areas including both the main electric sites and the hike-in primitive tent sites. The park offers electric hookups, drinking water, picnic tables, and accessible fire rings where pets can join their owners. Clinton Lake State Recreation Area allows pets at tent, RV, and cabin sites, with large, quiet campsites that are not too crowded. Tent campers appreciate the secluded woodsy feeling at Weldon Springs, especially in sites 6-10 which provide better privacy than the RV loop. Sites in both campgrounds include concrete fire rings and picnic tables, with clean shower facilities available for campers.
Dogs must remain leashed throughout these campgrounds, with enforcement more strict in the tent camping areas. Walking trails surround the lakes at both Weldon Springs and Clinton Lake, providing ample opportunities for pet exercise with scenic views. The 4-mile trail circling Weldon Springs' lake offers excellent wildlife viewing for leashed dogs, particularly near the north marshy end where numerous hummingbirds gather. Some campers have reported raccoon issues in the tent camping area at Weldon Springs, so secure food storage is essential when camping with pets. Several small campgrounds in the area including Deer Creek, Hickory Lane, and Arrowhead Acres also welcome pets with specific designated areas for dog walking. In total, 59 dog-friendly campgrounds near Beason make this one of central Illinois' most accessible areas for pet-friendly camping.
Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Beason (55)
1. Weldon Springs State Park Campground
"It’s a nice Illinois state park. Very quiet. Clean bathrooms, the consecution stand is closed. So can’t rent boat etc. but a nice lake to paddle canoe/kayak ."
"Good fishing near by with walking trail surrounding pond. Plenty of wildlife friendly locals."
2. Deer Creek Campground
"Near the back you can camp right alongside the river. Amenities are minimal, there are just port-a-potties for restrooms but they are very clean."
3. Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
"This also means in the dog days of summer the breeze is blocked by the trees so get an electric site even with a tent and bring a fan. They have a beach and a boat launch."
"The lake is surprisingly warm. No dogs allowed on the beach. The sites were spacious, and ours had a path to the lake. Filled with poison ivy, etc, so long pants recommended when waking thru."
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability4. Hickory Lane Campground
"Two small lakes with fountains. You can hear the fountains at night, it's nice. Excellent price for tent camping."
6. Friends Creek Campground
"In mid-Illinois a campground waits for you. Well tended grassy sites with an impeccable grassy picnicking area. There was plenty of room in our site but most of the campground is empty."
"This hidden gem of a campground is very quiet and serene - surrounded by tall trees and next to a tall grass prairie conservation area - complete with historic schoolhouse, mowed trails to a nearby creek"
from $10 - $25 / night
Check Availability7. Edward Madigan State Fish and Wildlife Area
8. Arrowhead Acres
9. Moraine View State Recreational Area
"I never did all of the trails but spent an afternoon hiking with a friend last summer."
"It’s also never super convenient to need to pack up just to go to a dump station but as long as your fine walking to the community restrooms, you should be fine."
from $40 - $20 / night
Check Availability10. Kentuckiana Campground
"We stayed here last year and will likely stay there again this year when we are back in Illinois. The park has two sides, one side closer to the stage."
"When Unhitching if there is anyone waiting to drive by, you feel kind of rushed. Don’t let it make you forget wheel chocks or something important. They have a nice pond."
Drive Time
- 30 min from Bloomington, IL
- 35 min from Decatur, IL
- 43 min from Springfield, IL
- 55 min from Peoria, IL
Recent Dog-Friendly Camping Photos near Beason, IL
37 Photos of 55 Beason Campgrounds
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Kentuckiana Campground
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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Beason, IL
356 Reviews of 55 Beason Campgrounds
Whistle P.
GuideThe Double J Campground and RV Park
This place has a great location
The bathrooms here were heated and sparkling clean. Our Starlink had zero obstructions worked lightening fast. We LOVED having a dog park to exercise our dogs daily!
Great location, close to all the Springfield attractions and Slauterhaus Brewing in Auburn, IL (this is the best brewery nearby, better than Buzz Bomb or Obed & Issacs in town!).
Luna L.GuideD & W Lake RV Park
Peaceful Evening With Gorgeous Lake
Pulled in about 7pm and immediately was greeted by the manager who showed us to our site, helped us pull in get settled and brought us firewood. The lake behind our trailer is beautiful and can be fished Catch and Release with Blue Gill and Bass. There's plenty of grass, Fire Pits, Playgrounds and a Dog Park. Wonderful campground and only about 10 min from downtown.
- Shelly W.Guide
Kentuckiana Campground
Great for families or just a quiet getaway!
We stayed here last year and will likely stay there again this year when we are back in Illinois. The park has two sides, one side closer to the stage. We haven’t been there when they have shows, so I can’t speak to what that is like. When we were there it was lovely. There is plenty of shade, sites are large enough for our Class A and they are pet friendly.
Kaitlin D.GuideLincolns New Salem Historic Site Campground
Great area
We loved this campground. Was all paved sites and roads. Pretty level sites. Utilities harder to get to but all in all a great family campground. Pet friendly. Not 5 stars since we had to leave a day early due to weather. Not their fault but sites became a lake and couldn’t even step outside. Barely any AT&T service. Couldn’t use phone as hotspot at all.
Stuart K.
LegendLove's RV Stop-Normal IL 867
Busy RV Highway Outpost
Let me begin by saying that I scored this Love's RV Stop as high as I did not because it is my ideal camping spot - it isn't - and I don't think anyone looks for a spot to camp out on next to a super busy highway next to a commercial big rig gas station, but if you are doing some heavy duty highway traveling with your RV or 5th wheel and simply need a place to hold up for the night, then this place really is pretty amazing. With that in mind, hopefully you'll pay this place a visit, stop, get fueled up, rest for the night and enjoy the convenience and easy on- and off-access that this place provides. With this in mind …
This spot is brand spanking new, incredibly flat and offers up all the flat poured concrete where you want it and freshly poured gravel where you drive and all the other parts are surrounded by freshly sodded grass that has already grown in to near maturity everywhere else. Conveniently located on the highway axis where I39 / US51 meets I55, here in central Illinois in the city of Bloomington, Love’s RV Stop is an incredibly convenient and easy access spot to drop your RV anchor for the night. Extra points to Love’s RV Stop for providing gated key-pad entry and 24 hour CCTV security delivering a real feeling of safety throughout your roadside RV or 5th Wheel stay.
The convenient app-managed reservation system is seamless and provides for an incredibly simple, remote check-in and payment process. You’ll find back-in or pull-through as well as ADA accessible sites with full hook-ups with water, sewer and choice of either 30 or 50 amp electrical at every site. At the main kiosk where you’ll check-in, there’s a brand new spartan clean single person shower facility as well as individual men and women’s restrooms in addition to a coin-operated laundry facility. Additionally, the property has 2 covered pavilions with picnic tables and gas-powered BBQ grills, community firepit that can easily seat a dozen people, 2 pickleball courts, kid’s playground and a dog park with real grass for the pups to do their business on. Now granted, you'll be enjoying all of these amenities right next to all of the swooshing highway traffic, but surprisingly, we all got over this very quickly!
Because Love’s RV Stop is connected and managed by the neighboring Love’s Truck Stop, you’ll have nearby access to their full convenience store, as well as ATMs, Bojangles Restaurant (mediocre BBQ at best), as well as additional shower facilities along with, but of course, all the gas you can pump by the gallon. But if it’s something simple like firewood, ice, sundries or snacks, you can get these items back at the Kiosk and there are 2 soda vending machines as well as an ice machine behind this small building as well.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) As you are literally on the corner of one of the busiest highway intersections in the entire Land ‘O Lincoln, there is no escaping where you are at, no matter how high they build the fence or how many bushes and trees they place between you and the 8-lanes of rushing passerby traffic and there’s not a single site here to escape the noise, so bring your earbuds if it bothers you or crank up some Van Halen;(2) If you are looking for something more than the stale coffee or the Bojangle’s food they are serving up at the truck stop, there are endless chain options like Starbucks, Dunkin’, Moe’s Southwest Grill nearby as well as further afield; (3) If you want my top recommendations for restaurants that are worth the drive, try out Giordano’s for Chicago deep dish pizza or Portillo’s for their Italian beef & sausage sandwich (don't ask, just order and send me your thanks later); and (4) If you are looking for something to do with the kiddos, head on over to Miller Park Zoo for the wild animals, performances and mini-golf or try out Grady’s Family Fun Park, which is an amusement park with rides and games.
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: 5
Quality: 5
Peace& Quiet: 4
Amenities: 5
Overall, I scored this location a 5.
Happy Overnighting!
- Patricia G.
ScoutThe Double J Campground and RV Park
Well organized with campers in mind
We only stayed for one night in our way north but we will return. Nice level site, pull.through for overnighters (thank you) lots of grass and walking areas for pets, pool, playground etc. friendly service and a welcoming place
- CCharles M.Guide
D & W Lake RV Park
Highway haven
Super easy on and off the highway. With that you do get some noise but not too bad.
Office staff is very friendly and efficient. Full hookup sites. Wifi is available. Playground and dogrun for the pets.
The pond is 1/2 mile walk around. Bathrooms we clean.
If you need to get off the road and get some rest give them a try. Just north of town and you will be back on the road in no time.
- Stuart K.Legend
Millpoint Park
Waterfront Camping Bliss @ Family-Friendly CG
Perched on Upper Peoria Lake where the Illinois River conjoins, this family-friendly and pet-inviting lush camping outpost is completely surrounded by Spring Bay Fen Nature Reserve, absolutely guaranteeing a sublime encounter with nature on top of offering direct waterfront sites that will frame one of the most beautiful sunsets as you look west to Peoria during Happy Hour. In all, there’s about 80 sites – all of which are incredibly spacious, unlike a lot of other RV parks – to choose from at Millpoint, where a slow meandering gravel lane will have you navigating around the campground where you’ll take good note of the excellent shade that is provided everywhere.
From an amenity standpoint, Millpoint Park packs a punch with a combination of back-in and pull-thru sites offering up standard water, sewage and electric hook-ups, relatively new picnic tables and in-ground fire rings as well as a designated dumpster upon exiting the grounds. There’s a fantastic boat launch that will have you fishing, kayaking and experiencing this body of fresh water shortly after you anchor into your spot for the night. In fact, you don’t even need to get into a boat, by accessing one of 2 small little lakes where you can simply cast a line in from the dock or around the perimeter. The meticulously clean restroom / bath house facility is located near the front adjacent to the main office, where next to this are 3 cabins that can be rented, just in case you forgot your tent or RV. Additionally, there’s decent hiking paths to explore both north and south of the property, with the latter offering up a small beachhead at Funks Run. The place also sells firewood, but if you need anything else, you’ll need to head south towards town where there’s no shortage of shops and restaurants.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are a tent camper, there’s 3-4 designated areas for primitive camping, but if you’d like something less primitive and with access to water and electricity, then book yourself into one of the 5 designated tent sites: #233-#237, of which I recommend #236 and #237 as they have a small waterfront area flanking the southern perimeter; (2) The water here has a lot of iron in it, so don’t attempt to drink it, but according to the locals, it’s fine to shower in, so I would encourage you to bring a decent amount of bottled water with you; (3) If you haven’t camped out here in central Illinois during the summer, you will want to bring good DEET spray to keep the ticks away as well as hard-core smoke or scent-fused candles that are peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender-scented to keep the gnats at bay; and (4) The owner, Don, is quite possibly one of the most accommodating and friendly campground owners I have ever met– so don’t be shy if you need anything at all during your stay, including a discount to his pizza restaurant.
Happy Camping!
Guide to Beason
Beason, Illinois sits in the heart of central Illinois farmland at an elevation around 600 feet. The area features gently rolling terrain with small lakes and creeks cutting through agricultural landscapes. Summer camping temperatures typically range from 65-85°F with moderate humidity, while spring and fall offer milder conditions between 45-70°F.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Friends Creek Campground offers access to a small creek for anglers seeking a quiet fishing spot. "We hiked a bit on the trails and played in the creek," reports Sara W., who found the gentle water perfect for families.
Historical exploration: Visit the one-room schoolhouse at Friends Creek Conservation Area for a glimpse into pioneer education. "The old school house is a must see. Great trails with lots of gorgeous old oaks," notes Brandi M., who appreciates the historical preservation.
Lake activities: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area provides unique swimming conditions due to its proximity to a power plant. "Clinton Lake is a boating destination as the waters are unusually warm due to the discharge from the nearby nuclear plant," explains Stacia R., making it comfortable for swimming even in cooler weather.
Trail hiking: The conservation areas surrounding the campgrounds offer interconnected trail systems through restored prairie. "Start at the one room schoolhouse and make your way down wide trails. They aren't that long but take a few and they add up," suggests Art S. about Friends Creek's trail system.
What campers like
Primitive camping options: Weldon Springs State Park Campground offers both standard and backcountry camping experiences. "The real reward is in the primitive backpacking sites," notes Bree C., who gives the park five stars for its diverse camping options.
Peaceful atmosphere: Deer Creek Campground provides a quiet escape with riverside sites. "Large, quiet campsites that are not too crowded. Near the back you can camp right alongside the river," shares Kate M., highlighting the tranquil setting.
Clean facilities: Many campers mention the well-maintained bathrooms at area campgrounds. At Friends Creek, "The bathrooms were very clean" according to Larry R., while Jamie G. notes that at Clinton Lake, "The shower houses are kept up well given the massive amount of people served."
Fishing access: Several campgrounds offer direct fishing opportunities from campsites. "Great camping and great fishing. Scenic little park," reports Bree C. about Weldon Springs, while James D. explains, "The fishing was great... Largest Bass I caught was 18" and the smallest was 14"."
What you should know
Seasonal insect conditions: Be prepared for insects, particularly after rainy periods. "With all the rain we hade the bugs were as to be expected," mentions Steve H. at Weldon Springs, while Lucas T. warns more dramatically about "worst bugs (mosquitoes and locusts) I've ever dealt with."
Limited amenities: Some smaller campgrounds have minimal facilities. At Deer Creek, Kate M. notes, "Amenities are minimal, there are just port-a-potties for restrooms but they are very clean. There are not a lot of stores in the area (closest is about ~15 minutes)."
Alcohol restrictions: Moraine View State Recreational Area and sections of other parks have strict alcohol policies. "Nice place no alcohol," confirms Julie about Moraine View, while Priscilla J. mentions that at Weldon Springs, "There is a STRICT no alcohol rule in the tent sites. A sign said coolers are subject to inspection."
Water quality considerations: Lake conditions can vary throughout the season. "Lake has had a lot of algae over the last couple years," notes Julie about Moraine View, indicating that swimmers should check conditions before planning water activities.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Arrowhead Acres offers family-friendly amenities including play areas. "Hosts were very friendly. Grounds were clean and roomy. Small playground for kids. Quiet and peaceful," reports Brooke.
Beach activities: Clinton Lake provides dedicated swimming areas with amenities. "Has a really nice beach for swimming and picnics. $3 entry for beach," notes Brandon E., offering an affordable recreation option.
Wildlife viewing: Many campsites offer opportunities to observe local fauna. At Moraine View, campers can expect to see "Fall colors, Canadian geese, trails, playgrounds," according to Jennifer M., who was surprised by the natural beauty.
Space considerations: Site selection matters for family comfort. At Clinton Lake, Marisa A. observes that "Almost every site has plenty of shade with tree cover," which provides relief during hot summer days but notes "the breeze is blocked by the trees so get an electric site even with a tent and bring a fan."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: For RVers seeking pet-friendly camping near Beason, Illinois, Clinton Lake offers diverse options. "The different loops have very different feels...some are very shaded in the trees, some more wide open with a prairie type view," explains Stacia R.
Seasonal planning: Off-season camping provides a different experience with fewer crowds. "Had practically the whole campground to ourselves. Water was turned off for winter which wasn't entirely clear," notes Matthew I. about Clinton Lake, suggesting winter campers should prepare accordingly.
Hookup availability: Full-service sites are limited at some parks. "We have only stayed in the electric only sites as the full hookup sites are hard to come by," explains Tim F. about Clinton Lake, recommending early reservations for premium sites.
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According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Beason, IL is Weldon Springs State Park Campground with a 4-star rating from 16 reviews.
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