Join the fun near Bismarck. With tons of outdoor activities and scenic camping, this is an excellent vacation spot for all kinds of travelers. Enjoy the scenic camping, fun activities, and sights and sounds of Bismarck. Get the dirt on all the best camping near Bismarck. Browse campgrounds by amenities, site types, and more.
$10 - $20 / night
"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"
"Great little campground in Central Illinois. Some pretty trails overlooking, beside, and sometimes through water."
"This park has very nice hiking trails and a swimming beach. The kids had a great time, and I got to kick back and relax."
$20 - $25 / night
"Short drive from Chicago (3 hours?) and you are in lush forest. You have to pick the right campsite or you will have no cover and big campers on either side of you."
"But close to a good size hill. Not a grass spot. No water hookup. But would recommend. Little store has lots to offer. Gas station and good near by. Fantastic walking trails within a mile or 2 also."
"Arrived on Sunday and nearly had the place to ourselves. Campgrounds are far removed from town and very quiet, large enough to feel isolated. Host sells ice and firewood for a reasonable price."
"The drive into the Middle Fork River Forest Preserve winds between a few ponds. We saw many families fishing around each of them. Once at the campground, check in with the camp host."
$17 - $27 / night
"There is a nearby water source but it will need to be filtered. Other things to do...walk in the prairie, hike, climb a tower, play at the playground, picnic, etc... it’s a very nice place to visit."
"We did forest glen river ridge trail; started from the staff parking lot and walked about 8 miles to the east camp. We had a big group and took sites 3 and 5 because they were on a flatter ground."
$9 - $49 / night
"Lots of dogs around, pricing was about $50 a night per site. Restrooms had showers as well which made it easy to rinse off the mud. Great time all around."
$12 - $20 / night
"The park roads are easy to walk, and trails abound! Trails range in difficulty, so read the park pamphlet before setting out. Views are amazing from the trails! "
"Located north of turkey run state park shades offers all the hiking and scenic terrain with less amenities and less crowds. Sugar creek cuts through the ancient sandstone floor creating canyon walls."
"Stayed here 2 nights on our way to Northern Illinois, easy access off the interstate, sites are spacious, grounds are well maintained, staff was very courteous and friendly, nice lake with trail around"
"It is close to the main highway, but far enough to not be noticeable. Sites are level and in good condition. Owner greets you on entering and then guides you to your site. "
"It's on the outskirts of town on the old Chanute AFB. They have lovely tree coverage, it's close to lots of amenities like grocery shopping, sports complex, urgent care, quick interstate access."
"Close to Champaign, IL off I 57 is this charming, open and clean grass covered park. Large sites with full hook ups, picnic table and scattered large trees near an Air Force base."
GuideFriendly, clean with excellent view
GuideSuper friendly staff. We had the best view in the campground with a view of the lake
RangerGreat campground. Really nice campground - clean, sites with some shade (especially the section with full hookups). Lots of families enjoying camping, kids relishing the freedom of riding bikes and skateboards (unfortunately too few with helmets including one with a major black eye). Nice walking trails right off of campground. Aquatic center in park. We would return - except that crossing the country on highway 70 is brutal
TravelerWe stayed at the Newton County Fairgrounds during fair week & had a great experience. The grounds were clean & well kept. It was easy to get around even with all the fair activity going on. Our campsite had water & electric only, just like all of the others. The bathrooms & showers were in good condition considering how busy the week was.
The fair itself was a lot of fun! From the 4-H shows to the carnival rides & food vendors, there was always something going on. The kids loved it! It felt very family-friendly & welcoming.
The only thing to note is that cell service & wifi can be a little spotty, but honestly that gave us more time to just enjoy the fair & each other. Overall, we would definitely come back & recommend it to anyone looking for a good small-town fair experience with a convenient place to stay.
Cannot wait until next year!!
TravelerVery nice campground! It was close by Turkey Run State Park, which had amazing trails, that are pictured below. (We definitely recommend Trail 3!) The campground itself was very nice and clean, as well as shaded and pretty. We were camping in August, so it wasn't very busy and we got peace. There were many fun things to do in Turkey Run, although the pool was closed in August. There was also a fun little ice cream place and store in downtown Marshall!
Great place overall!
TravelerTo much money rv/campsites way way to small they charge for EVERYTHING INCLUDING GUEST TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO CAMP , u can only have 4 people then its 10$ per each for a weekend ridiculous
TravelerExperience was good , except do not get sites 33, 34 or 35 we had maybe 5ft between us and the camper beside us , no way and the electricity hookup is right there so putting out awning was so very dangerous!!!! Bc the water dripped straight onto the electric hookup and who knows if someone may have a cut or anything wrong with there cord electric shock for sure !!!! Visitors JUST TO VISIT TO SEE IF THEY WANT TO CAMP THERE 5$ each Could not cook out or anything bc there’s no room in between your camper and your neighbor’s camper They tell u to look at the four day itinerary, but we’ve always just called or got on the website and booked our site, but it is pretty ridiculous for a camper to hold six or eight and you can only have four people and then on top of that an arm and a leg just for a float to float downstream which the gal young gal told me it was 2 miles 2 to 4 hour trip and it took us an hour so basically got ripped off pretty good this weekend so make sure to read your email b4 going here ! Thank goodness we had family bc we had absolutely no room for anything Bugs horrible And they tell you to have dogs on leash , no one had their dogs on leash except us . A blue healer tried to bite one of us ! It was pouring down and the guy on golf cart while we’re trying to hurry in the rain was so worried about our card he couldn’t wait till we was leaving to turn it in . They give u a code so why not put it in your phone bc if u lose there card they charge u 40$ Seems like more of a money thing to us . We enjoy camping but my gosh break the bank here for sure no gravel on sites hardly mainly dirt and sand so come prepared to sweep your caper or rv every hour . Very very tiny sites and unacceptable for us and anyone wanting to enjoy outside of your camper with your awning
TravelerCute little park, off of 41, most sites are water and electric, most do not have sewer but there's a dump station. Very affordable. Owners are very nice and easy to communicate with. Theres a campstore and ice on site. Great fishing pond. Look around for cute carvings. Very close to Turkey Run, Shades, and Raccoon Lake!
ScoutFirst time at this KOA, site was okay, gravel pull through but sewer hookup was all the way at the end of the site, needed extra extension to hook up sewer. The bathroom and showers were disgustingly dirty, both men's and women's smelled and were disgustingly dirty. I can't believe I paid $72 for such terrible accommodations.
Camping near Bismarck, Illinois, offers a mix of beautiful nature and family-friendly activities. Whether you're looking to pitch a tent or park your RV, there are several campgrounds that cater to different needs and preferences.
Hiking and Exploring: Turkey Run State Park Campground is a great spot for hiking. One visitor mentioned, "From the back of the campground, you can access Trail 7, a moderate level trail that leads unexpectedly to a small stream running past a recessed cave." This park is perfect for those who love nature and want to explore scenic trails.
Fishing and Boating: At Cecil M Harden Lake Raccoon State Recreation Area, you can enjoy fishing and kayaking. A camper noted, "Great areas to walk your dog," which hints at the park's family-friendly atmosphere and access to water activities.
Amusement Park Fun: Indiana Beach Campground is close to an amusement park, making it a hit for families. One reviewer said, "Check-in quick and easy... A big bonus was that there is a shuttle bus that runs to the amusement park every half hour."
Camping around Bismarck, IL, has something for everyone, whether you're a family looking for fun or an RV enthusiast seeking adventure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Bismarck, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bismarck, IL is Kickapoo State Recreation Area with a 4.3-star rating from 29 reviews.
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