53 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Several campgrounds in central Illinois surround Bloomington with options for RV, tent, and cabin camping. Comlara County Park on Evergreen Lake provides waterfront sites with electric hookups and accommodates tents, RVs, and some glamping. Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, located about 20 miles southwest near De Witt, offers a combination of tent, RV, cabin, and glamping sites with lake access. Moraine View State Recreational Area in Le Roy features electric hookups with tent and RV sites in a natural setting. Most campgrounds in the region provide moderate amenities including electric hookups, drinking water, and restroom facilities.
Reservations are essential at most developed campgrounds in the region, especially during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Many campgrounds operate year-round but offer limited amenities during winter months. As one camper noted, "The layout is fairly straightforward here, entrance has a spot for firewood purchase (honor system) and then the dumpsters. Getting to firewood and garbage will take a little time if you're toward the back of the park." Road access to campgrounds is generally good with paved access routes, though camping pads are typically gravel rather than concrete. RVers should note that while most campgrounds accommodate larger rigs, not all sites provide sewer hookups, and dump stations are shared facilities.
Campers frequently highlight the fishing and boating opportunities as the primary draw for camping in the Bloomington area. Evergreen Lake at Comlara County Park and Clinton Lake at the State Recreation Area provide popular fishing and boating access points. A visitor described Comlara as "a beautifully laid out hidden gem in Illinois. Evergreen Lake is the perfect backdrop to the campground." Sites range from open fields with a community atmosphere to more secluded wooded spots along lakeshores. Several campgrounds feature playgrounds, hiking trails, and biking paths. For travelers needing just an overnight stay, Love's RV Stop offers full hookup sites with concrete pads right off Interstate 55/74, though highway noise is notable. Tent campers should be aware that water access points at some campgrounds may be shared or difficult to access.
"Needed a couple nights stay near Bloomington and chose site #29 sight unseen. Ended up having to grab a different site since #29 was too unlevel. The campground office was very accommodating."
"Located just northwest of Bloomington, which is located absolutely smack-dab in the middle of the state of Illinois, you’ll discover a nature wonderland over here nearly hidden from plain site."
"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 Availability"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) Closely located"
"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"
from $35 - $40 / night
Check Availability"This is a nice campground located about 10 miles from Bloomington. It has full hookups at all the sites.
The owner met us when we arrived and took us to our lot.""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) Closely located"
from $40 - $45 / night
Check Availability"We stayed in the J loop, which was more family friendly and very close to the beach."
"Our site was adjacent to numerous paths that easily led to the beach, playground, the rocky path for fishing, and a secluded swimming hole."
from $10 - $30 / night
Check Availability"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."
"Nestled in the verdant rolling hills of central Illinois, you’ll discover Hickory Hills Campground located just a short drive west of I39 and completely off the grid, due to the slight incline of this"
"This seems to be more of a full time camping location. Lots of buildings and I was offered a lot for sale. Golf carts seem to be the most common mode of travel as there are plentiful."
from $26 - $40 / night
Check Availability"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."
"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."
Guide$25 a night for 30 amp hookup is pretty good! The sites are clean and spacious. It’s quiet too! Pretty lake, but sites aren’t right on the lake.
The bathrooms need some work. Water had a boil order on it and showers only worked in the men’s room. Water was HOT! Which is great! However, the water smelled metallic…
ScoutCalled last minute and owner was helpful and clear. Price was great and we got water & electric we needed. Very quiet place and away from busy highways but convenient. If traveling through the area would definitely consider again. We had a class C so was easy, but may be more challenging for a larger rig. Owner's dog was older, slow and very friendly. Opposite of our two small puppies :)
If looking for a quick overnight that allows you to rest for the next day this is a good option.
GuideWe arrived as a storm was blowing in. Tornado watch, severe thunderstorms and torrential rains. Despite the in conditions, when learning it was our first night ever in an RV, our host went above and beyond to meet our needs. Although we reserved a 30 amp site, our site only had 50. She ventured out in the pouring rain to bring us an adapter. The next morning, our site had flooded and she rode out to our site to assess the situation. She was incredibly responsive by call and text. We were baptized by fire on our first night of RV life, but because of her, we made it!
GuideNo trees but iris off the highway. Quiet enough considering it’s off highway. Nice , clean.
ScoutNeeded a place to stay to watch our grandson in a baseball tournament in Rantoul IL. This campground was great. About 10 minutes away. Very quiet and peaceful.
GuideGreat little campground.
LegendThere’s a lovely hush that settles over Marshall State Fish & Wildlife Area the moment you wind your way beneath the tall timber and pull into this rustic riverfront campground, the kind of place where the breeze feels soft and the squirrels seem to outnumber the people. The campground itself is small and simple, offering spacious, mostly shaded sites with EZ access to the Illinois River, where anglers set up early and kayakers glide past with that slow, content rhythm that makes you want to join them. The boys loved wandering the little footpaths between the trees, pretending they were explorers while my husband gathered kindling and I soaked in the quiet that’s so hard to find in everyday life. One of my favorite moments was watching the sun drop behind the far treeline as we all shared marshmallows at the fire ring, the river catching the last light just perfectly. For families who don’t mind the rustic feel, including vault toilets, limited amenities, and a true ‘bring what you need’ kind of setup, this place offers peaceful nights, wide-open nature, and a sense of being tucked away in something truly untouched. For the best campsite here, choose Site 18, which is the most private river-adjacent spot with a deep pocket of shade and just enough open ground for the boys to play safely while still keeping them in view.
LegendWith the river curving gently nearby and tall trees leaning in as if to welcome you with the non-stop shower of falling leaves in a kaleidoscope of Autumn colors, there’s a soft kind of stillness that settles over you the moment you pull into Woodford State Conservation Area. The campground here is small and simple, tucked into thick woods with EZ access to the boat launch, abundant fishing spots and winding shaded nature trails, plus vault toilets and fairly new looking picnic tables that keep things primitive, yet convenient even in this somewhat more rustic setting. Our two little boys loved wandering the shaded paths looking for deer tracks before finishing the night with marshmallows that melted faster than they could giggle about them. Since the campground doesn’t offer numbered or distinct campsite loops, the best places to set up are the shady pockets furthest from the gravel road you drove in, where the breeze is cooler and the trees thin just enough for those pretty filtered sunsets. While you’ll feel embedded in nature here, should you need any supplies, you can quickly access big box retailers and restaurants in less than 20 minutes from here in nearby East Peoria. I’d recommend this campground for families who appreciate quiet nature time, EZ access to paddling and fishing as well as a peaceful wooded environment that feels far from everything yet wonderfully grounding.
LegendThe parking lot for this big blue discount retailer is about the size of a football field, so a decent amount of space. When we stopped by, it was mid-morning on a Saturday, which should have been quite busy, but in fact, it was fairly desolate. The lot is incredibly flat – not very difficult to achieve here in the Prairie state – with substantial space every which way you look for solid expanse to land your RV, rig or trailer. This standard-issued value retailer is somewhat new and is surrounded by a number of other commercial operations including gas stations, grocery stores and some really nice local joints should you be on the look out for either some great BBQ or fresh fried chicken right on the main street that brought you into this particular Walmart.
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: 3
Safety & Security: 4
Quality: 4
Peace & Quiet: 3
Amenities: 4
Overall, I scored this location a 4.
Happy Overnighting!
Central Illinois camping spots near Bloomington offer a variety of terrain from open prairie to wooded lakeshores with elevations ranging from 700-850 feet above sea level. Many campgrounds near Bloomington remain accessible year-round, though winter visitors should note that water services are typically disconnected from November through March. The region's flat topography makes most sites suitable for both tents and RVs, with concrete pads available at newer facilities.
Fishing opportunities: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area provides year-round fishing access with unusually warm waters. A visitor noted, "Clinton Lake is a boating destination as the waters are unusually warm due to the discharge from the nearby nuclear plant."
Hiking trails: Moraine View State Recreational Area offers multiple trail systems through prairie and wooded areas. "Has sections of niceness hiking and kayaking," shared one camper, while another mentioned the "Tall Timber" area for primitive camping with "nice trail" access.
Kids' activities: Timberline Campground provides structured recreation options for families. "Plenty of activities for kids! Camp ground slightly packed, but would still return back. Great for families with kids," reports one visitor, while another mentions the "jumping pillow and several playgrounds."
Secluded tent sites: Several campgrounds offer primitive or walk-in tent sites away from RV areas. At Weldon Springs State Park, "The backcountry sites are short walk from the parking lot if carrying heavy gear, but still spaced out enough to feel isolated. Vault toilets right at the parking lot as well."
Wildlife viewing: Morning bird watching opportunities exist throughout the area. One camper at Moraine View described waking up to "Fall colors, Canadian geese, trails, playgrounds. We got there in the dark and woke up to Fall colors."
Water access: Direct lakefront camping is available at Comlara County Park where you can camp near water. "We got a beautiful spot right on the lake," shared one visitor, while another described Site 14 as "very spacious" with "the best part was the view of the lake."
Beach fees: Swimming areas at some parks charge separate admission fees. At Moraine View State Park, one visitor mentioned "$3 entry for beach" while another camper at Clinton Lake noted, "2 dollar beach entry 10-7 pm."
Site selection strategy: Campgrounds have distinct loops with different characteristics. According to one camper at Clinton Lake, "The loops that allow alcohol can get a bit rowdy with weekend partiers, but the alcohol restricted loops can get loud from all the families."
Cell service: Reception varies significantly between campgrounds. At Kentuckiana Campground, "There is no cell/LTE reception out here (Sprint or Verizon). We drove to Casey's for a pizza and got a small cell signal there."
Swimming options: Multiple lakes offer swimming areas with varying amenities. At Clinton Lake, "We stayed in the J loop, which was more family friendly and very close to the beach. There was a walking path from our site to the shore which was perfect for our young family to go back and forth on."
Playground access: Consider site location relative to play areas. Kentuckiana Campground features "nice big areas with playgrounds for kids" and a "giant slide" that makes it "great place for kids."
Entertainment planning: Limited connectivity means bringing offline entertainment. As one camper noted about Kentuckiana, "If you like to watch movies, I recommend bringing a DVD player since you likely won't be able to stream Netflix."
Overnight convenience: Love's RV Stop provides easy highway access for one-night stays. "Super convenient, great facility. Sites are concrete and level. If you're getting off the highway for an overnight stay these Loves are perfect," explains one RVer.
Electrical considerations: Check electrical service specifications before arrival. One camper warned about Wildwood Campground: "The electrical is very questionable, it's wired wrong on some spot and not on others, some have 30 amp plugs that are on 20 amp breakers."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate with limited facilities in cooler months. "Had practically the whole campground to ourselves. Water was turned off for winter which wasn't entirely clear. The RV fill was shutdown too," noted one off-season camper at Clinton Lake.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Bloomington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, Bloomington, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 53 campgrounds and RV parks near Bloomington, IL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Bloomington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Bloomington, IL is Comlara County Park with a 3.6-star rating from 35 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Bloomington, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Bloomington, IL.
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