SUMMER SALE 50% off The Dyrt PRO — just $2.49/moGet now
SALE: PRO just $2.49/mo
The Dyrt – find campgrounds for tents, RVs, cabins, glamping and more.
Open in App

Equestrian Camping near Butler, IL

9 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.

Search destinations
    Add dates
    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area has equestrian campsites that accommodate horses, though the sites lack electricity. The shaded campgrounds offer water access and toilet facilities for campers bringing horses. Trails at Ramsey Lake are wide and well-maintained, though some visitors note they aren't clearly marked. The campground provides space for both riders and their horses with reasonable fees and clean facilities. Horseback riders access multiple trail options directly from the camping area, with primitive camping areas designed specifically for equestrians traveling with their animals.

    Located approximately 60 miles from Butler, Sangchris Lake State Park offers additional horse camping opportunities with more extensive trail systems. The park features larger campsites that can accommodate horse trailers with designated parking areas. Both parks maintain bridle trails that connect to broader trail networks, giving riders options for day-long excursions. Water sources for horses are available near the camping areas, though riders should verify seasonal availability. Trail conditions vary depending on recent weather, with some sections becoming muddy after rain. Horse owners should bring their own feed and portable containment systems, as permanent corrals are not available at either location.

    Connectivity Maps

    Presented byT-MobileT-Mobile is introducing T-Satellite to extend coverage in the outdoorsLearn More
    Map showing cell service coverage and campground pins
    Try Connectivity Maps

    Best Equestrian Campgrounds near Butler (9)

    Filters    Tent onlyRVCabinGlampingPetsEquestrian

      1. Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

      4.7(21)31mi from ButlerRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "These walk in sites check all the boxes.  At the western part of the RV loop, is a peninsula of primitive tent camping spots to choose from. "

      "Lots of trails, Lake Sangchris is very close by for fishing & kayaking. Quiet campground; great place to unwind."

      Check Availability

      2. Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

      4.3(4)22mi from ButlerRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The park is reasonable priced, beautiful surrounding and friendly staff. Would definitely come again. The only downside is that it’s somewhat far from supply stores"

      "Shut down some karaoke party in a loop around 9pm. Will go back."

      Check Availability

      3. Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

      3.9(11)32mi from ButlerRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The primitive sites were perfectly quiet and away from others. Toilet was close and so was parking. I kind of miss tent camping!!!"

      "Bathrooms are basic and in the front of the camp loops so you have a walk if you stay in the back like I did.  Also, water is in the center of the loop so not very convenient. "

      Check Availability

      4. Deer Run Campground — Sangchris Lake State Park

      4.0(4)32mi from ButlerRVs, Tents

      "As mentioned, only well water available on the campgrounds here, however you still have access to amenities available at hickory point just a short drive away."

      "The showers are at the Hickory Point campground (just a minute or two drive) and available for use with the Deer Run camp sites as well."

      Check Availability

      5. Dam West Spillway

      4.4(10)42mi from ButlerRVs, Tents

      "It is directly on Carlyle Lake, ,the largest lake in Illinois. It has activities for children on the weekends."

      "Right next to the marina and with many sites right on the lake, you can’t go wrong here."

      from $30 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Illinois State Fair Campground

      4.3(12)44mi from ButlerRVs, Tents

      "Not too close to your neighbor. Take time to walk around the fairgrounds as they are pretty. The 4H building has a lovely garden out front."

      "20 per night for a a pull behind RV on an electric/water site. $30 for a full hookup. Large clean bathrooms, dated but useable."

      from $20 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground

      4.0(10)45mi from ButlerRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Great spot in a beautiful area close to St. Louis. No power but access to drinking water and waste water dump for just 8$."

      "Horseshoe Lake is one of my most visited parks and most favorite park in the STL and surrounding areas. First off absolutely beautiful land and peace is easily achieved."

      Check Availability

      8. Waverly Lake City Park

      4.3(4)38mi from ButlerTents, Glamping
      Check Availability

      9. Wolf Creek State Park Campground

      3.9(11)50mi from ButlerRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "The park is huge and is one of the only state park's in Illinois with horse camping and horse trails."

      "Lots of equestrian parking and camping flush toilets neat trails very swell nice better if s en during the fall. Fishing and boatibg here as well."

      Check Availability
    View all 9 campgrounds

    2026 Explorer Giveaway

    Review Campgrounds. Win Prizes.

    Enter to Win

    Butler Contest

    Enter to Win

    Drive Time

    Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Butler, IL

    4 Photos of 9 Butler Campgrounds

    Equestrian Camping Reviews near Butler, IL

    87 Reviews of 9 Butler Campgrounds

    • Michael M.
      Oct. 9, 2017

      Wolf Creek State Park Campground

      Great camping all year round

      We have camped here many times and this time was awesome as well. The park is huge and is one of the only state park's in Illinois with horse camping and horse trails. There are 13 horse camp sites and additional trailer parking for about 6 more rigs with tie out posts for riders that will not be camping. There are several miles of horse trails and the area is set apart from hiking trails and the other camping areas. There are hundreds of campsites in this park in addition to the horse campgrounds and the entire area is maintained by the US Corps of Engineers. There are full hookup RV sites everywhere with tons of flush toilet bathrooms and shower houses in each large section. There is also a tent camp area without electricity, these sites are cheaper and there are lake front sites available here too. There is a beach that closes after Labor Day, but there are lots of sites available all year round. There are lots of hiking trails and deer run through the park in herds in the winter months. The hiking is OK in this park and good if you like short 1 to 1 1/2 mile hikes. I recommend visiting in the fall after Labor Day, October when leaves are changing is my favorite time for this campground. Clean restrooms, showers and a small store at the entrance for bait, firewood or forgotten items make this a great place to spend a few days.

      Website: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/WolfCreek.aspx

    • A
      Aug. 12, 2018

      Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area

      Shad cap sites

      Biggest draw back is no electricity in equestrian sites. There’s is water and toilets trails aren’t marked real well but very wide nicely maintained to.

    • A
      Aug. 12, 2018

      Wolf Creek State Park Campground

      Clean park

      Lots of equestrian parking and camping flush toilets neat trails very swell nice better if s en during the fall. Fishing and boatibg here as well.

    • M
      Aug. 2, 2019

      Wolf Creek State Park Campground

      Wonderful State Campground

      This is a wonderful campground with drive in availability, equestrian camp and reservable sites!  The have great camp hosts Dave and Sharon on the reservable side that will help out in anyway and are so friendly!  This campground also has boat access and a beach and hiking trails.   It is built into the woods so most lots are very shady and all are very level.

    • J
      Oct. 27, 2018

      Dam West Spillway

      Lots of trees, shades, great campsites, friendly hosts and clean facilities

      This campground qualifies for the senior pass for reduced rates. It is directly on Carlyle Lake, ,the largest lake in Illinois. It has activities for children on the weekends. The campsites have sewer and water on some sites, as well as other sites with electricity available. There are a lot of mature trees in the campground that provides plenty of shade int he summer. Many of the sites are blacktopped and large RV's will fit on the sites. There is a beach very near the campground that is within walking distance. There are also pools located near to the campground that can be used by the public.

    • B
      Jul. 8, 2025

      Wolf Creek State Park Campground

      Bad Management Ready To Ruin Your Holiday

      This park is beautiful, clean and the people were friendly. My issue is with the site supervisor and superintendent. On July 4th 2025 we were given the option of moving our entire campsite or being kicked out of the park. JULY 4TH! We booked our campsite in the last week of April, paid in full. We were the second party to book any spot in the entire campground! We chose our spot specifically for the access to the water and seclusion from the rest of the sites. Come to find out(a day after we set up camp) we booked in "horse camp" which apparently requires you to have horses. It never stated this on the website or rental confirmation we received. Nobody reached out to us in the three months we held the booking to confirm if we had horses. There was no on-site check in that could have saved us the trouble. No, instead we had to take 4 hours out of our holiday to pack all of our stuff and move into overflow camping or be forced to leave. Because of their mistake. Absolutely ruined our holiday with zero remorse or understanding. The icing on the cake was as we were leaving horse camp we noticed multiple other camp sites where people had not brought horses. They stated this happens all the time. If site management had two braincells to rub together they would fix their website instead of consistently ruining peoples trips and holidays. And then these people had the audacity to say they weren't going to charge us for the campsite they moved us to?!?! In reality, we should be receiving a full refund for the campsite we did pay for and free passes for the rest of the year. There is a second state campground on the other side of the lake I would suggest before coming to this place.

    • M
      Sep. 5, 2021

      Illinois State Fair Campground

      Can’t beat it for the money but…

      We came Labor Day weekend to site see Lincoln museum and when we arrived there were motorcycle races going on next to the camp office and shower house and it was packed! The host took us to the opposite side of the fair and found us a site with electric and water on grass near the harness track barns and across from the grandstand. There were alot of a class RVs there for the Morgan horse show going on in the Coliseum parked by us. No tables or fire rings. We were near public toilets but no showers in our area. It was fine for two nights

    • Cha M.
      Jul. 19, 2026

      Deer Run Campground — Sangchris Lake State Park

      Small, quiet, state park camping

      Couple camping here, spent multiple nights in a row in primitive camping here. As mentioned, only well water available on the campgrounds here, however you still have access to amenities available at hickory point just a short drive away. Shower house and city water available that way. Playground for kiddos on site. Lots of people bring pets, including equestrian for those campsite. Those do include the post to tie up on at each site. The hosts (bob and dawn were really checking in on us that stay, including being able to help when we accidentally killed our car battery. They also made thorough and consistent rounds which we appreciated. Also had Lynn, one of the idnr guys here, come back at the end of his shift to make sure we had learned about the storms coming in. He even checked in again the next chance he got to make sure we were okay still. We did end up leaving early, to which there is not refunds (I think this is state parks in general) however at $6 a night for primitive, we took that loss especially during an extreme heat warning (for multiple days). If you want a quieter campsite, I would recommend this one over hickory point as hickory point seems to be more RVers instead of the more primitive style of camping tends to be.

    • Annie C.The Dyrt PRO User
      Apr. 22, 2019

      Dam West Spillway

      Lakeside camping

      Ranger Review Primus LiTech Trek Kettle at Dam West Campground

      Campground Review

      What a great campground on the shore of Carlyle Lake! Right next to the marina and with many sites right on the lake, you can’t go wrong here. Sites looked a bit more level on the inside of the loop than the lakeside sites, but I guess that’s the price you pay for real estate. My site was not the most level, but only steps from the beach with a few trees that might work for hammocking. The site was really clean and had plenty of space, with a nice paved parking pad, fire pit, picnic table, and electric hook up (all sites have electric!). Across the drive was a nice amphitheater and playground and a basic bathroom. The fairly clean shower house for the whole campground is up near the entrance (it also has a laundry room, but I did not check it out). The campground host for this summer is super nice and is likely to visit for a bit as he buzzes around on his scooter. There is a bike path that goes right past the campground that was busy all weekend with bikers, runners, and walkers, and takes you from the shower house to the marina in just a short walk.

      Gear Review

      Primus LiTech Trek Kettle As a Ranger for The Dyrt, from time to time I get new gear to review. On this camping trip I tested out Primus LiTech Trek Kettle. I have to say, this may be my new favorite cooking pot. It is the perfect size for one person(which works well as I frequently camp solo). I used it to heat up some frozen chili for dinner and then used it again in the morning to heat water for oatmeal. Here’s what I liked: The kettle holds just a bit more than a liter of water(or chili), which is about all you need to make coffee, heat large single servings of food, or just about anything It’s non-stick, so clean-up is a breeze and doesn’t retain odors The handles fold out and are easy to grip, and fold around the pot for easy out of the way storage Its super light weight(perfect for backpacking) Even though it was taller than wide, water heated up in it very quickly My little fuel canister fits inside perfectly with almost no rattling Primus included a nice carrying bag that fits the pot and has a small bit of room to spare Here’s what baffled me: The lid doubles as a tiny nonstick frying pan. But it is big enough for maybe one egg. It is so small that I am not exactly sure what you could make in it. I understand the desire to make the lid“usable”, but maybe a regular lid with a colander built in would have been more useful. The lid is not a great fit, and when packing up for storage, it kept sliding off. Despite the weird frying pan lid, I am really happy with the LiTech Kettle. It meets all of my needs in a lightweight package. It is easy to clean up, packs small, has good handles, and is a great addition to my camp cooking arsenal.

    Guide to Butler

    Sangchris Lake State Park and Ramsey Lake offer additional equestrian camping options within 60 miles of Butler, Illinois. Located in central Illinois, this area features rolling terrain with elevations between 500-700 feet above sea level. Camping facilities remain open through most seasons, with many equestrian sites available from spring through fall when trail conditions are optimal.

    What to do

    Fishing opportunities: Lake access at Sangchris Lake State Park Campground provides productive angling. "This is a great little place to go fishing and just spend some time relaxing. Deer Run is mostly trailers and RVs, but can easily accommodate tent campers, and is less crowded than Hickory Point," notes Amy S.

    Hiking trails: Walk the maintained paths through woodland areas. "Plenty of wildlife to observe and wonderful fishing to be had. Great to ride a bike around, too!" shares Jessica N. from Sangchris Lake State Park.

    Bird watching: Seasonal migrations bring diverse species. "This is a great place when the geese are migrating thru," reports Kent B. who visited Horseshoe Lake State Park Campground.

    What campers like

    Affordability: Low-cost camping sites make extended stays possible. "Horseshoe Lake is one of my most favorite parks in the STL and surrounding areas. Self service pay system makes it simple, easy, and fast. 8$ a night," writes Travis about Horseshoe Lake State Park.

    Quiet atmosphere: Secluded sites provide peaceful retreats. "The campground is relatively small but has great sites to camp. Very private and clean. 5 ⭐ in my opinion simply because of the overnight price and privacy," says WanderlustDu0 about Horseshoe Lake State Park.

    Clean facilities: Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area maintains well-kept grounds. "The park is reasonable priced, beautiful surrounding and friendly staff. Would definitely come again. The only downside is that it's somewhat far from supply stores," notes Jareth C.

    What you should know

    Water access limitations: Not all equestrian campsites have water hookups. "Biggest draw back is no electricity in equestrian sites. There's is water and toilets trails aren't marked real well but very wide nicely maintained to," explains Alicia B. about Ramsey Lake.

    Primitive camping considerations: Basic facilities at some equestrian sites. "Very primitive camping. Toilets only, but the campsites are spaced comfortably apart. The grounds are well maintained," shares Wendy about Horseshoe Lake State Park.

    Reservation requirements: Wolf Creek State Park Campground has specific booking procedures. "This is a wonderful campground with drive in availability, equestrian camp and reservable sites!" explains MeriLee B.

    Tips for camping with families

    Playground access: Recreational facilities for children at some parks. "Kid had a blast at playground with other kids. Cold showers but said they were looking into it," shares J N. about Ramsey Lake State Recreation Area.

    Safety considerations: Sangchris Lake State Park Deer Run Campground provides managed environments. "The camp host was super friendly, the sites were large and the primitive sites at the back were incredibly beautiful! The prices were very low," writes Colin H.

    Wildlife education: Morning animal sightings create learning opportunities. "There are lots of hiking trails and deer run through the park in herds in the winter months," Michael M. notes about Wolf Creek State Park.

    Tips from RVers

    Site selection: Dam West Spillway offers various options. "We stayed the weekend here and it got really busy. When we tried to book online, all were taken but saw they had a few sites that were first come. Luckily, we got one of the last two," advises Jacqueline F.

    Power management: Electrical hookups vary between campgrounds. "Nice big spots. 30 and 50 amp available. Right on lake Shelbyville. 309 spots 141 are reservable," reports Sonya A. about Wolf Creek State Park.

    Water connections: Prepare for limited hookups at horse campgrounds. "The keepers are super friendly and accommodating. Most lots are spacious. My only complaint would be that the trash dumpsters are too far away from the camping areas," says Lori W. about Wolf Creek.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Butler, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Butler, IL is Sangchris Lake State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 21 reviews.

    What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Butler, IL?

    TheDyrt.com has all 9 equestrian camping locations near Butler, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.

    Keep Exploring