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Camping near Carlinville, IL

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    SUMMARY PRESENTED BYT-Mobile

    State parks and private campgrounds surround Carlinville, Illinois, providing a range of camping experiences within central Illinois. Beaver Dam State Park Campground, located in nearby Plainview, offers year-round camping with both primitive tent sites and electric hookups for RVs. Country Bend Campground in Litchfield provides family-oriented camping with recreational amenities including fishing ponds and walking trails. The Double J Campground and RV Park near Chatham features spacious sites with full hookups, while Sherwood Forest in Hillsboro caters to both tent and RV campers. Most campgrounds in the region operate on flat terrain typical of central Illinois, with varying levels of shade and proximity to small lakes or ponds. Campers looking for Carlinville camping options can find accommodations ranging from basic tent sites to fully-equipped RV campgrounds within a short drive of town.

    Seasonal considerations significantly impact camping conditions around Carlinville. Spring rains can create muddy conditions at many sites, particularly at campgrounds with gravel pads. As one camper noted about Country Bend, "Be prepared for mud and standing water. 4WD a must" after heavy rainfall. Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally from April through October, though Beaver Dam State Park and The Double J remain open year-round. Facilities vary widely across the region, with state parks typically offering basic amenities while private campgrounds provide more extensive hookups and recreational facilities. Proximity to town is a notable advantage, with one Beaver Dam visitor mentioning, "The campground is just a few minutes from Carlinville Walmart and restaurants."

    Fishing opportunities represent a significant draw for campers in the Carlinville area. Beaver Dam State Park features a small lake with boat access and fishing docks, complete with a fish cleaning station. Trails around water features are common at most campgrounds, though visitors note varying quality of trail maintenance. Campers frequently mention the agricultural setting as part of the experience, with cornfields often bordering campgrounds. As one visitor to Double J Campground observed, "The campground is next to a large corn field... during the growing/harvest season there may be dust and noise from equipment." Most campgrounds in the region are pet-friendly and offer fire rings at individual sites, though noise from nearby highways can be an issue at some locations.

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    Best Campgrounds near Carlinville (59)

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      1. Beaver Dam State Park Campground

      3.4(11)7mi from CarlinvilleRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "The trail map is very basic and not totally accurate. The trails are poorly marked but with basic knowledge of your compass points you can figure them out."

      "There is a nice walking trail path that goes around the exterior of the lake. The lake has boat access and some good fishing spots. There is also a restaurant and store on the lake."

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      2. Country Bend Campground

      4.2(10)13mi from CarlinvilleRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This beautiful campground has many things to offer and is only a few minutes from the local drive in movie theater in Litchfield Illinois."

      "Pretty scenery to walk around.  Plenty of lakes/ponds to fish.  We couldn't boat while there due to COVID but look forward to going back and taking our kayaks.  Attentive and Friendly camp hosts."

      from $25 - $40 / night

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      3. Kamper Kompanion RV Park

      4.5(4)13mi from CarlinvilleRVs, Tents

      "Just off the highway, but minimal noise. Clean. Well maintained. Pleasant staff. We had a long pull through, but there are a limited number of those."

      "Easy on off, right by highway, pulled in after dark and they met us to show us to the site and got us settled. Easy pull thru site with 40' and toad."

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      4. The Double J Campground and RV Park

      4.6(22)29mi from CarlinvilleRVs, Tents

      "We stayed here in order to visit Springfield, Illinois, and we really enjoyed this spot."

      "The campground is next to a large corn field that has recently been cut; I suspect during the growing/harvest season there may be dust and noise from equipment, and perhaps overspray from any chemicals"

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      5. Sherwood Forest

      4.8(6)23mi from CarlinvilleRVs, Tents

      "We stayed here in our Motorhome but the sites are pretty small and you are right next to your neighbor."

      "After a massive disappointment at a nearby state park, we came to Sherwood Forest as a last resort. We were beyond pleasantly surprised!"

      from $25 - $45 / night

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      6. Rustic Acres Jellystone

      4.5(4)22mi from CarlinvilleRVs, Tents, Cabins

      "We chose this campground because it was near our route and we needed a place to stay for one night."

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      7. Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

      4.7(21)34mi from CarlinvilleRVs, 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."

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      8. Waverly Lake City Park

      4.3(4)24mi from CarlinvilleTents, Glamping
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      9. Lazy Days RV Park & Campground

      Be the first to review11mi from CarlinvilleRVs

      from $40 / night

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      10. Hidden Ridge

      Be the first to review11mi from CarlinvilleTents
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    Recent Camping Photos near Carlinville, IL

    31 Photos of 59 Carlinville Campgrounds

    Recent Reviews near Carlinville, IL

    316 Reviews of 59 Carlinville Campgrounds

    • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 31, 2026

      St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park

      Our Recommended Campground for Visiting the St. Louis Area

      This campground was easy to find, as both our GPS and the campground signs led us right to the city park and campground entrance. Check-in begins at 2:00 p.m., but we called ahead and were graciously allowed to arrive an hour early. We checked in and proceeded to back-in Site 426 with full hookups. As the last site in the campground, the curve in the road made for an exceptionally easy back-in. The concrete pad easily accommodated our 40-foot toy hauler and F-450, with utilities conveniently located near the center of the site and no issues connecting two sewer hoses. Water pressure was adequate, and the 50-amp electric performed flawlessly. The campground's four loops have mostly younger trees, so satellite reception should not be a problem in most sites. Although we brought our Starlink, we used our T-Mobile Home Internet instead, averaging 217 Mbps download and 21.5 Mbps upload. The campground information sheet mentioned Wi-Fi, but we never saw a network to join and didn't inquire further since our internet worked well. We received three bars on Verizon and two bars on T-Mobile. The campground has a nice fenced dog park that's large enough to actually throw a ball, plus a paved walking and biking trail that circles the lake. The office also sells ice and firewood, and the dump station is located behind the office. Many sites offer lake views, and the RV sites are generally well spaced. We noticed Loop 100 has all concrete pads, the first two rows of Loop 200 are concrete with the remaining sites primarily gravel except for some end sites, Loop 300 is reserved for primitive camping and tents, and Loop 400 has a mix of concrete and gravel sites. The center rows of the RV loops are pull-throughs. One thing to be aware of is that the campground has begun charging short-term campers for electricity. We weren't informed about it during check-in, although our traveling companions were shown how to monitor their usage online. The information sheet we received only referenced weekly and monthly electric charges. Even with hot weather and occasionally running three air conditioners during our three-day stay, our electric charge was only about $14. We departed without stopping at the office and received a checkout email about an hour after the noon checkout time. The St. Louis area is our home base, and in our opinion, this is the best RV park in the area and the one we most often recommend to our RV friends.

    • Tammy S.
      Jul. 30, 2026

      St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park

      Great price for what you get!

      Full hook up. Lovely lake. Great paved path. Sites are level. Landscaping is amazing. My only issue is no shade trees. Where else are you getting full hook up with all of these activities for this price?

    • J
      Jul. 30, 2026

      The Double J Campground and RV Park

      Greta stop

      Great stop for Route 66 we sorted it all online late at night. Lovely and quiet with amazing facilities that are worth the price

    • IThe Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 23, 2026

      Lake Taylorville City Campground

      In the middle of long-term campers

      Challenge to find the assigned camping site, which turned out to be on a slope with a picnic table in the middle of it, which I was unable to move, so I took another spot that was somewhat flatter. There are only 12 overnight campsites at this campground which do have concrete slabs however they are all very slanted and the electric box is a ways away. In addition, the bathhouse is no where near these sites.

    • Cha M.
      Jul. 19, 2026

      Sangchris Lake State Park Campground

      Common smaller campground with great views

      This is the bigger campground between hickory point and deer run options. The shower house, snack shop, and city water are onsite. There are vault toilets near the primitive camping, as well as another water spigot. Playground, pavillion, and sand volleyball court give options to entertain kids, with plenty of fishing, trails, and lake views to entertain the adults. We primitive camped here at the closest site to the parking. #57 is the closest, with the rest of the primitive sites being more of a trek to the site. However, the privacy, quietness, and views are 100% worth the trek to us. We did camp with a doggo, who does bark at passerby’s that are “too close” in her opinion but otherwise doesn’t. All the campers during our stay except for one very disruptive couple, did not complain at all and many came to give her loves or treats to help prevent further barking when they passed by. And honestly, the couple that did make the comment, clearly need to be at different campgrounds because the host had to come break them up after quiet hours began and they didn’t respect that rule. We also then were woken up by the same couple as they were packing up the next morning due to them yelling at each other. The hosts did try to make sure they slowed down while passing this site though, and I do believe if we had made some sort of complaint to them, they would have handled it immediately. We love this campground, and honestly we feel as if anywhere there are rvs allowed, you will likely have someone make a comment about the dog. It’s never been other tent campers, even the ones on electric sites. The snack shop has ice (currently $3 even a bag, with hosts including tax in the $3 to make it easier for campers), firewood bundles (not sure on price) as well as many smaller campground necessities including snacks and drinks, some fishing tackle, and some other camping things such as bug spray and sunblock. I did not check any prices on those. There is technically a bait shop also nearby, though between two longer stays here and at deer run, we’ve only seen him open once. And according to one of the hosts, he doesn’t seem to have “regular hours” other than he’s for sure closed Sundays and Mondays. The following Tuesday after learning this, he was also closed all day. So I’m not sure about anything there. He does also have an ice machine outside though.

    • 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.

    • WThe Dyrt Pro User
      Jul. 19, 2026

      Sherwood Forest

      Great spot by lake

      This place was amazing other than the humidity (mid july). Showed up and the hosts were super nice and helped me to my spot. They have lots of camper spots, most seemed like long term campers. I used a tent and had a great spot near the lake. No other tent campers around. They have a good open spot for tents that you just find a spot and set up. Campers seemed nice and we re quiet.

    • Tammy S.
      Jul. 16, 2026

      St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park

      Incredible

      Beautiful grounds. Paved level sites. Great path around the lake. Wish there were trees

    • Tammy S.
      Jul. 15, 2026

      St. Peters' 370 Lakeside Park

      Great facility

      The grounds are so well maintained. The spaces are level and paved. The path around the lake is awesome. A lot of activities in one location. My only issue is no shade. It’s a newer facility so the trees are not mature.

    Guide to Carlinville

    Camping near Carlinville, Illinois ranges from public state parks to private RV facilities, all situated in the prairie landscape of central Illinois. The region typically experiences hot, humid summers with temperatures reaching 90°F and cold winters where temperatures can drop below freezing. Most campsites near Carlinville sit on relatively flat terrain at elevations around 600-650 feet above sea level, with minimal elevation changes throughout the camping areas.

    What to do

    Fishing at multiple lakes: Sangchris Lake State Park Campground offers excellent fishing opportunities from private docks at lakeside campsites. "I took a trip alone with my tent for 4 days in May. The place is as pristine as it was when I was a kid... wonderful fishing to be had," notes one visitor to Sangchris Lake State Park Campground.

    Mini golf and outdoor recreation: Family activities at some campgrounds include putt-putt courses and swimming. At Country Bend Campground, "Huge campground with a lot of different areas. Be prepared for a lot of walking unless you rent or bring your own golf cart. Holiday weekends have so many planned activities, some for all ages."

    Walking and biking trails: Several campgrounds maintain walking paths for exercise and nature observation. One visitor at Sangchris Lake mentioned, "Great to ride a bike around, too!" While another camper stated, "We really loved the bridges with trails to ponds, and the jumping pillow" at Country Bend Campground.

    What campers like

    Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain well-kept bathroom facilities. At The Double J Campground and RV Park, visitors appreciate that "Shower house is clean, camp ground is well run, they even escort you to your site so that your facing the right way and take a route that best suites your rig."

    Quiet atmosphere: Several campgrounds offer peaceful settings away from city noise. Waverly Lake City Park provides a tranquil experience as one camper noted, "My wife and I really enjoy this campsite... It's quiet and peaceful, however there's not much to do."

    Wildlife viewing: Natural settings provide opportunities to observe local fauna. At Sherwood Forest, the surrounding environment was highlighted by a visitor who mentioned "the nature around this place is a plus. As many people have mentioned, it's a hidden gem!"

    What you should know

    Seasonal closures: Most campgrounds operate April through October, though some remain open year-round. The limited winter camping options include Beaver Dam State Park and The Double J Campground.

    Water access varies: Not all campgrounds provide water hookups at individual sites. At Beaver Dam State Park Campground, "All sites are shaded and mostly level with pull-thru or back-in parking. Each site has electric, however the water spigots are scattered about."

    Insect preparation: Mosquitoes can be problematic, especially near water features. One camper at Beaver Dam State Park noted, "Mosquitoes are bad, remember to bring repellent."

    Weather impact: Spring rain significantly affects ground conditions. A visitor to Waverly Lake mentioned, "My wife and I were homeless for a month and needed to break out the tents. We had a pleasant and fairly private experience... Be mindful of field roaches and raccoons at night."

    Tips for camping with families

    Choose activity-rich campgrounds: Families benefit from campgrounds with recreational amenities. At Rustic Acres Jellystone, "The campsites are small and a bit pricey, but it is a great family friendly place. Good pizza and amazing ice cream at the store! Kid fun and themed activities, bounce trampoline pillow, pool, etc."

    Consider site spacing: Family privacy varies between campgrounds. One visitor to Sherwood Forest noted, "Our site is very large with an equally large grass lawn area," making it ideal for families needing space.

    Plan for lake activities: Many campgrounds feature fishing opportunities suitable for children. At Sangchris Lake, "All sites at Hickory Point very close to lake. Several fishing docks in campground," providing easy access for family fishing.

    Tips from RVers

    Pull-through accessibility: Many campgrounds offer pull-through sites for easier access. At Double J Campground, "All are pull through. Full hook ups. Nice in ground pool and laundry facilities," making it convenient for larger rigs.

    Campground navigation assistance: Some campgrounds provide staff help with parking. At Double J, "They even escort you to your site so that your facing the right way and take a route that best suites your rig."

    Site surface conditions: Pay attention to the ground surface at sites. At Kamper Kompanion RV Park, one visitor noted it was "Easy on off, right by highway, pulled in after dark and they met us to show us to the site and got us settled. Easy pull thru site with 40' and toad."

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are there private campgrounds in Carlinville, Illinois?

    While Carlinville itself has limited private camping options, several private campgrounds are within reasonable driving distance. Springfield KOA is about 30-40 minutes away, offering a quiet setting with good facilities, though sites can get muddy after rain. It's conveniently located about 20 minutes from Springfield attractions like the State Fair. For RV travelers, Kamper Kompanion RV Park near Litchfield provides water hookups and is big-rig friendly. Those willing to travel a bit further might consider Rustic Acres Jellystone, which offers both drive-in and walk-in access with various amenities for families.

    Is camping available at Carlinville Lake?

    While there isn't dedicated camping at Carlinville Lake itself, nearby Beaver Dam State Park Campground offers camping opportunities close to Carlinville. This park features spacious primitive tent camping areas with fire pits, adjustable grills, and picnic tables. Most sites have concrete slabs for gatherings and parking for two vehicles. The park has outhouses and shower facilities, though bathroom maintenance can be inconsistent. For lake-focused camping in the general region, Waverly Lake City Park provides an alternative with drive-in access and facilities for campers.

    What campgrounds are available near Carlinville, IL?

    Several campgrounds are available within driving distance of Carlinville. Pere Marquette State Park Campground offers 88 sites with electric hookups (30 or 50 amp) for $20 per night, plus tent-only sites without electricity for $8. The park features great hiking trails and is located along the Illinois River near Grafton. Sangchris Lake State Park Campground is another option in the region. For those willing to travel a bit further, The Double J Campground and RV Park near Springfield provides well-sized sites with good highway access and nice amenities.

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