Best Equestrian Camping near Champaign, IL

Moraine View State Recreational Area accommodates equestrians with specialized riding facilities and access to multi-use trails. The 1,687-acre park features primitive horse camping sections in the Tall Timber area where campers report good trail connectivity for riders. Trailheads are accessible directly from the campgrounds, allowing horses and riders to navigate the park's woodland paths without crossing major roads. Trailer parking is available in designated areas adjacent to the equestrian campsites. While the campground does not offer permanent horse corrals, riders typically bring portable corrals or use high-line systems. Water access for horses is limited at campsites, so visitors should bring containers for transporting water from central spigots. The water occasionally appears discolored but remains safe for livestock use.

Located 25 miles east of Bloomington near Le Roy, the equestrian trails at Moraine View connect to a network of riding paths that circle the 158-acre lake. The park maintains approximately 9 miles of bridle trails that wind through wooded areas and open meadows. Riders have reported occasional maintenance issues on some trail sections following heavy rainfall. Primitive horse camping is available year-round, weather permitting, though reservations are recommended during peak season from May through October. The lake provides a scenic backdrop for rides, with trails offering views across the water. Standard campground amenities include drinking water, fire rings, and access to toilets. The equestrian sites require a standard camping fee plus vehicle entry fee, with additional charges for extra vehicles or trailers.

Best Equestrian Sites Near Champaign, Illinois (3)

    1. Moraine View State Recreational Area

    27 Reviews
    Le Roy, IL
    31 miles
    Website
    +1 (309) 724-8032

    $40 - $20 / night

    "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."

    2. Wolf Creek State Park Campground

    10 Reviews
    Findlay, IL
    48 miles
    Website

    "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."

    3. Whitley Creek - Lake Shelbyville

    3 Reviews
    Sullivan, IL
    44 miles
    Website
    +1 (217) 774-3951

    "But a beautiful lake and campground."

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Recent Equestrian Camping Photos near Champaign, IL

3 Photos of 3 Champaign Campgrounds


Equestrian Camping Reviews near Champaign, IL

40 Reviews of 3 Champaign Campgrounds


  • Sage C.
    Jul. 13, 2018

    Moraine View State Recreational Area

    Moraine View beautiful long walk

    I visited this campground for the hiking. I never did all of the trails but spent an afternoon hiking with a friend last summer. Not going to lie we did get lost due to lack of proper signage but it all worked out when we found the equestrian trail. Beautiful walks through the trees and great campsites. Super cool but most sites are a hike to get there since they are in the woods. Small boat and kayak rentals are available here for fun in the daytime along with a great little food shack you can eat either inside or outside. Great spots to fish away from the open, very large lake. Would recommend attending this park for a day.

  • 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

    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.

  • 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.

  • Tim F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 18, 2021

    Moraine View State Recreational Area

    Lots of goose poop

    Nice state park in the not so great state of Illinois. Stayed July 4th weekend and it was blistering hot. This was a couple years ago. Pretty noisy also but that can happen anywhere. Nice lake for fishing and the whole park was great to take bike rides in. State park operated restaurant in park is a nice touch. Very handy for ice and drinks on a hot weekend.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2021

    Moraine View State Recreational Area

    5G AT&T, and great if prepared!

    So we loved staying here for 2 weeks, it was cozy and quiet. It had excellent 5G AT&T, 30amp service and lots of shade. We stayed in our 44’ Newmar Dutchstar.

    The Sites have lots of slope so bring many leveling pads/blocks (we needed 9 - 1.5” thick dica road warrior jack pads (highly recommend). 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.

    If my wife wrote this - it would be 4-stars due to showers without temp control and button timer style where you get 30-60 seconds of water for each push…

    Overall it was a great camp spot for Illinois and a good place to stay if your prepared for it!

  • Claudia L.
    Aug. 1, 2018

    Moraine View State Recreational Area

    Camping with Friends July 17, 2015

    The campground offers electric and non-electric. We were camping next to friends and the electrical area didn't offer much in the way of privacy between neighbors.

    There are regular and handicapped showers. Also a small playground for the kiddos. There is a beach within walking distance if you like to hike or drive by car. The beach wasn't kept up on cleanliness as it was covered in spots with geese droppings. The campground also has some hiking trails and fishing.

    The camp hosts are very nice and allowed us to pick another camp site spot due to severe rain storms that hit a few days before.

  • M
    Jul. 27, 2018

    Moraine View State Recreational Area

    Never Gets Old

    Living less than 5 mi away from Moraine Hills, I seem to never get bored. Every season, rain or shine, you’ll always find somethin new. Between endless geocaches, climbing trees, walking/bike trails, and picnic spots, its the perfect place for a quick stop or a sunrise to sundown day! Mark my word.


Guide to Champaign

Horse camping in Illinois offers a unique way to explore the great outdoors while enjoying the companionship of your equine friends. With various campgrounds catering to horse enthusiasts, you can find the perfect spot to saddle up and enjoy nature.

Equestrian campgrounds include essential amenities

  • At Moraine View State Recreational Area, you’ll find features like drinking water, electric hookups, and sanitary dump stations, making it a convenient choice for horse campers.

Activities for horse lovers

Tips for equestrian camping near Champaign, Illinois

  • When visiting Whitley Creek - Lake Shelbyville, be prepared for raccoons that are known to be quite bold, so secure your food and gear to keep your camping experience enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Champaign, IL is Moraine View State Recreational Area with a 3.9-star rating from 27 reviews.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 3 equestrian camping locations near Champaign, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.