Camping areas near Charleston, Illinois feature mostly flat terrain at elevations around 700 feet above sea level with typically hot summers and cold winters. The region sits in a transitional zone between forest and prairie ecosystems, providing diverse wildlife viewing opportunities. Most campgrounds remain open from April through October, closing during winter months when temperatures regularly drop below freezing.
What to do
Fishing at local lakes: Spring Creek Campground in Montrose offers good fishing opportunities at their pond. "This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've been in in a long time. It's small, owned by an older farmer, has electricity and bathrooms. It's on a couple of small lakes and the bird sounds, the frogs, ducks, the whole natural environment is just wonderful," notes Jeri B.
Walking trails: D & W Lake RV Park features a pleasant walking path around its lake. "The lake behind our trailer is beautiful and can be fished Catch and Release with Blue Gill and Bass," reports Luna L. The park also offers "a trail around it for walking" according to Dave P.
Golfing nearby: Tin Cup RV Park is located on a driving range, making it convenient for golf enthusiasts. Marisa A. explains that it's "Super nice owners of this driving range with campsites. It's extremely close to the popular Lake of the Woods Forest preserve."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Camp Lakewood maintains exceptionally clean facilities. "Everything is super clean here, staff is friendly. There is laundry on site and the showers are some of the cleanest I've seen," reports Declan W M. Riley J. agrees: "The bathrooms are so clean!"
Spacious sites: Bo Wood on Lake Shelbyville offers generous camping spaces. "All of the sites we saw in our 'loop' were super wide, all gravel and quite level. So well kept.....fire pit with grate, large picnic table....really, the site couldn't have been better," shares Chris S.
Peaceful atmosphere: Many campers appreciate the quiet settings. At Spring Creek Campground, Carol notes: "Everything I needed, and quiet," while Jeri B. calls it "Beautiful, serene." Similarly, Charles K. describes it as a "Great little quiet camp ground. Far enough away from the interstate you don't hear the traffic."
What you should know
Reservation policies: Some campgrounds have flexible check-in practices. At Spring Creek Campground, one reviewer noted: "We stopped for an overnight, arrived late. Owners very accommodating and very nice. No reservation was needed, just stop in, find a site and we'll find you in the morning."
Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds close during winter. Casey KOA operates from "Mar 1 to Oct 31" according to their season information. Bo Wood is open from "mid apr-late oct," making fall a good time to visit when "October camping at Bo Woods most agreeable with less people tent camping and less boat traffic on the lake."
Highway proximity: Percival Springs RV Campground is conveniently located for travelers passing through. Bill B. says it offers "Good Stop N Go" accommodations with "Huge pull thru sites for about 4 rigs. Lots of grass for 4 legged friends."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds available: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At Spring Creek Campground, Jessi R. mentions a "Nice playground in the shade next to a pavilion" and Sara T. agrees: "Playground is good!"
Swimming options: Limited swimming facilities exist at some locations. Riley J. explains about Camp Lakewood: "The swimming area is basically just a dock you can jump off of but it's not crowded at all so plenty of room for my family."
Kid-friendly programming: Casey KOA provides family activities typical of KOA campgrounds. Montt B. shares: "The pool was nice and well maintained and so are the showers and restrooms. But the shower house does not have AC so keep that in mind."
Tips from RVers
Levelness of sites: Many RVers appreciate level camping spots in the area. At D & W Lake RV Park, Ricky L. notes: "Sites level, plenty of space between campers, shade trees, loved the dog run too."
Accessibility for larger vehicles: Several campgrounds accommodate big rigs. Spring Creek Campground provides good access according to Charles K.: "Big rig friendly. Bob showed up as I pulled in and made sure I was all set for the night."
Hookup availability: Full hookups are available at many rv campgrounds near Charleston, Illinois. At Camp Lakewood, Richard D. mentions: "Very nice people. Kind. Clean site with excellent WIFI. Park was full and we were streaming video. Had only three interruptions for buffering but they were short."
