10 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Questing Hills Equestrian Campground at Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area provides electric hookups and water access for campers traveling with horses. The facilities include drinking water, showers, toilets, and a sanitary dump station. While the campground itself does not feature dedicated horse corrals, it serves as a base camp for riders exploring the extensive trail system throughout the 16,000-acre wildlife area. Reservations are recommended for equestrian campers planning weekend visits. The bathrooms remain clean and stocked with supplies throughout the camping season. Though primitive by some standards, the sites offer level ground for setting up camp with horses nearby.
Trails throughout Jim Edgar Panther Creek connect directly to the equestrian camping area, allowing riders convenient access to miles of scenic routes. The park permits primitive camping with horses in designated areas, maintaining separation between equestrian campers and other visitors. Water crossings along the trails provide natural watering opportunities for horses during rides. The camping area accommodates both tent and RV campers who bring horses, with adequate space for trailer parking. Trail conditions vary seasonally, with some muddy sections developing after rainfall. Horse owners should pack in their own feed and portable containment systems as the campground does not provide permanent corrals or stalls. Most equestrian campers report the trails as well-maintained with moderate terrain suitable for horses of varying experience levels.
"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."
"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"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. "
"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."
"Like the quite agricultural Illinois environment but suggest shopping for your needs prior to leaving larger cities as most of the few small towns are limited to a Bar and Dollar store."
"From our cabin we walked grassy paths to a lovely bridge. Around the pond's perimeter are dispersed sites for tent-camping or possibly day-use."
from $6 / night
Check Availability"Praire Lake Campground has 3 facilities on the lake. FAMILY camp for Rv, Tentand cabins. 1. 84 sites with Electric or 19 have FHU. 2."
"Near the back you can camp right alongside the river. Amenities are minimal, there are just port-a-potties for restrooms but they are very clean."
"We camp at the equestrian loop, unlike some campgrounds we have our own shower house with three showers and three bathroom stalls."
from $20 / night
Check Availability"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."
GuidePraire Lake Campground has 3 facilities on the lake. FAMILY camp for Rv, Tentand cabins. 1. 84 sites with Electric or 19 have FHU. 2. Primitive Camp has seven three-sided shelters to camp near or in for a fee of $6 per night 3. Group camp area. A separate location has the equestrian campground, Questing Hills, with 51 electric sites.
GuideBiggest 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.
GuideWe camp at the equestrian loop, unlike some campgrounds we have our own shower house with three showers and three bathroom stalls. Their is also a vault toilet in the middle of camp and the opposite end of the main bathrooms. Most sites have at least partial shade. The sites are always maintained with hitching rails and electricity water is not at every site but through out the park. Trails are well marked and maintained over 26 miles of trails.
GuideWe 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
ScoutCouple 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.
GuideThese 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. About half the sites were filled by the second day we were there. We settled on 62, which is spacious and provides access to the path from the front and behind where you can walk into site 64 as well. A parking area with a single spot for each camp site is well marked and by two vault toilets. Park staff and host were great. A decent fishing spot is just in front of site 64. $8 for IL residents is hard to beat, if you don't need an RV spot with electric. A water source is also by the parking spots. The weekend we were there the weather had cooled some and a great breeze was coming off the lake. Springfield being so close is a bonus.
The only negative is like any spot and how previous people leave the camp looking before you are there. Some garbage in the fire pit and random spots are par for the course in any state park. Pick up the trash and dump it in the dumpster by the parking lot. Leave the site better than you found it is our motto.
Guidehttps://camp.exploremoreil.com/ 84 electric RV sites all reservable except 21 First Come sites. 18 sites are full hookup. Several 50 amp sites but majority are 30 amp. Modern Shower house and 7 Vault toilet buildings. Newer Campground so Shade Trees are smaller still. Have camped here 4 times past 3 years. Like the quite agricultural Illinois environment but suggest shopping for your needs prior to leaving larger cities as most of the few small towns are limited to a Bar and Dollar store.
GuideLots are spacious & grounds are well kept. Restrooms were clean. Lots of trails, Lake Sangchris is very close by for fishing & kayaking. Quiet campground; great place to unwind.
ScoutIt was March, it was cold at night, but this ADA cabin had heat & electric, 5 beds with mattresses, beds with mattresses (2 pr bunks beds in the second room). Cement sidewalks from parking area to toilets & cabins, each with a waterfront view, fire pit & picnic table. From our cabin we walked grassy paths to a lovely bridge. Around the pond's perimeter are dispersed sites for tent-camping or possibly day-use. It was a challenge to find the park entrance, at night, and the closest small town is about 10-miles away. The very reasonable cost was transacted online.
Equestrian camping opportunities abound within a 45-minute radius of Chatham, Illinois. The area sits at approximately 600 feet above sea level with mostly flat terrain punctuated by rolling hills and forested areas surrounding several lakes and reservoirs. Summer temperatures typically range from 70-90°F with moderate humidity and occasional thunderstorms that can create muddy trail conditions for horse riders.
Trail riding at Jim Edgar Panther Creek: Equestrians can access over 26 miles of maintained trails from Questing Hills Equestrian Campground. "Trails are well marked and maintained over 26 miles of trails," notes camper Alicia B., who appreciates the dedicated facilities for riders.
Fishing at multiple lakes: Anglers find productive waters at Sangchris Lake State Park Campground. "Good clean campground, restrooms were clean and they have a playground to keep the kids entertained and fishing nearby," reports Gary B. The lake offers multiple fishing docks and shoreline access points.
Historical exploration: The Illinois State Fairgrounds serves as a convenient base for visiting nearby Lincoln sites. "Short drive 2.5 miles to Lincoln home. 1 mile from Lincoln's Tomb," writes Jeffrey F., who stayed at the fairgrounds campground while touring historical attractions.
Affordable primitive options: Budget-conscious campers appreciate the low-cost primitive sites at Jim Edgar Panther Creek - Family Campground. "Just $6 a night. Hiking trails, kayaking and fishing are available," writes Amanda C. about the primitive campground area, noting the "picnic table, fire ring, trash can and three sided shelter in each site."
Lakeside camping: Water views rank high among camper preferences. "All sites at Hickory Point very close to lake. Several fishing docks in campground," explains Greg S. about Sangchris Lake. Jessica N. adds, "The place is as pristine as it was when I was a kid- perfect bathhouse, beautiful lakeshore, and cozy tent camping."
Clean facilities: Campers consistently mention well-maintained amenities. "The showers and bathrooms were clean," reports M. Susan A. who camped at Deer Run Campground — Sangchris Lake State Park. The camp host at Questing Hills notes that equestrian campers have "our own shower house with three showers and three bathroom stalls."
Weather impacts: Central Illinois experiences variable conditions that affect camping. "It stormed pretty bad the second night there. Woke up to find my tent wasnt so waterproof," shares Jamie C. who camped at Sangchris Lake State Park. Wind can also be an issue at certain sites.
Reservation requirements: Popular equestrian campgrounds fill quickly on weekends. "The campground hosts were fantastic in resolving the situation," notes Susan L. who had to relocate within Sangchris Lake State Park Hickory Point due to electrical issues during peak season.
Limited shade at newer sites: Some campgrounds haven't fully matured. "Being newer has small trees with little shade," explains Lucas T. about Prairie Lake Campground. Another camper notes it's "under developed CG" with grounds "years always from being fully grown."
Seasonal bugs: "Be mindful of field roaches and raccoons at night, as we had to learn the hard way the morning after our first night. Oh, and the mosquitoes are BRUTAL," warns Darren D. about Waverly Lake City Park.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds offer play areas for children. "Nice walk around paved campground road" and "playing wiffle ball in the open field" are activities Jennifer K. observed at Prairie Lake Campground. Another camper mentioned kids "had a blast at playground with other kids."
Shower facilities: Family campers should note varying shower quality. "Showers required a push button activation every 10-15 seconds, but after about the 10th time I did get a little hot water," shares Carol about her experience at Sangchris Lake. Other campgrounds like Questing Hills feature "clean" facilities with multiple stalls.
Swimming limitations: Not all lakes permit swimming. "The lake itself looked nasty - no swimming allowed," notes Carol about one location. Families seeking water recreation should verify swimming access before visiting.
Alternative activities: When weather doesn't cooperate, nearby attractions provide options. Illinois State Fair Campground offers "a great place to spend a night or even longer to see Lincoln historical sites," according to Bill S., with the campground located just 2.5 miles from the Lincoln Home.
Hookup availability: Electric service varies between campgrounds. "One row of full hookups, like a parking lot layout. Not much space between campers however if you don't need full hookups lots of elec only spots," explains Never Sitting S. about the state fairgrounds setup.
Site selection strategy: Experienced RVers recommend specific areas. "We chose the grass for the shade trees. Very quiet. Not too close to your neighbor," shares Faith J. about the Illinois State Fair Campground, noting "water is centrally located in the center of the loop."
Electrical capacity concerns: During peak summer usage, power can be unreliable. "Because of the heat over this holiday weekend and a completely full campground, the electricity couldn't meet the demand and a transformer blew," cautions Susan L. about her July experience, suggesting spring or fall visits for more reliable service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular equestrian campsite near Chatham, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular equestrian campground near Chatham, IL is Sangchris Lake State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 22 reviews.
What is the best site to find equestrian camping near Chatham, IL?
TheDyrt.com has all 10 equestrian camping locations near Chatham, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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