Best Camping near Colchester, IL

Whether you're an RVer or tent camper, Colchester, IL is a great place to post up for the weekend—or longer. Colchester is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. Find the best campgrounds near Colchester, IL. Read reviews from campers like you and find your perfect campsite.

Best Camping Sites Near Colchester, IL (67)

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Showing results 1-10 of 67 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Colchester

Recent Reviews in Colchester

195 Reviews of 67 Colchester Campgrounds


  • Travis R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Wilson Lake Park
    Dec. 9, 2024

    Wilson Lake Park

    Nice campground

    I didn't stay here as it was winter. The campground is nice with cement pads as well as primitive campsites and cabins.

  • Travis R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lee County Pollmiller Park
    Dec. 9, 2024

    Lee County Pollmiller Park

    Nice campground

    I didn't stay here, just visited. Campground had all amenities you would expect with a beach, cabins, all on a small lake. Close to town for any camping needs.

  • Travis R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Hollow Recreation Area
    Nov. 18, 2024

    Big Hollow Recreation Area

    Full Featured Camping

    This site has a large number of mostly cement camper spots, including pull through. There is a large playground and shower house. Primitive camping for single or group spots. Campgrounds also include a shooting range, beach, equestrian trails, canoe rentals, and launch, and I saw a sign for primitive cabins, though I didn't have time to check those out. This is the .most full service camp site that I have seen in Iowa so far.

  • Travis R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Big Hollow Recreation Area
    Nov. 17, 2024

    Big Hollow Recreation Area

    Really excellent campground

    Lots of cement camping pads, playground, and shower house. Primitive single and group camping sites. Canoe rental and shooting range.

  • Travis R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Welter Recreation Area
    Nov. 17, 2024

    Welter Recreation Area

    Primitive Campsite

    This campsite appears to not be well maintained it may even be closed. There is no electricity and one vault toilet. Weeds are overgrown, and fallen trees have not been cleared. However, it has a wonderful view of the river and is directly on the banks. Because there are fallen trees, firewood is plentiful :).

  • Travis R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lower Augusta Skunk River Access
    Nov. 17, 2024

    Lower Augusta Skunk River Access

    Great campsite

    Campsite is directly next to the river. Most sites have power but there are a few tent sits as well (those are right on the river). We'll maintained vault toilets. Site has a shared spicket.

  • Stuart O.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Nauvoo State Park Campground
    Nov. 13, 2024

    Nauvoo State Park Campground

    Late season option

    We stayed in mid-November when a lot of places are closed. They had electricity and the dump station was operating, but the water hookups were shut off and the bath house was closed for the winter. Water was available at a hydrant across from the bath house, but lacked a garden hose thread, so you could only fill water jugs. The roads are very narrow and in need of repair. Fee was $18.

  • Coty G.
    Camper-submitted photo from Keithsburg Riverside Campground
    Oct. 14, 2024

    Keithsburg Riverside Campground

    Great river view

    Nice campground, we have camped there on several occasions. Tent, pop up, and travel trailer. Shower house is a little bit of a walk but not terrible. Bout a 3 block walk to several bars/restaurant a caseys gas station. Everyone was friendly. Would recommend.

  • David F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Jim Edgar Panther Creek - Family Campground
    Sep. 2, 2024

    Jim Edgar Panther Creek - Family Campground

    JIM Edgar Panther Creek S.P.

    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. 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.

  • Stephanie S.
    Camper-submitted photo from Allison Lake Storey
    Aug. 2, 2024

    Allison Lake Storey

    Second time was not the same

    We stayed here at the beginning of May last year. We thought it was a pretty good camp ground, but didn’t realize how different it would be the second time around a little later in the season. It was noisy and packed, tenters taking up more room than they should’ve, and no one to tell them not to. We had a camper set up close to us and taken over three sites. It was even uneven terrain than we remembered where we were set up, more dirt than grass. The bathrooms smelled heavily like urine and were not clean. When we left to dump the dump we had to switch to the other dump station because the hose threading was so bad. Even the other one wasn’t great, but we had to make it work. We will not be back, unless we try at the beginning of the season when it’s less busy and things aren’t as dirty. Even then, I don’t know if we want to battle the uneven sites.

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Evening Star Camping Resort
    Jul. 26, 2024

    Evening Star Camping Resort

    Campers Are Like Family

    Love to swim in the pool, play in the bags tournaments, enjoy the fundraiser in July for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, mini golf, basketball and theme weekends. My favorite is the chili cook off and Halloween weekends are a blast!!

  • Frank H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Hickory Haven Campground
    Jul. 22, 2024

    Hickory Haven Campground

    Great Tent Camping

    Level grass tent sites. Shade of trees. Electric outlets at sites. Water accessible. Bath house kept very clean. Plenty of hot water for showers. Picnic table & fire ring at site. Economical. Laundry. Ice bags available. Picnic shelter with sides, 3 picnic tables, small mini fridge, electric lights & outlets, ceiling fan, portable fan, water and deep sink available for campers to use.

  • Mary T.
    Camper-submitted photo from Galesburg East / Knoxville KOA Journey
    Jul. 12, 2024

    Galesburg East / Knoxville KOA Journey

    Great Campground fixing it up

    They are spending a lot on this campground. New restrooms, traveled all pads, trimmed trees, new playground equipment. It is a hidden gem. If you are on I 74 great place to stay. We will be back. A lot of events scheduled. Cabins being put in.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Driftwood Campground & RV Park
    Jun. 18, 2024

    Driftwood Campground & RV Park

    Nice family owned csmpground

    At one time this campground was a KOA campground so if you are familiar with KOA, you know the basic layout. We stayed here in our tent and while the tent area was closed for receding new grass the owner let us stay in a grassy area under the trees near the office. It was a great stsy and the restrooms and pool were nice and clean. We enjoyed ourselves and cooled off in the hot weather.

  • Rayn C.
    Camper-submitted photo from Spring Lake Park - Macomb
    Jun. 17, 2024

    Spring Lake Park - Macomb

    Just lovely so spacious and clean. Gorgeous view of lake from cabins.

    Friendly staff. Kayak and Pontoon to rent. Trails go all over the entire park! Clean showering facilities. Our furnished cabin faced the lake it was an incredible view.  We had fun fishing and sitting by the campfire in the evenings. Overall definitely worth the 5 stars!!!! Thanks Ryan and all of the staff out there! We will revisit soon.

  • Amanda B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Donnelson Unit - White Oak Campground — Shimek State Forest
    May. 12, 2024

    Donnelson Unit - White Oak Campground — Shimek State Forest

    Peaceful Paradise

    Nice little campground in Iowa. We stayed for three nights, there's vault toilets, and the fire rings are tiered and really nice. It's wooded and tucked away. There's a lot of nice little trails and a couple lakes. There's a $10 a night fee on the honor system so I would not consider it free. We would come back.

  • DThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Anderson Lake SFWA
    Apr. 6, 2024

    Anderson Lake SFWA

    Simple yet beautiful & peaceful.

    We have been here 3 Xs over the pas years as a stop over while traveling. They only have vault toilets, but clean. This time no water due to water break.issue. just a nice place on a beautiful lake. Nice for bird watching.

  • David F.
    Camper-submitted photo from Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area
    Nov. 30, 2023

    Primitive Campground — Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area

    State Park away from busier Illinois

    https://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.

  • Sam H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Rodeo Park
    Nov. 16, 2023

    Rodeo Park

    Perfect for a work trip

    I stayed at the RV section right next to the rodeo arena. Full hookups for only $20 per night with a self-service registration box. I forgot to count but looked like maybe 20 spots max. I was here mid-November in town for work and there was no more than four other campers at any point. Pretty basic surroundings though. There's barrel trash cans, didn't see a dumpster. Didn't see any toilet or shower buildings. Hardly any trees near the sites. Decent playground close by though, and a heavily wooded park with trails beyond that.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Siloam Springs State Park Campground
    Oct. 30, 2023

    Siloam Springs State Park Campground

    Hidden Gem of Illinois...

    This site was so much better than what I was expecting! My friend, Kari, her 3 Doodles, my Beagle, and I camped out the first night in the group section, because there's hardly anyone there and we got there too late in the day to actually start hiking. In the morning, we loaded up our packs, put the little packs on the dogs (they have to carry their own food and water), and headed up the Red Oak Backpacking Trail. I don't know if we started at the beginning or not, but we parked by a little wooden bridge and the hill to start off our adventure kinda kicked my ass a little bit. After we made it up the initial incline, the landscape was beautiful and varied from flat areas to valleys and some creeks (which I was very thankful for after a few hours in 90° and 25 lbs on my back). We ended up setting up camp at a spot we thought was nice just before it got dark, because we didn't know where or how much further the primitive hike-in campsites were. The next day, we figured it out, but we wouldn't have made it there before dark. Towards the end, there were stairs built into the earth that were way too difficult to manage when your legs are jelly and your pack is heavy, so it was almost easier trying to take the side of the stairs and make your own little path, so just a heads up there. We had so much fun the whole time and I can't wait to go back for some snow camping later this year (they are open year round)!!!

  • Lon H.
    Camper-submitted photo from Geode State Park Campground
    Sep. 4, 2023

    Geode State Park Campground

    Great spot!

    We stayed labor day weekend. Just pulled in and gave them our $12 a night. No electricity or water in our site. Clean bathrooms. Cheap wood for fires. Really nice fire pits with attached grill. There is a lake here too. Lots of boats. We didn't fish. Beach is closed but the water looked pretty gross. We changed our minds and decided to stay an extra night because it was so peaceful!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Spring Lake Park - Macomb
    Jul. 17, 2023

    Spring Lake Park - Macomb

    Awesome campground

    Always a great experience at spring lake. Fishing, boat rentals, convenience store and shower house are all great. Beautiful and we’ll maintained.

  • A
    Camper-submitted photo from Wilson Lake Park
    Jun. 17, 2023

    Wilson Lake Park

    Nice quiet place

    Nice campground with a decent sized fishing pond. Campground host is super friendly! They ran over when we pulled in and helped guide us into our site. We stayed at site 2 which is a little smaller than we would’ve liked but it is all concrete and has full hook ups. Did not do any fishing so can’t comment on that. Did go to the creamery nearby. If you stay here and don’t visit the creamery, you’re definitely missing out!



Guide to Colchester

Camping near Colchester, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor lovers. From peaceful lakeside spots to family-friendly campgrounds, there’s something for everyone.

What to do:

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. One happy camper at Pittsfield City Lake said, "The showers were clean and hot," which is always a plus after a long day outdoors.
  • Quiet Atmosphere: Many enjoy the peacefulness of the campgrounds. A reviewer at Illinois Sand Ridge State Forest - Pine Camp mentioned, "The campground was quiet and peaceful," making it a great escape from the hustle and bustle.
  • Friendly Hosts: Campground staff can make a big difference. At Galesburg East / Knoxville KOA Journey, one visitor said, "The owners are so nice and accommodating," which adds to the overall experience.

What you should know:

  • Reservations: Some campgrounds, like Jubilee College State Park Campground, have a mix of reservable and first-come sites. A camper advised, "84 electric RV sites all reservable except 21 First Come sites," so plan accordingly.
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have extensive facilities. A visitor at Allison Lake Storey noted, "Some very uneven and small spots," which can be a challenge for larger RVs.
  • Wildlife: Be prepared for local wildlife. One camper at Boulder Lake Campground — Wakonda State Park mentioned, "There were lots of frogs and mosquitos near the lake," so bring bug spray!

Tips for camping with families:

  • Activities for Kids: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds or open spaces. At Wakonda Lake Campground, a reviewer said, "A large playground!" which is perfect for keeping kids entertained.
  • Family-Friendly Facilities: Clean bathrooms and showers are essential. A camper at Spring Lake Park - Macomb mentioned, "Clean showering facilities," which is a big plus for families.
  • Group Camping: Consider reserving a group site if you’re camping with friends or family. One visitor at Siloam Springs State Park Campground shared, "We camped out the first night in the group section," which can enhance the experience.

Tips from RVers:

  • Site Selection: Choose your site wisely. A reviewer at Primitive Campground noted, "Choice of full hookup or just electric," which can make a difference in your comfort level.
  • Check Hookups: Make sure your site has the necessary hookups. A camper at Illinois Sand Ridge State Forest - Pine Camp mentioned, "No water or electric hook ups," so be prepared with your own supplies.
  • Plan for Weather: Be ready for changing weather conditions. One camper at Boulder Lake Campground said, "The grounds around site were not very grassy mostly muddy," which is something to keep in mind when packing.

Camping near Colchester, Illinois, has a lot to offer, from beautiful landscapes to friendly communities. Whether you're a family looking for fun or an RVer seeking peace, you'll find a spot that suits your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What camping is available near Colchester, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, Colchester, IL offers a wide range of camping options, with 67 campgrounds and RV parks near Colchester, IL and 1 free dispersed camping spot.

  • Which is the most popular campground near Colchester, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Colchester, IL is Spring Lake Park - Macomb with a 4.8-star rating from 8 reviews.

  • Where can I find free dispersed camping near Colchester, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Colchester, IL.

  • What parks are near Colchester, IL?

    According to TheDyrt.com, there are 8 parks near Colchester, IL that allow camping, notably Mississippi River - Pools 11-22 and Mark Twain Lake.