Best RV Parks near Dixon, IL

Recent RV Reviews In Dixon

551 Reviews of 78 Dixon Campgrounds

• 

  Jon L.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 23, 2024

  O'Connell's RV Campground

  BULLET HOLES IN MY AIRSTREAM!

  BULLET HOLES IN MY AIRSYTREAM. Yes, you read that correctly. I had 4 bullet holes in my Airstream and to date, O'Connell's has NEVER RETURNED ANY CALLS OR EMAILS regarding this incident. A police report was made, photos were taken, and still nothing. Thousand Trails should be aware of this, but I'm guessing they are not. What if your kids were playing outside? My neighbor had a bullet hole in her shed and he also posted about it. O'CONNELL'S IS DANGEROUS, stay away from the new "Premium" lot section. I paid extra for this?

• 

  Dan M.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 14, 2024

  Hickory Grove Campground

  Definitely worth a stop!

  This a really nice campground with a lot of recent upgrades. Great location, excellent piece of land, and the owners are super friendly. Sites give you TONS of room and they are all FHU.

• 

  Rob

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 11, 2024

  Starved Rock State Park Campground

  Relaxing weekend in the middle of everywhere

  Stayed in the east loop, overlooking the ravine, had a small trail behind our site that was all wooded. Decent pines and brush separating sites on both sides. Didn't feel like the sites were on top of each other. Not too far from refill station, farther from toilets which is nice to reduce flies and bugs. We'll definitely stay here again.

  Didn't bother with $9 bundle of firewood from the vending machine. Jacks had a wagon load of firewood for $20 cash, much better deal and it lasted for 3 nights.

  Keep in mind the grounds are fully separated from the state park, you'll need to drive 8 to 10min to get to the hiking trails. Biking out of the campgrounds also didn't seem close enough with young kids.

• J

  Jacob H.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 9, 2024

  Hennepin Canal Campground

  Easy place to camp

  5 site in all. 4 sites can be accessed by rv or trailer. 5th one has barriers up and only tents. Each site has fire rings and tables to use. 3 sites back up along the canal. Public park restrooms near by.

• m

  mark B.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 5, 2024

  Starved Rock State Park Campground

  One night stay while traveling home

  Very friendly host at the gate! Just what my wife and I were looking for. Quiet campground not far off the highway! Didn’t expect this kind of camping in Illinois! Nicely wooded and picturesque area, similar to northern Wisconsin!

• C

  Charles E.

  Traveler

  

  Sep. 4, 2024

  Mississippi Palisades State Park

  Super cheap for what you get.

  I got a primitive tent site in an area all to myself, with a shower house just down the road, in a beautiful and quiet campground for $10 cash. You really can’t beat that. Campground is separate from the park so you don’t have to pay a park entrance fee to stay here.

• 

  Brent A.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 3, 2024

  Vel Terra

  Wonderful Little Campground

  We stayed at this campground over Labor Day. The owner intentionally doesn't fill all of the sites in order to give people more space- a great luxury over a holiday like this. The sites are pretty small and only one 'sleeping structure' is allowed on each site but we found that Jeff was very willing to let us put up two tents (one for my wife & I 

  + one for the kids) because we were in the same family.

  The bathrooms and showers were very neat and well maintained. We didn't use the showers because they were paid but our friends did and had good things to say about them.

  The campground has a very nice playground (the favorite of the trip for one of my kids) and a lounge where anyone staying at the campground can rest with A/C, wifi, a phone charging area, and some board games.

  The primary drawback is that there isn't a lot of outdoor activities to do in the area. All the land is private so there's not great hiking (a little in the state park about 20 min drive away), IL law allows waterways to be privately owned so you can't kayak the river, etc. Galena is nearby if you want to go shopping and we really enjoyed going to Terrapin Apple Orchard and picking some apples (if you're there in the Fall). But all in all I would say this is a great campground to rest and relax at- probably not ideal for outdoor adventures.

• 

  MickandKarla W.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 3, 2024

  Starved Rock Family Campground

  Enjoyable Stay

  Our RV GPS took us off I-39 for a nice country drive to the campground (CG). Google Maps wanted to bring us in off I-80, which also works as the CG just off I-80. The CG check in time is 2:00 PM. We called and they said it would be fine to come in a half hour earlier. Upon arrival, we checked in at their office that has a nice sized store that sells sundry, gifts, and camping stuff. Check-in was fast and we were off to pull through site L-1 with FHUs in the far side of this large CG. The pull through was plenty long enough for our 40’ 5th wheel and F450. The utilities were centered on the pad so that was nice as I was able to dump both black tanks with a 10’ hose. There’s a shower house on this side of the CG as there are also tent sites in this area. Water pressure was good at about 50 psi and we got between 2 and 3 bars on Verizon. When we checked in, we just got a map and no rules or information sheet. Their rules etc. are on their website. There was a well maintained picnic table and an old fashioned rock fire pit, which was kind of cool. The pool is up front by the office/club house. And the large playground along with a dumpster is at the entrance to the back CG area. Up front by the office, there’s a small fenced dog area that we didn’t use and another dumpster as you head out of the CG. They also have Wifi in that area, but not throughout the CG, which was fine with us for our overnight stay. As we were in the back of the CG, we did not notice highway noise. The shower house in our area also had laundry consisting of two washers and two dryers. You can rent golf carts here along with selling wood and ice. The sites are nicely spaced for a private CG, but we would not call them spacious. Loves and a Dollar General are nearby. You can also buy sundries in the campground's store and gift shop. We enjoyed our short overnighter.

• S

  Susan C.

  Scout

  

  Aug. 25, 2024

  Holiday Acres Camping Resort

  Beware

  Review: Holiday Acres Campground Our recent stay at Holiday Acres Campground was nothing short of a nightmare. From the moment we arrived, we felt unwelcome and targeted by both the staff and the locals. It's hard to say definitively if this place was racist, but the behavior we experienced certainly felt that way. Firstly, we were harassed and intimidated by the locals. They would drive around our campsite at night, yelling racial slurs and other offensive comments. This created a disturbing and unsettling atmosphere that made our stay extremely uncomfortable. The staff were equally unpleasant. We were falsely accused of peeing in the pool without any evidence, which seemed more like an excuse to target us than a genuine concern. Additionally, one staff member consistently displayed unprofessional and rude behavior. She berated one of us and treated him condescendingly, as if he were a boy rather than an adult. She exhibited this condescending behavior with the locals as well. Requests for assistance were met with eye rolls and obvious reluctance. Her dismissive and offensive attitude was consistent throughout our stay. The final straw came when we were kicked out for calling her a name after she persistently treated us with disrespect. While name-calling isn't appropriate, her behavior towards us was intolerable and unprovoked. The facilities were also abysmal. The bathrooms constantly smelled like fart, possibly due to the high sulfur content in the water, which only added to the overall negative experience. The showers were yellow with orange bits that could be scraped off, and the lack of cleanliness was appalling. The playgrounds looked so poorly maintained that you could get a splinter just from looking at them. To make matters worse, we were falsely accused of stealing by a local camper. Despite promises to review security footage, no evidence was provided, and no apology was offered for the false accusation. The pool area was another disappointment. The pool was cold, likely because it had just been filled. While the pool area itself was nice, it lacked lounging chairs, which would have enhanced comfort and relaxation. Overall, our experience at Holiday Acres Campground was horrific. The combination of harassment from locals, the hostile attitude of the staff, the filthy facilities, and the lack of amenities made for an extremely uncomfortable and distressing stay. I would strongly advise anyone considering this campground to stay far away, especially if you are looking for a welcoming and respectful environment.

• 

  Anita A.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 10, 2024

  Starved Rock Family Campground

  Gem

  Found this on our way to Colorado from Michigan and what a Gem. We don't like crowded campgrounds and happy to give up some amenities to have some elbow room, peace and quiet. No water hookup but spigot nearby. No sewer hookup but dump station on-site.
  So fun to hike and explore a series of canyons along the Illinois River. Nearby Ottawa has all the city amenities and nearby Utica in the opposite direction a quaint strolling town, bike paths. Will return!

• W

  Wendy T.

  Guide

  

  Aug. 10, 2024

  Nature’s Way RV Park

  Great setting

  Just 5 minutes to Starved Rock state park and one mile from interstate 80. Great country setting with full hook ups, pool, laundry, camp store and showers.

• B

  Brian M.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 26, 2024

  Starved Rock State Park Campground

  Very rustic feel, limited, dated and poorly maintained facilities

  We stayed in the east loop which is heavily wooded compared to the west loop. Site 99 has no grass but is very large - ended up camping behind the RV on a little point that overlooks a ravine. Very neat, rustic feel. Heavy tree canopy means no Starlink. Verizon and AT&T both had only 1 bar. TV was nearly impossible to hold a signal. From our site closest bathrooms were a short walk but are port-a-pots. Shower house is likely a drive away especially if you have women and children in your party. All of the Starved Rock State Park trails and sites to see are a drive away, not part of the campground. For me the most annoying thing we encountered… there must be a small airport nearby because there was nearly constant small planes buzzing around thought out the day. Would stay here again, but not a favorite.

• 

  Rebecca C.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 30, 2024

  Rock Cut state park

  Not well maintained

  We have a 30 amp trailer. When we got there, the electricity wasn't working. It was 93° on a Saturday. We called the Rangers and asked them to look at our site breaker since it kept tripping. They came, told us the park was old and not updated but then ultimately told us it was our trailer. We had to rent a motel for the night because we couldn't even pull out the slide or anything. This was after spending about 6 hours pulling apart all the electrical in the trailer. Went to camping world the next day just for us to use their plugs and it was fine. We thought maybe it was our cord so we bought a new one and still nothing. We called the Rangers again who came to look at it. Told us that the park was just so old that it probably couldn't keep up and moved us to a 50 amp sight. The 30 amp plug there would work for about 2 mins and then would keep tripping again. So we ended up having to go back to camping world to get an adapter to use the 50 amp. Wasted about 30 hours of our trip over their electrical not being updated and they knew that. Tried to reach out to get the first night reimbursed since we literally couldn't even stay there or use our trailer. Was told we had to come back the next day to speak to the head ranger, came back and he wasn't there again. Was told he would call us two different times and never got a call. Will never stay here again.

• t

  tony K.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 23, 2024

  Starved Rock Family Campground

  Large and peaceful site

  While this location is much newer, it checked everything off my box. Small dog area (not the best fencing though if your dog is an escape artist), pool, showers, RV amenities, amazing park for children, front office has everything you could imagine. The site is large enough for a nice dog walk and a very short drive to starved rock.

• 

  Danielle D.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 22, 2024

  Northwoods RV Resort

  Great for seasonal camping

  The sites are pretty big. The campground is not congested at all. The people are very nice. Everyone waves to everyone.

  We came here because they showed a water obstacle course on their website. When we got here, we were informed that their beach hasn't passed health tests for the past few years. So no obstacle course or beach area.

  The pool is very clean and the staff helped us pick a better site upon arrival. They also have a very pretty river to fish.

  There is no store. The only thing available is firewood. If you need anything at all, there is a Walmart about ten minutes down the road.

  The site is nice and grassy but there are a ton of bugs; mostly gnats.

  All in all, it's a very clean place with great people. The pool is wonderful. The parks are great. But it's definitely a more lay back and relax kind of place. Not a ton of stuff to do for kids.

• 

  Jessica J.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 10, 2024

  Starved Rock State Park Campground

  It is excellent

  I recently had the pleasure of visiting Starved Rock State Park, nestled on the Illinois River bluff in La Salle County, and it truly is one of Illinois' most breathtaking destinations. The park's unique geological formations, lush landscapes, and abundant recreational activities make it an ideal spot for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike. Scenic Beauty and Trails The park is renowned for its 18 canyons, with their vertical walls of moss-covered stone, formed by glacial meltwater. These canyons slice dramatically through tree-covered sandstone bluffs, creating a stunning backdrop for exploration. I spent hours hiking the more than 13 miles of trails, which offer access to beautiful waterfalls, sandstone overhangs, and spectacular overlooks. The trails vary in difficulty, making them accessible for both casual walkers and avid hikers. My entire team of Student Life Saviour is planning to visit the part at: https://studentlifesaviour.com as they also loves outing.

• 

  Chris J.

  Scout

  

  May. 10, 2024

  Starved Rock Family Campground

  Quiet and comfy

  Very quiet. Lost of space.

• 

  Chris J.

  Scout

  

  May. 10, 2024

  Geneseo Campground

  Cozy and quiet

  Hosts were very welcoming. Cozy and quiet location. Lots of room.

• K

  Kevin C.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 14, 2024

  Rock Cut state park

  So close to home

  We camp here at least 5 times a year. It’s only 8 miles from our home. Many trails and not to expensive. They have sites with electric and sites just for tents. The only negative is no drinkable water. Tons of trails, fishing and even a swimming pond.

• 

  Joel K.

  Guide

  

  Mar. 14, 2024

  Shabbona Lake State Park

  Really nice state park

  My daughter and I stayed here twice.  Oct 2019 and Aug 2020.  We kayaked around the lake and enjoyed the natural setting.

  The store is very nice and well stocked.  Never left the park so not sure how far to “town”.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2024

  The Waller Events & Camping

  Small Town Camping Hideout

  If you are driving just a smidge over the speed limit as you approach Earlville, you’ll definitely miss this nondescript roadside camping outpost. Completely shrouded in thick trees and hidden by sight by the Midwest shrubbery, you’ll discover Waller Campground just a stone’s throw south of 34. So if you’re driving about 45 MPH, you should see a solo road sign with the universal sign for camping – just take an immediate right (that’s heading eastbound, mind you) at the first road you come across, which is gravel, so slow WAY down and then you’ll slightly descend, wherein you’ll pass a big nice house on the right before coming to Waller Campground, which has its main office on the left. 

  What I was most impressed by when I first discovered this place is that the actual campground, which is by my reckoning, a bit smaller than a regular football field, but completely encircled by God’s green nature, which out here in the boondocks means old Oaks, mixed with some weeping Willows, tall grass and tons of traditional shrubbery. Net-net, you’ll feel a million miles from that busy life you were trying to leave behind. In all, there’s about 18 or so proper spaces here, mostly for RV'ers and 5th Wheelers, but you can also pitch a tent here – as I discovered, the good folks at The Waller Campground are equal opportunity outdoors enthusiasts. Because this is Illinois, all of the land is fairly flat, making for incredibly easy set-up along with water and electric hook-ups. 

  Back towards the main office, you’ll discover a man-made lagoon awaiting you, complete with a faux beachhead and all of the aquatic toys and watercraft you could possibly think of to have fun on this oversized pond that is perfect for swimming in the midst of a hot, humid north central Illinois summer. Just don’t forget your mosquito repellant and SPF 50 sunscreen! Beyond the swimming area there is a larger complex that is used to host large-scaled events like weddings and anniversary parties, as when we were there, the team were busy erecting the next event, but for the 2 nights of our stay, there weren’t any events that took place. As I heard from a fellow camper, Waller either informs campers that an event will be taking place during their stay, or they simply close the campground down for the event. 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’ve never made it to a drive-in movie theater, then you are in luck as one of the area’s prized summer experiences is heading on over to The Drive In @ Earlville, where they have those age-old speakers that clasp to your windows blaring audio into your car; (2) While you’ll have to drive further afield to get to a great restaurant (and trust me, there are some great restaurants in these parts), just in town, you’ll find a few decent places, such as G-Lisa’s Pizza & More as well as Los Dos Amigos Mexican Restaurant for some amazing chimichangas; (3) Should you be traveling with a kayak or canoe, you’ll be hard-pressed in the near vicinity to do any serious paddling, but if you don’t mind a short drive, head due south to the Illinois River where near Starved Rock State Park, you’ll find some really great currents to dip your paddle in along with teaming wildlife to keep you company; (4) Don’t find what you are looking for in the way of restaurants in Earlville, and don’t mind a slight drive to grab some great grub, I HIGHLY recommend the Lone Buffalo over in Ottawa, which operates both as a brewery as well as gastro-pub, wherein I sugggest either the pork chops or the fish & chips; and (5) If you’re looking for a place to 'whet your whistle' after a hard day of hiking, then kick up those boots over at R’s All In, for some basic cocktails and cold tall boys! 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2024

  Barney's Lake Camping

  Roadside RV Depot w/ Pond View

  Located just a few miles due west of LaSalle here in north central Illinois, Barney’s Lake Camping is a little-known patch of land that sits right in front of Interstate 80 and can be accessed by the frontage road that runs parallel to the highway. While there will be a number of ‘Dead End’ signs that will dissuade you from following your pathway to reach this humble outcrop that provides an RV pasture carved out of the nearby cornfields, trust me, this place is open for business and looking primarily for RV'ers to touch down here for the night or several. 

  While the land is nice and flat, which should be assumed as you are here in Illinois afterall, we were surprised to find a nice little man-made lake, or more like a pond, that we can only presume was put there by some dude named Barney. Here you’ll discover that there’s kayaks and canoes to use, so you don’t even need to bring your own. You’ll find these watercraft, along with a few piers that you can walk out onto and enjoy some small catch & release fun, just behind the main office, who’s sign you can barely read the nearly illegible sign that indicates you have in fact arrived at Barney’s Lake Camping. It’s here at this building that you’ll check in and be assigned a spot for your RV or fifth wheel. 

  As for the campground itself, there’s only about 20 or so slots and the layout of the place is a very simple, single loop that you’ll have to navigate around. Those sites that are furthest from the frontage road are arguably the best as they will put you far enough away from the hush and rush of the passing by traffic from both frontage road, which is next to nil, and the heavily trafficked noise coming from Interstate 80. 

  Amenities include restroom and shower facilities in the main building, but I would strongly encourage you to keep to your own on-board bathroom amenities as what was found in the main office was not something I could recommend. The slabs where you’ll park yourself for the night are simple pebble with all the typical hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewer) and while there’s a few scattered fire rings and picnic tables, there’s a handful of residents who appear to be here more longer-term and who have built semi-permanent additions to their RVs like decking, fencing, tables and even a stand-alone sundowner bar. While this place is definitely not a destination, given its very quick and easy access from I80, this might be a simple and cheap place to park your camper for the night.

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) When you get tired of trying to figure out what that next meal is going to be, either from the depths of your cooler or the remnants of your on-board mini-fridge and want to check out some of the local fare, head on over to nearby LaSalle for a most excellent slice of pie at Lou’s LaGrotto, who’s been dishing out both thin and deep dish for the better part of 50 years or check out Verucchi’s down in Spring Valley, which is an old-school Italian eatery that has both great pastas as well as, strangely, good ol fried chicken; (2) If you’re looking for a great place to drop your kayak or canoe into, then head no further than the lower portion of Starved Rock SP where there is a boat and kayak launch into the turbulent currents of the Illinois River; and (3) After a few days of camping, hiking and kayaking, you’ll definitely be looking for a place to ‘whet your whistle’ of which I would recommend heading to nearby Machelle’s Backstreet for a few nice high balls. 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 1, 2024

  Deer Creek Campground

  Corn Patch Camping @ It's Best

  Out of the barren, desolate field after field drive-by wasteland that is the Illinois countryside, at least in late Autumn / early Winter, you’ll be heading down winding roads with all sorts of twists and switchbacks before arriving to Deer Creek Campground. What I love most about this cleverly hidden natural outpost is that if you don’t know where you are going and don’t have this destination in mind, you will never find it. And I bet the very great people here at Deer Creek had that in mind when they purchased this land from nearby Mallard Bend Campground, but that’s likely a story for another day. 

  As for this hidden camping outpost, located somewhere south of Sandwich, whose main highway artery is 34, east of Sheridan, which is a tiny town I had never heard of before and due west of a hamlet called Millington, which is nothing short of purely residential, you’ll follow E 2750th Road south from 34 until you hit N 4351st Road, right as the road bends on a 45 degree curve, where you’ll head east until you come to your first possible right, about 200 yards give or take, where you’ll turn in, on gravel nonetheless, so drive slow, where after 100 yards, you’ll hang a left (do not go straight, or you’ll be visiting Mallard Bend Campground) and follow the gravel road till its completion. Here, there’s a guard station and gate where you’ll check-in. After doing so, you’ll have about 2 dozen spots to park your RV at. 

  Regarding the spaces themselves, they are large, tree-lined and completely surrounded by some of the most lovely people I have ever met while out in these parts camping. There is but a single lane with ample space on either side of this lane to park any size of RV or 5th wheeler. Unlike most of Illinois, the land here does slant sideways a bit, but at least where the gravel RV slabs are at, you’ll have to problems setting up on fairly flat land. All of the traditional hook-ups (30 / 50 electric amp, water, sewage) are available, along with a designated dump site. Beyond this, there are no other amenities per se, so those RVs outfitted with their own bathrooms and showers are better suited for this particular location. As for tent camping, this isn’t really the place for it as the place has been specifically designed for the wheeled camper in mind. Here, you’ll find all sorts of RVers that have parked for what looks to be an entire season, if not in some cases, for the whole year. 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you come bearing watercraft, you’re in a lot of luck as just due south, you’ll have easy access to the Fox River – and if you can bribe your way onto Mallard Bend Campground, I’ve been told they have an excellent launch; (2) Thinking about fishing and don’t know where to go? Head back from whence you came to Lake Holiday, where there’s no shortage of great places to cast a line from to do some decent catch & release fishing for the likes of blue gill; and (3) When you get tired of opening up your onboard fridge trying to figure out that next meal, then head west to Sheridan to Old Mill Tavern, which on the weekends has an amazing fried chicken dinner or try out Calico Café, which has a pretty amazing breakfast spread; and (4) Looking for somewhere to kick back and throw some shine down? Then head on over to nearby Millington, where you have two options: Jimbo’s Place and The Last Chance Saloon – and if it were me, I would visit them in that particular order! 

  Happy Camping!

• 

  Napunani

  Legend

  

  Dec. 1, 2023

  Prophetstown State Park

  Pit (Vault) Toilet in Campground

  This fairly new State Park would of merited "5 stars", but the pit (aka vault) toilet smell was just tooooooo much and we weren't even close! 

  PROS 

  Park beautifully maintained and mowed throughout S

  Site 109 shady 

  Site 109 gravel parking pad level 

  Moveable wooden picnic table 

  Metal campfire ring with cooking grate 

  Roadways easy to maneuver without obstacles 

  Quite except for train whistle close by 

  Partial privacy from neighbors 

  Toilet/shower facility in next campground (Savanna) very clean and sufficiently stocked

   Very nice 12 ft wide asphalt bike trails 

  Night sky friendly as no street lights in campground 

  Firewood for sale at entrance gate 

  Frequent park ranger campground drive throughs 

  Double lane dump station 

  Double lane portable water fill stations 

  CONS 

  The aroma of the pit toilet between Spruce and Savanna Campgrounds could be smelled throughout both campgrounds. Disgusting!!! No hand wash station at pit toilet 

  Modern toilet/shower facility only in Savanna Campground 

  No security gate closure overnight 

  All trash dumpsters near campground entrance gatehouse 

  5pm checkin 

  No interpretive programs Monday thru Thursday

• 

  Justin G.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 22, 2023

  Rock Cut state park

  Fall Getaway

  A perfect spot for a weekend trip. We stayed in the White Oak area and used our tent. This location was close to the shower house (which could have been a little bit cleaner but still usable). There are plenty of scenic photo opportunities especially during the fall season.

• 

  Stuart K.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 18, 2023

  Cozy Corners Campground

  Family-Run RV Front-Yard Outpost

  Located here in the north central part of Land O’ Lincoln just due south of the Illinois River Valley, Cozy Corners gets its descriptor because it sits right on an intersection where N. 25th Road meets Route 178 that is literally across the street from the entrance of Matthiessen State Park, likely the main reason you are here in the first place. And while its very close proximity to this pretty amazing nature destination makes it quite an attractive spot for those looking to access the best of what the Illinois River and surroundings have in store for them, the place itself feels more like a farmer’s front yard that got repurposed as an RV grass parking lot. 

  So, if you ask me, the first thing I would tell you about Cozy Corners Campground is that this likely is not going to be at the top of your list in terms of campgrounds to choose from in the area, especially if you’re a tent camper who doesn’t want to pretend they are out in nature surrounded by a bunch of RVs on what is glaringly obvious is simply someone’s farm. There’s tons of options to pitch your tent, most notably, is Matthiessen SP itself, which has some pretty amazing land to drop anchor for the night. That said, this is one of the few ‘off-the-radar’ choices you might want to consider when visiting the Illinois River Valley area, particularly during the major summer holidays (Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day), where if you haven’t booked up something WELL IN ADVANCE of arriving here, especially at nearby Starved Rock State Park, then Cozy Corners likely will have some vacancy. 

  With this campground in mind, there’s about 10–12 slots available with what looks to be sewer, water and electric hook-ups along with aging fire rings. If there were other amenities like BBQ grills, picnic tables or pavilions, they certainly weren’t available when we paid a visit. And at this time, to provide a visual, it’s early Spring, so what that means in Illinois out in the farmland is that all of the area surrounding this place is barren, so while I am sure the fall provides for a much better sense of privacy, at this time of year, one feels quite exposed without any degree of privacy, save the few barren trees that are on this Midwestern ranch. 

  Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While Cozy Corners can most certainly not be classified as a destination, if you are looking for a place to drop anchor for the night because you are just passing through, then this place is flat, simple and pretty cheap, but I would still recommend a number of other places for those toting RVs, like nearby Pleasant Creek Campground, which has a ton more to offer albeit at slightly higher prices. But what do they say about ‘you get what you pay for?’; (2) No doubt being this close to both Matthiessen and Starved Rock SPs, you’ll have no shortage of great trails to go hiking on with 5 miles of trails at Matthiessen and the 13+ miles of hiking trails that form snake-like patterns throughout, across and over the nearly 20 or so canyons that make up Starved Rock: (3) If you come hauling watercraft, you’ll definitely want to hit up the Illinois River, which is just down the street from here at Cozy Corners wherein my recommendation is to swing by the lower dells area of Starved Rock, where you can park and launch your kayak, canoe or boat from; (4) The three nearest towns that have any form of civilization around these parts are Oglesby, Utica or Tonica, wherein I would recommend a visit to either long-time favorite Garzanelli’s Supper Club, which has a pretty amazing Midwestern take on Italian food or Starved Rock Lodge, just due south of Utica; (5) Looking for a place to ‘whet your whistle’? Then head on over to Aces & Eights in Tonica for glorified bar food and cheap tall boys OR head into Utica and check out Obscurity Brewing Bier Garten for some unusual draft brews or August Hill Winery for some fairly mediocre wine from Illinois; and (6) Finish off your entire camping experience by visiting Two Girls and a Cupcake for some sweet, albeit overpriced, desserts and treats. 

  Happy Camping!

• J

  Jill B.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 9, 2023

  Mississippi Palisades State Park

  Mississippi Palisades State Park in Savanna, Illinois

  This is a great campground! The trails are well kept, clean bathrooms, nice campsites sand the best camp hosts ever!!!