Best RV Parks & Resorts near Dixon, IL

Generally, the closer to an interstate highway, from a camping perspective at least, the worse you get, right? I mean, how can you possibly relax and forget the busy world that you are trying to escape with all of the noise and swooshing by of traffic, especially on a major interstate highway?  Seemingly though, here at family-owned and operated Starved Rock Family Campground, they’ve got absolutely no problems divorcing you from the other-worldly distractions and non-stop buzzing of 4-lane traffic once you enter this perimeter, where nature seems to be just waiting to swallow you up. Hats off to Mark & Ashley Voss who are simply lovely down-home good folks intent on welcoming everyone to their lovely roadside campground. 

Located here in the heart of north central Illinois, where you can very easily get lost in the golden hue of sweet corn or the dizzying amounts of drilled bean fields, there’s a special quiet that exists for those searching for it.  Where the noise of commerce grinds to a halt by the deafening sound of cicadas who eagerly sing you an orchestra of mesmerizing choruses that when combined with the incessant chirping of crickets, makes for one heck of a sunset serenade, especially under the ancient Oaks and weeping Willows that his area is known for. 

As for this campground, in particular, what I appreciated most is the very clear line they have conjured up between those toting RVs or 5th wheels versus those of my tribe who would prefer to sleep underneath the starry Midwestern skies with little else than a tent encampment and unobstructed views of a dark moonlit sky that shines starry illustrations of Orion, the big and little dipper, Centaurus and southern cross. 

Upon entry, you’ll discover about a half dozen sites for deluxe RV hook-ups – and by deluxe, here that means concrete pad + water/ sewer/ electric hook-ups – before meeting the main office and camp store, where you’ll check in.  Just after the office, you’ll spot a decent in-ground community pool where residents and staff alike hang out when the sun hangs high and the humidity has a way of slowing everything down here. From the main office, if you veered to the right, you’d have your choice of 3 or so perpendicular lanes that have been organized for the RVers in mind (rows A, B, C and D) with another 3 rows that run parallel to the office (rows E, F, G and H), all of which offer a mix of premium and standard RV sites that are a combination of pull-through and back-in with a combo of water, sewer and electric hook-ups. Between rows D& E, you’ve got a proper dump station and over near row G and H, you’ve got two distinct restroom facilities. On the outskirts on the western edge you’ll find the most pristine part of this campground, which I was delighted to learn that this is where the primitive campsites are located. Over in these parts, your view won’t even be tainted by having to witness RVs and all of their hook-ups.  In this enclave, you’ll be bunking next to all sorts of animals and insects that will chirp you to sleep at night (and wake you early in the dawn!), which running alongside this stretch are some pretty beautiful rows of corn. There’s also a pavilion over on this side along with a kid’s playground and, perhaps most importantly, there’s both a restroom and shower facility that is in pretty good condition – just remind yourself that you’ve signed up for primitive camping afterall. Additionally, you’ll discover a number of short walking paths, that are perfect for walking the kids or dogs, but if you want more of a hike, you’ll have to go further afield. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) Whether you’re toting a tent or driving an RV, Starved Rock Family Campground is more of a stop-over than it is a destination, unless that is, everything near Starved Rock (which is still a good 20 minute drive away) is all filled up and you are simply looking to anchor yourself somewhere for the night); (2) If you are towing a kayak or canoe like I am most of the time, I would strongly encourage you to head on over towards the actual Starved Rock where you can take your watercraft for a dip in the Illinois River for some really great currents; (3) When you get tired of trying to conjure up that next meal either from the depths of your on-board mini-fridge or Cordova cooler, and perhaps want to venture back into civilization to try some local fare, than I would highly recommend you head just a bit due south of here to try out Cajun Connection – while it’s not fancy, they do know how to fry up a good alligator tail and serve up some decent (for Cajun in Illinois that is) Jamabalaya; and (4) If you’ve ever wanted to try the best fried chicken in the world, you should be made aware that just about 10 minutes west of here, you’ll find Rip’s Chicken in Ladd, which is simply outstanding (but remember to bring cash, because this place is stuck in the 1970’s and doesn’t take credit or debit, but they sure have some nice Hamm’s on draft!).

Happy Camping!

My first impression when I first arrived here was the overwhelming scent of a newly minted campground, what with the freshly laid gravel, the mint condition security gates, finely manicured and recently raked greenery (as it was October when we visited, it might be better described as brownery) surrounded by a fairly decent gated enclosure lined with perfectly pruned tall towering oaks. Upon arrival, you’ll find what looks to be a brand-spanking new log cabin office on the right after passing a seemingly freshly-minted activities center / community lodge complete with in-ground heated swimming pool and jacuzzi on the left.

Amenities? As you could guess, this pet-friendly 60-acre RV resort has all the attractions in spades from pickleball, playgrounds, volleyball, log pergola patio, full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water & sewage), picnic tables, fire pits, BBQ grills, wagon rides, river access, picnic areas, bathhouses w/ showers & restrooms, cable TV WiFi (pretty poor connection though), gaga ball, game room, community room, billiards table, playground, wet bar, tabletop shuffleboard, community living room with large screen TV, DVD player w/ DVD library, clubhouse, dog park, horseshoes, hot tub, covered pavilions with picnic tables, catch & release ponds, inflatable water toys, jumping pillow, laundr-O-mat, propane refueling station and dump station.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) This place isn’t EZ to find – for some reason, if you plug the campground into your GPS, you’ll literally be on the wrong side of the tracks, where you will arrive at a dead end with a sign that says you are in the wrong place and that you’ll need to double-back, cross the train tracks heading north and turn right just before arriving to High Road School of Belvidere (so if you see a school, you’ve gone too far); (2) You will want to take note that yes, you actually cross train tracks to get to this campground, so if you’re sharp, you’re going to want to ensure you haven’t booked a site right next to where trains will shoot through every few hours, this specifically means avoiding sites #E1-#E5 and #FS23-#FS36 as well as #FE1-#FE20; (3) If you’re a tent camper, you can certainly stay here, but you will want to note that this is very much an RV outpost; (4) The best sites IMHO are those on the northernmost perimeter, as far away from the train tracks as you can get and that also border the Kishwaukee River with sites #S9-#S20 being excellent, as well as #S25-#S81, which are equally amazing; (5) If you are planning on using that amazing pool that you saw as you came in, make sure you call management a good day or two before you come in to ensure that they turn on the heater – when we were there for 2 days, by the time we left, the pool was still too cold to go for a dip; and (6) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up a meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler and want to venture out to try some local fare, just a short walk into the nearby town is Garden Prairie Café, which has a very simple menu offering no shortage of fried everything (fish, shrimp, chicken, etc.) and then there’s Pleasant Street Tavern, but that’s mostly cheap national beers and frozen pizza fare, so if you want something a bit more substantive, head west of here to Miles Bar N’ Grill that serves up typical Midwestern fare like cheese curds, pork tenderloin, Italian beef and a variety of fried fish like blue gill, cod and catfish.

Happy Camping!

Nice little campground. If you want full hook up you will need to be on the top loop of the campground. The lower loop has a cream running through it. Depending on ran this can cause flooding. I have never been here when it is busy but I can imagine it can get crowded. The showers are clean and updated and the store is stocked with basic supplies.

Our second time staying - so that says a lot. We were here almost a year apart. The campground is 10min from a Midwest uncle we visit on our cross country trips. The campground is neat, tidy, cared for and I’m a lush location right on the banks of the kewaukee river. Site was big, level and grassy. You drive up on to it which works just fine for our class C. We spent just under 12 hours on-site this time but enough to use the play ground, big open fields, bathrooms and full hook ups for our big drive day. I’m sure we’ll be back.

If you find yourself either stuck in the middle of nowhere here in north central Illinois or actually looking to escape the hustle & bustle to find peace, serenity and a tranquil encounter with nature, then look no further than Nature’s Way RV Park, which is set amongst the golden rows of sweet corn that you’ll find out in these parts. From the winding blacktop that you’ll have to maneuver to get here, just a few minutes north of I80 and east of I39, while you will feel as though you are completely isolated, and for the most part you are, what I like most about Nature’s Way is that if you know where you are at and the surroundings, there’s actually an awful lot to explore and enjoy, but if you don’t want to go anywhere, you can simply set up camp here and allow nature to envelope you in a way that only she can. 

As for the campground, what makes Nature’s Way pretty amazing is that there’s a tremendous amount of infrastructure and a ton of amenities that most private campgrounds don’t offer. Upon entry, you’ll veer left and arrive at the main office where you’ll check-in. Here also is a quaint community room chalk full of books, DVDs and VHS tapes (for anyone still using these) and board games as well as a small alcove kitchen area complete with microwave, sink, dining table & chairs along with 2 driers and 3 washers, both coin-operated. Beyond this, there’s also a seating room with two oversized dollies with freshly cut wood bundles available for purchase as well as yet another room that is the campground market store and has everything from souvenirs to camping supplies, ice, beverages and snacks to charcoal and lighter fluid, BBQ tool sets and roasting forks and just about anything else you could think that you’ll need during your stay here. Just outside and behind this main building, you’ll discover a rather large, covered pavilion which is great for larger groups or for anyone wanting to picnic under some shade. 

Another reason why I love Nature’s Way RV Park so much is how they have organized the living arrangements. For mi tent pitching bredren, this campground IMHO has set aside the best spots for us – clear in the back, completely surrounded by God’s green nature, you’ll be able to pitch a tent just about anywhere under this shaded forest and will feel a world away from the caravan camping types that, rest assured, are on the other side of the careening creek that cuts this campground nearly in half. Over in these parts, just past the bridge that you would need to cross to reach this primitive camping area, there’s a K9 dog park as well as plenty of scattered picnic tables, in-ground raised BBQ pits as well as water spigots. For the RV driving / 5th Wheel toting crowd, Nature’s Way has spots reserved on its front porch lawn that you will encounter upon first arriving to the entrance. There’s about 20 or so designated RV spots here that offer full hook-ups including 30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage. Apart from being located right in front of the main office / market, you’ll be straddled next to the main road, which really should be a problem as this is just a quiet, small country road with not much traffic on it. Just due east of these RV slots are 4 cabins available for rent along with small porches complete with benches, brand new grills, fire pits and picnic tables, which is great for anyone not packing a tent or hauling a makeshift campground with them. Due south of these cabins as well as west of the main building are additional RV slots, but these only offer electric and water, so if you need sewage, you’ll have to book slots #1– 19. 

From an amenities standpoint, apart from what has already been covered, the ‘crown jewel’ asset here is the in-ground heated swimming pool, completely fenced in preventing the young kiddos from straying too far. Above and beyond this, there’s a designated propane refilling station, very well-maintained restroom and shower facilities, basketball court, scattered picnic tables and stand-up BBQ grills, WiFi and cable access, kid’s playground, community fire rings as well as designated dumpsters and dump stations. 

Insider’s tips? Here’s but a few: (1) When you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or onboard mini-fridge, then check out some of the local establishments, of which I highly recommend nearby Cajun Connection, which has some pretty amazing deep fried alligator tail as well as somewhat mediocre Jambalaya (but ask yourself the question: who else is serving up this dish so far away from Louisiana?!); (2) If you are a hiker and looking for some trails to blaze, then check out either Starved Rock SP, which as more than 13 miles of hiking trails awaiting you, or better, the lesser known Matthiessen SP, which has 5-6 of fairly decent challenging, but completely isolated, non-touristy-laden trails to plant your steps on; (3) Should you be wanting to get that beak of your watercraft wet on your outdoors expedition, then look no further than the Illinois River, which is literally less than 5 miles away from Nature’s Way, where you’ll be able to oar your way to some pretty epic wildlife encounters as well as some fairly decent currents as well as amazing fishing holes; and (4) Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn’t warn you – within just a 20 minute drive of where you have camped out, you’ll discover Rip’s Chicken, which is hand’s down, unequivocally, and judged by experts in more than 40 nations (mmm, OK, that last one may be a stretch) as the best fried chicken in the known universe. Oh, and they have Schlitz on tap. But this place only takes cash, so come prepared. 

Happy Camping!

This campground has gorgeous scenery, since it is literally ON the banks of the Mississippi River. The campground is primarily concrete sites for RVs and there is a smaller grassy area set aside for tents only.

Pros: fishing, beautiful location, clean vault toilets and shower house, firewood on site for $5 a bunch, and sites aren't too crowded together. Lots of wildlife to enjoy- turtles, birds, muskrat, and fish.

Cons: Since it is right on the river and there is also lots of marsh, the bug situation was a bit much, especially when there was no breeze. Bring a screened canopy if you want to enjoy the outdoors without swatting bugs all the time. There is a single trail but the bugs made it unbearable. We hightailed it thru the supposed 40 mins trail in 30 just to escape them. The other con is that there are so few tent sites. If you are a tent camper, there are a handful of sites set aside between 2 big loops of RV spots (see red circle on map). The spots were hard to find on the map and we had to carry all out gear from the parking spot to our site so not ideal.

This campground had spacious sites with several different sections suited towards camper trailers and tents. I stayed in the outback in my tent and had no neighbors so that was great! With a general store, laundry, and very clean bathrooms and showers there isn’t much you would need to leave for. Only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star is because I was told check out time was 2pm when it was actually earlier than that and I missed it by maybe 30 mins. An older employee came by and was a prick about it threatening to charge me another $32 for barely missing the time even though there was no rush to leave with no one coming in behind me.

We visited the first weekend in November so we still had some leave to peep. The weather was unusually warm and beautiful so we were able to hike both days of our visit but it was packed with people who had the same idea. Also, as we left the park to go to our campsite (around 2 PM) the camp was getting a rush of afternoon hikers. The place is busy!!!

The campsite itself is off the State Park premises,which isn’t bad since it’s not swarmed park attendees not spending the night. It has an electrical hookup on each campground for RVs. There is also a bathroom with running showers and toilets, pretty nice. And there is a camp store (which is currently closed for the season). The campsites themselves vary in size and fire station. Our campsite was a little small but if you want fully forested campsites I suggest you keep your choices between #s 30 and 100.

We had a blast, the state park itself was fantastic, plenty to see. Starved Rock and the other peaks were fantastic and Wildcat Canyon was a sight to behold. Illinois Canyon is huge and worth the visit. I understand that with the spring runoff there are many waterfalls to behold. We plan on coming back then. Great place to camp!!!

While we are sure never to fully know, I am quite positive that if the great Norwegian scientist Thor Heyerdahl, who masterminded the concept behind Kon-Tiki, would have shuttered in sheer horror at the name of this otherwise quite lame roadside RV despot being confused with his inaugural expedition to navigate the currents of the mighty Pacific Ocean from its western coast of South America’s birth to its ultimate destination to the Polynesian island of Tahiti. Whatever the reason behind the name of this roadside eye sore, let’s be clear that this experience won’t end with a beautiful sunset or savory cocktail with one of those colorful toothpick handled umbrellas. 

Located in north central Illinois, and literally just a stone’s throw (or car honk away) from the very busy 4-lane highway of Interstate 80, you will discover the fairly dilapidated state of Tiki RV Park, where letters are clearly missing from the sign upon entry, followed by the paint chipping away at the decrepit two-story white front office building along with the earthquake-like cracks that exist in the single stretch of pavement that you will need to navigate before arriving to the war-torn, pot-hole riddled single lane that forms the small loop circumnavigating this otherwise gutted, quite abrasive-looking RV wasteland. And sure, while you can park your RV or 5th wheel here, where there are just the very basic of amenities including all of the traditional hookups (30 / 50 amp electric and water), the real question is, why would you? 

While I could wax on about all of the amazing experiences you will be able to access while being in these parts - like boating on the Illinois River of hiking in Mattheissen SP, grabbing the world's best fried chicken at nearby Rip's in Ladd or rappelling at Starved Rock State Park - I won’t as I sincerely hope that you read this review and choose to stay somewhere – anywhere else – where the place is actually not falling apart, where you won’t hear the white noise of speeding traffic and where you can step out of your mobile camping carriage and actually breath in fresh air, embrace nature and experience what a glorious patch of earth this special part of the Midwest has to offer. 

Insider’s tips?  Just one … mosey on from this very sad location and find somewhere else to drop anchor for the night. 

Happy Camping!

As you find yourself heading east on I88 gunning it towards the Windy City or heading in the other direction fleeing it, should you find yourself looking for a nice slice of campground heaven to call yours for the night or even a week, then I highly recommend you give Crystal Lake RV Park your consideration. To begin with, in a matter of mere minutes after you get off I88 (either exit 41 or 44) head north towards the hamlet of Rock Falls, where you’ll find yourself dusting off those weary ‘road warrior’ digs and setting up camp in no time if Crystal Lake RV Park is your destination. And especially if you are coming with kids, you and your brood will be in for one nice little surprise as the family-friendly amenities and community you’ll discover here are excellent.

One quick note, so as not to waste anyone’s time here – in case you missed it in the headline, there is no tent camping at this property, which was a major bummer to learn. In speaking with the owner though, the campground has had lots of trouble with mi tent-pitchin' bredren on account of littering, irritating other fellow campers and apparently partying into all hours of the night in what is meant to be a kid / family-friendly campground. They did mention though that they are working on a creating a separate area that would be made available at some point in the future, so call ahead if you want to make sure.

To begin with, like me, you will likely be a bit confused on how to find this place, so while you can easily see the campground’s sign from Highway 30 next to a big ‘ol pond, also known as Crystal Lake (which is not just the namesake of the property you are destined to soon enjoy, but the major draw to this roadside outdoor haven) don’t turn down left on that first lane you see, otherwise you will be driving into a rather not-so-nice weekly hotel that apparently goes by a very similar name. Instead, take your second left, which is Emmons Ave, where you will head north and take the second left on 17th street, which will eventually dead-end at your intended campground destination.

Now that you’ve actually arrived at the campground, you’ll see a rather large office building that looks more like a makeshift oversized farm machine shed, but have no worries, the massive Crystal Lake RV Park sign that is in front of this building isn’t lying to you. This is in fact the main office where you’ll check in. Once inside, you’ll be greeted by the owner as well as distracted by the many amenities that exist here such as video games, an adult arcade featuring casino gambling kiosks, 40x40 meeting room, laundry room and recreational room featuring individual his / her bathrooms, with shower stalls inside and around the corner in a separate access point. Scattered throughout are 6 family-style bathrooms that are brand-spanking new. Oh, and they’ll sell you booze at this campground office too – in fact, the office feels more like one-part bar than it did a CG office.

While we’re on the subject of amenities, this place sure does pack a lot into a small place, including: 350-foot sandy beachhead right on Crystal Lake, which this campground has exclusive access to and that also features a fairly decent snack bar featuring hot dogs, nachos, pizza, ice cream and candy / chips as well as a lakefront picnic pavilion. There’s shallow and deep-water toys such as 4 water slides, water mat, rolling log and aqua duel with another slide on it. Additional diversions also include a grade-A go-kart racetrack – yeah, I couldn’t believe it either! a campground with an actual go-kart racetrack! – that sits right alongside the lake itself. There’s a rope swing along with a water trampoline that also features another slide and log as well as an aqua tower with its own slide and cliff. Did I mention that there’s an aqua golf course on the lake too?! And if fishing is your thing, you can do that right here on Crystal Lake, but you’ll have to head towards the southern end of the lake where it’s deeper, you know, so you don’t accidentally hook one of the kids playing in the water, right?!

The campground itself is pretty basic and easily organized with a single wide oval loop, much like a football field, but dissected in the middle with a single 1-way lane offering up other RV slots. In all, there’s some 35 pull-thru and 37 back-in sites offered up on a daily, weekly, monthly and seasonal rentals complete with all of the typical hook-ups you would expect: water, sewage and 20 / 30 / 50 amp electric as well as cement patios, large gravel diagonal slots with picnic table and fire ring. WiFi is included as complimentary. Slots are all a minimum of 50’ wide and 65’-90’ long, which is incredibly spacious by anyone’s standards.

Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) If you come with either canoe or kayak entowe, then you’ve hit oaring heaven with both the thinly placid Hennepin Canal – that borders the property and has a nearby boat launch just south of the property back on 1st avenue – or the raging Rock River to choose from, either of which will provide hours of fresh water exploration and angling; Oh, and if you don’t have your own kayak or canoe, fret not, this campground will rent you one for $10 / hour or there’s a handful of nearby operators you can rent from; (2) In the event that you can’t find a particular attraction or activity you might be looking for at Crystal Lake RV Park, which I would honestly find very difficult to do, then just due west of the property is Centennial Park offering up playground areas, baseball diamonds, paddle boat rentals, shelters with picnic tables, tennis courts and much more; (3) When you grow tired of trying to conjure up that next meal from the remains of what is in your onboard mini-fridge or you just want to try out some local fare, then across the street you’ll have a few fast food joints to choose from like Culver’s and Burger King, but there’s a few other spots I would recommend first like nearby Rock Falls Candlelight, which is simply fantastic and a bit upscale for this area or the very modest A’s Kitchen; (4) Don’t discount the fishing option here at Crystal Lake, which is stocked with both large- and smallmouth bass, yellow perch and lake trout, but don’t forget to bring your fishing license(although I don’t know how they would enforce a non-licensed angler as this lake is private); (5) Feel free to bring your cooler to the beach as the property doesn’t mind people who are camping on the property to dial-up their BYOB and BYOF desires; and (6) IMHO, the best slots (#14-19 and #69-72) are those on the perimeter and back-up against the tree-line, offering up a bit more shade and privacy.

Happy Camping!

Prophetstown is a park that has a great deal of history about the Battle of Tippecanoe which happened on November 7th, 1811.  It was a conflict between a coalition of 14 tribes and 1,200 troops.  The indians lost and moved on to Wildcat Creek.  The park has replicas of both the indian village and the white settlement of white settlements. There are excellent bike paths and wonderful explanation of the geology of the park.  The campsites are electricity and full hookup.