Best Camping near Downs, IL

Searching for the best camping near Downs, IL? Downs is a great camping destination for everyone. There are tons of nearby hikes, adventurous activities, and sights to see. At The Dyrt, campers like you share their favorite spots, plus tips and photos. No matter where you're headed in Downs, you'll find the best spot for you and your camping crew.

Best Camping Sites Near Downs, IL (44)

Showing results 1-10 of 44 campgrounds

Pet-friendly camping near Downs

Recent Reviews in Downs

229 Reviews of 44 Downs Campgrounds


  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Lowe's - Bloominngton
    Nov. 15, 2024

    Lowe's - Bloominngton

    Standard Issue Lowe’s Parking Convenience

    If you’ve been to one Lowe’s, then you’ll appreciate that this particular one isn’t terribly different than many that you’ve experienced before. The lot itself is fairly massive, wide-open and not terribly congested. While not necessarily new, this parking oasis isn’t old, outdated or failing either. The upside is that this lot adjoins a few other nearby retailers, which unlike other parking situations might leave you thinking that this is ‘bumper car heaven’ but actually, given all of the space, it is surprisingly uncongested and therefore, fairly worry-free. What I like most about this specific spot is that it’s close enough to the main Veteran’s Parkway thoroughfare with which to access all of the non-stop amenities you’ll discover, but far enough away where you will truly experience some peace & quiet.

    While scoring criteria may vary from one person to the next, here are the 5 most important criteria that informed my rating of this overnight location: convenience (EZ on- and off-access), safety & security, quality (of facilities), peace & quiet and amenities (either on-site or nearby). Here’s how I ranked this particular overnight spot: 

    Convenience: 3 

    Safety & Security: 4 

    Quality: 3 

    Peace & Quiet: 3 

    Amenities: 4 

    Overall, I scored this location a 3. 

    Happy Overnighting!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area
    Nov. 15, 2024

    Woodford State Fish and Wildlife Area

    Primitive Camping Bliss Amongst the Levees

    This is a beautiful, off-the-beaten path ‘no frills’ campground that comes very close to being called primitive, yet offers water pit privies and a designated sanitary dump station in addition to in-ground fire rings with fold-up BBQ grills along with decent standard-issued picnic tables. You’ll discover that the entire camping area is blessed with really great shade provided by native cottonwood, silver maple and willow trees. The land is relatively flat making for great level locations to pitch your tent or set up your trailer for an overnighter.

    Shortly after meandering down the weaving gravel country lane that will lead you to the tree-lined entrance of the park, where before hitting the bend that will take you north to the actual campground, you’ll see a concrete fort-like structure that serves as a spot to gut & clean your fish, which is definitely a bonus. If you continue west past this structure, you’ll likely pass about 100 trucks with empty trailers, which have already deposited their boat cargo into the nearby confluence of fresh water where the Illinois River converges with Meadow Lake and Babb Slough.

    As for the campground, there’s approximately 20 scattered sites that are easily marked by the single picnic table and fire ring that each site is issued. There’s a rather large covered community pavilion perfect for an afternoon picnic or a family BBQ. The rather large open expanse of Woodford SFWA features scattered restrooms with at least half of those closed due to needing repair. Surrounding the park and further afield, which makes for a decent hiking experience, are 3 miles of hiking trails marked by levees where you’ll see no shortage of waterfowl like wood ducks and Canadian geese.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) While most of Illinois is low-lying, you will want to make particular note of this as you’re encamped next to a river that can (and often does) flood, so be sure you know what the weather conditions have been for the previous few weeks as well as what is likely to happen during your stay, which you can accomplish by calling the park ahead of time at+1.217.782.6302; (2) This location is quite popular with local fishermen and gets absolutely jam-packed, particularly on the weekends, so don’t be surprised by a long parade of F150s hauling their boats on trailers that begin entering the park as early as 5am; (3) You will want to keep in mind that this entire area is prime hunting ground, whether that’s on foot trekking deer or on the water shooting migrating fowl, so if the sound of gunfire bothers you, bring ear plugs, and if you plan on hiking during hunting season, where some BRIGHT orange; (4) If you haven’t camped out here in central Illinois during the summer, you will want to bring good DEET spray to keep the ticks away as well as hard-core smoke or scent-fused candles that are peppermint, eucalyptus or lavender-scented to keep the gnats at bay; and (5) There is VERY little out in these parts that will offer up dining options, but if you don’t mind a short drive, then head back north on Route 26 to Midway Duck Inn for some delicious buttermilk-brined pan fried chicken, corn fritters and full filets of panko-encrusted catfish.

    Happy Camping!

  • Sarah S.The Dyrt ADMIN User
    Camper-submitted photo from Comlara County Park
    Nov. 11, 2024

    Comlara County Park

    Convenient campground right off of the highway

    We were looking for a quick place to spend the night, like a Walmart or gas station when we found this gem. It is only a few miles off the highway, making it super convenient for a quick overnight stop. The campground is very big with lots of sites and since we were there at the end of October, there were not many other people around. We got a beautiful spot right on the lake. 

    The campground has nice bathrooms and hookups.

  • J
    Camper-submitted photo from Millpoint Park
    Oct. 22, 2024

    Millpoint Park

    Beautiful and spacious!

    Met up with family to fit in one last night of tent camping for the year. They didn’t really take reservations and the pricing shifted on us (quoted $75 for 6 adults 4 kids over email, then $10 per person when we actually showed up) so that was a bit weird but I’m not too concerned bc it was still a great deal. This is basic campground—flush toilets/showers and 3 cabins available but no other amenities unless you include water/electric hookups. I couldnt tell where the primitive tent sites were bc the map online doesn’t quite line up with what we saw there. You’d come here to relax around the fire, play some outdoor games, maybe do a little walking, and that’s about it. It was just what we were looking for. Some people looked like they were going to try to fish but the water in the fishing area was low which makes me wonder if it gets really buggy in the summer. We were on 2 huge pull-thru sites with just our 2 tents and we were the only tent campers I saw—maybe 1/3 of other sites had RVs. Some seemed to be permanent so not sure if that is common? Views of the river were great, kindling was plentiful, and it was SO QUIET and peaceful at night! I usually don’t sleep the first night of camping because my brain has to tune in to the new noises but we got some good rest even with temps dipping down to 45. Would love to come back in the summer for longer.

  • Laurie L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from D & W Lake RV Park
    Sep. 19, 2024

    D & W Lake RV Park

    Lovely campground

    Lovely little campground with its own little lake. Well maintained. Clean laundry. Friendly and helpful owner. Visible presence throughout campground checking that all is well.

  • Linda N.
    Camper-submitted photo from Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
    Aug. 10, 2024

    Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

    Memorabe trip

    One of our favorite camping trips so far!

    We stayed in the J loop, which was more family friendly and very close to the beach. There was a walking path from our site to the shore which was perfect for our young family to go back and forth on.

    Sites were somewhat open but there were tons of trees and grass behind each spot so it didn’t feel so exposed. We loved the option for fishing and swimming in a nearby watering hole.

    We heard the toilets and shower house were brought a portable toilet since we have small kids who might not make it to the outhouse so we never used the campground toilet/facilities.

    Definitely our vibe of being more secluded and on the water.

  • Steve
    Camper-submitted photo from Prairie Pines Campground
    Aug. 6, 2024

    Prairie Pines Campground

    Comfortable campground

    People are very nice and the campgrounds are clean. Plenty of site room and clean and updated shower and washing machines. Rates have gone up to $40 per night

  • Jennifer H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867
    Jul. 25, 2024

    Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867

    Super convenient clean and with amenities

    If you’re passing thru and need a place to stay this is it. Very little to no grass and no trees were the biggest downside. But everything else from there was an upside. Pickle ball courts, playground, trash, full hook ups, clean, right next to the freeway and convenience store for quick getting in the road the next day.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Prairie Pines Campground
    Jul. 24, 2024

    Prairie Pines Campground

    Nice Campground

    Our Garmin RV GPS’ conflicted with our new Ford RV navigation, wanting to take us a more direct route and Garmin through town to this city park. Either route would have worked but suggest you locate the campground(CG) on the map and verify the route with Google Maps or Waze. Check-in was at the camp host site near where you enter the campground near the shower house building in the center of the CG. After a quick check-in we were escorted to site 13 with FHUs. This site is technically a back-in but our host brought us around by the swing set to make it an easy pull-through. The utilities worked well and we got 3 bars on Verizon. There are a lot of mature trees. They have a nice shower house complete with laundry. This CG was well kept and a great choice for an overnight stay as we headed to our home base near St. Louis, MO.

  • Sara W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Friends Creek Campground
    Jul. 7, 2024

    Friends Creek Campground

    Clean, spacious sites, nice amenities

    Friends Creek is a small campground with nice spacious sites and super clean bathhouses and pit toilets. The fire pits are well kept and the camp host was very kind! He came around with suckers for the kids and just to check in. We hiked a bit on the trails and played in the creek. Highly recommend.

  • L
    Camper-submitted photo from Clinton Lake State Recreation Area
    Jul. 6, 2024

    Clinton Lake State Recreation Area

    Great visit with the family

    We had a fantastic time here. We came during Fourth of July and never felt like it was overly crowded. Sites were spacious but wasn’t much privacy, which didn’t bother us because it allowed for our kids to play with the other kids easily. Our site was adjacent to numerous paths that easily led to the beach, playground, the rocky path for fishing, and a secluded swimming hole. We couldn’t have asked for a better location for our family and our interests. We did not use the toilets or showers, although it looked like they were in working order as others were using then. We had a cloudless night and the stars were spectacular.

  • Melissa C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Millpoint Park
    Jun. 28, 2024

    Millpoint Park

    Peaceful, Clean, Beautiful River Views

    Peaceful campground, well maintained, beautiful views of the Upper Peoria Lake/Illinois River. We enjoyed a nice pull-through full hookup site that required minimal leveling. Water has a lot of iron so does smell/taste weird.

  • Nick W.
    Camper-submitted photo from Kentuckiana Campground
    May. 16, 2024

    Kentuckiana Campground

    Great family atmosphere

    Great place for kids. Decent little parks. Huge slide in the holler. Spots are kind of cramped and close together, one of our favorite places though!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Comlara County Park
    May. 6, 2024

    Comlara County Park

    Lakefront Camping Bliss Albeit Sans Privacy

    Located just northwest of Bloomington, which is located absolutely smack-dab in the middle of the state of Illinois, you’ll discover a nature wonderland over here nearly hidden from plain site. One moment you’ll be driving down the well-paved country road with golden tassles of corn popping up on either side of you and the very next, you’ll turn into a wooded sanctuary that is punctuated by the marvelous Evergreen Lake, which was built in 1970 and is some 925 acres in size with an average depth of nearly 20 feet and 50 feet at its deepest.

    It is this fresh body of water that really makes Comlara County Park stand-out from just about anything else in the surrounding area. It has not one but two outstanding boat launches as well as a separate launch for canoes and kayaks. There are simply tons of little nooks and crannies all around the lake to get some decent fishing in – which you will predominantly find largemouth and smallmouth bass, walleye, saugeye, muskellunge and crappie – as well as a small individual isle called Deer Island, although when we explored the small land mass, no deer were to be found. There’s boat rentals and a bait shop that is available on the weekends only as well as a proper beach head with swimming available 7 days a week during the summertime (Memorial Day – Labor Day).

    As far as the campground(s) are concerned – if you look closely, there's actually not 1, not 2, not even 3, but actually 4 to choose from – but if you add up all of the 144 campsites (apart from the primitive camping options) collectively, they are spaced a little too close to comfort for my taste, which when you add on top of that there isn’t much brush or anything separating you from your neighbors camping alongside of you. This is likely my biggest complaint: privacy. If that doesn’t matter to you and you enjoying being in a large wide open space chock full with other tents, RVs and 5th wheelers, then Comlara County Park is a great choice for you.

    I would first begin by pointing out that the entire Comlara Park is very well organized, kept impeccably clean and very easy to navigate with relatively good roads and decent signage. It feels as though whether you are looking for a trail to hike, a spot to launch your kayak, biking trails to navigate or finding a fishing hole to cast a line, everything seems as though it is in very close reach and just a short walk away. All of the 144 campsites are made available on a first-come, first served basis, with 94 including 30 / 50 amp electric while 23 are non-electric sites, with the 11 remaining devoid of any hook-ups.

    For my tent-pitching primitive bredren, there’s 16 walk-in sites in the main recreation area (I guess that is situated amongst or in-between the other 3 campgrounds that exist here), but there is a completely separate whole other area (oh, and located completely in a different county altogether), which is technically a completely different campground in a completely separate physical location with these 16 primitive campsites.

    With amenities in mind, aside from the greatest asset being Evergreen Lake itself and beyond the associated amenities that have already been highlighted (e.g. boat launch, beach, canoe / boat rental, bait shop) there’s 3 kid’s playground, at least 5 large shelters by my count, at least 3 his / her bathroom and shower facilities as well as scattered in-ground fire rings, water spigots (basically planted every 3rd or 4th site) stand-up BBQ grills as well as the prerequisite picnic tables, all of which were in very condition during our stay. There’s only one dump station, which seemed odd considering that there’s at least 3 campgrounds if not 4 here and 144 sites collecting garbage at a single time. There is firewood, ice and fishing worms available at the visitors center and campground station in the main area.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If like me you are a primitive tent camper and on the look out for some pretty amazing, not-so-EZ places on earth to really feel like you are out enjoying pristine, undisturbed nature, then you’ll want to have a very close look at the primitive camping areas west of Evergreen Lake over near White Oak. There’s 16 or so simply excellent lakefront sites over here along with your own boat dock; (2) Should you be ‘herd camping’ with a much larger group, there’s actually a simply fantastic hidden group camping oasis over here in White Oaks as well that you can get away from it all; (3) In the event that you grow weary of cooking up franks & beans again for dinner, you’ll have a decent drive to either El Paso, where there’s a Monical’s Pizza, Dairy Queen, Casey’s, El Paso Mexican or, upgrade yourself to The Local Tap, which is a craft kitchen and alehouse serving up some excellent fare. Of course, you could head into Bloomington, of which you will find everything, but that’s a bit of a hike unless, like me, you would make that drive to either have some of the best deep dish pizza Chicago has to offer, Giordano’s, or one of the greatest sausage and Italian beef joints in the world, Portillo’s.

    Happy Camping!

  • Anne W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Harry L Swartz Campground
    May. 5, 2024

    Harry L Swartz Campground

    Beautiful campground but very busy (and noisy)

    This is a really lovely spot! There’s 2 bars of Verizon service, a shower house with warm water and flush toilets, as well as pit toilets. There are a few hiking trails that leave from the campground as well. My only problem was that it was extremely busy when I visited and some of my neighbors were quite loud (although they quieted down by quiet hours).

  • BThe Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867
    Apr. 11, 2024

    Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867

    Need to iron stuff out

    Saw that you could make your reservation when you got there. Turns out there’s a tablet at the front gate that will let you get through the first 10 minutes of standing in the weather to make one, then when you get to the payment screen they have security turned on so it blocks the page and you cannot make the reservation. Then, you have to go onto your phone, to a site nowhere mentioned by loves until you get to the site, and are blocking traffic while trying to figure all this out because yes, there is a coded gate to get in and out. So you block traffic because now there’s RV’s and Semis backed up behind you while trying to figure this all out. So you finally get the reservation made, ($64.99 btw, not even close to the $34-$39 estimate). Then you go to check in on the same tablet from before, put in your confirmation code, and the screen pops up for 0.25 seconds before popping up and saying that this page has been blocked by an administrator. At this point I’m just pissed that I’m blocking traffic, loves tablet isn’t working, I can’t get through the gate, and when I called the number posted on the booth, it goes through their entire automated system before going to a guy that says I can walk over to him in loves if I need help. Finally and email check in confirmation popped up with the gate code. You get backed in on a nice concrete slab with nice grass. You connect to the WIFI you paid for to find out it’s got like a rolling drop, where every 5-7 seconds it disconnects you for 5-7 seconds. Power/water/sewer hookups were all very nice. Good water pressure. My last complaint has to do with the “maintenance” guy. My girlfriend was walking one of our pups as I was packing up. As our pup was pooping, my girlfriend started unwinding a poop bag out of our bag holder, the maintenance guy drives up and rolls his window down, and tells her to come over to his truck. So she walks up to his window and he sees she already has a baggy, so says, “oh, I was going to ask if you needed a baggy. But I see you’ve got it. Then points over to a camp site that is not ours and asks or the two pre-bagged poops sitting on the slab are ours. She says “no, we have green bags”. It was at that point that he tells her to go pick them up anyways. Being non-confrontational, she does, and then he gets super sarcastic asking her where it is she’s going to put all of them once she picks up our dogs poop as well to which she replies, “um, the garbage?” Before he drives away.

    If I pass through here again, I will just stay in a truckers spot and pull my generator out so we have HVAC. For double the price of most campsites, I DO NOT recommend.

    For those of you that want to give it a go anyways, the site to make the reservation on is camplife.com.

  • Mark S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867
    Mar. 7, 2024

    Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867

    Great Overnighter

    Super convenient, great facility. Sites are concrete and level. If you’re getting off the highway for an overnight stay these Loves are perfect. This one is well located for our travels and we’ll be back. Did this stay completely online.

  • Kathie M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Comlara County Park
    Oct. 16, 2023

    Comlara County Park

    Site 18

    Beautiful lake view site. Steep drop to water so not good for those w/little kids. Great trees for hammock-overlooking lake! Pad level. Water very close. Outhouse close walk. Kayak launch close walk. Boat dock close. Shower house short walk

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Hickory Hill Campground
    Oct. 16, 2023

    Hickory Hill Campground

    Off-The-Grid Midwest Camping Outpost

    Nestled in the verdant rolling hills of central Illinois, you’ll discover Hickory Hills Campground located just a short drive west of I39 and completely off the grid, due to the slight incline of this heavily forested campground outpost. This place is a massive RV enclave with various different neighborhoods and haunts to choose from – and while there are a very fair number of folks who make Hickory Hills their year-round outdoor destination, there’s a decent amount of temporary spots to select from. But if you’re a tent camper, you will be hard-pressed at this location to find a suitable spot to set up for the night as Hickory Hills is definitely designed for the RV and 5th Wheeler crowd in mind. 

    The amount of amenities at Hickory Hills is a pretty long list that includes an in-ground pool opened between Memorial Day and Labor Day (any other time here in Illinois, you would be ice fishing!), basketball court, mini golf, shuffleboard, pool table, ping pong and various soda and snack vending machines and games in the recreation center, catch & release lake for fishing and a fully-stocked general store, which also serves as the main office where you will check-in upon arrival, offering up firewood, snacks, water, ice and other sundries. There’s also a coin laundry and bottle propane station in addition to the standard RV hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage). 

    What I love most about Hickory Hills Campground is the very strong Midwestern hospitality and warm welcome you’ll receive from just about everyone you encounter here – from the very great folks that run the place to the guests and residents that roll out the red carpet and ensure that everyone feels connected to the very tight-knit community that has formed here. 

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) This campground is pretty isolated, clear out in the boondocks just northwest of the major college town of Bloomington (Illinois State University), where you can easily access everything, but if you do make your way out here to Hickory Hills, you better bring everything you need because while it’s a short drive into the nearest town here, which is El Paso, to be honest, there's not a lot there either, so likely you'll have to go further afield to get just about anything else; (2) When you grow weary of staring down the insides of your onboard mini-fridge and want to try some of the local cuisine, I would HIGHLY recommend The Local Tap Craft Kitchen & Ale House, which has glorified bar food (wings, pizza, burgers), slightly above average wine list (hey, while the Sauvignon Blanc is just Cupcake, it’s pretty amazing that they have Sauv Blanc at all!) and a pretty amazing selection of local craft brews from 5 distinct nearby breweries; (3) If you are on the hunt for some real outdoor tent camping, great hiking or care to dip your kayak into some really nice fresh water, then head on over to nearby Comlara Park, featuring Evergreen Lake, which has some really nice areas to explore, in particular Deer Island, which you can anchor on or near and explore this little picturesque outcrop; and (4) Should you need anything, I would encourage you to explore nearby El Paso, which has some nice surprises awaiting you, such as Ruth’s Garden Tea Room or coffee at Java Café, CVS Pharmacy for all your sundries, El Paso Mexican (for just OK Mexican) and Woody’s Family Restaurant for some good ‘ol down home Midwestern comfort food and some decent (not amazing) pizza at Monical’s. 

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Kamp Komfort
    Oct. 12, 2023

    Kamp Komfort

    Roadside RV Hideaway

    Maybe it was the hand-written note taped to the office door that explained how the front office manager / owner was laid up with a bad back, so checking in was on the ‘honor system’ or the fact that we were just looking for a nice, flat and quiet place to lay up for the night that wouldn’t take us too far off course, but for whatever the reason, while we weren’t looking to hole up at Kamp Komfort RV Park & Campground, we ended up there and it was a sublime experience. 

    To be blunt, Kamp Komfort is literally RIGHT NEXT to the major highway 74 running through these parts connecting Peoria to Bloomington (just 8 miles away) in central Illinois and while I know these parts incredibly well, discovering this campground along with the nearby town of Carlock, was completely a pleasant surprise. So if there is no avoiding the non-stop swooshing of traffic from the nearby interstate (and there isn’t, unless you count high-grade ear plugs into the mix), then just accept that you are in a sweet spot that offers up a very well-manicured green pasture where the numerous (by my count, nearly 50) diagonal gravel-laden RV parking spots that come with all of the expected RV hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage), in addition to the other amenities that exist here, including an in-ground pool (open between Memorial and Labor Day). What you will enjoy most, apart from the ‘down-to-earth’ feeling to this place, is the very well-meaning and down-right hospitable folks you will encounter, from the people that run the place to the neighbors you will meet, there is an unmistakably strong Midwestern sense of hospitality that can be found here. 

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a handful: (1) There’s not much in these parts, although at only 8 miles away, if you wanted anything and don’t mind going for a short drive to nearby Bloomington, then that shouldn’t be a problem, but if you are looking for something close and nearby, and are eyeing the township of Carlock, then you’ll only find a BP gas station, the Carlock Family Restaurant that features some good ‘ol country cookin’ and that’s about it – this really is a single stop sign (no stop sign) town to revel in!; (3) If you are on the hunt for some real outdoor tent camping or really great hiking or care to dip your kayak into some really nice fresh water, then head on over to nearby Comlara Park, featuring Evergreen Lake, which has some really nice areas to explore, in particular Deer Island, which you can anchor on or near and explore this little picturesque outcrop; and (4) Should you want to ponder a great evening out and are ‘jones’ing for some really amazing restaurants to imbibe the best of what Illinois has to offer, then you’ll have to head back to Normal–Bloomington for one of the following: Portillo’s, for an outstanding Italian beef & sausage sandwich (don’t ask, just order!), Giordano’s, for some of the best deep-dish Chicago pizza you will ever encounter ... or, and here it is ... the most iconic and local Italian (by Midwestern standards. mind you) joint you will encounter in these parts, called Avantis, which features, of course, pasta, but the handmade subs are what make this place legend. 

    Happy Camping!

  • Kathie M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Comlara County Park
    Oct. 12, 2023

    Comlara County Park

    Site 107 non-electric

    Very large non electric site near water. Quieter area of campground. Site level. Water close by. Pit toilets close.

  • Kathie M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Comlara County Park
    Sep. 30, 2023

    Comlara County Park

    Site 31

    Site 31 is for those who want more privacy. It has woods on 2 sides with a trail thru woods to outhouse. Nice shade, site is level and on cul-de-sac so way less traffic. Water spigot very close. Very short walk to lake/dock and shower house. Park kept clean and very friendly staff.

  • Kathie M.
    Camper-submitted photo from Comlara County Park
    Aug. 27, 2023

    Comlara County Park

    County Campground w/nice lake

    Campground with nice no wake lake. Sites are fairly large although many of them with wide open area and thus little privacy. Site 31 nice site backed by woods. Could use a second dump station-only has one. Camp staff very friendly.

  • MickandKarla W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Camper-submitted photo from Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867
    Aug. 16, 2023

    Love's RV Stop-Normal IL 867

    Great Overnighter

    This review is from the point of view of an overnight or short-stay campground(CG) versus a destination CG. The CG was easy to get to as it was right off the interstate and adjacent to the Loves main facility. We did the online check-in, but a nice gentleman met us for a formal check-in at their gate and office/shower/laundry facility. We then proceeded to pull through site 43 with full hookups. We paid$42 for the night with a military discount, plus$2.70 in transient tax and a$3.00 booking fee. The CG is fairly new, as our RV GPS didn’t show this Loves address. The campsites are decently spaced, and all the utilities worked fine. As this is a new CG, there are no trees, so no problem with satellite, plus there are plenty of OTA channels. We got 3 bars on Verizon. The water pressure is also good at around 50 psi. There are little barbecue pavilions and a community fire pit. We were pleasantly surprised at the adequately sized fenced dog area with separate large and small dog areas. There is a concrete sidewalk that leads you out of the CG over to the Loves facility. As this RV Park is right off the interstate, you get highway noise.



Guide to Downs

Camping near Downs, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or a fun family adventure, there are several campgrounds in the area that cater to different needs.

What to do:

  • Fishing and Boating: At Comlara County Park, you can enjoy fishing for bass and walleye or rent a boat to explore Evergreen Lake. One visitor mentioned, "There are simply tons of little nooks and crannies all around the lake to get some decent fishing in."
  • Hiking Trails: Moraine View State Recreational Area has well-maintained trails for hiking. A camper noted, "The nature trails are nicely groomed and mowed," making it a great spot for a leisurely walk.
  • Swimming: Many campgrounds, like Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, offer swimming areas. One family shared, "We loved the option for fishing and swimming in a nearby watering hole."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the campgrounds. A visitor at Sangchris Lake State Park said, "The bathrooms are just okay, but the showers are clean."
  • Friendly Staff: Many reviews highlight the helpfulness of campground staff. At Millpoint Park, one camper mentioned, "The owner was friendly and campsite was clean and spacious."
  • Scenic Views: Campers love the beautiful surroundings. A review for Pleasant Creek Campground noted, "Peaceful campground, well maintained, beautiful views of the Upper Peoria Lake."

What you should know:

  • Site Proximity: Some campgrounds have sites that are close together. A camper at Illinois State Fair Campground remarked, "Campsites are close together, but not too busy while I was there."
  • Water Quality: Be cautious about the water quality at certain campgrounds. A visitor at Moraine View State Recreational Area warned, "The water is TERRIBLE and looks like coffee or tea."
  • Wildlife Encounters: Raccoons can be a nuisance at some sites. One camper at Weldon Springs State Park shared, "She had to leave in the middle of the night because the raccoons were so bad."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Sites: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids. At Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, a family enjoyed the "adjacent paths that easily led to the beach, playground, and a secluded swimming hole."
  • Plan for Activities: Bring games and outdoor equipment. A camper at Pleasant Creek Campground suggested, "Bring your own corn hole bags and badminton."
  • Check for Clean Facilities: Families should prioritize campgrounds with clean bathrooms. A visitor at Sangchris Lake State Park mentioned, "The bathrooms were not cleaned the whole time I was there, and they were disgusting."

Tips from RVers:

  • Look for Full Hookups: Many RVers prefer campgrounds with full hookups. A review for Millpoint Park noted, "We enjoyed a nice pull-through full hookup site that required minimal leveling."
  • Be Prepared for Water Quality Issues: Some campgrounds have water that isn't suitable for drinking. A camper at Illinois State Fair Campground advised, "Bring cases of bottled water."
  • Check for Amenities: RVers appreciate campgrounds with good facilities. A visitor at Sangchris Lake State Park said, "There are restrooms and a shower house that are clean."

Camping near Downs, Illinois, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Make sure to check out the local campgrounds for a memorable outdoor experience!

Frequently Asked Questions