Best Cabin Camping near Downs, IL

Cabins at Millpoint Park and Carl Spindler Campground provide overnight accommodations near Downs, Illinois with varying amenity levels. At Millpoint Park, cabins are situated along the Illinois River with scenic views and natural surroundings. Full hookup sites are available near the cabins, and each accommodation includes a picnic table and fire ring. A review mentioned that "The owner, Don, is quite possibly one of the most accommodating and friendly campground owners I have ever met—so don't be shy if you need anything at all during your stay." Carl Spindler Campground offers a deluxe cabin option for those wanting more comfort while still enjoying the waterfront location.

Rustic and deluxe cabins are both available, depending on the location. At Timberline Campground, cabin rentals are available alongside RV and tent sites, with the facility operating seasonally from April through October. Sankoty Lakes and American Legion Freedom Farm Campground also offer cabin options within driving distance of Downs. Clinton Lake State Recreation Area features cabins in a natural setting with lake access and recreational opportunities. According to one visitor, "we got a pull-through site in the middle...there's mature trees everywhere!" Most properties allow pets in cabin accommodations, though specific policies vary by location.

Most cabins require visitors to bring their own linens, pillows, and personal items. Kitchen facilities range from basic to more equipped, with some providing refrigerators and microwaves. Firewood is available for purchase at most locations, including Millpoint Park, Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, and Timberline Campground. On-site camp stores at some properties offer basic provisions, though selection is limited. Visitors staying longer should plan to bring supplies or visit nearby towns for groceries. Water quality varies by location, with one review noting, "The water here has a lot of iron in it, so don't attempt to drink it...bring a decent amount of bottled water with you."

Best Cabin Sites Near Downs, Illinois (7)

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Cabin Reviews near Downs, IL

53 Reviews of 7 Downs Campgrounds


  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 26, 2024

    Carl Spindler Campground

    Waterfront Camping Bliss with City View

    This waterfront campground is perfect for anglers and particularly boaters who want to have their vessels close at hand, tied up at the marina, providing quick and EZ access to a fresh body of water that is formed where Upper Lake Peoria meets the Illinois River. For campers who want to get away from it all, while still being within close driving distance to civilization, Carl Spindler offers the convenience of a nearby major city (Peoria) while still providing a decent escape for some rest & relaxation within a fairly decent vicinity to nature. The best part about this lakefront getaway – apart from the incredibly cheap prices for an overnight stay – was hands down, the very friendly staff who offer up everyone a very strong dose of Midwestern hospitality.

    This pet-friendly CG offers a lot of amenities including: FHUs featuring electric, water and sewage as well as playground, community fire pit, restroom and shower facility that are in pretty good (not pristine) condition, laundry, fresh tap water, boat launch, 2 dump stations, WiFi (although very poor connection) and a beachhead. All sites are very level here and come with a picnic table, fire ring and electric, while a good number of the RV slots have a combination of electric amp options in addition to water and sewage hook-ups. At the marina, you can purchase ice, small sundries and camping supplies and / or simply use this spot to launch your boat, kayak or canoe from. There’s also options to rent a slip, store your boat and / or trailer for the winter. There’s even a deluxe cabin to rent in case you don’t have a tent or RV.

    While most of Carl Spindler is designed more for the RV-driving or 5th Wheel toting kind – and to be honest, some of these look like longer-term residents and / or traveling professionals – offering up some 55 individual slots (some of which I would definitely describe as ‘very snug’), this outfit does provide 2 different options for decent camp sites with me tent pitchin’ bredren in mind, both of which sit right in front of the Illinois River. In these areas, and actually for the entire campground, there’s not much (if any) shade, tree cover or brush that contributes to an overall lack of privacy – so whatever your activities might be, you and your camping brood will be on full display to the rest of the campground. At least if you chose to set up your tent over in the primitive camping area, this area is still pretty underdeveloped (for now), so over in these parts, you’ll have a greater feeling of solitude, peace & quiet.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’d like to knock some pins down while slurping some delicious local cold brew, head on over to Landmark Bowling Center; (2) Should you be looking for some decent trails to hike check out nearby Powerton Lake State Park; (3) You will want to time your sundowners correctly, because if you do, you’ll be sipping Mai Tais leaning back in your camp chair listening to some Amy Winehouse watching the sun set in the west over the Illinois River as the twinkling stars come out to shine their brightest all with a crackling bonfire keeping you warm and lit on a gorgeous Midwestern night; (4) While I always pack a long 100 foot electrical cord for all of my electricity needs, I’ve never had to use it, except here, where the electrical outlet in the primitive tent camping area is shared by all 4 sites and ours was the furthest away – so we got lucky; and (5) In the event that you grow weary of conjuring up that next meal from the depths of your Cordova roto-molded cooler or onboard mini-fridge and want to check out some local flavor, there’s a handful of options, but all will require a bit of a drive, of which I highly recommend Avanti’s Ristorante for their excellent pizza and Italian subs, the Blue Duck BBQ Tavern for outstanding smoked brisket and Obed & Issacs Microbewery for the finest local taps as well as their signature dish, Kitchen Sink Pie (don’t ask, just order).

    Happy Camping!

  • Stuart K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2025

    Millpoint Park

    Waterfront Camping Bliss @ Family-Friendly CG

    Perched on Upper Peoria Lake where the Illinois River conjoins, this family-friendly and pet-inviting lush camping outpost is completely surrounded by Spring Bay Fen Nature Reserve, absolutely guaranteeing a sublime encounter with nature on top of offering direct waterfront sites that will frame one of the most beautiful sunsets as you look west to Peoria during Happy Hour. In all, there’s about 80 sites – all of which are incredibly spacious, unlike a lot of other RV parks – to choose from at Millpoint, where a slow meandering gravel lane will have you navigating around the campground where you’ll take good note of the excellent shade that is provided everywhere.

    From an amenity standpoint, Millpoint Park packs a punch with a combination of back-in and pull-thru sites offering up standard water, sewage and electric hook-ups, relatively new picnic tables and in-ground fire rings as well as a designated dumpster upon exiting the grounds. There’s a fantastic boat launch that will have you fishing, kayaking and experiencing this body of fresh water shortly after you anchor into your spot for the night.  In fact, you don’t even need to get into a boat, by accessing one of 2 small little lakes where you can simply cast a line in from the dock or around the perimeter. The meticulously clean restroom / bath house facility is located near the front adjacent to the main office, where next to this are 3 cabins that can be rented, just in case you forgot your tent or RV. Additionally, there’s decent hiking paths to explore both north and south of the property, with the latter offering up a small beachhead at Funks Run. The place also sells firewood, but if you need anything else, you’ll need to head south towards town where there’s no shortage of shops and restaurants.

    Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you are a tent camper, there’s 3-4 designated areas for primitive camping, but if you’d like something less primitive and with access to water and electricity, then book yourself into one of the 5 designated tent sites: #233-#237, of which I recommend #236 and #237 as they have a small waterfront area flanking the southern perimeter; (2) The water here has a lot of iron in it, so don’t attempt to drink it, but according to the locals, it’s fine to shower in, so I would encourage you to bring a decent amount of bottled water with you; (3) 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 (4) The owner, Don, is quite possibly one of the most accommodating and friendly campground owners I have ever met– so don’t be shy if you need anything at all during your stay, including a discount to his pizza restaurant.

    Happy Camping!

  • Nancy W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 1, 2017

    Carl Spindler Campground

    Good location to downtown Peoria

    If you want to visit Peoria, this is an ideal place to stay. The campground is part of a marina on the Illinois River and not too far from downtown. We wanted to stay here so we could visit the Caterpillar Visitor Center which is totally worth the visit.

    We visited the park in November and since it was the shoulder season the park was not very crowded. The park is open year-round and you will find more seasonal people during the off season. They close most of the park in the winter time which only leaves 22 paved sites available. Otherwise, they offer a mix of paved, full hook-up sites or electric only sites.  Sites that are close to the river have a great view of the skyline at night and if you don’t mind having just electric and being on sand these are great sites. There is a small beach area where you can access the water and a community fire pit which seemed to draw a lot of people in the evening.  

    The park has shower/bath house that was clean as were the laundry facilities. Wifi was non-existent but our Verizon 4G phone and hotspot worked well. We were able to get a decent number of antenna television channels. The roads are paved and easy for us to navigate in our 45’ RV. Our site was paved with a picnic table and fire pit and all the hook-ups worked well.

    We enjoyed the short nature trail that leaves directly from the area. The trail starts off as a boardwalk over an interesting marsh area and then transitions to a primitive trail eventually leading you to the lake shoreline. This was a great walk for our black lab who loves trails and water. Of the four times we walked the trail we only encountered people once. After a heavy rain, the low lying areas of the trail were pretty muddy so wear appropriate shoes. 

    The nice aspects of this park were the location to downtown Peoria, the pretty view of the skyline and the access to water if you want to kayak, fish, or swim. The price of $27/night for full hook-up was a great rate. The downside of this campground is that sites are close and there is a bit of road noise. There are a lot of seasonal people who were up and going to work in the morning which may bother late sleepers but meant for a quiet campground during the day.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 30, 2021

    Carl Spindler Campground

    Good for passing through

    General: City camping is generally challenging but this was a good place for us to land for the night as we were passing through. Very easy access as soon as you cross Peoria Lake to East Peoria. The flip side of this is that you will hear constant road noise and an occasional train. Reservations are made by phone and when I called to make mine, was told we would be in Site 33. Typical for us, we arrived after the office was closed and saw Site 33 was occupied. We took Site 36 and when I went to pay the following morning, I discovered this is where we had been moved to as site numbers are not supposed to be guaranteed. It appeared that there were many long-term campers staying here. The rate of $24 for an electric site was reasonable. Full hookup sites and a few tent sites are also available. 

    Site Quality: Site sizes are, for the most part, very generous and can accommodate a large RV and extra vehicle/s. Some are very close to each other (beach and overflow) and there is no physical separation between them. Each site has one (or two) picnic tables and a fire ring. Some sites have paved pads while the ones closest to the water are either gravel or sand. There are also several cabins.

    Bathhouse: Clean but the only downside is there is only one sink, and it is located in an awkward place (perpendicular to and close to one of the stalls). Showers were small and I did not use so cannot comment on how well they worked. Hot water was appreciated. 

    Activities/Amenities: If you are a boater, this is a great place for you as this is a marina! Small and outdated playground and a basketball stand but no basket or net. There is also a laundry room. 

    Conclusion: For us, passing through, this was an ideal place to land for the night but since we don’t have a boat, we wouldn’t stay longer than one night.

  • carissa
    Oct. 14, 2020

    Millpoint Park

    Perfect Camp Site

    This place has beautiful views of illinois river. Nice sized campsites. Everything was clean and well taken care of! Not a lot of amenities, however that isn’t what camping is all about! Full hook ups at a reasonable price. Each site also has a picnic table and fire pit. The guy that runs the place is AWESOME! So nice and willing to help with anything you need. This park is close to town, so if anything is needed you are only minutes away. LOVED camping here & will definitely be back :)

  • Cindy H.
    Sep. 16, 2019

    Millpoint Park

    Not a lot of amenities.

    Large sites on Illinois River. FHU. Expensive. No laundry, store, or gas. They do sell firewood, pickup your trash, and have two showers available.

  • Brett F.
    Jun. 1, 2021

    Millpoint Park

    Location, location, location!

    We were late reserving a campsite for Memorial Day Weekend. But Don had a spot for us. We are glad we stayed.

    The campground sits along the Illinois River: many campsites face it. It's secluded and quiet. Campsites are spacious and well-distanced.

    There is much to do on site. The campground is situated between a nature preserve with nice walking paths and a beach. There is also an old barge to explore.

    A little further away is Old Mill Vineyard. Well worth the 20 minute drive! The wine and ambiance are very nice. Ask for Ellen.

    The campground only had two restrooms available during our stay. But they were nice. And don't forget your RV water filter! The water here is very rusty.

  • M
    May. 5, 2019

    Millpoint Park

    Nice quite, owners working on sprucing it up.

    Full hookups each site. On Illinois river. Has cabins for rent, showers. Check it out on google.

  • Ryan L.
    Jul. 5, 2021

    Timberline Campground

    Party atmosphere, rowdy

    Stayed here for the Fourth of July weekend. It was packed and rowdy. The fireworks show was pretty good. Half the guests were setting off fireworks all weekend, to be expected, but the folks who don’t want to set off fireworks near their RV, are more than happy to set them off near yours. Probably happens any place that allows it. Parade of golf carts at about 10pm I guess each night, at least on the weekends. Sites are kinda run down and need gravel refreshed, shore power plugs replaced etc. the part that makes things a bit more rowdy is that you can drive any kind of small atv, 4 wheeler, dirt bike, dune buggy, utv, that you want. Yes I saw all these vehicles. It’s dusty here and with all those vehicles driving around constantly, all your stuff will be caked in dust by the time you leave. They have a decent sized store/snack bar in the office, along with various rentals like golf carts, mini golf game etc. the park is very large, so it’s good to see there is a security guy driving around. I’m not sure how much it helps as you’ll still see 6 y/o’s driving dirt bikes and golf carts around. This place is as country as it gets. If that’s your thing cool, have at it. If you like quieter camping, try Kamp Komfort 10 mins away.


Guide to Downs

Cabin camping options near Downs, Illinois offer accommodations within a 35-mile radius of town. The area sits in the heart of central Illinois prairie land with elevations around 750 feet above sea level. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F, while spring and fall bring milder weather with occasional rainfall, making these seasons ideal for cabin stays.

What to do

**Fishing opportunities: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area features various fishing spots along its shoreline. According to one visitor, "The lake is surprisingly warm. No dogs allowed on the beach. The sites were spacious, and ours had a path to the lake. Filled with poison ivy, etc, so long pants recommended when waking thru."

Beach swimming: Clinton Lake State Recreation Area has a beach area open during summer months from 10am-7pm. "There is a beach and concession stand, group camping areas and lots of roads to bike around. We enjoy the boating/camping combo," notes one camper.

Boating access: The lake at Clinton is popular for water activities. "Clinton Lake is a boating destination as the waters are unusually warm due to the discharge from the nearby nuclear plant," explains a camper. The water temperature makes it comfortable for swimming even in cooler weather.

Family activities: Timberline Campground offers structured recreation for children. "Fun campground. Plenty of activities for kids! Camp ground slightly packed, but would still return back. Great for families with kids," reports one visitor.

What campers like

Spacious campsites: Millpoint Park gets high marks for site size. "Campsites are spacious and well-distanced," notes one camper. Another adds, "The sites were pretty spread out and easy pull through. It was full hookup with electric, water, and sewage."

Scenic views: Waterfront cabin locations offer views of lakes and rivers. At Carl Spindler Campground, one reviewer mentioned, "The view of Peoria at night is beautiful," while another noted they enjoyed "sites that are close to the river have a great view of the skyline at night."

Privacy options: Some cabin locations offer more seclusion than others. At Clinton Lake, "The different loops have very different feels...some are very shaded in the trees, some more wide open with a prairie type view," according to one camper who visited multiple times.

Clean facilities: Carl Spindler Campground maintains its amenities well. "The shower houses are amazing! This campground is very well maintained and right on the Illinois river," reports a satisfied guest. Another notes, "Campground is very well kept with very clean showers and restrooms."

What you should know

Water quality concerns: Several campgrounds have iron-rich water. At Millpoint Park, "The water here is very rusty," warns one camper. Another suggests, "The water here has a lot of iron in it, so don't attempt to drink it, but according to the locals, it's fine to shower in."

Reservation timing: Popular weekends fill quickly at most cabin locations. "Large campground that gets booked up most weekends," notes a Clinton Lake visitor. Holiday weekends are especially busy.

Site variations: Different cabin areas have distinct characteristics. At Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, "There are several different loops within the campground, some are alcohol free and others have direct access to the lake," explains a regular visitor.

Seasonal operations: Timberline Campground operates from April 1 to October 31, closing during winter months. Clinton Lake remains open year-round, though with limited services in winter. "Water was turned off for winter which wasn't entirely clear. The RV fill was shutdown too," reports an off-season visitor.

Tips for camping with families

Loop selection matters: Choose cabin locations based on family needs. At Clinton Lake, "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."

Entertainment options: Timberline Campground has family-focused facilities. "The management here has been amazing and there is plenty to do. Jumping pillow and several playgrounds. Nice campstore," notes a parent who visited.

Beach proximity: For families with children, waterfront locations add value. A Clinton Lake visitor shared, "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."

Bathroom considerations: Some campgrounds have limited facilities. One Clinton Lake visitor noted, "We heard the toilets/shower house were in need of TLC so we brought a portable toilet since we have small kids who would not make it to the outhouse."

Tips from RVers

Site selection: At Millpoint, full hookup sites accommodate larger RVs. "Nice sized campsites. Everything was clean and well taken care of! Full hook ups at a reasonable price. Each site also has a picnic table and fire pit," notes one RVer.

Utility connections: Millpoint Park offers various hookup options. "We got a nice pull-through full hookup site that required minimal leveling," mentions an RV camper. Most sites feature water, sewer, and electric connections.

Pricing value: Carl Spindler Campground offers affordable rates. "Excellent value at $28 for full hookup. A lot of surface streets to get here from the freeway. Not much noise once you arrive. Good water pressure, cell service solid 2 bars," reports one satisfied RVer.

Seasonal considerations: Without mature trees at some locations, summer heat can be challenging. At newer cabin sites like Sankoty Lakes, "Since the grounds are newly setup, the trees are newly planted, so no shade yet. I imagine this will be a place we're more likely to stay at during early spring or fall, because of the lack of shade."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Downs, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Downs, IL is Clinton Lake State Recreation Area with a 4.1-star rating from 19 reviews.

What is the best site to find cabin camping near Downs, IL?

TheDyrt.com has all 7 cabin camping locations near Downs, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.