The northwest Illinois landscape near Elizabeth features wooded hills, limestone bluffs, and river valleys at elevations ranging from 600-820 feet. Camping options around Elizabeth, IL provide access to fishing streams, hiking trails, and wildlife viewing opportunities throughout spring and fall seasons when temperatures average between 45-75°F. Winter camping requires preparation for temperatures that can drop below 20°F.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Apple River Canyon State Park offers trout fishing in spring and smallmouth bass year-round. "Tent camped here in late April. The solo camp ground can be a little hair-raising as it's perched about 20 feet from the edge of the canyon wall. Beautiful setting, great fishing (stocked trout in April, Smallmouth all year)," notes camper Brannon M.
Hiking trail networks: Apple River Canyon features several trails with varying difficulty levels. "I've always loved this small quiet campground, even as a teenager. Though I notice that it has gained a lot of popularity in recent years! Campsites are well spread out to give you some privacy," reports Kylie H. The park offers "several trails, not challenging, not easy after 2 days of rain," according to Cristina S.
Wildlife viewing: Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area provides opportunities to spot deer and diverse bird species. "Trails were way nice and the scenery was beautiful-lots of deer!" says Ber M. The park features "one section that had some interesting wildflowers," according to Art S., who adds that visitors should "keep an eye on hunting season if you head this way."
Water activities: When water levels permit, the Apple River offers wading and cooling off in shallow areas. "There is a kid's fishing pond" at Lake Le-Aqua-Na, though one camper noted they "didn't see anyone catch a thing, so not sure if it's actually stocked or not."
What campers like
Spacious sites: Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground offers large campsites with varying layouts. "Some sites are massive...as in .25 an acre that you drive over the grass to get too your site bc it is situated away from the road. Other sides are just simple drive through," explains Scott M.
Privacy between sites: Many campers appreciate the layout at Apple River Canyon. "Sites are secluded and provide privacy. Great spot for quiet tent camping. Not a big commercialized campground," writes Marissa F. Another camper notes, "The actual campsites were bigger than we've ever stayed at- lots of room!"
Affordable camping: State parks in the Elizabeth area offer economical options. At Canyon Ridge Campground, one visitor mentioned, "All this for an $8 camping fee! The recommendations are correct. This is a nice place to camp." Apple River Canyon is described as "Very affordable camping!" by one reviewer.
Stargazing opportunities: Vel Terra and other campgrounds in the area provide good conditions for night sky viewing. One camper at Apple River Canyon noted, "This site is a dark skies site, so if it's not overcast or full moon there is some good stargazing."
What you should know
Train noise: Some campgrounds near Elizabeth experience railroad disruption. At Blanding Landing, a camper warned about "train tracks with trains running by very often. Maybe an hour or 90 minutes with none then there would be three in a very short period. Kind of like living next to an airport."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies significantly throughout the Elizabeth area. "Tmobile cell service was spotty at best" at Apple River Canyon, according to Sarah B. Another visitor noted "No cell service for T-Mobile so download songs on Spotify accordingly."
Bug activity: Insect protection is essential, especially in warmer months. "Really peaceful and quiet night here at Apple River Canyon. Not too many people around, but the sites were large and private anyway... The bugs are no joke though. Mosquitoes, gnats, and other flying friends were definitely swarming," reports Sarah B.
Seasonal conditions: Many facilities operate with limited services off-season. "Roads need repair, many potholes" at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, reported one visitor, while another mentioned, "The lake has had algae issues for quite some time, so there was no swimming or boating."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and recreation: Palace Campground offers activities beyond standard camping. "Swings and playground for kids. Would stay there again," mentions Ivana B. Another visitor notes, "This is by far my kids favorite place to go camping and we will continue coming here every year for as long as we can."
Quiet hours enforcement: Most campgrounds in the area maintain peaceful evenings. At Apple River Canyon, "It wasn't loud even with a lot of people," according to Amanda C. However, one camper at Mississippi Palisades noted conflicting experiences with "Loud people singing, playing music and snapping limbs till almost 4am."
Swimming options: Water activities vary by location and season. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, one visitor mentioned, "We had a lot of fun there playing in the water on the beach however my son who was five at the time got a really bad bacterial rash from the water."
Trail difficulty considerations: When hiking with children, review trail ratings. Apple River Canyon has trails they "label from easy to rugged," and Mississippi Palisades offers "North trails [that] are scenic, with a casual non-technical difficulty to them."
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Choose locations based on levelness and accessibility. At Mississippi Palisades State Park, "Very well set up campgrounds with plenty of electrical, non-electric sites. Very few primitive sites, if that's what you're looking for," notes Mi G.
Setup challenges: Some campgrounds have tight entry roads. Kylie H. warns, "Though there is a dump station, I would not recommend this park for large campers. Our pop up did fine and we saw a few other tear drop campers, but the roads are pretty narrow for anything more than that."
Dump station timing: Plan for potential waits at busier facilities. "The line to clean out the tanks was long and blocks the way in and out" at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area, according to one visitor.
Electric hookup availability: Most established campgrounds offer electrical connections. At Mississippi Palisades, one visitor enjoyed "Terrific access to electric site near the bathroom! All to ourselves" during off-season camping.
