Best Campgrounds near Freeport, IL

Freeport is an ideal place for camping adventures of all kinds. Freeport is an adventure-filled destination for those who love the outdoorsy camper lifestyle. But it's also great for those who prefer to spend time near the city, exploring and sightseeing. Ready to plan your adventure? Check out our campgrounds near Freeport and user-submitted reviews.

Detours Nearby

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Lena KOA

Lena KOA

15 min away

Wisconsin Riverside Resort

Wisconsin Riverside Resort

1 hr 32 min away

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Best Camping Sites Near Freeport, Illinois (88)

    1. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area

    10 Reviews
    Lena, IL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 369-4282

    $10 - $30 / night

    "This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."

    "There are some trails that will take you around some of the hills through open fields if you are interested in walking around the campground. This is a nice place to camp."

    2. Seward Bluffs Forest Preserve

    7 Reviews
    Pecatonica, IL
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 877-6100

    $15 - $25 / night

    "This is a nice campground that winds around through some light woods. Campsites have electric hookups. There are certainly lots of picnic tables. We saw more than one per site."

    "Off the beaten path campground. Quiet. Nice place for solitude. Good hiking trails, pit toilets; no shower facilities."

    3. White Pines Forest State Park Campground

    22 Reviews
    Mount Morris, IL
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 946-3717

    "Easy drive up style. Picnic tables and fire pits on site. Bathrooms and dumpster close by. River that is walk and drive through!"

    "Much quieter and more peaceful than the more crowded counterparts and perfect for camping with small children because the bathrooms are always close by and it’s actually quiet at night when they need to"

    4. Rock Cut State Park - Staghorn Campground

    81 Reviews
    Machesney Park, IL
    34 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 885-3311

    $12 - $50 / night

    "Normal Illinois state park. Not a lot of services but good size sites and peaceful. Lake with canoe rentals and fishing. Nice walking trails."

    ", with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east."

    5. Lena KOA

    3 Reviews
    Lena, IL
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 369-2612

    "It is about 40 minutes away, but is nice to be away from the traffic. The KOA store is well stocked and has some pretty cool souvenirs!"

    6. Emerald Acres Campground II

    1 Review
    Freeport, IL
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 443-2550

    7. Lowden State Park Campground

    19 Reviews
    Oregon, IL
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 732-6828

    $10 - $20 / night

    "I found spot 70 that was away from most of the others. We heard no main road noise but did hear people passing us by. Even though someone camped right across from me, we really didn't see each other."

    "Lots of good trees around for hammocking, especially at B38. Short walk to the shower and stall building."

    8. Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    28 Reviews
    Savanna, IL
    29 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 273-2731

    "Hidden gem near the iowa/illinois border. Secluded and beautiful."

    "It has trails for walking and lots of concrete for riding bikes. We did both. The park is close to the River and has plenty of places to put your boat in across the highway."

    9. Timber Lake Resort

    3 Reviews
    Stockton, IL
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (815) 244-1600

    $60 / night

    "We were surprised to have a bar right outside our campsite, but with an RV running the fan all night the noise didn't bother us at all."

    10. Crazy Horse Campground

    15 Reviews
    Evansville, WI
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (608) 897-2207

    "Being right in front of the jumping pillow people didn’t walk around. They would cut thru our site."

    "We made this trip mid-May during the Covid social distancing. The camp ground was on point with their preparedness. Check in was simply pull into your site or a brief stop at registration."

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Recent Reviews near Freeport, IL

503 Reviews of 88 Freeport Campgrounds


  • Sam B.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    Loud, crowded.

    I don't think we'll be back. The best part about the whole experience was the crazy road that leads to the overlooks. The campground is stacked close together, there's no signs for directing you towards sites, no place to put garbage, only a couple vault toilets. Never did see the shower house, but we just left the next day anyways. Loud people singing, playing music and snapping limbs till almost 4am, trains run all night. Not really my kinda place.

  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Blanding Landing

    Safe, peaceful and friendly! Will definitely be back!

    I stayed at site 36 over the Labor Day weekend, and it was incredible. I was a solo female traveler with my two service dogs. When I arrived, the site was clean, and we had a site with an open site on one side making it feel twice as big. The other campers were friendly, and the one site neighbor we had (a young couple about my age with a pup too!) even came to visit and meet my dogs and gave them organic dog treats.🥹 The icing on the cake was the woman who monitored the sites, Anne. She was so kind and welcoming, and made me feel comfortable and safe. I can’t wait to come back and visit again. Highly recommend!

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground

    Serene Campground with Great Amenities

    Everything about our stay was enjoyable. Campsites were spaced out well and amenities were great. Don’t forget to check out the hiking trails!

  • Kay K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Spring on our site

    There was a spring on our site! We hiked in a bit to a wooded quiet site. The toilets were clean. The playground was great. We spent the day exploring our Swiss heritage in New Glarus.

  • PThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 24, 2025

    New Glarus State Park Campground

    Great Proximity

    It is a smaller state park camping wise. There is hiking and mountain bike trails available. With direct access to the Sugar River Trail and the town of New Glarus, it is a great location as an overnight stop or home base to explore.

  • Ron D.
    Aug. 17, 2025

    Pearl Lake

    Low Class Trailer Trashy Park

    Horrible customer service from the start. We registered online with a 35" 5th wheel for 2 nights. On checking in, we wouldn't fit in the site so the girl at the desk put us in a different site saying she couldn't escort us to our site. This was our first time being there and her excuse was they were short staffed. The street signage was very small and hard to read. Site numbers were said to be on every pedestal but they were not visible from any drive. After only a few minutes of driving around, we were astonished by all the trash and junky trailers on site. Note that if your camper is more than 10 years old, they want to first see a picture of it so as to keep their place classy. Not the case here once you have paid and are here. We call back to the office for assistance finding our site and the girl said she would have to lock the office and was hesitant about doing so but she would come out to hep us find our place. We simply asked for a refund saying we were very disappointed with the situation so far. When she told us they don't give refunds, we asked for a manager to call us back. At this point we left to find another place which we did and were at in about 30 minutes. The manager called us back offering us drinks at the bar, a premium site, tickets for kids in the bounce house, and free water craft but I and the wife were only there for 2 nights. We were not going back to that dump. She said she would have to speak with the owners about a refund but never called us back. Five days later I called several times to speak with the manager again but no call back. She did however text us saying they will not issue a refund saying the girl in the office could not leave the desk because her coworker was using the restroom. Then why did she say she couldn't leave because they were short handed? Long story short, think long and hard before you visit this trashy place. Showers were dark and dingy and smelled. The beach looked more like gravel and not pleasing. Just walking around, I couldn't get away from the awful smell of people smoking and vaping and a strong smell of pot smokers everywhere. Not at all the place we would take our grand kids ever.

  • Ray J.
    Jul. 27, 2025

    Palace Campground

    Great campground well kept

    Stayed many times. All different times of year Recommended!!

  • Juli H.
    Jul. 16, 2025

    Spruce Creek Park

    Horrible host

    The campground is very pretty. Being on the water is beautiful and from what I saw I’m sure it’s nice. However the weekend we went it was not. The weather wasn’t the problem. The problem is how the weather was handled. If you need ANY assistance or guidance from the host, good luck. I was met with attitude and zero empathy on where, how or what to do when our camp site was ankle deep in water. No help at all. Zero. When our camp was destroyed the next night from the storm - not one person came to see if we were ok, needed assistance or anything. Only thing we got was they we could NOT leave the metal from our pop ups and had to get them to the dumpster. When all my daughter and I wanted to do was leave as it was still storming and there were employees EVERYWHERE with skids. They cleared a path to our spot from a tree down in less than 2 minutes. There was zero reason to not let us leave under the circumstances and knowing we had a long drive home in the storm on top of.
    I contacted the board and was told they will use this for further training. And they were sorry. I have read several reviews on other online platforms and all is wonderful ASIDE- the host. They have a big problem and until it’s fully addressed- stay clear. It’s simply not safe.
    It will be a wonderful weekend for you as long as you need no assistance. I don’t think they like to be bothered.


Guide to Freeport

Camping near Freeport, Illinois, offers a variety of experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. From scenic trails to family-friendly activities, there’s something for everyone in this beautiful region.

What to do:

What campers like:

What you should know:

  • No Alcohol Policy: Some campgrounds, like Mississippi Palisades State Park Campground, have strict no alcohol rules. A camper noted, "No alcohol was allowed on the grounds but it didn’t seem like it would be enforced unless there was a campsite causing issues."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have stores or markets nearby. A visitor at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area mentioned, "The store is very nice and well stocked."
  • Reservations Recommended: Many sites fill up quickly, especially during peak seasons. A camper at Rock Cut State Park Campground advised, "During the summer months especially, this place fills up, so I would definitely recommend calling ahead."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Sites: Look for campgrounds with amenities for kids. A parent at Cox Hollow Campground — Governor Dodge State Park said, "The beaches tend to be where the people are most dense."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep kids engaged. One camper at Lake Kegonsa State Park Campground shared, "The walking trails are nice and there’s a volleyball net and little playground too."
  • Pack Snacks: Having snacks on hand can help keep the little ones happy. A visitor at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area mentioned, "The store is very nice and well stocked."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site dimensions. A reviewer at Twin Valley Campground — Governor Dodge State Park noted, "The sites are wooded & spacious."
  • Use Electric Hookups: Many campgrounds offer electric hookups, which can be a lifesaver. A camper at Rock Cut State Park Campground mentioned, "In addition to all of the camping options, of course, one of the greatest assets here is the very massive Pierce Lake."
  • Plan for Dump Stations: Know where the nearest dump stations are located. A visitor at Shabbona Lake State Recreation Area said, "You’ll also have access to running water spigots at each site along with running electric."

Camping near Freeport, IL, offers a mix of adventure and relaxation. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's a spot waiting for you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular campground near Freeport, IL?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Freeport, IL is Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area with a 3.6-star rating from 10 reviews.