Gary McDermott RV Park
Nice and convenient especially since in mid November most parks are closed. Shower house is closed but there is a spigot to fill tanks. Lots of trains but right in town.
2 campgrounds with availability next weekend
Several RV campgrounds surround Freeport, Illinois with varying hookup options and site sizes. Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area provides electric hookups with 50-amp service and paved roads for easier navigation, though water hookups are unavailable. Sugar Shores RV Resort accommodates big rigs with full hookup sites including water, electric, and sewer connections. "Nice park, fair amount of stuff for the kids, game room, mini golf, pool. Bathrooms are nice and clean. Only issue I had was the sites are little small," noted one camper at Sugar Shores. Blanding Landing offers electric hookup sites with some riverside locations that have limited shade, while sites farther from the water provide more tree coverage. Pine Country RV Resort in Belvidere features full hookup capabilities with water and sewer connections.
Seasonal availability varies significantly throughout the area, with most campgrounds operating from April to October. Lake Louise RV Resort operates from April 1 to October 31, but one visitor cautioned about small sites and difficult navigation: "The site for our 30 foot camper was appropriate for a tent and it would have been impossible to either back into it or pull into it." For larger motorhomes, Thomson Causeway provides more spacious concrete sites directly on the Mississippi River. Most parks allow pets but enforce leash requirements. Dump stations are available at Blanding Landing and Lake Le-Aqua-Na, while Sugar Shores and Pine Country offer sewer connections at individual sites. Cell service remains reliable at most locations, with a reviewer specifically noting decent ATT service at Blanding Landing. During peak summer weekends, advance reservations are strongly recommended, particularly for pull-through sites that accommodate larger rigs.
"Hosts are friendly and I saw rangers driving through multiple times. Each site includes picnic table and fire pit. Most have electric. "
"Quiet, relaxing small campground with super clean hot showers and flush toilets in shower house. Boat ramp, dock fishing, tall trees all over. Shady sites, water pump faucets, dump station."
Campground full next weekend
Get a text when availablefrom $14 - $25 / night
"There's fishing, exploring, a playground, and when you see a paddleboat you have time to drive to town before it hits loch & damn #12. It's a beautiful spot right on the river with views galore."
"Nice shower house and close to bike trail that leads to Bellevue"
"Set along Lake Koshkonong this place was bursting with energy and feels more like a summer resort than a traditional campground with over 270 full-hookup sites and cozy cabins for families who don’t have"
"We came to this area to do some genealogical work and needed to be situated between Madison and Beloit. Good location for that."
"It is a beautiful place with enough space for tents, The only thing missing is the store. They sell fire wood at the gate."
"There’s something instantly calming about rolling into a campground wrapped in tall pines and soft breezes, and Pine Country had that peaceful, easy feeling that made all of us exhale before we even found"
"Very nice, private sites. Not many campers, lots of RVs. Folks in the office were very helpful."
"Sites have hard surfaces, fire rings, water, electric. No shade since trees have not been plant s as well f this date. Boat ramp nearby, resort has restaurant, playground, water park."
"CG offers river views, hard lanes, tables, fire rings, RR, playground, food, and is just 2 miles north of river town of Bellevue for supplies."
from $69 - $139 / night
"There’s a calm, almost storybook stillness to the water at Lake Louise that makes those early morning coffee moments feel a little more special, especially when the lake sits glassy and quiet before the"
"This was a great campground. 3 pools,water slide,outdoor movie theatre,gaga ball,mini golf,fishing,boat rental,golf cart rental
The grounds were spacious,LG pull through site.Well maintained."
"Great campground close to home. A ton of activities for the kids, plus daily Yogi sightings! We picked two great sites on the end of the row that were spacious, but I saw others were pretty cramped."
from $60 - $90 / night
"They clean out fire pits after every weekend. Some sites were not the most level. All Roads are newly paved. New/Updated Dump station."
"This was an unexpected good find in Illinois. The campground was nice with the standard set up - picnic tables, restrooms, water available."
from $10 - $30 / night












Nice and convenient especially since in mid November most parks are closed. Shower house is closed but there is a spigot to fill tanks. Lots of trains but right in town.
Really enjoyed this park. Beautiful river, bluffs, and hilly country. Only downside to this specific campsite is the road is very close. I also had a blast exploring and fly fishing.
Great little campground in rural setting. The owner was great. We stayed in Oct 25 while doing a fall color/wine tasting/Galena trip. It was a perfect central location for us.
All sites are separated not on top of each other. We’ve been here quite a few times during cooler months and have been very happy with our experience.
Prairie View CG is the very first camping oasis you will come across after entering Rock Cut SP from its northernmost entrance, with Highway 173 to the west and Harlem Road to the east. Once you enter the park, you will follow the long winding nicely paved two-lane circuit until you begin seeing the signs highlighting where to go for the various campgrounds. Once you access this road, you’ll come across a small building with a ranger where you will check in, after which, you will pass by a designated dump station before coming around a small bend where you will take your first left.
The sites begin with #500 and as you circumnavigate the simple circular loop, you will pass by about 2 dozen or so slots that are nice flat paved slots perfect sized for just about any RV or 5th Wheel. There is a single his / her restroom along with trash area at the beginning of the loop just past sites #503 and #504. To access the shower, you will need to go back to the main road and hike it down the road with your towel and toiletries, which I have to admit, is the biggest bummer about this particular campground. If having close access to shower facilities is important to you, then you may want to contemplate staying at other campgrounds here at Rock Cut SP like Staghorn and White Oak, which offer closer proximity.
One of the greatest assets here at Rock Cut SP is the very massive Pierce Lake, which is great for fishing, boating, kayaking and swimming. To launch your watercraft, you’ll head south to Hickory Hills campground where on the eastern side of this area you’ll be able to find the boat launch. In the Prairie View campground, in addition to restroom and waste disposal, you’ll also have access to running water spigots at each site along with running electric. The small community amphitheather is located centrally just past the campstore and before reaching the Hickory Hills campground. There is an excellent camp store in the middle of Rock Cut SP that offers up ice, firewood, ice cream, snacks, games, limited groceries and a number of other sundries you might need while camping. Additionally, there are 5 shelters that have electricity, with water and restrooms nearby and each shelter available through a reservation system. Two of the shelters (Red Oak and Puri Crest) also have children’s playgrounds nearby.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) IMHO the best sites here at Prairie View CG are those that are located furthest from the main road, for attaining the maximum camping bliss trifecta of less traffic, little noise and more privacy. As such, look at sites #512, #514, #516 and #518, which are all located on the exterior of the circle, thus providing the greatest amount of intimate nature experience; (2) Once you grow weary of trying to conjure up that next meal from the depths of your cooler, fret not, and just head out of the park where you will find a handful of dining options: Tom& Jerry’s, Fresh Start Café, Waffle Shop, Golden Chopsticks Buffet, Sunrise Family Restaurant, Beef-A-Roo (in fact, there’s like 4 of these that the park is surrounded by), but one of my absolute favorites is Green Fire, which is a really nice farm-to-table joint; (3) Got bird watching on your mind? Well, you’re in luck, because here at Rock Cut SP you can spot an amazing array of winged adventurers including bald eagles, American robins, northern cardinals, barn owls, mourning doves, indigo buntings, eastern bluebirds, Canadian geese, red-bellied woodpeckers, brown thrashers and many others; (4) Tired of nature and just want to get some really cool culture in you? Then head just due south of Rock Cut SP to explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s Laurent House, which is simply amazing; and (5) If you come bearing watercraft like canoe or kayak, while Lake Pierce is wonderful and great for fishing, if you want something a bit more challenging, then head due west to the Rock River, where you can drop in from a number of launch sites, however I strongly recommend Atwood Homestead Forest Preserve.
Happy Camping!
Set deep in the farmland west of Oregon, Hansen’s Hideaway blends working-ranch authenticity with simple, countryside camping across more than 100 acres of pasture, red barns and wide-open Midwestern sky. Founded in 1962 and reached by a winding bend off S Harmony Road, this quiet hideout welcomes guests beneath an old-fashion tall wooden ranch gate right out of the Wild West and into a spread of RV loops, tent spaces and shade-scattered meadows where horses graze freely. Sites range from the busier cluster near the main office, which is also where you'll be to the swimming pond, game room, arcade, pavilions and clean restrooms to two quieter, more spread-out loops farther in the property that offers privacy and stillness for those seeking a true escape. Amenities include water and electric hookups, fire rings, picnic tables, a dump station, playground and a small market inside the office. While remote, the campground offers easy access to great hiking at George B. Fell Nature Preserve and Lowden-Miller Forest with excellent kayaking on the Rock River at nearby Castle Rock State Park. Expect big skies, big peace and that unmistakable 'far from everything' feeling.
UPSIDES: (1) Authentic working ranch setting with roaming horses and wide prairie views; (2) Exceptional peace & quiet thanks to the secluded location; (3) Shaded and spacious RV sites plus open tenting areas; (4) Fun family amenities including a swimming pond, arcade, game room and playground; (5) Clean, well-maintained restrooms and showers; (6) Friendly, welcoming staff; (7) Close to great hiking and kayaking destinations; and (8) If you'd like to get the scoop on what's happening at this CG, swing by the main office for a cup of joe and hang out around the wood-burning stove to chat it up with the owners, fellow campers and working ranchhands.
DOWNSIDES: (1) Very remote with no nearby services, so campers should arrive fully stocked as it's a decent haul back to civilization; (2) No sewer hookups and limited on-site provisions; (3) The RV area near the office can feel crowded during peak weekends;(4) Amenities show their age in places; and (5) Cell signal varies significantly by carrier.
Happy Camping!
Seasonal Stay Review Overall Rating:⭐☆☆☆☆ Our experience as seasonal campers at this campground was deeply disappointing due to unprofessional management, inconsistent rule enforcement, premature lease violations, and a toxic atmosphere. Management& Atmosphere The campground owner frequently engaged in inappropriate behaviors, including spreading gossip, making disrespectful comments, and actively bullying campers both in person and on social media platforms. Rather than fostering a welcoming community, the leadership promoted a divisive culture marked by clear favoritism. Inconsistent Rule Enforcement Rules were applied arbitrarily. Certain seasonal campers were permitted to disregard campground policies without consequence, while others were singled out, micromanaged, and targeted for minor or non-existent issues. Unprofessional Conduct Regarding Minors Most concerning was management’s unacceptable conduct toward children. The owner actively made a ten-year-old child feel unwelcome by making inappropriate insinuations regarding his friendship with a nearly thirteen-year-old girl, claiming a platonic friendship between a boy and a girl of those ages was somehow improper. Targeting young children and policing harmless childhood friendships crosses a line that no family should have to deal with while on vacation. Breach of Contract& Property Damage To make matters worse, management prematurely cut off electricity to our campsite prior to the end of our contractual agreement. This lack of power led to a total loss of all refrigerated food items and caused significant interior damage to our camper when the freezer thawed and the ice inside it melted and leaked onto the flooring. Additionally, management unlawfully removed personal property from our campsite before our lease term had expired and failed to return it. Conclusion While a seasonal site should offer a relaxing environment for families, the current ownership creates an uncomfortable, hostile, and unethical environment. Between the emotional hostility and the direct financial loss caused by management's actions, I strongly advise others to avoid this campground.
We got a campsite with a concrete pad. Electricity 30 amp site. There is a dump station close to the registration office. Boat ramp available for campers. One cabin for rental overlooking the Pierce Lake $50/night for Illinois resident. Beautiful setting. Wild turkeys roaming through our campground.
The park is beautiful. The water is beautiful. They say it's a gated community, but it's open to the public 9 to 5 daily. At twenty five dollars per person. And then on friday and saturday night, the locals that park here for the summer start their party central including karaoke at the camper next door, and several others. I've never had a camcround with that loud of parties. And it's a weekend event. I like hearing and seeing people having fun but when the manager extends the curfew for the parties she's at (they kind of party hop), it starts to affect the enjoyment of the park. If we had to stay, we'd stay in the S## sites in the back, where you don't hear so much of the partying. And then during the day, the rules began. Kind of like the soup nazi.
Camping options near Freeport, Illinois range from lakeside state parks to riverside Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds. The area features rolling hills with elevations between 600-870 feet and a continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from April through October, with some sites sitting along waterways that can experience occasional flooding in spring months.
Fishing at Lake Le-Aqua-Na: The state park features a dedicated fishing pond for children, though success rates vary. "We didn't see anyone catch a thing, so not sure if it's actually stocked or not," reports one camper at Lake Le-Aqua-Na State Recreation Area.
Water recreation options: While swimming isn't always available at every location, many parks offer boat access. At Off Shore RV Park, "Resort has many options: even camp sites, 4 villas, resort inn rooms... Boat ramp nearby, resort has restaurant, playground, water park."
Hiking trail exploration: Several parks feature walking trails through varied terrain. Lake Le-Aqua-Na offers trails with interesting wildflower sections. "The hiking trails were enjoyed often by us. We found one section that had some interesting wildflowers. We paused and turned around when we found the archery area."
Clean facilities: Many campgrounds maintain high standards for bathrooms and common areas. At Blanding Landing, campers appreciate the "Quiet, relaxing small campground with super clean hot showers and flush toilets in shower house. Boat ramp, dock fishing, tall trees all over."
Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to spot local wildlife. Lake Le-Aqua-Na campers note, "Trails were way nice and the scenery was beautiful-lots of deer!"
Family-friendly activities: Campgrounds often provide organized events and recreation facilities. At Blackhawk Camping Resort, one camper mentioned, "Golf cart parade, DJ, band, BINGO" among the entertainment options available.
Train noise issues: Some campgrounds experience significant railway disruption. At Blanding Landing, "Biggest issue is 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."
Weather contingencies: The area can experience severe weather and flooding. "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," reported one camper at Spruce Creek Park.
Seasonal water conditions: Some campgrounds experience water quality issues during certain periods. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na, "The lake has had algae issues for quite some time, so there was no swimming or boating."
Check playground availability: Several campgrounds offer play areas for children. At O'Connell's RV Campground, "There are 3 pools, water slide, outdoor movie theatre, gaga ball, mini golf, fishing, boat rental, golf cart rental. The grounds were spacious, LG pull through site. Well maintained."
Consider site privacy: Some family-friendly campgrounds have limited separation between sites. At Blackhawk Camping Resort, sites are described as "a mix of being dated and in the midst of being repaired. When I visited, half of what I saw was being renovated, while the other half look like it desperately needed it."
Plan for swimming alternatives: Given variable water conditions, have backup activities ready. "We have only been to this campground one time because we wanted to try something new. 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."
RV site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have uneven terrain. At Pine Country RV and Camping Resort, "It's a nice park, nice good size pool, no jacuzzi, small play ground with a jumping pad. Pond for catch and release fishing. Only bad thing which isn't that bad, the roads in park are large gravel rock and the dust is awful."
Seasonal booking considerations: For RV camping near Freeport, Illinois, consider timing your visit carefully. "We start and finish the camping season here," notes one regular camper at Pine Country.
Road quality concerns: Internal campground roads vary widely in condition across the region. At Lake Le-Aqua-Na, a recent visitor noted, "All Roads are newly paved. New/Updated Dump station. Once you enter the park, there are some drastic hills to navigate."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular RV campsite near Freeport, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular RV campground near Freeport, IL is Blanding Landing with a 4.0-star rating from 7 reviews.
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