The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near Galesburg. Galesburg 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. You're sure to find the perfect spot for your Illinois camping adventure.
$50 - $150 / night
"We stopped here for a night on both ends of our trip to Southern Illinois. The campground was recently turned into a KOA."
"There is a very large area to walk your dogs and they have centrally located pet disposal can. They have a pond which was nice to walk the dogs around."
$30 - $60 / night
"Water and electrical hookups. Great place to spend a weekend fishing and swimming in the 5 ponds available."
"Swimming lake was awesome!"
"There’s plenty of picnic tables and in-ground fire rings w/ fold-over BBQ grills. Beyond this, be prepared to bring what you need with you. "
"Rented the one cabin they have $45 has heat/ac and a secluded view of the lake. Bathrooms were a walk and were porta potties. Full toilets and showers were other side of campground."
"Stayed one night for tent camping, campsite was clean and accommodating with fire pit, picnic table, lights, Wi-Fi, and power plug. Bathrooms and showers were clean. Perfect camping site."
"They do have very nice cabins on site and a decent sized pond where the campground goes around. Mini golf is available with a pool. Had to go here once just to use the dump station."
$61 - $250 / night
"The showers at the main lodge were AMAZING. We forgot our grill but thankfully their fire pits have a built in grill which saved us so much! It’s gorgeous and you can rent golf carts for the day!!!"
$40 - $95 / night
"This incredibly friendly (pet-friendly as well BTW) operation does an excellent job in how it is set up, offering up a few distinct loops that are ear-marked pretty much exclusively for the wheel-toting"
"RV, tent, Cabins, and Yurt camping. The couple that run this campsite are so sweet! Pedal bikes for kids (and grown ups), a spray ground, and more!"
"The lake is great for boating and fishing and there are boats for rent during the warmer seasons. The camp grounds are good and there are a few small cabins for rent."
"Trails go all over the entire park! Clean showering facilities. Our furnished cabin faced the lake it was an incredible view. We had fun fishing and sitting by the campfire in the evenings."
$18 - $100 / night
"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"
"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!"
$27 / night
"CG open all year, offers standard sites including electric, water, septic, fire rings, tables. Firewood, ice, recycling, showers/RR, host available. Sites have shade and Tent sites available."
"CG open yest round with sites offering: fire ring/ firewood, tables, water, electric, pads, office, seasonal host, recycling."
LegendThis modern cabin offers to better bedrooms, full service, kitchen, living room, with sofa, sleeper, and fireplace, ADA bathroom, covered porch with chairs and view of the lake, fire pit, and picnic table outside. Park offers, kayak and paddleboard, rentals, concessions, and a swimming beach in season.
LegendThis 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!
LegendThis cabin has all modern conveniences with two sleeping rooms, full service, kitchen, living room, with sofa, sleeper, and fireplace, ADA bathroom and a covered porch overlooking the lake. There’s a gas grill, fire pit, picnic table for outdoor recreation. The park offers kayak rentals, paddle boat rentals, swimming beach in season, and concessions.
LegendLocated just due north of Sheffield, right off I80 (2 miles to be exact), and due west of Princeton by about 20 minutes, Hickory Grove Campground, on the one hand, is so far off the grid that you will really feel as though you are truly ‘getting away from it all,’ yet on other hand, this place is just a couple stone’s throw from one of the busiest highways that runs through the great state of Illinois, making it incredibly accessible. What I love most about Hickory Grove Campground is that it is run by good folks (husband and wife duo, Dave & Joan) that have been in this particular area of north central Illinois for a very long time. On your way to Hickory Grove, you won’t help but notice that there is a supreme amount of gorgeous farmland that you will bear witness to, complete with golden rows of sweet corn or fields of drilled beans. Any way you look at it, enroute to Hickory Grove, you will feel right at home here in the heartland of the Midwest, where we take great pride in our hospitality.
As for this pet-friendly campground itself, upon entry, you will discover that there is a main house, immediately followed by the main office, which is where you will check in. Once doing so, you’ll be able to access your slot, depending upon which one you have selected (and there is nearly 100 to choose from), whether that be an RV or 5th Wheeler slab, deluxe cabin rental or primitive camping site. There are 15 pull-through sites (all with 50 amp electric) with all RV and Trailer sites offering full hook-ups (30 / 50 amp electric, water and sewage) most with shaded lots. Other amenities include a doggie park, ice for sale, scattered picnic tables, designated trash dumpsters, BBQ grills, boat launch, pedal cart rental, restroom and shower facilities, ramp and dock on the Hennepin Canal horseshoe pit and 3 miles of hiking trails.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’re a biker like me, you better come bringing the cycles as from this vantage point, you’ll be able to access the 80 mile long bike trail that you’ll find is easy to access from Hickory Grove Campground; (2) As a fellow kayak enthusiast, you’ll appreciate the nearby access at Hennepin Canal; (3) After a good day of hiking, biking and kayaking, likely you’ll want to ‘whet that whistle’ and if so, nearby Psycho Silo Saloon has you covered in spades (April until October that is) with a full stocked bar of spirits, live music and some nice iced tall boys, but be sure to bring cash because this watering hole doesn’t know how to make credit cards work yet; (4) For those looking for a nice, easy and economical seasonal rental, Hickory Grove is quite affordable offering up sites for as little as $1,400 / season; (5) Specific sites that I recommend include: (a) those on the river’s edge of the Hennepin Canal: #30A, #30B, #34 – 39, #80R; (b) those on the western edge of the property: #12A – B, #13, #16 –19, #30A – B, #34 – 39; as well as (c) those sites that fall against the eastern treeline: #80, #82, #86A – C, #97 – 99; (6) When I head out camping, I like to bring 2-3 choice cuts of rare, sometimes exotic meats and whatever you might be into, should you want some fresh cut meats, check out nearby Wyanet Meat Locker, which will have the standards (NY Strip, Ribeye, hamburger patties) as well as some nice cuts from the top-shelf, including: buffalo, lamb chops and duck; and (7) For a slice of pure Midwestern joy, check out Myrtle’s Pie, which have some amazing selections including banana cream, salted caramel, lemon meringue, carrot cake cheesecake and my favorite, the coconut cream – but everyday Myrtle runs out of pies by early-to-mid-afternoon, so call ahead to order your pie or just get in there as soon as she opens for some freshly baked cinnamon roles and brewed coffee.
Happy Camping!
GuideWe stopped here for a night on both ends of our trip to Southern Illinois. The campground was recently turned into a KOA. The new owners made significant improvements, including a brand new shower house, new playground equipment, mini golf, pool, and laundry. The grounds are lovely and well-maintained and the location is super quiet and peaceful. There was a pretty little pond and a dog run. Plenty of pull-through sites and FHU options, as well as cabin rentals. The hosts were delightful and really accommodating. Will definitely return!
LegendLake Restoration is currenlty underway! These modern cabins have everything a family needs. Site has parking including handicap and overflow, fire pit, tables, grill, covered porch overlooking lake and prairie, firewood, ice, concessions at cg office or beach/boathouse( when open), world-class disc golf, fishing, trails, playgrounds nearby. Cabins are within West Lake Park.
LegendCabin sits atop hill overlooking Railroad Lake surrounded by prairie. Lake complex offers fishing, paddling, swim beach, concessions, etc. Trails in park, disc golf, Wildlife etc. Cabin sleeps 8, full service kitchen with serving and cooking ware. Outside gas grill, fire pit with grill, picnic table, firewood available . Overflow parking nearby.
LegendThis is an incredibly quaint, somewhat out-of-the-way (in a very good way) location that will treat you to a heavy dose of isolation and privacy wherein you’ll feel completely blessed by the nature you will be surrounded by. This incredibly friendly (pet-friendly as well BTW) operation does an excellent job in how it is set up, offering up a few distinct loops that are ear-marked pretty much exclusively for the wheel-toting camping variety (think RVs, rigs, trailers and 5th wheels) providing 59 pull-thru and 12 back-in slots, while also offering up a discreet space flanked towards the front of the property that is simply perfect for mi tent pitchin’ bredren, which is surrounded by mature Oaks. And, just in case you either forgot your tent or RV, Geneseo Campground has 4 super comfy cabins (each sleeps 4 and come with A/C) or an amazing yurt that sleeps 8 that they’ll gladly rent you.
From an amenities standpoint, there’s an amazing kid’s playground, well-stocked camp store, propane refueling station, kayak & canoe rental, gas grill rental, e-bike, pedal carts & fat tire bike rental, full and partial hook-ups offering 30 / 50 electric amp, water & sewage hook-ups. There’s also a meeting room, WiFi everywhere, enclosed dog park, firewood & ice for sale, arcade games, RV dump station, coin-operated washers & dryers / laundr-O-mat, excellent showers & bathrooms, direct access to the Hennepin Canal and don’t forget the 60 or so miles worth of hiking trails!
This place is spacious, very well organized, incredibly clean all the while within a short 10 minute drive into nearby Geneseo, which quite frankly, is one of the most idyllic small towns you’ll come across anywhere in Illinois that is both convivial and provincial, but also quite emblematic of a typical Norman Rockwell painting. What I loved most about this place is that while it doesn’t offer up EVERYTHING that you might be looking for while camping, you only need to head due south to Izaak Walton Park (further south of this spot) or to Geneseo Prairie Park, both of which offer up amazing hiking trails as well as good launch spots to access the Hennepin Canal via kayak and canoe.
Insider’s tips? Here’s a few: (1) If you’re reeling, you should expect to catch blue gill, catfish, bass and crappie, and while you can throw your line from the Geneseo Campground property, I would highly recommend you cross the canal to Izaak Walton Park on its east side where there’s a large open canal / lake to cast in; (2) While there’s tons of hiking trails, you don’t want to forget your bikes – there’s 72 miles of biking trails as well as miles and miles of nicely paved empty country roads to pedal on; (3) Maybe you have a kayak or canoe, but in the case you don’t, do yourself a favor and rent one from the good people at Geneseo Campground in which to explore the Hennepin Canal - trust me, you won't be disappointed; and (4) Should you grow weary of eating franks & beans again from your campsite and want to try out some local cuisine, then get yourself over to nearby Geneseo where you can dine out at The Cellar, Sweet Peas Grill & Bar or Geneseo Brewing Company.
Happy Camping!
LegendCG open all year, offers standard sites including electric, water, septic, fire rings, tables. Firewood, ice, recycling, showers/RR, host available. Sites have shade and Tent sites available. Park offers 4 lakes for fishing, paddling, and a seasonal beach for swimming with concessions. Park has hiking trails, world-class disc golf course, playgrounds, picnicking, shelter rentals.
Cabin camping near Galesburg, Illinois, offers a perfect blend of nature and comfort, allowing visitors to enjoy the great outdoors without sacrificing the conveniences of home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular cabin campsite near Galesburg, IL?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular cabin campground near Galesburg, IL is Galesburg East / Knoxville KOA Journey with a 4.9-star rating from 8 reviews.
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TheDyrt.com has all 23 cabin camping locations near Galesburg, IL, with real photos and reviews from campers.
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