Glasford camping areas sit along the Illinois River floodplain with elevations averaging 450-500 feet above sea level. Water recreation dominates the camping scene with several waterfront access points across multiple parks. Winter temperatures typically drop to the 20s°F, while summer camping season sees averages in the mid-80s°F with frequent humidity.
What to do
Fishing from shore: At Carl Spindler Campground, anglers can access the water directly from multiple points. "We stayed with daughter in tent site right on shore of Illinois River. Has marina adjacent, showers, host, and laundry. Inexpensive tent sites with access for fishing, paddling, wildlife and sunset viewing," shares James M.
Hiking nature preserves: Millpoint Park borders Spring Bay Fen Nature Reserve with walking paths suitable for casual day hikes. "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," notes Brett F.
Boating access: Several campgrounds offer direct water access for personal watercraft. At Millpoint Park, "We were able to do some fishing and kayaking. We caught some bluegill, buffalo, and large mouth bass," according to Marie B., who appreciated the easy river access.
Country music shows: Kentuckiana Campground offers regular entertainment options. "On Saturday night they offer classic country music free. Special events throughout the summer," mentions Cindy H., describing activities beyond standard camping experiences.
What campers like
Spacious sites: Millpoint Park receives consistent praise for site size. "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!" shares carissa, highlighting the generous space between sites.
Sunset views: Campers consistently mention impressive evening views across the water. "If you'd like to knock some pins down while slurping some delicious local cold brew, head on over to Landmark Bowling Center... 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," recommends Stuart K. at Carl Spindler Campground.
Clean facilities: Carl Spindler Campground maintains well-kept restrooms and shower areas. "The shower houses are amazing! This campground is very well maintained and right on the Illinois river. The view of Peoria at night is beautiful," notes Stephanie O., reflecting the general satisfaction with sanitation facilities.
Lake activities: Comlara County Park offers multiple water-based recreation options. "Big sites! Our site was huge. Right by jones pond, but the fishing was not the best right by our site. Beautiful park but littered with bottle caps and cigarette butts. Great biking trails and a couple of great geocaches. Beach costs extra and all boats were rented out by 9am on a Saturday," shares Melissa B.
What you should know
Water quality concerns: Several campgrounds have water issues that require preparation. At Millpoint Park, "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," advises Stuart K.
Seasonal considerations: Summer glamping in Glasford, Illinois requires insect preparation. "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," suggests Stuart K.
Reservation systems: Booking procedures vary significantly between parks. "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," explains Lee D. about Carl Spindler Campground.
Limited cell service: Connectivity can be spotty throughout the region. At Kentuckiana Campground, "There is no cell/LTE reception out here (Sprint or Verizon). We drove to Casey's for a pizza and got a small cell signal there. If you like to watch movies, I recommend bringing a DVD player since you likely won't be able to stream Netflix etc," advises Ryan L.
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and kid zones: Kentuckiana Campground offers dedicated children's areas. "They have a nice pond. They also have a kids play area in the Hollar, Complete with a giant slide. Great place for kids. Decent little parks. Huge slide in the holler," says Ryan L., highlighting amenities focused on younger campers.
Beach access: Several locations offer water entry points for swimming. At Condits Ranch, "It's a nice place with a beach and playground for the kids. Seems pretty large. They have a general store with necessities like milk etc, and extras like movies to borrow, and swag to purchase," according to Ryan L.
Nature education: Comlara County Park provides opportunities for wildlife viewing with children. "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," shares Nancy W.
Swimming fees: Many sites charge extra for beach access beyond camping fees. "The flip side of this is that you will hear constant road noise and an occasional train. The rate of $24 for an electric site was reasonable. Large lots are nice, out houses need cleaned. Good rates but the kicker is the $20.00 fee per boat/ kayak to get on the lake plus the fee for the swimming area was a bit much for us," notes Marcie J. about Comlara County Park.
Tips from RVers
Hookup options: Spring Lake Park offers various site types for different RV setups. "Need reservation with larger campers. We are so thankful we found this park. Most occupants are simi-annual residents, but there are still several nice, quiet, shady spots to be found. Everyone is friendly. There are 2 clean but dated bathhouses available. It's the most reasonably priced campsite that we have found so far," explains Colleen H.
Electric cord length: Some sites require extra electrical cabling. "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," notes Stuart K. about Carl Spindler Campground.
Leveling requirements: Site conditions vary across parks with some requiring minimal adjustment. At Millpoint Park, "We enjoyed a nice pull-through full hookup site that required minimal leveling. Water has a lot of iron so does smell/taste weird," reports Melissa C., providing practical information for RVers planning glamping trips in Glasford, Illinois.