Hampshire, Illinois camping options include several forest preserve campgrounds with sites located within 10-40 miles of town. Sites typically open in early May and close by late October, with overnight temperatures ranging from 45-65°F during camping season. The terrain consists primarily of rolling woodlands interspersed with prairie restoration areas and small lakes, offering a mix of shaded and open campsites.
What to do
Fishing at multiple lakes: Pierce Lake at Rock Cut State Park spans nearly 200 acres and provides opportunities for catching largemouth bass, bluegill, and crappie. "Got bird watching on your mind? Well, you're in luck, because here at Rock Cut SP you can spot an amazing array of foul including bald eagles, American robins, northern cardinals, barn owls, mourning doves," notes reviewer Stuart K.
Hiking trail networks: Most campgrounds offer interconnected trail systems with varied terrain. "There are miles of trails. On one hike we were on paved, sifted gravel, grass and single trek trails. There are a lot of loops giving you options. When we left we still hadn't hiked all of them," writes Art S. about Paul Wolff Campground.
Swimming and water activities: Several campgrounds provide beach access during summer months. At Lehmans Lakeside RV Resort, "They have a huge lake with paved paths that we were able to walk the first night (not raining) and the beach looks like it will be fun to enjoy in the summer," according to Rose F.
Archery practice: Blackwell Family Campground maintains a free archery range open to campers. "There are multiple ada sites and two 'walk-in/ie roll-in' site in the tent-only area. It's a good mix of young people, retired people, and families," Marisa A. reports about the campground's diverse offerings.
What campers like
Spacious, private sites: Thomas Woods Campground at Marengo Ridge offers secluded camping spots. "We were at site 4 which is electric hookup and it was a huge area! The kids had so much space to run around and explore. They loved the well pump. We explored the campground both tent and rv. Both areas were well spaced out with enough privacy," reports Emily L.
Clean facilities: Campgrounds near Hampshire maintain well-kept restrooms and shower buildings. "This campground is beautiful wish it was open more than the weekend's," notes one reviewer, while another mentions that "The camp host delivered my fire wood right to my site (which was extra helpful because no car)."
Proximity for quick getaways: Many campgrounds function as convenient weekend escapes. At Chicago Northwest KOA, a camper shared, "Far enough from the city lights, close enough to civilization. Cozy, small park with friendly staff and plenty of amenities. You can walk from one side to other no problem. Plenty of large and small RV's and Trailers with tent camping. Our home away from home, so relaxing!"
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Multiple campers mention seeing deer, birds, and other animals. "Lots of trails, fishing opportunities, and seasonal activities, though some visitors mention that sites can be crowded during peak summer weekends," one camper notes.
What you should know
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends. "It is a super clean campground with multiple hosts and forest preserve staff. There are a large number of RV pads overlooking the prairie and a few along a grove of trees," explains Marisa A. about Paul Wolff Campground.
Seasonal operation limitations: Many campgrounds close by late October. Camp Reinberg offers longer seasons than some alternatives. "This gem of a campground is run by the Cook County Forest Preserve District and the care they have for it shows! There are pavilions, air conditioned/heated dining hall, shower building, restrooms (seriously the cleanest I've ever seen, even the ceilings were cleaned!)," shares Susan L.
Alcohol restrictions: Several forest preserve campgrounds prohibit alcohol. "We would gladly stay here again! Great campsite with the best staff ever! The sites are clean and very well maintained. We loved the staff patrolling the grounds. The trail system is great for walking the dogs. And I even grew to like the no alcohol in the preserve rule," explains David W.
Water supply variations: Not all campgrounds provide hookups at each site. "The vault toilets are clean but smell like vault toilets at 95 degrees. There is one very clean flush toilet building but no showers. They don't advertise showers, but this is the newest and nicest campsite I have seen without showers," notes one camper about facilities.
Tips for camping with families
Look for dedicated children's activities: Several campgrounds organize weekend events specifically for children. At Sycamore RV Resort, a visitor noted, "Beautiful spot, very peaceful. We've been here for 3 months. There are two lakes, catch and release fishing. A small beach with a snack shack. Well run and maintained. Reasonably priced."
Choose campgrounds with playground equipment: Multiple family-friendly options exist within 30 miles of Hampshire. "My family stayed here a few years back and although it is a small campground it meets the standards of what you should expect of a KOA. Nice bathrooms, decent size level sites. The kids were fans of Wild West Town which is directly next door," shares Marc W.
Consider cabins for first-time family campers: Several campgrounds offer cabin rentals as alternatives to tent camping. "Did a quick stay with the kids for a Friday and Saturday night. A little bit smaller of a campground with regards to site space, but that's about the only thing 'bad' to say, and it's not really a bad thing at all," mentions Dan B.
Seek out beginner-friendly hiking trails: Look for short loop trails with minimal elevation change. "We did our first (family of 5) camping trip at Thomas Woods. They loved the well pump. We explored the campground both tent and rv. Both areas were well spaced out with enough privacy. We also went on walks within the conservation, the trails were very easy and was a nice walk," reports a family visitor.
Tips from RVers
Electrical service limitations: Several campgrounds provide only 30-amp service. "Most of the sites have a chip pad for tents and concrete for the vehicle. Site 20 is turf and nicely secluded. Most of the sites are partial shade. County park district runs it and the fees are kinda steep, 20 res/30 non-res," shares John W. about Blackwell Family Campground.
Water access considerations: Not all RV sites include direct water hookups. "Some really spectacular views to be had. Plus they now have online site reservations! I would definitely recommend camping at Thomas Woods," writes Emily H.
Dump station availability: Check campground amenities as not all provide on-site dump stations. "You can tell they're trying to remodel some of the sites. There is lots of grass so all the rain this weekend and we weren't muddy was awesome! Big park with tons of spots. The pull throughs were really long," notes Rose F.
Watch for pull-through sites: Several campgrounds offer limited pull-through options. "It's a good place to camp. Price is very reasonable and the people are great. Easy to get in and out. Lots are nice and well kept. Close to everything you need," reports Mike M. about site access.
